Corsair K70 RGB TKL Mechanical Keyboard Review

Corsair already has a seemingly endless line-up of amazing and award-winning gaming keyboards. But is there room for one more? Of course, there is! Especially when it's this lovely TKL version, built to dominate at LAN gaming tournaments or just lay waste to your friends while playing from home. Corsair already has some of the best gaming keyboards, but with their latest, they think they've made them even better, with tighter response times and improved features! I'm not really sure that's possible, but I'm happy to be proven wrong! Corsair K70 RGB TKL Corsair certainly has been busy when it comes to adding features. The keyboard comes with everything you would expect, such as a fully mechanical design, PBT double-shot keycaps, Full N-Key Rollover (NKRO) and 100% Anti-Ghosting, and their latest and greatest iCUE RGB technologies. I mean... of course it has RGB, it's Corsair! However, it's the new stuff that I really love, such as the AXON Hyper-Processing Technology, giving it an 8,000 Hz polling rate, a detachable Type-C cable, a lockable Tournament switch, and a choice of mechanical switches. Features Built for Champions: CORSAIR CHAMPION SERIES products are designed for and tested by top esports professionals - helping to carry you to victory with a competition-grade keyboard featuring a portable and space-saving tenkeyless form-factor, a detachable USB Type-C cable, and a tournament mode switch.Powered by CORSAIR AXON Hyper-Processing Technology: Transmits your inputs to your PC up to 8x faster than conventional gaming keyboards with 8,000Hz hyper-polling.Take on the Competition in Style: A durable and refined aluminium frame is illuminated by fully programmable dynamic per-key RGB backlighting to sport your team's colours or create your own personalized lighting effects.Tournament-Ready: Flip the tournament switch and focus on winning those critical games, automatically swapping to distraction-free static backlighting and disabling accidental macro activations.PBT Double-Shot Keycaps: A precision-moulded keycap set with a standard bottom row layout resists wear, fading, and shine, with 1.5mm thickness for rigid stability.100% CHERRY MX RGB Mechanical Keyswitches: K70 RGB TKL is available with CHERRY MX SPEED, SILENT, and Red key switches (depending on region), and detects key presses up to 4x faster than conventional gaming keyboards with CORSAIR AXON.Detachable and Durable Braided USB Type-C Cable: This makes the K70 RGB TKL easy to take on the go and connect anywhere.Dedicated Media Keys and Volume Roller: Convenient media keys and a signature CORSAIR aluminium volume roller let you take command of your media without interrupting your game.Powerful iCUE Software: Compatible with both Windows and macros, enables dynamic RGB lighting control, key remaps and macro programming and exclusive integrations with select games that turn your system's lighting into an extension of the action.Full N-Key Rollover (NKRO) and 100% Anti-Ghosting: Ensures that every keypress registers, no matter how fast you play.8MB of Onboard Storage: Store up to 50 onboard profiles with custom macros and your own uniquely vibrant RGB lighting effects with up to 20 lighting layers. What Corsair Had to Say "The CORSAIR K70 RGB TKL Mechanical Gaming Keyboard will carry you to victory with a compact tenkeyless form-factor, pro-level performance powered by CORSAIR AXON hyper-processing technology, and world-renowned CHERRY MX key switches. Win in style with a durable aluminium frame and dynamic per-key RGB backlighting, and flip the tournament switch to instantly disable macros and swap to distraction-free lighting. PBT double-shot keycaps with 1.5mm thickness resist wear, fading and shine for years. Powerful iCUE software on both PC and macOS enables custom macro programming and key remaps, while dedicated media keys and an aluminium volume roller offer convenient control over media. The K70 RGB TKL is a portable powerhouse thanks to a detachable USB Type-C cable and 8MB onboard storage for up to 50 profiles, so you can easily take pro performance to your next competition." Packaging The box is nice and durable, with double-layered cardboard on the sides, ensuring the keyboard is well protected. All the usual details are located on the back of the box, and there are some nice and clear photos of the keyboard, showcasing the stunning RGB capabilities. In the box, you'll find the keyboard is well protected, and it comes with a thick plastic bag to keep any dust and debris away from it. In the box, you'll find all the usual documentation, a lovely braided USB Type-A to Type-C cable, and a set of custom gaming keycaps. A Closer Look The new Corsair K70 RGB certainly looks like a Corsair keyboard. You can even see traces of this design going back many years. Just look at the K63 Mechanical Keyboard I reviewed almost 5 years ago, it's certainly got a few bits in common. However, it's clear that times have moved on, and this looks much more high-end and professional compared to the older lineup of keyboards. You'll find some dedicated media controls in the top left, allowing you to quickly skip through your songs or play/pause as you see fit. I love these, as I've almost always got music on while I work and game. Some tiny LED lights here, but you'll have to look very closely to see them! A lovely Corsair logo in the middle, but remember to pull off the plastic tag to see the gorgeous mirror finish. Here you'll find a profile, lighting and lock button. You can do all this stuff in the software, but why bother when it's literally just a button press away. I love the profile button, as I can switch from work to gaming modes easily. There is a master mute button on the right side, and you'll find a gorgeous aluminium scroll wheel for volume control next to that. We've seen this design on many Corsair keyboards, but I'm happy to see it included again. The K70 RGB features a stunning aluminium top panel, which is shaped to form a lip at the front and back, with the keycaps mounted slightly above the slim body. Despite the switches mounted almost externally, it's still surprisingly slim though. Both the aluminium and the keycaps have a surprisingly dark black finish. However, when the light catches it just right, you can