Fractal Design
If you’ve built a PC in the last decade, chances are you’ve at least considered a Fractal case. I’ve built in several Fractal Design cases over the years myself (from an early Refine to the current North), and my two daily machines are running inside the North—another high-quality banger from Fractal. This is the kind of hardware the blends into both my office and home environment, staying classy with high WAF-factor.
I really like Fractal’s design language, and I think they’ve managed to nail the alluring “Scandinavian design” label in what might be the noisiest, most RGB-cluttered market there is: PC accessories.
Fractals design is calm. It’s classy.
What’s especially cool to me is that Fractal is Swedish, a neighboring country of me here in Norway. We see too few hardware companies coming out of Norway. Sweden on the other hand? They’ve quietly built a global reputation in both design and tech. Fractal is proof that can merge in the gaming and PC hardware space.
Meshify 3 different SKUs
The Meshify 3 comes in a varity of different SKUs. First, there is the size; Normal or XL. Then the color; black or white.
After that you have these 3 SKUs:
- Solid: No RGB fans included
- RGB: 3 RGB front fans included
- Atmospheric Lighting: RGB on front fans and PSU shroud
Upgraded Meshify
Enough jabbering about design aesthetics already, let’s get to the news!
The Meshify 3 and Meshify 3 XL cases keep the same edgy front as previous Meshify panels but bring some welcome upgrades.
Meshify 3 body setup on a nice station. Credit Fractal Design
First off, the Meshify 3 comes with an updated front panel with angled corners. To me, it looks like a modernized take on the original Meshify design. It’s a subtle but aesthetically pleasing change.
The front also supports a solid three 140mm fans.
Fractal’s added a sloped PSU shroud—or scoop—to direct airflow right toward the GPU. It’s a smart feature, and one we’ve seen modders 3D-print solutions for (I’m looking at you, Ali from Optimum Tech). Given how much cooling modern GPUs demand, it’s a timely addition. In Steve’s review over at Gamers Nexus, the scoop helped lower overall case temps compared to earlier models.
There are also solid upgrades to the cable management side of things. Big cutouts inside the case and useful clips behind the right panel make dealing with messy wires a lot less painful.
Ambitious “Atmospheric Lighting”
Fractal is also introducing an Ambience Pro RGB version of the Meshify 3. This version includes upgraded and classy looking lighting around the front fans and along the PSU shroud.
It uses proprietary connectors, but thankfully, it can be controlled with Windows Dynamic Lighting (meaning you can control everything directly from Windows). Or, you could use Fractal Designs web tool, that apparently does not require a login. Neat!
The Meshify line has never been flashy, and it doesn’t need to be. It’s function and performance first.
Meshify 3 vs Meshify 3 XL
Take my pricing with a grain of salty tears. Tariffs, exchange rates and impending doom might change pricing and availability. Prices in table above are representing the prices at the time of original publishing.
Performance
Since I’m not in the position to receive review units from Fractal Design, all I can do is rely on folks I trust.
And across the board, they all seem to agree that the Meshify 3 is one of Fractal’s best airflow cases to date.
Steve from Gamers Nexus, known for honesty, directness, and majestic hair, called it
…the best thermal performer they’ve tested from Fractal. He credits that to the new PSU shroud scoop. Gamers Nexus also praised fan support and cable layout. Only real gripe was tight PCIe slots in early units, but Fractal fixed that before launch.
Matt Stafford over at Tom’s Hardware backed that up by calling out the airflow gains and smart layout changes. They did note the case feels slightly less rigid than previous models—likely a tradeoff from the increased modularity. Still, they described it as a “modern rethink” of a proven design.
Damien Mason at Club386 added: …that the case delivers top-tier thermals while staying quiet. He also liked how much room there is in the XL version, especially for high-end GPU and AIO setups. The only drawback? The RGB version comes with a price bump and a bit of cable clutter if you don’t plan to use the lighting.
Conclusion
The Meshify 3 looks like another solid contender from Fractal Design. Strong thermals, clean design, thoughtful layout. Several nice upgrades from the Meshify 2 and C: atmospheric RGB, a GPU scoop, and more. If you’re into the Meshify aesthetic, this one’s worth a look for your next build.
Great work Fractal Design. You’ve greatead another banger that’s lassy, not loud or tacky.