Most massage chairs have 2D-style backrest rollers. With a 2D chair, you cannot adjust the intensity or depth of the rollers. You can adjust the airbag strength throughout the rest of the chair, but not the roller intensity. Having said that, not all 2D massage chairs are equal, both in performance and intensity. Some 2D chairs deliver a firmer roller massage experience than others. For example, the popular
Infinity IT-8500 Plus has a 2D roller system but the rollers deliver a mid-strong to deep tissue massage. However, the
Osaki OS-4000T also has a 2D roller system but the rollers have a more mild application.
3D and 4D massage chairs have an adjustable roller intensity and depth feature that allows you to personalize how deeply the rollers press into your back. This way, you can enjoy a wider range of massage intensities to suit your unique needs and sensitivities. Most 3D and 4D models typically have three to eight levels of roller intensity to choose from.
Since the backrest rollers are the main function of a massage chair, we strongly believe that being able to control the intensity is important. This is why we generally recommend going with, at minimum, a 3D massage chair.