When Havn launched its first PC chassis, the HS 420, it made a splash with bold design choices and focus on showcasing hardware. Now, with the Havn BF 360, the brand shifts gears: less about “showcase glass spectacle,” more about balanced performance, airflow optimization, and design pragmatism. The BF 360 is a mid‑tower aimed squarely at builders who want strong thermal performance in a manageable form factor, without sacrificing aesthetics or user friendliness.
Background: From HS 420 to BF 360. Havn’s design philosophy
Havn’s first flagship, the HS 420, was a statement piece: huge, panoramic glass, vertical GPU variants, and a distinctive design language. With BF 360, Havn retains some of that DNA (rounded edges, attention to build convenience, premium touches) yet pares down to a more conventional mid‑tower that emphasizes function.
During development, Havn’s engineers reportedly iterated dozens of front‑panel and vent geometries to maximize airflow while managing acoustic output. The “stone‑inspired” ribbing aesthetic on the front was not simply decorative, the rib spacing, angle, and depth were refined for aerodynamic effect.
This philosophy, “design meets airflow engineering,” runs through every aspect of the BF 360. It’s not just “a pretty box with holes,” but an ecosystem: case + bespoke fans + airflow pathways.
Specifications at a glance
| Category | Detail |
| Form Factor | ATX / mid‑tower |
| Dimensions | ~ 515 × 254 × 522.6 mm |
| Weight | ~ 14.7–14.8 kg (base) |
| Material | Steel, tempered glass, plastic panels |
| Motherboards Supported | Mini‑ITX / Micro‑ATX / ATX / (E‑ATX up to ~277mm) |
| GPU Clearance | ~ 410 mm |
| CPU Cooler Height Limit | ~ 195 mm |
| PSU Length Limit | ~ 200 mm |
| Radiator Support | Top: up to 420 mm; Rear: up to 140 mm; Front: up to 360 mm (various config) |
| Fan Support (total) | Up to 7 (3 front, 3 top, 1 rear) |
| Included Fans (Flow version) | 2× H18 (180 mm) + 1× H14 (140 mm) |
| Front I/O | USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type‑A ×2, USB 3.2 Type‑C ×1, audio jack |
| Storage Support | Multiple 2.5″ SSDs behind tray, plus 3.5″ optional mounting |
| Variants | Flow (with fans) / standard (fanless) |
| Colors | Black or White |
| Price Range (estimate) | ~ US$180 / £170 / €190 for Flow; ~ US$160 / £140 / €160 for standard |
Interpretation and observations
- The volume and weight place BF 360 at the higher end of mid‑towers. It’s not lightweight, but that’s partly due to thick panels, structural reinforcement, and support features.
- The GPU length ceiling (~410 mm) means even large triple‑slot GPUs are comfortably accommodated.
- Radiator space is solid: being able to place a 420 mm radiator on top offers flexibility for AIO liquid cooling rigs.
- With seven fan spots, you can build strong airflow configurations even beyond the included fans.
- The dual variants let builders choose: get Flow and get a ready‑to‑go build, or choose the fanless version and install your preferred fans yourself.
Design and aesthetics
Exterior Styling & Front Panel
On first glance, BF 360 carries a clean, industrial vibe. The front panel is not a glass or mesh slab, but rather a five‑layer textured “slate” plastic design, modeled to evoke stone. Behind it, elongated vents run vertically, channeling air across the front intake region.
That panel is magnetic, which simplifies removal and cleaning. At the top front, subtle ribbing and ventilation openings show careful calibration: Havn claims the intake design evolved across multiple prototypes to boost airflow (e.g., from ~312.5 CFM to ~315.1 CFM) while reducing turbulence.
One tradeoff: unlike the HS 420, the BF 360 lacks a vented side or back panel design (i.e., there’s no rear panel venting behind the motherboard). This might seem like losing a signature feature from its sibling. Still, the front and top vent strategy aims to make up for that.
Magnetic panels, dust filters, and build access
The top, front, and side panels are removed cleanly. The top uses magnetic mounting plus a fabric pull tab for swift removal. The tempered glass side panel is held with a rubberized grip edge to minimize risks while sliding it off. Dust filters (magnetic or slide-out) are integrated below the power supply and front intake region.
The top fan/radiator bracket can slide outward, offering easy access to the top deck for installations. Rubber pads and vibration-dampening are used where applicable.
Cable management and interior layout
A strong point: the BF 360 inherits and refines Havn’s cable routing philosophy. Behind the motherboard tray, wide cable channels, Velcro straps, and slide‑adjust cable tidies make routing thicker cables easier. Rather than stacking 3.5″ drive cages beneath the motherboard tray, the case relocates them to the side of the tray, freeing up under‑tray space and improving airflow under the shroud.
