NZXT Aer RGB 140 Triple Pack Fan Review

Final Thoughts

Price

The NZXT Aer RGB 140mm Triple Pack of fans and HUE Controller can be purchased as a bundle for £96.44 for the 140mm version, or £85.17 for the 120mm version. This isn’t cheap, not by a long shot, but given that the HUE+ RGB controller which comes with four LED lighting strips of its own costs £48.48, it’s not as demanding an investment for the fans as it first seems. Buying the fans on their own is a waste of effort though, as we’ve seen them costing £30-40 EACH!

Overview

I’m really torn between several emotions when it comes to the NZXT AER RGB fans, as they’re far from perfect when it comes to practicality. That being said, few if any customisable RGB lighting fans are easy to work with, or cheap, so it’s not like NZXT are behind the curve here.

The cables required can be a pain, especially if you’re eager to focus on immaculate cable routing for your build. The fans lighting cables are not a standard cable and if you need more, you’ll need to buy the specific extensions and adapters to do so. With a little care, you can get them looking great, but be sure to measure up your cable runs and check cable lengths required before you purchase or start your build.

It does suck that they have to run through the HUE HUB too, as that nearly doubles the cost, but at the same time it should be seen that the fans are an expansion of the HUE RGB strip lighting kit, rather than something that requires it. The RGB strips do a fantastic job of illuminating the whole chassis, as we saw in our review of those. However, when it comes to unique looking fans, the AER are on point.

The lighting effects are a nice touch too, having breathing and colour cycle effects that are sure to put a smile on your RGB loving face. You don’t get the more advanced marquee type effects you get from the RGB strips, but there’s still enough customisation to be found here and the full RGB colour selector means you’re sure to find the colours that are right for you.

The Aer miss out on an eTeknix award today, but not because they’re bad, far from it. They look and perform great, but I still think closer to £100 for lighting kit like this is too much, and that the cable system is too clunky to be practical. They do a great job, but I want to see more done to streamline the system in future models. If you buy this setup, however, you won’t be disappointed with the aesthetics they offer.

Pros

• Fantastic colour palette
• Unique aesthetics
• Chainable effects and colours
• Can be synced with the RGB strips
• Quiet fan performance
• Available in 120mm and 140mm

Cons

• Quite expensive
• Can be tricky to install
• Must be connected to HUE+ for lighting effects
• Extra cable routing can be tricky

“Give your system a stylish and modern lighting system with the AER and it’s sure to take your build to the next level. They’re a little tricky to install, but the visual boost they provide is something you may not be able to resist.”