The K70 from Corsair is a true veteran among mechanical gaming keyboards. About three years ago, the Corsair K70 RGB MK.2 left our test lab with a dream rating. Just in time for the beginning of the year 2022, the manufacturer is following up: With the Corsair K70 RGB Pro, an exciting and all-around improved new edition awaits us. Whether the improvements are still enough for a dream rating is revealed in our Corsair K70 RGB Pro review.
Technical data
| Key switch type | Cherry MX RGB |
| Switch types | Linear (red); Clicky (blue); Tactile (brown); Linear quiet (red); Linear fast (silver) |
| Material | Aluminum |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 44.4 cm x 16.6 cm x 4.0 cm |
| Weight | 1,152 grams |
| Sampling rate | 8,000 Hz |
| Onboard memory | 8 MB hybrid memory |
| Cable connection | USB Type-C |
| Multimedia buttons | 5 buttons + volume scroll wheel |
| Rollover technology | N-Key Rollover |
| Operating Modes | Typing; Gaming |
| Colors | Black |
| Scope of delivery | Corsair K70 RGB Pro, palm rest (magnetic), USB-A to USB-C cable, manual |
| Price | 189.99 euros |
Scope of delivery of the Corsair K70 RGB Pro
The manufacturer’s typical black and yellow packaging directly provides several clues about the detail improvements that await us on the technical side of the Corsair K70 RGB Pro. Inside, we find the keyboard resting in a plastic sleeve on a cardboard pedestal.
Below that, Corsair presents the detachable USB Type-A to USB Type-C cable, which has a decent length of around 1.8 meters. In addition to the obligatory user manual, a high-quality palm rest rounds out the scope of delivery, which is attached to the back of the K70 RGB Pro with magnets.
Design and finish
When it comes to the design of the Corsair K70 RGB Pro, the first innovations stand out directly. Once again, the manufacturer relies on a brushed aluminum frame, which not only looks extremely classy, but also very robust. Without the palm rest, the gaming keyboard weighs around 1.5 kg and is thus slightly lighter than its predecessor.
In terms of form factor, Corsair once again relies on a full-format layout including the Num Pad and all additional keys. Especially the upper edge of the Corsair K70 RGB Pro shines in new splendor.
Instead of the rounded hotkey buttons, flat buttons are now used, which confirm inputs with a satisfying click sound. In the upper center of the predecessor there was a glossy black design element with manufacturer logo and lettering, which looked nice, but didn’t offer any added value.
This has been expanded by a useful function in the new edition. A total of six LEDs now serve as indicators for activated keys, for example when the keyboard is locked, a macro is recorded or the mute function is active.
On the back of the Corsair K70 RGB Pro, we find the USB-C port, which is used to connect the keyboard to a PC, notebook, Mac, or even Xbox Series X/S. Next to it is a strange-looking “knob” that is the new “Tournament Switch” – but more on that later. However, the new model doesn’t have a USB passthrough port like its predecessor.
The underside is dominated by two fold-out stands, four lushly proportioned, non-slip rubber grips and the two magnetic holders for the palm rest.
Workmanship of the Corsair K70 RGB Pro
In terms of build quality, the Corsair K70 RGB Pro once again ranks at an outstanding level. As in the case of the K70 RGB MK.2, there is nothing to complain about in this regard.
The high-quality aluminum frame in particular feels sturdy and valuable, and despite the glossy finish, it’s not a fingerprint magnet (which can’t be said for the glossy surface on the top edge, though).
However, the Corsair K70 RGB Pro collects bonus points through the use of high-quality PBT double-shot keycaps, which still had to be purchased as an option with the predecessor. During the manufacturing process, plastic is injected into two different molds here. This means that the legends of a keycap are not on the same piece of plastic as the outer mold. Because of this design, double-shot keycaps offer clear writing and are more durable. Compared to other plastics, PBT also offers more durability, hardness, texture and lack of gloss.
In short, the keycaps on all buttons are higher quality, more durable and easier to read.
Cherry MX switches in 5 variants
At the same time, the K70 RGB Pro relies on high-quality Cherry MX mechanical switches, which are supposed to withstand over 100 million keystrokes and thus last for years. A total of five variants are offered here: red (linear), blue (clicky), brown (tactile), silent red (linear), and speed silver (linear) – our test model featured the latter variant.
The CHERRY MX Speed Silver is the fastest model of the CHERRY MX switch family in full height and is primarily aimed at gamers with only 45 cN actuation force, 1.2 mm forward travel and 3.4 mm total travel. As you would expect, the build quality of the switches is also excellent.
Last but not least, the finely structured wrist-rest is also convincing. It does exactly what it is supposed to. Another positive feature is the magnetic holder, which finally retires the rather fragile model of the predecessor. This allows the little helper to be attached and removed quickly and easily.
