As befits a true flagship, bordering on “if you have to ask, you can’t afford”, model from a reputable company, the MAG CoreLiquid E15 (or “E15” as we are going to call it for brevity’s sake) comes in a truly outstanding example of how to do shipping container design right. Yes, it comes in a sleeve. No, the sleeve’s tolerances are not so loosey-goosey that it will slip off while you are examining it in the store so that you must buy it. You can try to get it to ‘accidentally’ slip, but it won’t work… unless you are rather blatant about it. Instead, it takes effort to remove this sleeve as MSI has spec’d tolerances in the thousandths. Mix in an excellent combination of information and full-color pictures, and this is one of the handful of times we can say that we like a sleeved box.
Interestingly enough, the sleeve is not a full coverage sleeve and instead only covers about 90’ish percent of the actual shipping container. This peek-a-boo config allows the underlying container to shine with a nice golden MEG filigree pattern to accentuate the premiumness of this box.
Also, on the positive side, the underlying shipping container is not your typical cardboard AIO box. Instead, it is made from thick and stiff paper material. So thick and stiff it is more like a hardcover book rather than a box. So thick and stiff, it makes use of a flap opening with hidden (integrated) magnets to keep it closed. For a point of reference, think thick premium gift boxes you would use to gift a Cartier watch (or a swap meet Louie purse) to someone. Just upscaled to 360mm AIO dimensions. Color us highly impressed, as this is how you make a great first impression.
Moving on. Once you open the extremely, bordering on obsessive, protective outer shell and peek inside, you will see MSI does not believe in beauty being just skin deep. Instead, they also took the time to compartmentalize and label all the critical component zones. Meaning even if someone somehow stabs through the outer shell and reaches inside, they will have to work at nicking the E15. Once again, best-in-class premium features for a truly premium-priced product.
Which brings us to one stumble – the accessories. To be precise, we take no issues with what is included in the box. Two cables, one for MSI motherboards and one for non-MSI motherboard compatibility. A big tube of premium TIM. Premium metal mounting hardware. Pretty much almost everything you could want, need, or desire in an accessory kit. Except for an installation pamphlet. Instead, MSI includes a QR code, as they do on their… models meant for us, mere mortals. Yes. This allows for GIFs and instant changes to the installation instructions. Yes, we usually take little to no issue with this move. That is when dealing with AIO models that cost less than a decent motherboard. When you get above 5 bills for anything… the merest suggestion of cost cutting should be grounds for instant dismissal. As such, MSI should have included both a printed, large, preferably in color on thick poster paper, installation manual and the QR code.
Instead, they rounded this corner and will have to ding it a point come tally time. Which is a shame, as everything here oozes premiumness. Right down to the two custom Type-C headered cables and their nice and grippy covering. Which, if you pay close attention, is not just a standard ‘hot dip’ plastic coating. No. Instead of quick plasti-dip, MSI went with a fully embossed, highly textured cable covering that is both extremely protective and extremely grippy. Quite honestly, it is best in class and shows how to do truly custom cabling right. And it should be… as it is the single cable that powers and allows full control over all the MPG CoreLiquid E15 360’s components.
