Real Relax Favor-03 Massage Chair Review 2024

Do you believe that a luxury massage chair is out of your reach because of the price? Think again!

The reputable Real Relax Brand is making waves with their Favor-03 ergonomic recliner that costs under $1000.

We know what you’re thinking: what’s the catch?

In our Real Relax Favor-03 review, we take a close look at this highly rated chair and break down its core features for you.

Real Relax Favor 03 Plus Design Overview

Real Relax is a massage chair brand that has quickly gained a solid reputation for quality, affordable chairs, and top-notch customer service.

Notably, they are among the few brands that implement model upgrades based on customer feedback, so they are constantly evolving and improving with each new release.

This is exactly what they did when upgrading the Favor 03 in 2020 to the Favor 03 Plus. With the Plus, they added two more auto programs, Bluetooth connectivity, and LED lights on the side panel.

Despite the new changes, the Favor 03 remains a standard, low-range chair under $1000.

When it comes to the overall design, we were impressed. It checks all of the boxes from a luxury standpoint and does a bit more than some high-range chairs.

You get a futuristic “pod” design encased in soft, high-quality synthetic leather that is easy to clean with a damp cloth.

The dimensions are 34 x 30 x 63 inches, and it weighs 176 pounds. Yes, it’s heavy- but what ergonomic recliner isn’t?

Thankfully, Real Relax nipped this in the bud by adding two small wheels on the back of the chair’s base, making it so much easier to move it from place to place.

We were pleasantly surprised to see that the Real Relax Favor 03 Plus can hold a weight capacity of 440 lbs. That’s a first, especially compared to some high-range chairs.

The ottoman extends to fit a height of 6’3” as well, so every “body” can enjoy this massage chair.

The only thing we turned our noses up at was the fact that the ottoman is spring-loaded.

That means you’ll have to push it out to your desired range and then apply pressure with your feet to keep it in place. That’s just a small drop in the bucket, though, especially since the price is so low.

Focusing on the installation, we also love how easy this chair is to learn and use. It arrives at your doorstep in two boxes. The Favor-03 instructions are simple to follow, and it takes around 30 minutes to assemble the recliner.

Besides a detailed Real Relax Favor-03 manual, the company also created a handy installation video to ensure a seamless user experience.

Well, that about covers the design. Shall we move on to the good stuff? Let’s get up close and personal with the Favor-03’s features!

Real Relax Favor 3 Features

A brief overview of the Favor 03 features reveals two things:

You can be happy with what the Favor-03 offers, but some archaic technology may decrease the overall massage experience. Let’s take a look.

Fixed Frame Massage Track + 8 Shiatsu Roller System

We tend to balk at fixed frame technology, mainly because moving quad rollers are the industry standard nowadays. Real Relax couldn’t at least throw an S-track in there?

Nonetheless, as far as fixed frame tech goes, they did a good job implementing a deep tissue massage with eight strategically placed Shiatsu rollers. They are located at the neck and down the back to the hips.

The rollers are not quad, meaning they do not move vertically along the track.

Because they are fixed, this can cause the massage to be unbalanced. For example, while one part of the body receives a thorough massage, another part is weaker because the rollers miss the mark.

Although fixed, these rollers administer a nice deep tissue massage, spinning in circles firmly against the muscles to simulate kneading.

You may welcome a deep tissue massage, but it’s not for everyone. Some Real Relax Favor 03 plus reviews mentioned that the lower back rollers are too intense to the point of being painful.

On top of that, the backrest padding seems thin, so it’s a shock to feel those rollers digging into your back.

This is an easy fix, though- just slip a small pillow or folded towel in-between your lower back and the chair for extra padding.

No 3D Body Scan Feature

3D scan technology is known to be faulty across the market, but when the only way to adjust the seat is by going back to square one, that can get annoying quickly.

Picture this: You’ve just cozied up in your Favor 03 massage chair and selected your favorite massage program. You recline the chair to the perfect Zero-G position and start your journey into blissful oblivion…until it becomes clear that the adjustment is off and you want a more intense level.

With the Favor-03, you’ll have to stop everything, return to upright, and start all over again. Adjusting from a reclined position should be simple enough, but sadly this chair doesn’t offer that convenience.

3-position Zero Gravity Seating

We gave the Favor-03 a bit of a hard time in the last section, so it’s time to put the spotlight on one of its crowning glories- the Zero Gravity Seating.

For those who don’t know massage chair jargon, this is one of the most popular and sought-after features in a luxury recliner.

