Affordable cases are always tough to find, even with the overflowing market. What I always look for in a case is simplicity and customization at the right price. Many computer enthusiasts look for affordable cases to work with and make them unique. Recently Fractal Design released the Pop Air product line that is targeting budget gamers and modders around the world. Their offering starts with three different sizes of cases, Pop Mini Air, Pop Air, and Pop XL Air. All the mentioned sizes are offered with multiple options, such as RGB and tempered glass, so you can purchase exactly what you need. But they all share the same craftsmanship and unparallel quality from Fractal Design. We will be taking a look at the Pop Air RGB case. The Pop Air RGB case comes with RGB 120mm (Aspect RGB) fans and a glass left-side panel.
Technical Specifications
| Pop Air | |
| Dedicated 2.5″ drive mounts | 4 (2 included) |
| Combined 3.5/2.5” drive mounts | 3 (2 included) |
| 5.25” drive mounts | 2 |
| Expansion slots | 7 |
| Front interface | 2x USB 3.0* (* USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C add-on available separately), Audio, RGB controller (RGB Versions only) |
| Total fan mounts | 5x 120 mm or 4x 140 mm |
| Front fan (RGB version) | 2x 120/140 mm (2x Aspect 12 RGB included) |
| Front fan (Non-RGB version) | 2x 120/140 mm (2x Aspect 12 included) |
| Top fan | 2x 120/140 mm |
| Rear fan (RGB version) | 1x 120 mm (1x Aspect 12 RGB included) |
| Bottom fan | N/A |
| Dust filters | Top (perforated plastic), PSU (nylon), Front (perforated steel) |
| Cable routing grommets | No |
| Fixed cable ties | Yes, 2 pcs |
| Captive thumbscrews | HDD brackets, SSD brackets, Side panels |
| Left side panel | Tempered glass (Pop Air TG) or Solid steel (Pop Air Solid) |
| Right side panel | Solid steel |
Compatibility
| Motherboard compatibility | ATX / mATX / Mini ITX |
| Power supply type | ATX |
| PSU max length | 170mm |
| GPU max length | 405 mm with front fan mounted |
| CPU cooler max height | 170mm |
| Front radiator | Up to 280 mm |
| Top radiator | Up to 240 mm (max 46 mm RAM height) |
| Rear radiator | 1x 120 mm |
| Bottom radiator | N/A |
| Cable routing space | 19 mm |
Dimensions
| Case dimensions (LxWxH) | 473.5 x 215 x 454 mm |
| Net weight | 7.2kg (Pop Air TG and Pop Air RGB TG) / 6.80kg (Pop Air Solid) |
| Package dimensions (LxWxH) | 548 x 307 x 537 mm |
| Gross weight | 8.7kg (Pop Air TG and Pop Air RGB TG) / 8.3kg (Pop Air Solid) |
The shipping box for the Pop Air is made from recycled cardboard, and it does not have any color images. In fact, the information relayed here is all in greyscale. By looking over the front and back of the shipping box, you can get a pretty good idea of what kind of case you are looking at. What I really like is the rear diagram of some of the features of the Pop Air, such as the removable front bezel, customizable fans in the front of the case, hard drive brackets and etc.
The case itself is secured in standard white plastic foam inserts that hold it in place during transport. To keep the case from any additional mishaps, the Pop Air has a bag over it. What I found odd was the shipment of the top filter for the case. It is a magnetic filter that basically attaches to the top of the case to keep internal components free of dust. This magnetic filter came in a bubble bag and was taped off the case in the front.
To keep the glass of the case from scratches, Fractal Design applied a plastic protective sticky layer on both sides of the case. You would want to remove that before finalizing your custom build. The Pop Air comes with a small accessory bag with some zip ties, screws, a guide, and a set of radiator brackets for an extension if needed.
