Performance Analysis

Despite the apparently closed design, the Define R6 clearly doesn't struggle for airflow, delivering some very good temperatures on both fronts and sitting near the top of the charts. To be fair to the other cases, this is with three 140mm fans running at full speed, which did mean they were audible, although not loud.

Of course, there are so many ways you could configure this case that these results don't mean as much as they once did, but it's reassuring to know that your components will be well looked after if you're happy with the default arrangement.

Conclusion

The previous iteration of this case was decent enough, but the new Define R6 feels like a true return to form. Many of its design touches are arguably predictable (tempered glass, vertical GPU support, PSU shroud, etc.), but that doesn't make them any less appealing. The build quality has been massively improved, and the case is easy to work with at every step. The flexible interior supports multiple hardware configurations without much stress as well, and whatever you put inside is sure to look pretty great thanks to the clean design and cable management. Support for extras like the upcoming USB 3.1 Type-C front panel is good news for those who want the latest and greatest, and overall we think the price is fair given the quality. While Fractal has missed the Christmas rush by releasing so late in the year, we can easily see this being a very popular case through 2018, and for good reason.