The ASUS Prime AP202 is a compact mATX case with a curved glass panel and RGB-lit slot vent

If you’re into mATX builds, the ASUS Prime AP201 might be a name you’re familiar with, since it was a popular choice thanks to its understated design and ability to fit large components in a relatively compact size. Now, ASUS has just announced the official launch of its successor, the Prime AP202, and it’s taking a whole new direction with this release.

For starters, the Prime AP202 is now a much more stylised fish-tank-style case, with the most striking feature probably being that single piece of curved tempered glass. This is in contrast to other fish-tank-style cases that typically have separate glass panels. The glass panel is also installed via a rail system that allows it to easily slide out whenever you need to remove it, in case you’re worried about dropping it.

Underneath that is a curved vent that goes across the side and front panel, with ASUS stating that it allows for better GPU cooling as it can pull more cool air directly from the outside. There’s also an ARGB light band near the vent for some pretty nice underglow. As usual with ASUS products, the RGB can be controlled via ASUS’s Armoury Crate app.

Aside from that, another big change that the Prime AP202 has in terms of design is its size increase. With the dimensions sitting at 236 x 460 x 440mm, it’s larger compared to the 33L AP201, with the total case volume being somewhere around 47L. Despite this, it’s still classified as an mATX case.

The reason for this is that the PSU shroud is now located underneath the main enclosure, as opposed to being mounted on the front panel as in the Prime AP201. Hence, much of the volume increase can be found at the bottom of the case. However, it does also allow for the panoramic view that the glass panel provides, and the volume increase also means that the case can fit bigger components, including GPUs of up to 420mm in length, and up to 200mm-long PSUs.

The Prime AP202 also has a 30mm compartment behind the motherboard tray for cable management, which spans the entire length of the case.

As for cooling, the Prime AP202 supports up to 360mm radiators on the top panel, or three 120mm fans if you opt for air cooling. The bottom panel supports another three 120mm fans, while the side panel can handle two. As for front I/O, there are two USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A ports, one USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C port (capable of up to 20Gbps speeds), and one combined headphone/microphone port.

All in all, it’s interesting to see ASUS coming up with products to cater to users who prefer more compact builds. Recently, the company released the TUF T500, a SFF gaming desktop that uses a mobile processor.

Pricing and Availability

The ASUS Prime AP202 has an SRP of S$149 for both the black and white colourways. A Prime AP202 ARGB variant also exists, with three MR120 ARGB fans pre-installed, and it goes for S$179. While the Prime AP202 ARGB hasn’t gone on sale yet, you can the regular Prime AP202 on Vii PC’s Shopee page here.