Corsair K70 RGB Pro: Practice and typing feel
In the practical test, the Corsair K70 RGB Pro also leaves a very good feeling, although the keyboard is guaranteed not to be suitable for every user. The reason for this is the comparatively very high keycaps that float above the aluminum plate, which are also larger than on many other keyboards with a height of around 1.2 centimeters.
The result takes some getting used to, to say the least, in the first few hours of use. However, once you get used to it, the typing feel is convincing all along the line. The CHERRY MX Speed Silver switches installed in our case trigger quickly and extremely precisely, but you should not expect tactile or clicking feedback.
As is often the case, you should also consider the intended field of use when choosing the right switches, because these switches are only suitable for frequent typists to a limited extent – but the keyboard cannot do anything about that, of course.
In return, all keystrokes are implemented very precisely and reliably. Corsair also equips the keyboard with a full key rollover and anti-ghosting, which is of course an advantage especially in gaming.
The additional keys of the Corsair K70 RGB Pro also prove to be practical. Above the num pad are four buttons that are responsible for media control. At the very top right is a pleasantly grippy wheel that allows us to quickly and easily increase or decrease the audio volume, while the button next to it allows for instant muting of the acoustics.
The three buttons in the upper left corner of the keyboard also allow us to quickly switch between saved profiles, adjust the brightness of the RGB lighting, and lock the Windows key function so we don’t accidentally fly to the desktop while the game is running.
Very practical: The Corsair K70 RGB Pro is equipped with 8 MB of internal memory, on which up to 50 profiles (or 20 lighting modes) can be created, saved and recalled at any time. This allows the keyboard to be configured the way you like it best even without using the accompanying software (at least after a one-time setup).
The Corsair K70 RGB Pro for gamers
Exciting for gamers are especially two special features that the Corsair K70 RGB Pro keyboard has. On the one hand, this is the particularly high sampling rate (polling rate) of 8,000 Hz, which is realized by Corsair’s specially developed AXON technology.
This is supposed to achieve, at least in theory, an unprecedented precision when triggering the keys and an extremely short response time of the clicks. Normal gaming keyboards often only offer 1,000 Hz here, whereas the K70 RGB Pro perceives keystrokes four times as fast and sends inputs to the PC eight times as fast. According to the manufacturer, the input latency is 0.25 milliseconds.
Sounds great, although we could not determine a noticeable advantage over other high-quality keyboards that are specifically aimed at gamers in the practical test. Maybe exciting for absolute pros, but the average gamer will only notice little even in intensive shooters like Apex Legends or Halo Infinite. Similar to what was already the case with the Corsair M65 RGB Ultra and M65 RGB Ultra Wireless mice, a nice gimmick.
The second point is the Tournament switch at the back of the keyboard, which was already mentioned at the beginning, but it turns out less spectacular than the name suggests. It is primarily aimed at competitive professional gamers.
Flipping the switch basically only deactivates saved macros or specially created commands, as well as switching the backlight to a static color scheme to minimize incorrect input or distraction. Do you need this? Not really.
Software connectivity: Corsair iCUE
On the software side, as with all of the manufacturer’s products, the Corsair K70 RGB Pro uses iCUE. The accompanying software is one of the most comprehensive and clearly laid out peripheral programs on the market, but it also takes up quite a bit of memory and puts more of a load on the system than is the case with many competing products.
In return, Corsair iCUE also offers numerous setting options for the new gaming keyboard. For example, individual keys can be reconfigured, while countless options, patterns and color variants are available for fine-tuning the RGB lighting in five zones. In the device settings, the polling rate can (and should) also be increased in order to access the full potential of the K70 RGB Pro. Here, the polling rate is limited to 1,000 Hz by default.
In addition, the settings for key assignment and illumination can also be stored on the internal memory on the hardware side to allow configuration without software. Particularly practical for on the go. Thanks to a tutorial when accessing all functions for the first time, even newcomers to gaming keyboards are familiarized with the various features.
Summary on the Corsair K70 RGB Pro
With the Corsair K70 RGB Pro, the manufacturer delivers an all-around convincing gaming keyboard. The workmanship is high-quality, the design is classy and also cuts a very good figure in office use. Above all, the PBT double-shot keycaps installed as standard are more than just a nice extra and represent a real added value.
The typing feel is once again outstanding, although the choice of the right Cherry MX switches ultimately determines how comfortable you really feel with the keyboard. In any case, those who write a lot of texts should not necessarily go for the variants that are primarily aimed at gamers.
Do the most important innovations, namely the polling rate of 8,000 Hz and the Tournament Switch, justify a new purchase? Nope. At least if you don’t belong to the absolute hardcore esports pros, you’ll hardly notice anything or nothing at all from these improvements. Especially since the prices are quite high.
However, if you’re looking for a gaming keyboard anyway, you’ll be hard pressed to find one on the market that can match the Corsair K70 RGB Pro.
Corsair K70 RGB Pro
Workmanship
Features
Ergonomics
Software
Value for money
95/100
High-quality and classy gaming keyboard with exciting features that should only appeal to real esport pros, though. The price is a bit too high.
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