The Thermalright Aqua Elite 360 V3 is the objective winner of this comparison, securing more individual specification victories than its competitor. While the MSI MAG CORELIQUID E360 holds a slight edge in thermal design power capacity, providing a 4% improvement in its TDP rating, the Thermalright Aqua Elite 360 V3 offers a significantly more compelling value proposition. Its most impactful advantage is a 50% better MSRP, making it the superior choice for budget-conscious system builders.

Users prioritizing maximum thermal overhead should select the MSI MAG CORELIQUID E360 to leverage its superior TDP rating. Conversely, the Thermalright Aqua Elite 360 V3 is the ideal component for those seeking to minimize costs without sacrificing the core functionality of a 360mm liquid cooler. By choosing the latter, buyers benefit from a substantial price advantage while still obtaining a cooler that outperformed the alternative across the majority of the measured specifications.