Inspired by NASA, the concept involves elevating the legs above the heart to induce a feeling of weightlessness. All weight and pressure are taken off the body’s joints, loosening tension and relieving chronic pain.

Other Zero-G benefits include:

Zero Gravity Seating offers incredible therapeutic value for those who suffer from chronic back pain, and they go one step further by presenting three positions: Initial, Comfort, and Deep.

This is huge because most low-range chairs on the market only offer one position or none, so you’re getting your bang for the buck here.

Heating + Vibrating

This is another feature rarely found in low-range chairs, only adding to the therapeutic value of the Favor-03 recliner.

Heat is a luxury that enhances any massage and especially feels divine against aching muscles.

Now what you want to focus on with massage chair heat is where it’s offered in the chair. Most low-range chairs won’t offer heat, and if they do, it’s only in the lumbar region.

Mid-range to high-range chairs will offer heat in the lumbar region and the leg wells. With the Favor-03, you get this same setup. Hear that? It’s your wallet clapping!

If you suffer from chronic back pain or foot pain, this feature makes the Favor-03 a great option to consider for pain relief when you combine heat with air and rollers.

To cap this section, note that the seat has a classic vibrating function, but this is hit or miss with users. Some love vigorous shaking, while others don’t find it relaxing at all. It’s standard, old-school massage tech, no more and no less.

VFD Remote Controller

The learning curve is always a huge obstacle with luxury massage chairs, but Real Relax aces this with their advanced high definition remote controller.

It comes tucked inside its own built-in holder on the Favor-03 and has all the preset programs listed for fast access.

If you prefer manual, just switch the mode and customize to your heart’s delight. Don’t get too attached to your homemade massages, though, because there is no way to save them.

You’ll have to pay a few grand more to enjoy memory profiles on a high-end recliner.

Still, memory settings are rare to find on the market, and for what it offers as a low-range chair, we’re just happy that the Favor-03 is super easy to use.

Accessories

The little extras can make a massage experience all the sweeter, and this is one of the areas that Real Relax focused on when they upgraded the Favor-03 to the Plus.

You get premium Bluetooth built-in so you can connect your phone and drone out the neighbor’s yappy dog with your favorite playlist instead.

To get you in the mood, the side panel of the chairs lights up with softly glowing LED lights, ushering in a feeling of instant calm.

Favor 03 Massage Chair Programs

We don’t have many complaints when it comes to the massage offerings on the Favor 3. This chair sticks to its basic roots and offers users 6 auto programs with the ability to adjust the speed and massage strength with 3 different levels.

The 6 auto programs include:

One of the functions we love and usually don’t find on low-range chairs is the ability to adjust the massage duration. You can build up your custom massage in 5-minute increments: 15, 20, 25, and 30 minutes.

Let’s look at the most popular massage functions on this chair.

Air Compression Massage

Air compression is a therapeutic way to gently squeeze the muscles and soothe away tension. It also feels incredibly relaxing, like sinking into a fluffy cloud.

The Favor-03 did a good job with its air massage…some might even say they did “too good” of a job.

While the full-body design includes 50 strategically placed airbags in the shoulders, seat, arms, and legs, some Real Relax Favor-03 reviews say that the air massage feels too intense on the arms, invoking a “trapped” feeling.

If you’re prone to claustrophobia, this may not sit well. At least you can adjust the intensity of the airbags to keep massages low-key.

And, you just can’t beat the fact that they include airbags in the leg wells. We’ll explain why that’s important in the next section.

Foot/Calf Massage

While some Real Relax favor-03 reviewers knocked the foot rollers as being too harsh and painful, we find the entire setup to be high-end for a low-range massage chair.

The leg wells are like the wild wild west of the massage chair market. You never know what you’re going to get. While some chairs offer rollers underneath the feet, they may not have airbags around the calves. And a wide margin of low to high range chairs doesn’t offer heat.

That’s why we commend Real Relax on their foot/calf massage. You get rollers, strong airbags, and heat to make it a therapeutic wonderland for those who are on their feet all day.

Once again, you’re getting more bang for your buck here, and that’s what we like to see with massage chairs!

Real Relax Massage Chair Favor Pros vs. Cons

PROS

CONS

We’re just going to put this on the table: the Real Relax Favor-03 massage chair is one of the best quality low-range recliners on the market.

You can’t beat a thorough air massage or the fact that there is heat in the lumbar region and the footwells. This boosts the therapeutic value considerably and is rare to find in a low-range chair.

