Fractal Design Pop Air RGB

[Darksaber]

Priced at $90, the Fractal Design Pop is cost effective and available in cool color options for those who want an enclosure from the famous brand without spending too much. With the Mini on one end and XL on the other, we will take the Pop Air RGB with a green interior for a spin to find out if the line provides enough fun and value to stick around!

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[Dragokar]

So sad that USB-C is optional......

 

[Chaitanya]

So sad that USB-C is optional......

micro transcation scourge has infected case market.

 

[Ferrum Master]

Razer HQ rejoices. They just need to slap a sticker.

 

[Fungi]

Such a sharp looking case, I love it.

 

[oldwalltree]

Hopefully they have fixed how sharp the inside of their cases are.

 

[Chrispy_]

@Darksaber

The small tray - I would use it for modular PSU cables that weren't required for the current build. It might be a tight fit but I'm pretty sure you could fit at least 2-3 in there. Typically I'm left with a spare PCIe 6+2 pin cable and at least one SATA/Molex.

I'd also use it for any of these that were left over from the build:

As for optical drives, they're not exactly frequent use for most people, so having to uncover them once in a blue moon is still a better option than not being able to fit them in the first place. I'm not one of those people though, I ditched optical drives almost a decade ago knowing that I could pilfer a USB driver from work if necessary. So far I've needed to borrow one zero times

 

[MrDweezil]

@Darksaber

The small tray - I would use it for modular PSU cables that weren't required for the current build. It might be a tight fit but I'm pretty sure you could fit at least 2-3 in there. Typically I'm left with a spare PCIe 6+2 pin cable and at least one SATA/Molex.

I'd also use it for any of these that were left over from the build:

View attachment 252960

As for optical drives, they're not exactly frequent use for most people, so having to uncover them once in a blue moon is still a better option than not being able to fit them in the first place. I'm not one of those people though, I ditched optical drives almost a decade ago knowing that I could pilfer a USB driver from work if necessary. So far I've needed to borrow one zero times

The tray looks uncovered and with space above it, so if you move the case any stuff you put in the drawer could easilly end up rattling around in the case interior.

 

[Mussels]

First of all, i love fractal to bits. Their warranty is exceptional as well, they've helped me out with replacement parts without even needing to see an invoice in the past.
I also get this is a more budget offering, so it's not gunna have everything the top tier cases do but i just want to... vent (badum-tsss) about some choices made here, and honestly choices made in general with many case manufacturers.


Lack of a reset button isn't good, a lot of third party ARGB controllers can repurpose the button - asus mobos do it via the 'flex key' bios option. (I didnt check, but it may well be a reset button labelled for the default case lighting - which may cause confusion but isn't that bad overall)


And maybe this is just me, but i've always preferred cases with the top panel being closable or with a locked in filter. Why cant they trust us with a single screw, instead of the damn magnets?
Fractals best feature is how they do top panels better than everyone else, the R5's moduvent design being a standout

If i install a 240mm radiator, i dont want the air pressure in the case blasting out around the fans here
And if i'm on air cooling, i might as well not bother with that rear fan cause it wont do anything except collect dust

This area could have been set up for side exhaust or covered up, too. I love the green look but the moment it's got cables in the way, it's not great

 

[BSim500]

"As there is no reset button or HDD activity LED..."

And is that another "extra" on top of buying your own front USB ports or do you have to mod your own in? Was interested up until this, but this isn't "streamlining for a modern audience", just dumbing down...

 

[Chomiq]

So sad that USB-C is optional......

Most likely they wanted to keep the price under $100.

 

[docnorth]

I'm one of the few(?) left using optical drive frequently at the office and have some cases in mind with 5,25 bay for my next build. Patients bring their CTs, MRIs and sometimes x-rays on CD or DVD and even a cheap (<20 EUR) full height DVD/RW is twice as fast compared with external optical drives.

 

[Sybaris_Caesar]

Most likely they wanted to keep the price under $100.

If only Corsair 4000D didn’t have USB-C, cost under $100 and selling for 2 years. Not to mention arguably looks way better.

 

[Chomiq]

If only Corsair 4000D didn’t have USB-C, cost under $100 and selling for 2 years. Not to mention arguably looks way better.

You were saying?

Fractal charges $10 for USB-C, so yeah, that's why they don't include it.

With all the case DLC included you're still better off buying more expensive case.

 

[Chrispy_]

With all the case DLC included you're still better off buying more expensive case.

The problem with "case DLC" (I like that term) is that the availability of that DLC is usually waaaaaaaaay worse than the availability of the case itself, and you likely have to source it elsewhere, with additional shipping costs, so the shipping costs need to be added to the DLC cost, and then you still have to provide your own labour to finish assembling the case.

Just buy one that's fully assembled, warrantied in that state, and only requires one shipping fee.

 

[Dragokar]

Still the wrong choice for me, they have so effing many SKUs with the POP, so one more per version with USB-C wouldn't trouble that at all. Also, if they are really paying that much in the factory, they should do another contract with the fab.

In Germany the 4000D Airflow was usually around €90, not it shifted a bit up, as many things did but u still can get it for that if you are a patient buyer.