Conclusion
Built with solid steel construction, and available in a choice of colours, this is in our estimation one of the best-looking mid-tower chassis available today.We might have had our reservations about the flagship H700i, but NZXT is back on form with the mid-range H500i. Built with solid steel construction, and available in a choice of colours, this is in our estimation one of the best-looking mid-tower chassis available today.
Building into the case is a cinch thanks to well-thought-out cable management, spring-loaded SSD trays, and a removable front tray that makes light work of radiator installation. The end result is a hassle-free enclosure that is easy to work with and able to provide a stylish build with minimal effort.
NZXT's implementation of tempered glass is one the of the best we've seen, and blends wonderfully with the large steel sections on the top, front and side, yet there are a few niggles that remain. It's a shame the I/O panel doesn't include a reset button or USB Type-C, and though the internal Smart Device and RGB strips available to the H500i add an extra layer of flair, they do so at a premium that leaves us leaning more toward the standard H500.
Bottom line: NZXT has the makings of an excellent mid-tower solution for mainstream audiences, and just a few small tweaks to the I/O would put it close to perfection. An H500 Elite, perhaps?
The Good The Bad Sleek, stylish aesthetic
Choice of colour options
Good cable management
Simplified front radiator installation
Elegant and easy to remove glass panel
Solid build quality No reset button
No USB Type-C
NZXT H500i
HEXUS.where2buy*
The NZXT H500i chassis is available to purchase from Scan Computers.
HEXUS.right2reply
At HEXUS, we invite the companies whose products we test to comment on our articles. If any company representatives for the products reviewed choose to respond, we'll publish their commentary here verbatim.
*UK-based HEXUS community members are eligible for free delivery and priority customer service through the SCAN.care@HEXUS forum.