The NZXT H5 Flow is a beautiful case that manages to differentiate itself from the many mid-tower enclosures out there. Building on the same general principles as the H510 where its exterior is concerned, the H5 Flow finally manages to modernize the series on several fronts. From a pricing perspective, $95 for a non-ARGB, two fan ATX chassis, some of that price tag is for the unique tooling & design.

At the center of unique functionality, there is that angled fan to push cool air towards the graphics card. While there may be some merit to that, it doesn't manage to offer a vast improvement over what a simple front intake fan could achieve as well. The downside being, that this special cooling unit takes up the room that is usually reserved for 3.5" storage. As such, the H5 Flow can only hold two storage units, only one of which is 3.5". NZXT is also holding fast on a minimalist I/O with a single USB-A 3.0 port and no reset or HDD activity LED. While that is not a big deal, that focus on form over function feels a bit too rigid.

In the interior the H5 Flow manages to score some serious beauty points with its detailed focus on getting all white parts and components, and NZXT has managed to add lots of hooks for easy & clean cable management. Throughout the case, you will find a lot of the DNA that makes NZXT mid-towers unique, but most of these feel a bit simpler than the predecessor - some are better served while other aspects aren't. For example, that solid, gently curved shroud looks great, but gone is the opening for PCIe power cables. Or there is that unique cover for the cable managment to which you may mount a reservoir, which now no longer has a secondary position for the same flexibility found in the H510. On the other end, the Velcro strips with the metal flaps for cable channels may be simpler than the plastic trenches but work much better as well.

The biggest functional aspect of the H5 Flow is the fact that you now get a case that finally manages to match the type of cooling setup that we have come to expect from a modern ATX enclosure. Being a design focused case, the NZXT H5 Flow is geared towards those who place an importance on aesthetics over a large number of features. This means that while you won't get feature laden bang for your buck, you get a visually appealing, functional chassis.