Final Words & Conclusion

Final Words & Conclusion

Our first impressions of the Fractal Design POP series RGB are a little polarized. Ultimately, you acquire this product for its beauty, features, and functionality. First and foremost, it cannot be denied that the Pop is a relatively silent acoustically product, depending on fan RPM behavior of course. Comparatively, there is little requirement to operate the fans at full or even half capacity (RPM) because even at the lowest setting (400-500rpm), all components of a high-end system will remain cooled decently. We can only presume that the Pop series cooling and airflow have been properly planned and developed from the beginning. The cabinet's closed architecture results in a slightly higher level of sound production than practically any other cabinet type. Fractal Design has spent a considerable amount of time building something with decent airflow, resulting in a housing that stands out from the competition.

Aesthetics

The product, in our opinion, has a classy yet classic appearance; while we acknowledge that this chapter is quite subjective. Handy is that drawer nicely tucked away. And of course, the RGB fans  + controller offers a lot of configurations that would suit your preferences. The quality is good all the way through, with a clean look based on metal, plastics and glass. The chassis is sufficiently sturdy, no sharp edges, and you receive a number of different mounting choices to pick from. 

Features

The internals is excellent; correctly sized ATX form factor motherboards will fit, and even the longest graphics card will fit without issue. Few people will miss having a few extra 2.5" SSD slots. Fractal brings three fans, 120mm in diameter. The Pop is an attractive housing for a high-end system. Once when remaining ATX form factor is compatible, you may add almost any motherboard and PSUs up to 17cm to 20cm in length. We are however disappointed that USB Type C is not included as a default connector on the front IO, that actually is an optional you must purchase.

The Verdict

The Fractal Design Pop RGB gets our endorsement, but with some caveats. There are only a few USB connectors and lacking is USB-C, which in the year 2022 is a little silly. On several levels, the design is original and appealing to us, the chassis however does look a bit classic / older. The concept, as well as the interior, have been thoroughly thought out. The craftsmanship is also good, as is typical of Fractal's products, but it's a lot of plastic in a price level where a more premium material would be expected. Extra features, such as the ARGB hub and that drawer at the front are lovely.

The cooling performance, on the other hand, is consistent throughout the procedure and can be rated adequate at best. and well-ventilated. We did not have a single problem with cable routing on the backside; there aren't many options for hiding wiring, rubberized grommet holes would have been nice though. In short, we believe this is a highly original partly classic design updated with RGB. Airflow is okay but just that, now massive. Other than that, we believe this should be a sub 100 USD/EUR chassis. So whether or not you feel it's worth the price premium, is of course totally your decision. 

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