The Corsair K70 RGB PRO is a mechanical keyboard equipped with Cherry MX switches. It takes up the basics of previous model versions and adds a few improvements, including a removable USB-C cable, a new wrist rest, and even a polling rate climbing up to 8000 Hz.
If there is still an excellent gaming keyboard, we expected a little more from this PRO version offered at the manufacturer’s price of 189$.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Genuine Cherry MX switches | Plastic wrist rest |
| Detachable USB-C cable | Quite expensive |
| Corsair iCUE Software | No OPX switches |
| Dedicated media keys | |
| Magnetic wrist rest |
The brand’s most famous keyboard, the Corsair K70, crosses generations and evolves over the years. At the start of 2022, a new PRO version is joining the brand’s catalog, with the bonus of some improvements compared to the previous K70 RGB and K70 RGB MK.2.
A new generation that does not aim to revolutionize what the brand had accustomed us to, but rather to better meet the expectations of players by correcting some of its faults. There is thus a removable USB-C cable, PBT keycaps, a now magnetic wrist rest, or even an AXON chip allowing you to benefit from better internal memory or a polling rate at 8000 Hz.
The box includes:
- The K70 RGB Pro keyboard
- A detachable braided USB-C to USB-A cable
- A removable wrist rest
- The usual paperwork
Compared to previous models, we can note that the manufacturer is now ignoring the small set of additional keycaps to which it had accustomed us.
Specification
- Cherry MX Switches
- PBT keys
- Full anti-ghosting
- Polling Rate of 8000Hz
- Tournament button
- Multimedia keys
- Aluminum frame
- RGB backlight
- iCUE-enabled
- Internal storage: 8 MB (up to 50 profiles)
- Connection: USB
- Cable length: 1.8m
- Dimensions: 444 x 166 x 40mm
- Weight: 1.15kg
Design & Ergonomics
In broad outline, this new Pro version of the Corsair K70 RGB takes up what we had already discovered on the previous models of the keyboard. At first glance, the differences with the K70 MK.2 are not necessarily noticeable. We can find the various improvements (or not) made to the manufacturer’s flagship model in the details.
We thus remain on a keyboard in full format, with always rather imposing dimensions via a length of 44 cm and a width of 16 cm without wrist rest or 24 cm. We are far from the compact format of a Corsair K65 RGB Mini.
There are no significant changes in terms of general finishes, and the K70 RGB Pro retains its plastic chassis, reinforced by a solid aluminum plate on its upper part. The assembly always appears perfectly solid, and nothing flinches when significant pressure is applied to its structure.
On the side of the keys, we always find a borderless design. At the same time, the layout itself remains quite classic with directional arrows and a numeric keypad but no additional keys for its macros. If you need this option, you should instead go for the Corsair K100 RGB or a Logitech G915.
On the upper part, there are still some additional buttons to manage its media. Four buttons above the numeric keypad allow you to navigate between your music, and a metal wheel facilitates volume management. A Mute button allows you to mute the sound in the blink of an eye to its left.
Three other shortcuts are positioned on the left of the keyboard, with the possibility of navigating between its configuration profiles, adjusting the brightness of the RGB backlighting or even activating the locking of specific keys.
This Pro version now comes with double-shot PBT models regarding the keycaps themselves. Good news compared to older versions of the K70!
If you want to customize the keyboard’s appearance, note that the brand has been offering sets of colored keycaps for a few months, which we notably presented to you alongside the Corsair K70 RGB TKL.
At the front, the K70 RGB Pro comes with a removable wrist rest. The latter is slightly reworked compared to the old models, particularly a new magnetic fastening system that is much more practical. The wrist rest is still made of plastic, with a slightly textured coating and several rubber feet to stabilize it on your desk.
There is nothing new at the back of the keyboard with still retractable feet to adjust its inclination (on two levels) and some rubber areas to improve grip. We will also note the presence of several gutters that can be used to improve the cable management of its peripherals, but only the thinnest cables will be able to adapt.
Finally, the last point to highlight regarding the design of this Pro version: its connectivity. This new model finally goes on a removable cable, with a bonus USB-C connector. The cable is also much thinner than on older models, but this is also explained by removing the additional USB connector. We regret that the brand is now ignoring this feature, which is nevertheless very practical.
If the K70 Pro loses its USB pass-through, it gains its “Tournament” switch to deactivate all its macros and switch back to a single backlight. A feature that we also discovered on the Corsair K70 RGB TKL.
Corsair iCUE Software
The Corsair K70 RGB Pro is compatible with the Corsair iCUE software. From this, we will be able to create different configuration profiles to load automatically according to our games or applications.
We find the usual options of the software, with a first tab dedicated to the allocation of keyboard keys. Here, each key can be reconfigured with the action or macro of its choice.
Corsair iCUE is also very useful if you want to customize the backlight of your K70 RGB PRO. As its name suggests, the model has RGB lighting on each of its keys and it is possible to configure all of this down to the smallest detail. Several layers of effects can be applied in order to obtain a unique lighting, consistent with the rest of its setup. The effects can also be synchronized with the brand’s other products.
A final “Device Settings” tab provides access to some additional options. In particular, you can select the keys to be blocked when you press the “Lock” key (top left of the keyboard), update the firmware, or even adjust the transfer rate of the keyboard.
Performance
The Corsair K70 RGB Pro is equipped with mechanical switches, and the brand continues to trust Cherry here. The model is thus offered with Cherry MX Red, Brown, Blue, Speed , or Silent switches. Classic for the brand’s mechanical gamer keyboards, and we may regret the absence of the Corsair OPX optical switches that we had discovered alongside the Corsair K100 RGB. For a “PRO” model, these would have made sense and allowed the K70 to stand out from some competitors.
The model is equipped with Cherry MX Red, models offering linear activation with a total stroke of 4 mm, activation at 2 mm, and a force of 45 g. In use, these switches offer a rather reactive keystroke but the whole lacks a bit of fluidity for our taste. Faced with better quality and better-lubricated switches, we feel a clear difference with the impression that the switches “rub” a little when activated. If you have ever had the opportunity to test Cherry MX Red, you probably know what is meant by that.
However, the Cherry MX switches are not bad and will allow you to enjoy a much better quality of typing than on a membrane keyboard or against low-end mechanical switches. We expected just a little more from Corsair for this Pro version of its K70 RGB, especially when the competition offers more innovations in the sector. We think, for example, of the Omni-Points switches of the SteelSeries Apex Pro or the ASUS ROG Strix Scope RX. As explained above, Corsair also has its in-house switches with the OPXs, but it makes very little use of them on its keyboards, and we find that a bit of a shame.
The keyboard also tends to resonate during the most pressing keystrokes in terms of noise. A not necessarily pleasant feeling, which again could have been improved with foam inside the chassis. You can check our presentation video for a demonstration.
Conclusion
Corsair smoothly evolves one of its flagship models with this new PRO version and brings some welcome improvements. Among the main new features: are PBT keycaps, a removable USB-C cable, reworked wrist rest, and the integration of an AXON chip with a polling rate at 8000 Hz. Changes that unfortunately benefit the second USB pass-through port.
For the rest, no significant changes, and the general design of the keyboard and its pure performance have changed very little. In use, you should not expect a revolution compared to the previous Corsair K70 and K70 MK.2, and we must admit that we are a little unsatisfied with this PRO version.
At 189$, it is difficult to recommend this model for the moment, especially when its cousin, the MK2, is available for around 130$.
