I know, I get it. I’ve waxed lyrical quite a lot recently about Phanteks’ current line of cases. It’s genuinely becoming mildly problematic from a tech journo standpoint. But I do think the company’s on to a bit of a winning streak with its latest line-up of big metal boxes that we put very expensive memory into. The XT View Matrix is another golden boy in big P’s arsenal, and for good bloody reason.
By definition, technically, this isn’t really a new chassis. Phanteks launched the XT View back in 2024 to pretty broad acclaim. In fact, I wrote about it in Maximum PC magazine back in the day, and, to plagiarize myself, it was frustrating to write about because it was almost too good. Bit of an inside-line here, but tech journalism on the whole? Generally a lot easier to write a review when you’ve got things to complain about.
Back then, this thing rocked in at just $80 or so. It had broad compatibility with AIOs, supported E-ATX, and more impressively came with an extraordinary amount of shiny, shiny lights baked in it as well. You got two 120mm RGB reverse blade intake fans, one 120mm exhaust, and a full-size 16-inch ARGB light strip tucked away nicely down by the side of that glass window, chucking up some gorgeous internal illumination directly into your machine. Oh, and that’s all controllable via a single button on the front I/O (or integrated into your mobo’s RGB header of choice).
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Good news is, that’s all still there.
XT View Matrix specs
(Image credit: Future)
Form factor: Mid-tower
Dimensions: 45.4 x 22.8 x 58.8 cm
Motherboard support: E-ATX, ATX M-ATX, ITX
Expansion slots: 7 horizontal + 2 Vertical
Front IO: 2x USB 3.0, 1x USB 3.2 Gen2x2, 1x Microphone/Headphone Combo, D-RGB Color Button, DRGB Mode Button
Total fan support: 9
Fan count: 2x 120 mm SIDE 3×120 mm or 2×140 mm TOP, 1×140/120 mm REAR, 3×120 mm FLOOR
Radiator support: Up to 360 mm TOP, 240mm SIDE
Graphics card support: 415 mm length
Storage: 2x 2.5-inch; 2x 3.5-inch
PSU support: ATX
Weight: 7.91 kg
Price: $120/£80
So, what’s new? Massive dot-matrix configurable LED strip hidden behind a beautifully clean mesh panel situated along the external PSU cover (and breathe). Better yet, the price is still ridiculous. The XT costs £80 in the UK and $120 in the US (thanks, tariffs). That is utter madness for what you’re getting here. This is the best budget PC case of the year, I have no doubt. Although that comes with one minor caveat.
Now, let me talk the positives before I get to that. The XT View Matrix? Beautiful. Paint job? Lush. Glass panels? Multiple. Glistening with a seamless edge. RGB fans? Check, check, check. And then you get to the matrix strip.
It’s hidden behind a stunning piece of grey mesh canvas that absolutely looks the part. If you’ve seen a modern fabric gaming chair, same stuff basically. And I’ve never stroked a PC case more in my entire life. I know that sounds ridiculous. It’s not exactly a sentence I thought I’d be writing after 11 years in this profession, but here we are. It’s so soft.
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(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)
But it’s the panel behind it that’s most controversial. Purely down to taste. Like it’s 2001 all over again, and we’re all pretending we’re Dominic Toretto in that film with all the cars in it.
Now, I built in this thing, set it all up, got the beauty powered on, stuck the RGB lighting to what I liked, then called in arguably the second most well-experienced tech reviewer I know, my long-time fiancée. I went, “phwoar, look at that, that’s bloody sick, ain’t it?” She responded, and I quote: “I hate it, it looks like the pc case equivalent of a crushed velvet sofa”. Thanks Dani.
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(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)
She has a point, though, as much as I hate to admit it. Take a quick glance at this thing, configured how you like it, and there’s this semblance of gauche about it that’s sort of hard to ignore. You can, of course, configure it all up in Phantek’s NexLinq software quite easily, and it’ll showcase date, time, hardware temps, loads, etc., but it is such a bold addition to the overall aesthetic, you’ll either love it or hate it, and honestly, I’m torn now.
Panel shenanigans aside, the build process is generally super easy. Chuck your motherboard in, then your power supply, get all that wired up first (trust me, you’ll thank me when it comes to CPU power), then pop your cooler in and finally your graphics card, and you’re good to go. There’s plenty of space around back, and plenty of cable tie-off points too, with a comfortable number of mounting locations for those inevitable 2.5-inch SSDs we’re all going to be dusting off in the coming months.
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(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)
Buy if…
✅ You’re after a budget chassis, live in the UK, and want a bit of style: The XT View is a solid all-round entry level chassis. Combined with that dot-matrix panel, it’s an absolute looker too, as long as you can get behind the aesthetic.
Don’t buy if…
❌ You’re looking for something a bit more sophisticated: That dot matrix is big, bold, and surprisingly in your face. If you’re not a fan of the over-the-top dot matrix, you’d be better off grabbing the standard model instead.
I’m also convinced someone at Phanteks made an error in the shipping manifests when they built these things, because the accessory box came with no less than 30 cable ties (that’s not hyperbole, I can confirm, I counted them). Which makes a big difference in the build process, compared to the time I had with the Silverstone FLP02 I reviewed last month, and its two included ties.
So any other negatives then? Aside from the do-or-die display? Well, it really could use a GPU anti-sag bracket built in somehow or included somewhere, and my one and only major complaint is that, with the included fans, the cables are a bit “eugh”, to say the least. You can daisy-chain them, but that does mean you’ve got random headers popping out near the 24-pin ATX motherboard connector and the rear I/O, which looks a bit awkward.
Otherwise, though, it’s a stellar piece of work, and for the cash, you won’t be disappointed. Good news doesn’t stop there either. If you have the View but want the display, Phanteks sells it separately, and if you’re like future Mrs Storey, and detest it with every fiber of your being, the stock model is still available too, without it.
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