Oh god I hate really big logos on product. Fractal is 1000% going in the right direction of keeping it subtle. Their design is unique enough to be recognized.
That raspberry pi case absolutely needs to be made. The Mood has officially made me want to build an ITX computer for the first time. Nice work, Fractal.
Rly? Fabric is the last thing I want on a PC case, let alone wrapped around 75% of it. Trying to clean that thing.... The thought gives me a panic attack lol
Web interface for the headset is a god send. Went to Linux with Windows 11's enshittification . The Web interface makes it perfect for supporting multiple OS's. Added it to my mental wishlist
Wow, your title was not clickbait! Fractal is killing it lately with their design language. Loving the direction they've been going with integrating their chasses as pieces to highlight in a modern interior.
I've got that exact Fractal North case with wood accents but in black instead of white. It's part of my Noctua build. I really favor the simple and minimalist designs that most of what Fractal puts out. It's a refreshing change from the gaudy angular drivel that the market is flooded with today. I want my computer to look like an art piece, not a chunk of something that a Decepticon coughed up. More wood, less RGB please. There are people out there who use their PC for big boy tasks and would like something that's not a lit up circus of distracting colored lights.
I would love to see a graphite grey Fractal case with dark wooden elements or similar two color designs that KEF LS50 Meta speaker uses. Would be a great collab partner. Fractal + KEF special product line... Please, make it happen.
@@maxcarrasco260 Yep. I would instantly buy one if they would use some nice looking graphite color paint. Would look sick with my massive ebony desk + other graphite grey pieces. I feel like it's really hard to find nice grey color PC parts/cases.
Love that ERA2 case!! I'm curious if they would consider also selling the wood top panel with other species of wood, like a bamboo. Also, they have HAVE to make that Pi case.!!
Fractal should be marketing the chair and headset as "work from home" lifestyle products. Feel like they will have more success targeting home office vs gaming den.
Where I'm from no decent case is less than 150usd. The define R7 is 202usd here. Compare that to when I in 2015 bought an r4 which cost me at most 90usd. :(
@@lliamthrumble Totally agree. Sleeper builds trend should be awakened. Well, they are asleep, which is basically the point, but... you know what I mean.
Thank you for showing the chairs in detail as well, I hope its availability will be widespread. Fractal is really knocking it out of the park this year
I bought my Fractal Design Ion PSU back in 2021 for my m-ITX build, and even though my case (NR200P) allows for ATX sized PSUs, I just love the design and modularity of the unit. Seasonic guts with a 10 year warranty. The way it came with two pouches (both for the PSU and the cables) was a lovely touch. Fractal can have my business anytime! 😄
I wish they would have went full headphone with an open back, expand a little bit but the $200 entry level of audiophile headphones is a TOUGH space to penetrate...heh
I'm waiting for the company to perfect open backed wireless. No idea how they would figure out the internals and where to put the battery but I'm only the asshole with the money to buy.
I really like Fractal cases. Currently have builds in the Pop, Terra and Node202 cases. Used to use the Focus G too. All very nice cases at reasonable prices. That new Mood case seems inspired by the Xbox Series X with the square tower and circular venting design. I'm not keen on the fabric, but the Era case looks really nice.
The subtle branding screams "our designs speak for themselves" and my god they do. Every case, every product, even the ones that are just for show are drop dead gorgeous. If i had to pick a case to build in, i'd never be able to choose honestly. I want that chair, i want that headphone, i want all those cases. Everything about this video is on point. Well done Paul and well done Fractal. I hope we see a build a series where you do a build in each of these cases and Fractal, you need to swap out his entire studio setup with these new products. PS Fractal, you forgot to launch that beverage chiller you've been working on for the last couple years. It would look great on Paul's desk.
Fractal's new design queues are perfect for bringing back the Node 605 restyled with with some wood accents and fresh IO. I'd love to put a new fractal case as the centerpiece of my home theater. Love the way the North elevated and matches my desk/home office.
Yeah, they really need to release a bunch of those Pi cases! So cute! Although they might just be too expensive to find a widespread adoption. That headset seems promising though. Hope it doesn't lack in audio performance! Been looking for a replacement for my aging HyperX
You missed that the "Mood" only has 1 out of its 3 fabric sides that allow airflow on the removable cover. 2 of its 3 fabric sides on this cover have metal panels behind it that are solid.
