The Lian Li Lancool III is the objective winner of this comparison, securing victories in seven out of eight measured specifications. Its most significant advantage over the competition is its storage capacity, offering 100% more 2.5" bays for drive mounting. While the Fractal Design Meshify 2 Compact falls behind in total spec wins, it maintains a distinct advantage in affordability, providing a 20% better MSRP for users prioritizing initial cost savings over expanded hardware support.

Choose the Lian Li Lancool III if your build requires extensive storage configurations, as the superior bay count provides essential flexibility for high-capacity systems. Conversely, the Fractal Design Meshify 2 Compact is the better selection for budget-conscious builders who prefer a more economical entry point. By weighing the importance of drive capacity against the 20% cost advantage, you can determine which of these two cases aligns best with your specific hardware requirements.