The Corsair K70 RGB Pro is familiar territory for those familiar with the brand’s long-standing lineup, but it does its best to earn the “pro” on its name. Smart design choices usher in a “tournament mode” that gives the gaming keyboard a competitive edge and is one of the most responsive layouts around, but not every change is an improvement over the others. previous models.
For one, it includes more of everything you need in the best gaming keyboard, from profiles to handling, and less of the bad stuff you want to get rid of like lag. On the other hand, it also packs a wobbly (albeit comfortable) wrist rest, noticeably noisy keys, and no USB pass-through.
Its $169.99 MSRP is a bit hard to swallow, but the times you find it on sale for around $129.99 makes the trouble spots a lot less annoying. Steady price drops might even see the Corsair K70 RGB Pro take the gaming keyboard crown, but it’s going to be a competition of pros and cons if you don’t want to wait for a discount.
Corsair K70 RGB Pro Design
As usual, Corsair pairs a set of black PBT keycaps with a matte gray body, raising the top to draw attention to its media keys. On the left are three buttons to switch profiles, adjust keyboard brightness, and lock the Windows key. On the right is a textured volume wheel with a dedicated mute button and media controls just below it.
One thing that makes the Corsair keyboard so great is the actual Cherry MX switches, and they’re spoiled for choice this time around. Our samples include Cherry MX Red, but there are Blue, Brown, Silent Red and Speed Silver options if you prefer something a little different. Each key is raised to reveal beautiful RGB lighting, allowing it to shine across the entire keyboard. It generally retains the same premium feel as its predecessors.
The detachable USB-C cable is a nice touch, making the keyboard more convenient for travel. You’ll need to make sure you specifically package your Corsair cable, though, as the notched box won’t accommodate any older cables. Those with a crooked connector simply won’t be able to get through the case, which is a pain when you need a quick replacement. Competitors like Razer are ditching the stealthy approach as it helps with maintainability. Hopefully Corsair will follow.
Another point of contention for me is the lack of USB pass-through compared to its predecessor, the K70 MK.2. The higher bandwidth of USB-C is great for connecting multiple devices, so it’s a shame this feature is disabled. Some might say that it makes cables a nightmare, but I have always found that it helps me manage my cables better.
However, closing the door opens the window, as it makes room for the Tournament Switch in the back. Enabling this setting immediately disables custom actions and macros, removes RGB lighting, and disables profiles or profile switching, preparing you for the competition. Anything that could be considered a violation of the tournament rules stops until you hit the switch again.
While the palm rests of the previous K70 suffered from hard clips that often broke, the K70 RGB Pro solves this problem by getting rid of the clips altogether. For better or worse, it’s now magnetic, which keeps anything from breaking, but it’s easy enough to dislodge if you’re used to shuffling your keyboard around.
Corsair K70 RGB Pro Performance
The Corsair K70 RGB Pro is one of the most responsive keyboards on the market thanks to its Hyper-Polling Axion technology that boosts the frequency to 8000Hz. This makes the response time from a key press to the recording action of the connected PC eight times faster than standard 1000Hz. It won’t automatically make you a pro and you may not even notice the increase, but it will give you every possible advantage.
It’s the perfect companion for competitive FPS games like Rainbow Six Siege and Valorant, without missing a beat. Its full size is also suitable for MMOs like World of Warcraft, with a numeric keypad where you can insert all your macros. From Cyberpunk 2077 to Spider-Man: Miles Morales, the K70 RGB Pro handled it all like a champ in tests.
It’s strange to praise a feature that removes all the frills that make a gaming keyboard stand out from the crowd, but I wish tournament mode was the norm. To be fair, some games do benefit from syncing beautiful rainbow lights to SignalRGB so they respond to what you’re playing. Other times it may not distract me when I focus on winning the round. It does exactly what it says on the package and you don’t even have to wait for the next competition to reap the benefits.
Your typing experience will depend on the switches you choose. The Linear Cherry MX Reds don’t give the satisfying click that trackpads do, but each press feels smooth, and the gimbals do a good job of minimizing key wobble. It makes soundproofing a bit easier, and the space bar sounds particularly dull, but it has that distinctive mechanical feel that you just can’t get from a membrane model.
Corsair K70 RGB Pro Software
One word to describe the K70 RGB Pro is “universal”. The 8 MB of internal memory can store up to 50 profiles and you can record macros on the fly to quickly create the shortcuts you want. To delete recorded macros or take things a step further, you’ll need to dive into the Corsair Utility Engine (iCUE) software.
In general, iCUE can be a bit intimidating at first, as it is one of the most powerful programs, but over the years it has grown to include tutorials to help you learn how to use it. After all, you can use it to change lighting and create themed animations, reprogram keys, create macros, link profiles to specific games and apps, and more.
Corsair iCUE is required if you want to use the 8000 Hz polling rate, as the K70 RGB Pro is set to 1K by default. The decision to make it optional rather than disable it might seem confusing to some, but it’s a precautionary measure in case your PC or laptop doesn’t have the best gaming processor. if your platform can’t handle it. Enabling the 8K polling rate is pretty simple, but not as obvious as you really need it to be.
Verdict Corsair K70 RGB Pro
The Corsair K70 RGB Pro first debuted in early 2022 and didn’t go down much at an MSRP of $169.99. This price for competitive enthusiasts includes everything from fast response times to a dedicated tournament mode, but the premium can be a bit high if you’re not into professional gaming.
The K70 RGB MK.2 is still available for around two-thirds the price, and the HyperX Alloy Origins and Razer Blackwidow V3 are great alternatives that are friendly to your bank account. However, when it comes to 8K polling rates, the K70 RGB Pro is the best, turning into an absolute steal when it drops to around $129.99/£144.98.
Advantages:
- Fantastic build quality
- 8K fast polling rate
- change of tournament
Less :
- Powerful mechanical keys and reverberation.
- Meticulous Magnetic Wrist Rest
- No USB transfer
Check out our guide to the best gaming keyboards for Corsair K70 Pro alternatives, including cheap champions and trendy flagships.
Corsair K70 RGB Pro review
A great successor to one of the best gaming keyboards with some competitive updates, but not all changes to the Corsair K70 RGB Pro are good.
Source : PC Gamesn