On the visible side, a GPU support bracket is mounted on an adjustable swing arm, allowing you to fine-tune pressure on large graphics cards. Some reviewers noted slight frustration with header placements (e.g. USB 3.0 header location), but overall, the bracket is considered helpful.
Under the shroud, there’s ample space for custom cabling, modular routing, and avoiding clutter in high‑airflow zones.
Cooling architecture and fan design
This is where BF 360 aims to shine.
The new H‑Series fan family
Havn has developed a new family of H‑Series fans that accompany the BF 360 launch. These include 180 mm (dubbed H18) and 140 mm (H14) variants. The 180 mm fan is built with a 40 mm thick frame, which is quite tall by case fan standards, allowing for greater blade depth and stronger pressure for a given RPM.
Havn claims hub shaping (“harmonized flow hub”) helps guide air smoothly toward blade leading edges, reducing turbulence, and is paired with a “wave edge” blade rim to suppress noise. The fan materials include 30% fiberglass-reinforced composite, and they also sport triple‑groove fluid dynamic bearings in a metal alloy core.
Interestingly, Havn initially experimented with 52 mm thick fans but settled back to 40 mm for their balance of performance and practicality.
These fan designs aren’t just for show, the engineering is woven into the case’s cooling architecture.
Thick fan frames, hub shaping, and acoustics
Why make fans so thick? The reasoning is that at lower RPMs, deeper blades can move more air per revolution, reducing the need to spin fast (and thus lowering noise). The extra thickness gives more room for pressure buildup. The harmonized hub shape helps smooth airflow near the central region of the fan, mitigating eddies at the hub-blade junction.
Havn has tested multiple spacing gaps (blade to frame) during development. For instance, a 2.0 mm gap was chosen as an optimal tradeoff across pressure, airflow, and manufacturing yield. These engineering decisions suggest Havn is trying to compete with known quiet, performance fans (e.g. Noctua) on acoustics while pushing airflow boundaries.
Airflow ducting & GPU-focused channel
One of BF 360’s signature internal design choices is the angled duct or channel under the front intake that “scoops” air toward the GPU area. In practice, this means cooler air is funneled preferentially toward the graphics card, a hotspot in many high-end builds.
At the bottom front area, a baffle is used to block recirculation and prevent the same cool air from being pulled back inward. Because of that, even smaller (or more typical) fans may lose efficiency less in this layout. This kind of active internal ducting is relatively rare in mid‑towers and shows Havn’s attention to thermal flow.
Combined with sloped PSU shroud surfaces that guide airflow upward and toward components, the BF 360 hopes to reduce thermal “dead zones.”
Build experience and usability
Removal of Trays, Modular Elements
One recurring theme in BF 360 reviews is that modularity eases building. The front intake fan bracket can slide out, making fan installs easier. Drive sleds are removable. The top bracket also slides outward for radiator or fan work. All panels (front, top, side) are quick-release or magnetic, reducing the hassle typical in conventional cases.
These touches reduce build friction, especially valuable when managing large fans or heavy GPUs.
GPU support bracket and cable routing
Heavy GPUs can sag over time. BF 360 includes a swing-arm GPU support bracket that can be positioned to counter sag. The mounting is secured via a single thumbscrew, making adjustments easier. The cable routing uses flush SimpliCable pass-throughs, which helps maintain clean visual lines. Multiple grommets and rubber tabs help hide wires. Some reviewers encountered mild annoyance with header placements (e.g. USB 3.0) on their test boards, but overall the layout is considered well‑thought‑out.
PSU shroud and under‑shroud space
Under the PSU shroud is generous room for routing cables, hiding excess length, and organizing modular cabling. Havn ensures that under‑shroud clutter won’t block airflow to the lower front intake zone or impede cooling near the GPU. The angled shroud design itself helps guide airflow upward and reduce turbulence or recirculation near the base. Overall, for people building big, heavy systems (multi-GPU, thick cables, custom loops), BF 360 offers a favorable amount of working room and modularity.
Thermal and acoustic performance
Because the BF 360 is newly launched, robust independent benchmarks are still emerging. However, based on early testing, we have useful data and impressions.
Review Summaries & Metrics
Testing of the Flow variant (with included fans) in a standard ambient environment yielded the following results:
- CPU average: ∼69.6∘C; peak ∼73.1∘C
- GPU average: ∼66.3∘C; peak ∼68.1∘C
When adding two extra H18 fans at the top, temperatures were observed to drop by ∼2−3 ∘C (underscoring the benefit of expanded intake/exhaust). Build analysis suggests cable management is excellent, and the included fans deliver solid performance with relatively low RPMs, contributing to lower noise.
