- Shortly after debuting its first-ever all-in-one (AIO) liquid coolers, Noctua announced an all-black “chromax.black” lineup slated for late 2026.
- Launched in mid-2026, the Premium NL-LC1 liquid cooler series marks Noctua’s expansion from air cooling into the AIO market with high-end 240mm, 360mm, and 420mm models.
- Noctua delays black variants by 6 to 12 months because changing the material color alters the weight and balance.
Just weeks after launching its first all-in-one liquid CPU coolers, the NL-LC1 series, Noctua has confirmed that a chromax.black version will arrive later this year. These AIO liquid CPU coolers will follow the same trend as their air cooling solutions.
That is, they are replacing the beige and brown color scheme, which frequently clashes with the rest of the system’s design, with a subtler yet more attractive black that is easier to incorporate into these configurations.
The Noctua NL-LC1 series, the company’s first all-in-one liquid cooling family, was officially unveiled on June 16, 2026. Noctua had previously dominated the air CPU cooling industry, but with this range, they have fully entered the AIO market with 240mm, 360mm, and 420mm models. These liquid coolers have established themselves as the best AIO alternative on the market, largely thanks to the quality of their fans, though at a considerable cost that is justified for the most enthusiastic PC users.
The chromax.black version was not previously included in Noctua’s public roadmap. However, the company’s own YouTube account acknowledged the model’s existence in the comments on a Hardware Canucks video, stating that it is expected to be ready by the end of 2026. They also stated that the date is “hopefully.”
This date makes sense when you consider Noctua’s explanation about why it was difficult to build black fans. They essentially refurbished existing fans and components from scratch, rather than repainting them. The rationale is that adding black increases weight, which has an impact on the original product design. As a result, everything is completely revised to allow for this variation. This causes a 6- to 12-month delay between the debut of the original product and its chromax. blackblack variant, as seen with the Noctua NL-LC1 liquid cooler.
If any specific changes to the chromaxBlackk editionise not mad;, it’s realistic to expect this variant to retain the technicalunderpinningsg of the present NL-LC1 liquid coolers. This is the same Asetek Emma V2 (Gen8 V2) cooling platform. This is supplemented by the NL-PNA1 three-layer soundproofing system, which is intended to decrease vibrations and transmitted noise.
The current models come in three sizes: 240mm NL-LC1-24, 360mm NL-LC1-36, and 420mm NL-LC1-42. The 240mm and 360mm versions uses NF-A12x25 G2 fans, while the 420mm model uses NF-A14x25 G2 fans. In addition, Noctua uses a speed offset on the fans to eliminate intermittent whirring and vibration caused by beat frequencies.
Another facinating feature is the pump’s three operating modes: silent, balanced, and manual. This enables customers to prioritize low noise, thermal headroom, or complete RPM control based on their requirements. The SecuFirm2+ mounting system, integrated Noctua NT-H2 thermal paste, and 6-year guarantee are all kept, bolstering the product line’s premium stance.
These liquid coolers cost €219.90 or $249.90, €279.90, and €279.90, respectively (240, 360, and 420 mm). You can connect the NL-ACF1 auxiliary fan to the water pump. This fan directs airflow across the VRM, RAM, or M.2 SSD near the CPU socket, aiding in the dissipation of heat from the CPU’s surrounding components. It costs €19.90, or $19.90.
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Sajjad Hussain is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Tech4Gamers.com. Apart from the Tech and Gaming scene, Sajjad is a Seasonal banker who has delivered multi-million dollar projects as an IT Project Manager and works as a freelancer to provide professional services to corporate giants and emerging startups in the IT space.
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