The AQIRYS Aquarius 360 AIO is an example of going all in on looks, but forgetting to verify performance. While visually appealing designs are great, cooling performance still needs to be up to par. When it comes to handling the stock settings of our test benches, the AQIRYS cooler does just fine, but when the systems are overclocked, it begins to fall behind rapidly. Sadly, the main culprit for the lackluster performance is the fans. Switching to some Corsair ML120 fans, I retested the cooler at the noise normalized setting of 45 dBA, and there was a 4°C drop in temperatures. The same 4°C improvements were also seen with the Corsair fans set to the cooler's maximum 51 dBA. This apples-to-apples comparison at the same set noise levels shows the cooler has untapped potential. That said, given the cooler's affordable MSRP of $121 / €115.99, it still offers more bang for the buck than some of the more egregiously expensive 360 mm coolers. This was especially true as this was written since the Aquarius 360 AIO had a promotional price of €92.79.

When it comes to the overall fit and finish of the unit, I would consider it more than acceptable, but the mounting hardware is a bit of a sore spot. Essentially, the Aquarius 360 AIO uses an older, obsolete mounting setup. That doesn't mean it was terrible; it just means better solutions that are easier to use are the norm. On the AMD front, the cooler uses the default plastic brackets, which typically do not apply an even amount of pressure compared to other solutions using four points to secure the cooler directly to the backplate. Meanwhile, on the Intel mainstream sockets, the plastic backplate is held on via a foam pad with double-sided tape. Users then need to hold the pump in place and directly screw it down into the backplate. A system comprised of standoffs to secure the backplate from which users can then attach the cooler has been the default setup for most liquid coolers for ages, and AQIRYS will need to catch up in that regard. Still, at least the cooler delivers perfect memory and graphics card clearances, which is always a plus. They also made sure to have the wiring exit on the side of the pump facing away from the tubing. As the power and ARGB wires leave the pump, they are positioned for easy cable management, which is also a positive design element. I also liked that they used 450 mm length tubing as it gives users a bit more leeway in a larger chassis or unique setups.

While I think AQIRYS jumped the gun a bit with the Aquarius 360 AIO, they are on the right track. While the ARGB lighting isn't the best I have seen, it is still quite good, and even if it is a love-it or hate-it feature, it helps sell products. Additionally, the implementation used here doesn't need special software to operate. Instead, it seamlessly works with your motherboard's ARGB software keeping your system free of some extra bloatware. But the short 2-year warranty and lack of availability outside the EU may make the Aquarius 360 AIO a hard sell for some. While Aquarius is working on the latter issue, the short warranty will likely turn off those who have become accustomed to the longer warranties and subsequent peace of mind offered by the major players in the market.

In summation, the AQIRYS Aquarius 360 AIO, while good-looking, doesn't deliver enough performance to stand out. While I can see its potential, it needs a rework to be competitive in such a cutthroat market.