A Closer Look - Outside

Out of the box, one may mistake the Meshify 2 Lite for the original as nothing has changed in terms of design. The case exterior looks and feels the same, including for the same fine mesh grille.


In the front, the metal mesh is no finer than what we would see in traditional cases, and a logo in the bottom-left corner points out the brand. This part of the case can be swung open for easy access to the three pre-installed, retail-grade 140 mm fans for cleaning purposes. As you can see, the design of the two elements is the same, which is a nice detail. To change the fan setup or install liquid-cooling here, pry off the entire front panel frame to reveal all screw-mounting positions.


When viewed from the rear, you will find the first notable change specific to the Lite variant as it is missing the vertical GPU-mounting possibility. Besides that, the general internal layout, including the rear-mounted PSU bay, may seem to be the same from this angle, but as we will see later on, there are other simplified details within.


The main side of the Meshify 2 Lite comes with a clean glass window that may simply be popped off by the attached clip on the rear of the chassis. On the other side, the chassis is completely solid and also requires no tools to detach.


In the rear, the PSU bay utilizes a metal frame as you are meant to slide the unit into the chassis from this side. It is then held in place by two thumb screws. Above that are the seven horizontal expansion slots with reusable covers which employ thumb screws for easy access. In the very top, behind a cool-looking vent, a fourth and final pre-installed retail-grade 140 mm fan is set to push hot air out the back of the chassis. Look closely and you will see those aforementioned clips, one on each side, which is a clever way to secure each of the side panels in a clean fashion.


While the top of the Meshify 2 Lite may look very much like the original, peeling off the magnetic metal mesh dust filter, it lacks the additional layer, and the metal panel is not meant to be removed. You may install three 120 or 140 mm fans or a 360/420 mm radiator instead. Even though this part is no longer as intricate because of cost-saving measures, Fractal has gone the extra mile by creating a vent that fits the design language of the chassis.


The I/O of the Lite variant looks similar as well, but Fractal has done away with the USB-C connector for this variant of the Meshify 2.


A full-length dust filter may be pulled out the bottom for easy cleaning. Even this element still comes in a design befitting that of the Meshify 2, which is pretty nifty.