A Closer Look - Outside

Out of the box, you will notice that the Lancool 216 RGB is a bit wider than most classic mid-towers. This is to fit the two 160 mm intake fans, but also translates into the ability to install air coolers of up to 180.5 mm in height. In other words: every air cooler on the planet should fit.



Lian Li has perforated the steel front panel to transform it into fine mesh, which allows for air intake while also acting as a dust filter. The whole front panel feels very solid and may be pulled off the enclosure to give you access to the two aforementioned cooling units. These have ARGB elements in both the rings and the hub, which should make for a nice glow when turned on. If you look closely, you will notice that these are pretty special due to the large frame, which is mean to funnel the air towards the fan blades.


On the left edge of the front, there is a mounting possibility for a second I/O panel. This is where you may install an ARGB switch, fan speed controller and USB panel, which Lian Li sells separately. For those wondering: while the default I/O bracket is the same shape, it won't fit, due to 160 mm fans interfering with the bulky cables. While everything around the Lancool 216 feels very solid and study, the front plastic design forgoes a solid layer on the side that faces the perforated metal panel, which you will feel when handling the chassis. This is worth mentioning as it is quite the odd omission.


In the rear, the arrangement provides a first insight on the internal layout within the enclosure. It looks like Lian Li has stuck to the standard modern ATX tower enclosure template for the Lancool 216 RGB.


The main side panel is split into the glass portion and another perforated strip on the bottom of the chassis. This is similar to previous Lancool cases which also offered an airflow element like this. On the opposite side, that panel is completely solid. Thanks to pins, the glass portion only requires a single screw while the metal cover is completely screw-less. There are tabs on both to make removing them a breeze as well. The mesh cover is secured by a classic case screw, as there is no real requirement to remove this panel for system assembly, however Lian Li still gives you the option to do so.


Taking a closer look at the rear, the PSU bay sports one set of mounting holes, so that you will always have your unit with the fan facing downward. There is a small opening to the left of the bay to allow for a fan cable to be routed to the back of the case, as we will see at the end of this review. Lian Li has also lined the left side of the rear with hooks for zip ties, so that you can organize any cable mess you may have back here. Above the power supply there are the seven expansion slots, each protected by an individual, reusable cover. This bracket of seven may be rotated to allow for a vertical GPU setup. A riser cable for such a build may be purchased separately. in the very top there is a 140 mm exhaust fan, which does not come equipped with any ARGB elements.


In the top, the same perforation as in the front continues and you may take off the cover by detaching two captive thumbscrews. Underneath that layer, there is a removable bracket for up to three 120 or two 140 mm fans. On top of that, thanks to the offset mounting holes, a radiator of up to 360 mm will easily fit as well. In case you use a smaller unit, Lian Li provides that sealing plate to ensure the best possible air flow for your setup. The IO on the Lian Li Lancool 216 RGB is pretty traditional for a case of this price segment. You get a USB-C and two USB 3.0 type A ports, alongside a combo audio jack. There are no LEDs and Lian Li has opted not to label any of these, which is perfectly fine.


Taking a look at the underbelly of the Lian Li Lancool 216 RGB you will find two possible mounting positions for the 3.5" HDD cages on the floor of the chassis, and an easily removable dust filter for the power supply.