Those first 2 cases (wood top one & the entertainment center vertical one) are extremely similar to some mini-ITX cases from Sweden that picked up a year or two ago. Those were made to be as small as possible (no AIO/2 slot max gpu) where these take it to the finish-line specifically designed for slightly larger GPU space + AIO ability. The finishing touches (wraparound case shell - awesome, wood accent, quick release everything & classy branding & logo) make this really attractive. I wonder if the same designer had a hand in designing these? FWIW, I paid $150 for those aluminum cases (I think they're like 10-12 ltr) ~18 months ago, so while 200 is a lot of money, these are worth it IMO. (happy fractal customer)
I love the Era 2 and since my setup is black and purple based and the wood panel doesn't look glued in or anything, I'm excited to try replacing the wood panel with purpleheart wood
I was actually working on building/3d printing a wireless charging stand for a headset like that. It never made sense to me why all the wireless charging stands had the headsets lay flat instead of upright like that stand. I love it!
I've loved my Meshify C so much that I don't anticipate doing more than a cursory glance at other brands for a case when I need to build again. Also, THANK GOD: Mesh seats on a nice chair! I loaned my Aeron to my sister for WFH during the pandemic and I'm not going to take it back as long as she's using it. But I was alarmed to find that the all-important mesh seat is fairly rare now. This gives me a great option other than "buy another used Aeron" and I like that the headrest seems to be integrated, rather than addon.
I must admit at first I wasn't a fan of wood on cases, but it's gotten so tasteful with recent designs I really do like it now. Makes the PC look more at home given the usual decor in the rest of most rooms.
Question about the chairs: I am 6'7" 280lbs... are the chairs rated for 300lbs? I really want a mesh one and will buy one if the base and hydraulics are rated for giant folk like me.
The mood looks interesting. I just got an Alta G1M but I really like these monolith style cases. Could have been relevant if it was out a few months ago
Ok, that Air 2 case is freaking sweet. Especially the midnight blue. Wish I was already Mini-ITX rather than ATX, not cheap to get that case, new motherboard, and a new PSU...
I'm nervous about the headset being a web-based thing. I feel like that's just gonna make them paperweights in the future unless they allow for an alternate software option or some way to do it on the headset given that I saw a couple buttons on there.
Loving the mood of the Fractal Design space, very classy and understated like much of what the company makes. For me the standout item is the Fractal Space headset, really looking forward to seeing the reviews for this, my current headset is a real headache to stow away and to keep charged and, even where I am nominally happy with the performance, I still feel like it could be more comfy. Those Space (in the black for me please) look like they could remedy every QoL issue I've had. On the case side, I'm slightly disappointed that FD is still disregarding the mATX space. The Era 2 (?) looks nice enough, but I really don't get the design intent here. The wood accent is on the top, yet with controls at the bottom of the case it's clearly meant to be put on your desk (so unless you're a giant you're not really seeing that wood panelling at all during usage). At the same time, the look of the actual case makes it look slightly alien - nothing wrong with that, but it doesn't fit what I'd see as a complement to wood panelling. That being said, huge kudos from me to FD for making computer cases here (with both the Era II and the Mood, the latter one which would look rad in black) rather than computer aquariums.
I want that RPi case. I want ten of them. Also, this is a brilliantly done infomercial. Also, the Mood. I need that. And the headset. I wish you were not so good at infomercials.
many years ago when I bought my 2nd PC Case Fractal was one of the very few brands, that had a more timeless design. For decades im baffled how companies dont apply mature design, and always go for that gamer aesthetik.
Just the chairs I looked for...if I didn't buy the neue chair a year ago or so I would buy these now... Regarding the headphones I love that they use fabric and not some fake leather which will disintegrate after a few years. However I am looking for open-back headphones. They seem to be close-back, right? I pfer to hear my own voice when recording...
That software-free design on the headset is a huuuuuge win in my book. Those chairs also look very comfy, their cases and everything else look really nice without all that gaudy gamer goofiness, and I'm honestly proud of Fractal for sticking to their guns of being classy all this time. One question though: what ever happened to Fractal Josh? I miss seeing that guy in your/Kyle's/Jay's videos.
