Top critical review
1.0 out of 5 starsGlass panel shattered suddenly upon removal from case
Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2022
CAUTION: The tempered glass panel will shatter randomly upon removal from the PC case.
I built my PC in 2021 using the Meshify C compact case. Between then and now, I removed the tempered glass panel on several occasions to make some minor adjustments to the components and to do some routine dusting using compressed air. I was removing the tempered glass panel for the tenth or so time to do another routine dusting. I had finished unscrewing the last screw holding the panel to the case, and was gently lowering the panel into my hands with a firm grip pressing the bottom of the panel (to prevent it from falling on the floor) when the panel suddenly shattered. The glass panel did not hit the floor, but instead, shattered in my hands almost immediately after the top of the panel left the rubber stoppers. There were no visible cracks to indicate that the glass panel would shatter.
Thankfully, when I was removing the panel, it was angled vertically and in a way that prevented a majority of the glass from falling into the PC. My hands were also remarkably unscathed. Upon examination, the shattered glass pieces were making strange crackling noises and were popping like popcorn (especially the smaller shattered pieces, which actually "hopped" around on the floor).
I performed a quick online search (e.g., Reddit) and found that many other people have experienced similar issues with the tempered glass panel shattering suddenly, either while attached to the case or upon removal from the case.
If you are still considering getting this case, I would highly recommend getting the metal panel option if it is available. While it is nice to see your components, it is not worth the risk of having the glass panel shatter unexpectedly.
I also submitted a support ticket to Fractal to see if they can send a replacement panel (preferably a metal one, if possible) and will see how they respond.
As for the other aspects of the case: I will admit that this was a good, compact case up until the tempered glass shattered (for which the case will still get a one star). The mesh filters, coupled with decent fans and fan configuration, will ensure both adequate air flow and prevent major dust build-up inside the PC. The case is very easy to move/store since it is compact. Though, I would highly recommend that you measure the dimensions of your components to ensure everything fits. My Noctua CPU cooler barely fit under the tempered glass by 1-2 millimeters, and a larger graphics card might have issues fitting with slightly thicker PC fans (my MSI 3070 would not fit with 140mm Noctua fans in the front panel, but 120mm fans were okay).
