The AIO market in 2026 is, to put it mildly, crowded. At the popular 360mm size, most units cool within a few degrees of each other, so raw thermal performance is not really where the differences lie. The real question is which one gives you the most for your money. I have spent a fair bit of time looking at the current crop, and the honest conclusion is that one range keeps winning while everything else serves a specific buyer with a specific need. So which AIO should you actually buy, and are any of the pricier alternatives genuinely justified? Here is the shortlist, UK priced, with the caveats that matter.
At a glance
Best overall is the Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360. Best value is the standard, non-Pro Liquid Freezer III. Best stealth pick is the non-RGB Liquid Freezer III for an all black build. Best with a screen is the ASUS ROG Ryujin III 360 or the NZXT Kraken Elite 360. Best for the biggest cases is the Liquid Freezer III Pro 420, and best for compact builds is the Liquid Freezer III Pro 240. If those names look repetitive, that is rather the point.
Best overall: Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360
- SKU: WASE-954
- MPN: ACFRE00178A
- EAN: 4895265000218
- Available for Collection
- SKU: WASE-945
- MPN: ACFRE00184A
- EAN: 4895265000256
- Available for Collection
- SKU: WASE-946
- MPN: ACFRE00188A
- EAN: 4895265000263
- SKU: WASE-954
- MPN: ACFRE00178A
- EAN: 4895265000218
- Available for Collection
This is the one I would point most people to. It has been named best overall AIO by more than one independent outlet, and the reason is fairly straightforward. It competes with the most expensive coolers on the market at a fraction of the price, from around £75 for the plain version up to roughly £85 for the A-RGB variant. You get three 120mm fans, a small VRM fan built into the pump block, an offset cold plate to target the CPU hotspot, and a thick 38mm radiator against the roughly 27mm most rivals use. All of that is backed by a 6-year warranty, which is quite reassuring.
There is one important caveat, though. That thick radiator needs at least 63mm of installation clearance, which is more than most, so do check your case radiator support before committing. A quick install tip from real owners on AM5: keep both the left and right pump brackets loose until the block is seated, then tighten. The official guidance does not make that clear, and it saves a lot of swearing.
Best value: Arctic Liquid Freezer III (standard)
The original Liquid Freezer III still sells alongside the Pro and shares the same 6-year warranty and the clever Intel contact frame that reduces socket stress. It sits slightly behind the Pro on fin density and pump control, but for a bit less money it remains one of the strongest value 360mm units you can buy. If the Pro is out of budget, this is where I would look before anything else.
Best stealth: non-RGB Liquid Freezer III
If you want 360mm cooling without a single LED, the non-RGB Liquid Freezer III gives you exactly the same thermal ceiling as its lit sibling with a clean, understated look. It pairs nicely with plain black fans for a cohesive all black build. You lose nothing but the lighting, which is the point.
Best with a screen: ASUS ROG Ryujin III 360 or NZXT Kraken Elite 360
- SKU: WASE-933
- MPN: 90RC0132-M0EAY0
- EAN: 4711387789957
- SKU: WASE-760
- MPN: 90RC00K1-M0UAY0
- EAN: 4711387048177
- SKU: WASE-1018
- MPN: RL-KR36C-B1
- EAN: 5056547206233
- SKU: WASE-1015
- MPN: RL-KR360-B2
- EAN: 5056547205274
The Ryujin III packs a 3.5-inch LCD large enough to act as a small secondary display, and the Kraken Elite uses a round IPS screen tied into its own software. Both are, on a subjective note, quite lovely. Both are also, to be blunt, aesthetics led purchases. A screen and RGB add negligible or zero cooling benefit, so buy these for the display, not for lower temperatures. Go in knowing that is the trade.
Biggest and smallest: Pro 420 and Pro 240
The Liquid Freezer III Pro 420 offers the most thermal headroom in the range for roughly £85 to £105, but it only fits the largest full tower cases, almost always top mounted. Confirm your case explicitly supports 420mm before you buy.
At the other end, the Pro 240 brings the same engineering to a 240mm radiator for compact and Micro-ATX builds from around £69. I think it is only fair to be honest here. A 240mm AIO generally only matches a good tower air cooler rather than beating it, so this pick is really about case constraints or looks, not a thermal upgrade over air.
One alternative worth knowing
- SKU: 1019572
- MPN: 11771
- EAN: 4250197117715
- SKU: 1012138
- MPN: 11286
- EAN: 4250197112864
- SKU: 1019575
- MPN: 11774
- EAN: 4250197117746
- SKU: 1021886
- MPN: 11973
- EAN: 4250197119733
If longevity is your priority, the Alphacool Eisbaer Pro is one of the very few refillable AIOs on the market. Most units are sealed for life, but this one lets you top up or swap the coolant, and it runs an unusually quiet pump. The trade off is a slightly more involved install with more components than a standard sealed unit. It is a niche pick, but a genuinely interesting one.
The bottom line
For the vast majority of builds in 2026, the Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 is the AIO I would buy. The rest of this list is really about specific needs, whether that is a screen, a smaller case, a bigger case, or no RGB at all. For those who simply want the best balance of thermal performance, noise, and value, the Pro 360 is the clear recommendation. Bear in mind that prices do move with sales cycles, so treat these figures as a guide and confirm current stock and, above all, your case clearance before you commit.
- SKU: WASE-957
- MPN: TF3-360SCB
- EAN: 6970620555034
- Available for Collection
- SKU: WASE-958
- MPN: TF3-360SCW
- EAN: 6970620555041
- SKU: WASE-969
- MPN: TH-360W
- EAN: 6970620554426
- SKU: WASE-964
- MPN: TG-360B
- EAN: 6970620552996