Testers praise the front intake design for delivering strong airflow without excessively high RPMs, a benefit of the large 180 mm fans.
Strengths in real‑world testing
- Thermal headroom: The direct GPU-focused ducting helps avoid the “GPU starvation” many cases suffer, offering more consistent lower GPU temps under load.
- Low RPM advantage: Because H18 fans move more air per revolution, benchmarks suggest less aggressive fan curves are needed, helping noise suppression.
- Scalability: Adding more fans (especially in the top slots) consistently increased cooling headroom.
- Build consistency: Modular design and spacious layout reduced build errors or obstructions that might compromise airflow.
Noise tradeoffs and limitations
The thick fans and increased airflow capacity come with potential for more noise under high load. Some analysis cautions that pushing all fans aggressively might elevate noise above “whisper-quiet” expectations.
Because the rear panel lacks venting, exhaust relies heavily on the rear 140 mm fan and upper ventilation, some argue this may create pressure imbalances in certain builds. Performance gains may also be less dramatic in compact or airflow-constrained environments
Variant options and pricing
“Flow” Version vs Fanless Version
Havn offers two main variants:
- Flow version: Ships with 2× H18 180 mm fans (front) +1× H14 140 mm fan (rear). Ideal for users who want a ready‑to-build solution.
- Standard/fanless version: No fans included, for those who prefer to pick their own.
The difference in pricing is modest: Flow is slightly more expensive to account for the included fans.
Color Options & Regional Availability
You can get the BF 360 in black or white finishes. The pricing is the same regardless of color. Regional rollout is expected Q4 2025, with availability via major European vendors and the official Havn site is soliciting signups for launch notifications.
Expected MSRP & Positioning
- Flow version: ∼US$180/£170/€190
- Standard version: ∼US$160/£140/€160
These figures position BF 360 in the premium mid‑tower segment, competing with top-tier airflow-optimized cases rather than budget options.
Comparison vs competitors/alternatives
Versus HS 420 (its sibling)
- Size & usability: BF 360 is more compact and more conventional than HS 420, which emphasizes panoramic glass and showcase builds.
- Vent strategy: HS 420 had venting on the rear panel and more aggressive side venting; BF 360 replaces that with front/top airflow.
- Intent: HS 420 is more of a statement build case, while BF 360 aims to be a high-performance, practical build chassis.
Versus Top Airflow Mid‑Towers
Compared to other high-airflow mid-towers:
- It competes well in terms of fan count and size, often surpassing ones that rely on 120/140 mm fans exclusively.
- The integrated ducting for GPU cooling is a differentiator many competitors lack.
- Some competing designs may offer more RGB or glass features; BF 360 trades flamboyance for thermal efficiency and utility.
Use Cases: For Whom the BF 360 is Ideal
- Builders who prioritize thermals and airflow over aesthetics.
- Heavy gaming rigs or ones with high TDP GPUs where GPU cooling is crucial.
- Users who like modular, flexible builds and want to add fans later.
- Users who don’t need or want ARGB or glass display cases.
If your priority is flashy glass displays or RGB drama, there may be more visually showy alternatives. But for “performance-first” builders, BF 360 is a competitive contender.
Potential Weaknesses & Caveats
Weight, Bulk & Footprint
At ∼14.7−14.8 kg (empty), BF 360 is heavy for a mid-tower. Installation and movement require planning. Its 515 mm depth and 522.6 mm height are also substantial—it may strain smaller desks or tight setups.
Lack of Back Venting / Design Tradeoffs
The omission of rear/back panel venting (compared to HS 420) means exhaust relies more on top vents and the rear 140 mm exhaust. Some users may find that limiting in pressure-imbalanced or congested systems. Also, some aesthetic purists may miss the wraparound venting signature of earlier Havn models.
ARGB / Lighting Options (or Lack Thereof)
The BF 360 Flow version does not include ARGB lighting or RGB fans. If visual flair is a priority, you may need to add lighting modules yourself. For some builders, that’s a missed opportunity
Who Should Pick the Havn BF 360?
The Havn BF 360 is a strong pick for builders who:
- Prioritize cooling performance over excess flair.
- Want modular and user‑friendly build experience, especially for thick cables / large components.
- Appreciate engineering nuance (fan design, ducting, component layout).
- Don’t require built‑in RGB lighting or a showcase glass facade.
If your use case is a heavy gaming GPU, possible overclocking, or otherwise heat-intensive build, BF 360 has the bones to support it. However, if you want maximum glass, ARGB, or ultra-minimal case weight, there are alternatives to consider. Still, for its niche, BF 360 is one of the more thoughtfully engineered mid‑towers of 2025.
