The In Win 303 Case Review: Minimalist ATX with Tempered Glass for $93

Conclusion

In Win has myriads of designs and tries to target each and every one of them towards a different type of user. The 303 can be described as an attempt to create a minimalistic, fully metallic design for users that like showcasing their advanced systems. Aesthetics are a subjective matter and the In Win 303 is a complex subject, as it jumps from complete plainness and austere geometrics to fancy neon-like lights. It could be construed that the panel with the company logo and the lighting at the front breaks the minimalistic cleanness of the design, reducing the potential buyers of the case instead of increasing it.

Perhaps the primary feature of the 303 is its excessive simplicity, inside and outside. There are no external drives and no internal drive cages - only four metallic removable trays for the installation of a small number of 3.5” and 2.5” drives. In Win kept the use of plastic to the minimum possible; only the feet of the case, the dust filter and the illuminated parts of the faceplate are plastic. There are no plastic parts inside the 303, not even rubber grommets on the cable holes. Such a basic design that revolves entirely around the metallic motherboard tray probably sounds interesting to a modder that mostly cares about building a good-looking system. The downside is that the 303 can hold a very small number of internal devices, no 140 mm fans/radiators and no external drives, which is disheartening for a case of this size. Finally, the “accelerated tool-less” design that the company advertises is misleading, as without a screwdriver one can only remove the side panels. The installation of each and every device requires the use of a screwdriver.

In terms of quality, the In Win 303 is an admirable case with excellent mechanical properties. The steel panels are very strong and excellently joined with each other, forming an admirably robust chassis. Some people may express concerns regarding the safety of using a tempered glass side panel, but tempered glass actually is very tough, possibly even tougher than acrylic (depending on its quality). Of course it is not impervious and it should not be hit with hard pointed materials, but it is typically advertised as surviving a fall from 1-1.2 meters or a reasonable bump. The weakest part of the case is not the tempered glass side panel but the plastic feet, which may be very large and strong but the severe weight of the case makes them its most vulnerable spot.

In summary, the In Win 303 is marketed towards users that enjoy simple products and want a unique design that will not cost an arm and a leg. With a retail price of $93 including shipping at the time of this review, we believe that the In Win 303 is reasonably priced for a metal tower with a tempered glass side panel. However, the In Win 303 relies heavily on its appearance to generate sales and the design does have certain shortcomings that the potential buyer needs to consider before purchasing it (such as cooling/fans).