Unfortunately, we don’t think the Battle Edition is unique enough to make it special or noteworthy. While it’s visually different than the original thanks to a green paint job and a few quirky labels, it doesn’t have any extra features or military-inspired enhancements. This wouldn’t necessarily be a problem if the Battle Edition was priced similarly to the standard Level 10 GT, but that isn’t the situation at all.
Price was one of our biggest issues with the original GT when it initially launched for $270. Though it still faces stiff competition, it has since dropped to a more sensible $200. That being the case, it seems hard to justify the Battle Edition’s $290 asking price – a premium that essentially nets you a green paint job, and not even one that matches everywhere (the steel doors and plastic parts are different shades). By comparison, the Corsair Vengeance C70 Military Green has a more attractive paint job (both in color selection and the well-coordinated internals/externals), it doesn’t feel plasticky, it’s less bulky, it offers slightly better cooling, and it goes the extra mile by adding functional aesthetic enhancements that complement the military theme, not least of which are pop rivets and unique power/reset controls.
Expanding on that last point, you’ll also find ammo box-like latches holding on each case door and two handles that make the C70 easier to move around than the GT, which only has one handle and it’s off center, so the case tends to bash into your leg. Perhaps most importantly, the C70 Military Green costs about half as much as the GT at $140, while the black and white models are around for as little as $90. Again, we acknowledge that aesthetic taste varies, but even if we disregard our feelings about the Level 10 GT’s looks, we think the Vengeance C70 is a superior product in all the ways that matter most.