see the brushed finish of the metal and the light texture of the plastics. There's a recessed Type-C port around the back, and while Corsair provides a cable, there's no reason why you couldn't substitute your own. This funky little thing is the tournament mode switch. It flicks from left to right. However, you can flip this plastic guard up to lock it into the on position, and a bright red LED will show when it's on. More on that shortly. It may be a small and heavy keyboard, but Corsair went big with the rubber grips. They're thick and super grippy, so this thing is not going to slide around at all! Even the feet have their own rubber grips. Performance Corsair sells this keyboard with a choice of MX Red, MX Speed and MX Silent, or to put it another way, only lighter, faster and linear switches; Clicky fans will have to get their kicks elsewhere. Included in the box, you'll find two sets of gaming caps, one for six keys and one for the classic WASD. As you can see, they have a grip texture to them, and a revised shape, giving you a more optimal gaming position. It's not quite the keyboard equivalent of the Powerglove, but I still think they look cool. Overall, this is one gorgeous looking keyboard, and even if you aren't a fan of RGB, I think it looks great with the light out! Since I already use a Corsair mouse mat and mouse, as soon as I connected the keyboard, it synced to my current colour profile. That's right, simple red, no RGB rainbows for me. That being said, just look at how deep that red is, it looks like lava between the keys. Corsair really does it right when it comes to RGB choices. The gaming key caps look a bit silly for when you're sat in the office, but for a gamer, they look and feel stunning. I'd likely leave them off myself, but they obviously serve a purpose and they do it well. What did surprise me was how high MX Red feel. I've gotten so used to lower profile switches. They're exactly what you would expect, though, extremely smooth and precise. The fact they're mounted in a perfectly rigid body keyboard means they feel very snappy and have no crosstalk or unwanted feedback throughout the whole keyboard. One thing that traditionally does clunk and rattle too much is the spacebar, but it seems Corsair has put a rubber dampener on this, so it's virtually silent and much quieter than any other key on the keyboard. This is certainly a good thing for me, as I tend to wail on it while I'm gaming. The RGB tech is awesome, and it's really what we've come to expect from Corsair and their class-leading iCUE software. It's one of the easiest to use, but also one of the (if not THE) most advanced and featured packed out there. However, there are a bunch of default profiles to pick from too, and you can adjust the brightness from the onboard switches or even swap profiles on the fly. The ergonomics of the keyboard feel fantastic, and you can get a good angle with the feet deployed. However, since the keyboard already has a wedge shape to it, I found laying it flat to be the most comfortable. I do like the play/pause button on the left too, as I can quickly tap that without breaking the pace of my gameplay. One of the major features of this keyboard is the AXON Hyper-Processing Technology. This means a staggering 8000Hz polling rate, which can cut response times from around 2ms to just 0.25ms. Can I tell the difference? Not really, but I was never that competitive to begin with. However, when it comes to world champion eSports players, I know for a fact they'll spend a fortune to chase any time advantage. If you're pushing for low ping times, high refresh rate displays, higher FPS in-game, and lower latency overall... this is the next battleground. Spamming attack and having any fraction of an advantage over your competitors can literally be a game-changer. The Tournament mode is pretty slick, though, and I like that you can lock the switch. Enable this, and it'll switch the keyboard to static colour, macros will be completely disabled, and the red LED is on at the back to show you're competition compliant; It's a pretty neat idea really. Overall though, this keyboard is just premium from top to bottom, it feels luxurious to hold and type on, and really, I wouldn't have expected anything less. How Much Does it Cost? The Corsair K70 RGB TKL Mechanical Gaming Keyboard launches today with an MSRP of $139.99 USD. However, since I'm writing this prior to the launch, I don't have retail links or UK pricing. However, you can check for up to date stock and prices here. Overview With a keyboard like the K70 RGB TKL, it's easy to see why Corsair is the leading brand for high-end gaming keyboards. This really is as good as they get, and a pretty easy day in the office for me too, as I've nothing but praise for it. Performance When it comes to raw performance, this is in a league of its own. Many eSports players flock to Corsair already. Of course, they also appeal to competitive gamers at home and even lazy MMO gamers like myself. However, I suspect anyone who really wants to win will flock to these new Hyper Polling keyboards very soon, as it's one of the most drastic reductions in response times we've seen in years. However, keep in mind that while the keyboard does work on Xbox, you'll be limited to 1000 Hz hooked up to a console, but 8000 Hz on PC and Mac. Switches While the MX Red version is silky smooth, I would really love to push this further and try it with the MX Speed switches. Dropping the actuation distance to 1.2mm just seems like the right thing to do on a keyboard that's built for tighter response times. Of course, some will prefer the feel of MX Red, so it's good that Corsair has a few choices here. Quality The build quality is stunning, with double-shot PBT caps, mounted on premium Cherry switches, all fixed into a thick and beautifully crafted aluminium frame. You'll be hard pushed to find a better-made keyboard than this. Should I Buy One? From the eSports enthusiast to those who just want a gorgeous keyboard in their home office, with 50 onboard profiles, iCUE, media controls, Tournament mode, Hyper Polling and much more, the Corsair K70 RGB TKL really does have a lot of everything for everyone. It's smaller, more powerful, and faster than ever, and I love it! Corsair K70 RGB TKL Champion Series Keyboard Review