What’s more, the Zero Gravity seating comes with three positions to give users even more flexibility to find a comfortable fit for their needs.

Real Relax also paid attention to the little details to ensure an optimal user experience. A thoughtful installation tutorial and easy-to-follow instructions make setup time fast and painless, so you can get to relaxing in as little as 30 minutes.

Another big selling point is the weight capacity. This is the first time we’ve seen an ergonomic recliner that accommodates over 400 lbs. That type of diversity in the massage chair market is refreshing because doesn’t everyone deserve the luxury of supreme relaxation?

As with any ergonomic recliner, you’re going to find little design annoyances that will have you wondering if this is the dinosaur age of massage. You’ll see this with the thin backrest padding, lack of a body scan, and minimal massage options.

The biggest drawback is the fixed frame technology. It isn’t easy to match the rollers with the user’s unique dimensions for a more accurate and balanced back massage.

Still, if you’re looking for a bargain, this chair is a top pick for sure. We recommend the Real Relax Favor 3 for…

Real Relax Favor Massage Chair Warranty

The standard warranty on the Real Relax Favor-03 is for one year. You can read the fine print here.

Comparable Products to Consider

If you’ve gotten this far in our Real Relax massage chair Favor-03 review, and you’re still not sure this is the recliner for you- no worries. These similar products might be better suited to your needs:

Let’s compare these models in greater detail.

Real Relax Favor 03 vs. Favor 05

If the Favor-03’s lackluster fixed massage track and rollers have got you down, then the Favor-05 is the next best thing. It offers all of the same features as the 03, including heating, three Zero-G positions, and six auto programs.

As we can see, the biggest (and only difference) is that the 05 boasts an industry-standard S+L hybrid track system with 3D rollers that move vertically, horizontally, and in/out from the neck down to underneath the seat.

With this cutting-edge system, you get 12 massage techniques, and it feels more life-like than a fixed system. The only thing is, you have to be willing to pay a bit more for that tech- it ain’t cheap.

Real Relax Favor 03 vs Favor 04

People generally love the Favor series, but when comparing the 03 with the 04, it’s difficult to see how they are different. They essentially offer the same features, including the fixed frame track, air massage, heating, and three Zero-G positions.

The design is different, as the 03 has a more futuristic pod design, while the Favor 04 looks like your typical recliner. Another difference is that the 03 offers six auto programs while the 04 only offers four programs.

The consensus amongst reviewers is that the assembly and customer support is less desirable with the 04, so the user experience may lose a few points to the 03’s reputation for being easy to install, with superb customer support to back up your purchase.

Both are budget-friendly options, with the Favor 04 costing slightly less. If you are on the hunt for a deal and don’t mind subpar customer service, then the 04 is a quality choice.

Real Relax Favor 03 vs. Ideal Luxury Massage Chair

The Favor 03 and the Ideal Luxury are very similar in what they offer users. Both are budget-friendly options, but the main difference lies in what you want to get out of your experience.

While the Favor 03 has an old-school fixed track, the Ideal has an S+L track, which is the best you’ll find on the market.

On the flipside, reviewers complain that the Ideal has a subpar foot/calf massage with no heat or foot rollers. As well, even though it has an S+L track, it doesn’t have quad rollers.

Both are highly rated budget recliners, though. If your priority is the foot/calf massage, go for Favor 03. If you want a plethora of manual settings to customize your massage, this is where the Ideal excels.

Real Relax Favor-03 Review Conclusion

Real Relax is one of the brands focusing on bringing luxury massage chairs to the masses. The Favor series demonstrates that beautifully with a wide range of enticing core features, a trendy design, and an affordable price.

In our Real Relax Favor-03 review, we mentioned early on that this is a low-range ergonomic recliner, so some of the technology won’t be as cutting edge as the big players. Still, the Favor 03 delivers relaxation and therapeutic value with its impeccable Zero Gravity Seating, foot/calf massage, and full-body air compression massage that’s perfect for hobbyists and people who suffer from foot/leg pain.

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Official Manufacturer Support

References & Resources:

• Real Relax, Official Brand Website.
• Health Benefits of Massage Chairs, EzineArticles.
• Local Back Massage With an Automated Massage Chair: General Muscle and Psychophysiologic Relaxing Properties, ResearchGate.
• Top 5 Massage Chair Features, Streetdirectory.com.
• More on the Advantages of a Massage Chair and Which Features to Consider, Neconnected.co.uk.