The Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120SE is the objective winner of this comparison, securing two out of three spec victories. While the DeepCool Mystique 360 offers a notable advantage in thermal management with a 39% higher TDP rating, the Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120SE provides the most impactful benefit by being 80% more affordable based on its MSRP. This significant cost efficiency makes the latter the superior choice for those prioritizing value in their cooling solution.

Users focused on maximizing thermal headroom for high-wattage processors should select the DeepCool Mystique 360 to utilize its superior TDP rating. Conversely, the Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120SE is the ideal component for budget-conscious builders who want to allocate their funds elsewhere without sacrificing the core functionality of their cooling system. Choosing between these two depends entirely on whether your priority is the raw thermal capacity of the liquid cooler or the substantial cost savings of the air cooler.