Corsair’s new K70 keyboard is a welcome enchancment | Engadget

Corsair has made inroads within the gaming equipment market, having bought corporations like Scuf and Elgato to extend its market share, and dabbled in new know-how like opto-mechanical keys. Still, it’s Corsair’s mechanical keyboards that we at Engadget love probably the most – they’re usually included in our reward guides and “best of” lists. This 12 months, Corsair goes again to fundamentals with the most recent revision to its basic K70 RGB Pro, which packs in a stable enclosure and vibrant lighting alongside that signature typing expertise.

I’m not exaggerating after I use the phrase love. The Rapidfire K70 that I examined method again in 2016 continues to be sitting on my desk, because it’s my go-to deck after I’m not testing new keyboards. That actually makes a head-to-head comparability straightforward, and placing the 2 proper subsequent to one another brings out the otherwise-subtle design tweaks. The Corsair textual content emblem is gone, changed by the corporate’s “sailing ship” graphic, now LED backlit. The font on the keys has been modified, to a narrower sans-serif font that doesn’t scream “gamer” fairly as loudly. Corsair keyboards have all the time been extra workplace pleasant than different gaming equipment, however now they’re simply workplace pleasant, interval. Onlookers won’t notice straight away that what they’re is a gaming keyboard in any respect.

Of course, a very powerful adjustments are to the keys and media buttons. Nothing has been eliminated or changed from the sooner mannequin, however the media controls have been elevated about three quarters of an inch, making them simpler to press. The quantity scroll can also be wider, with a barely rougher texture. Both of those small adjustments ought to make it simpler to seek out with out having to look down on the keyboard.

For a direct comparability of the keys, I selected to obtain the brand new K70 with MX Speed keys, which took me some time to get used to years in the past however now are second nature for me. The typing expertise continues to be crisp and glorious, although it appears to require only a tad extra drive to press. It’s nothing you’d discover by yourself, however switching between the 2 I discover the older mannequin a little bit simpler to kind on. So straightforward, the truth is, that generally I’d brush my arm towards the deck and unintentionally find yourself activating the keys. This new one gained’t have that drawback.

I do have one nitpick concerning the new K70, although, and that’s what I’ve come to name the “Tibetan singing bowl” impact. It’s one thing that plagued final 12 months’s K65 RGB Mini: a metallic ring that echoes after every key press. If you’re typing shortly it turns into a relentless chime that overlaps and lingers for a second everytime you pause. If you’re sporting a headset or blasting music at your own home or workplace it won’t be as noticeable, however in a quiet room it’s extremely annoying.

This kind of metallic echo was additionally an issue with the unique Razer Huntsman keyboard. That was the corporate’s debut providing with opto-mechanical keys, and I wasn’t bought on the idea at first due to that hole ringing. But the revision from this previous September added padding beneath to chop down on the echo, making for a a lot better typing expertise. I can solely hope that Corsair takes the trace and makes related enhancements to its personal keyboards if it needs to remain on high. But the brand new K70 continues to be a stable, top-of-the-line deck, and you’ll seize one at this time beginning at $160.