Does the fans/radiator attach directly to the Era 2 frame or cover panel? If on the cover, how do you remove (or install) the cover without interference from cables/tube's?
I dont get it why cases have dust filters that only accessible from the back? Make it user friendly and be able to pull it out from the front without moving the whole case.
I believe the original Fractal Era was selling for like $270.00 which was one of the reasons it was doa when it launched. If the new version sells for $200.00 thats not too bad. The anodized finish on the original version also scratched easily. I hope they changed that.
It's frustrating that they got so close to what I want from a case with a 180mm fan, and backed off at the last minute. I just want air to enter at one end and to leave at the other and maintain airflow across the whole case, not holes in the side.
Those fabric headphones look great. But just like mouses with perforated surfaces I can't see this working out long term in real world. Wash at 30°, Delicate? Sweat, dirt, bacteria - this world is going well and alive. The rest looks just as great while making a lot more sense. The only thing I missed is mATX.
10:07 The headset, is essentially accessible the way you would access a Wi-Fi router? So not actually needing to be online, it's just the front end is a web page? Because if it has to be online then we have a problem
Though I love Fractal cases none of these top/peak my favorite (admittedly I'm functionality over form) the Fractal Design TORRENT. Superior design, excellent value, wonderful to build within, variability/flexibility for fan sizes and placement, AIRFLOW EXCELLENCE - it simply has no weakness now or "future-proofness". I saw nothing beating it in the "next generation". Yes, there are coolness factors and aesthetic beauty/greatness for smaller form factors, colors, shapes, etc...but nothing "eye-brow" raising (case-wise). Interesting Fractal is moving into other types of products...I wonder how much is built by them and how much is simply farmed out to other mass manufacturing companies making products for others, as well? Interesting to hear your reviews of them once they reach GMR/availability....thanks for the information reporting/sharing/dissemination!! Try to have a good time in Taipei!!
In the market for a wireless headset and wow, those look absolutely amazing. the web-based settings makes me a little worried, i'm wondering about the battery life too... are they replaceable by the end user if it comes to that, etc...
@@jetah50 I’m an ignoramus in the world of case-modding. It seems that with the single, removable shell that it might be easier to do this, however. Less screws and rivets to worry about.
The cases are nice, I do love that midnight blue colorway. With the pricing of everything else, I was expecting those headphones to be more than $200 tbh...not that I have a $200 headphone budget, but depending on how they sound, they look nice at least.
The Refine gaming/office chair is dope but are the arm rests replaceable? I hope they're replaceable and magnetic. Kinda like what Secret Labs has been doing.
I actually have a fondness/respect for a brand. This is NOT normal for me. Fractal has earned it with the most amazing customer support I have ever experienced. (Meshify C..white.. love that case)
Not selling that Pi case is a crime. Fractal can make something amazing like the Mood, but you don't have the ability to sell the little Pi case? You're killing me, Fractal.
That Fractal Era 2 doesn't appeal to me. Especially not at $200 - it looks like a $50 case. The Mood, OTOH, is another matter. It loos very nice. I'm just concerned about the gap at the bottom for the video cables. What is the weight limit of those chairs?
whenever i turn off my computer and turn it back on, i have to unplug and replug my headset's dongle to get it to work. it might be the dongle, it might be the mobo idk, but i've been looking for a new headset. this one from Fractal looks really nice, i think i'll just wait for that. i've also had an itch to build a mini pc, and i painted my room a sort of midnight blue a few years ago, so this is perfect timing.
I'm interested in knowing if the era 2 fits a full atx psu or do we have to use an sfx one. I don't care about rad support because I'll mod the case and use external rads.
My cat will LOVE that fabric covering!! Maybe it will improve air flow.. Seriously Fractal are the only cases I build in & still loving my Refine 5.. $200.00 you say? Well spent for a case you'll have forever.. All in all Fractal is a class act..
Man, Fractal’s design is really working for me. I like everything I saw here, it’s gonna be a challenge to control my wallet I’m afraid. p.s. they DEFINITELY need to make that teeny Pi case
