Sunday, August 02, 2020
Corsair is one of the best developers of PC gaming accessories in the market space, and the keyboards that it designed are nothing short of excellent. So excellent, in fact, that it's hard to say which one is the best definitively. However, after a lot of consideration, we think that the Corsair K95 RGB Platinum is the best due to its incredibly sturdy design, fantastic responsiveness and accuracy, useful features, and advanced RGB lighting.
Best Overall: Corsair K95 RGB Platinum
If you're looking for a keyboard that can do it all, the Corsair K95 RGB Platinum is perfect for you. The keyboard frame is constructed with aircraft-grade anodized aluminum, which makes it incredibly resistant to scratches and other dings. The keyboard also uses high-quality mechanical switches that are incredibly comfortable and effortless to press, and all of the inputs are very responsive.
In terms of features, the Corsair K95 RGB Platinum has quite a few. The top right area of the keyboard has a suite of multimedia controls that come in handy when watching movies or videos. In contrast, the area to the far left has a column of six different customizable keys that allow you to program some gaming macros. Also, the keyboard comes with a USB port that you can use for your mouse or headset, and also 8MB of onboard storage that can hold up to three different RGB lighting profiles. You can swap between them with the profile button found next to the brightness adjustment and Windows Lock ones at the top of the keyboard.
Speaking of the RGB lighting, you can extensively customize it to your liking using Corsair's iCUE software, right down to individual keys and special accent lights. Lastly, the keyboard comes with a detachable magnetic wrist rest that can be flipped between a smooth surface and a more textured one to suit your preference.
Pros:
- Fantastic design
- Excellent performance
- Great features
- Advanced RGB lighting suite
Cons:
- Expensive
Best Overall
Corsair K95 RGB Platinum
Best of the best
The K95 RGB Platinum offers fantastic build quality, excellent performance, tons of features, and an amazing aesthetic in one satisfying product.
Best Mid-Range: Corsair K68 RGB
The Corsair K68 RGB is your best bet if you're looking for great quality but don't want to injure your wallet. It has the same great mechanical performance that you get with the Corsair K95 RGB Platinum, as well as the same multimedia controls.
However, to make it more affordable, Corsair made sacrifices in other areas. The column of macro keys and accent lights are gone, as is the USB port and the ability to save some RGB profiles on the keyboard. The wrist rest, while still comfortable, doesn't have a textured side, and the materials used to create most of the keyboard have changed from aircraft-grade aluminum to a combination of steel, plastic, and rubber. This design is less durable to physical damage, although it's worth pointing out that it is more resistant to liquids.
Even with these caveats, though, the Corsair K68 RGB is an excellent keyboard, especially when you consider how balanced the price is.
Pros:
- Solid overall design
- Excellent performance
- Less expensive
- Liquid resistant
Cons:
- Fewer features
- Less durable
Best Mid-Range
Corsair K68 RGB
Balance of price and quality
The K68 RGB is an excellent keyboard that, despite having fewer features than its bigger, flashier K95 brother, makes up for it by being less expensive.
Best Compact: Corsair K65 LUX RGB
If you want a keyboard that's smaller and easier to take with you on-the-go, then you should opt for the Corsair K65 LUX RGB. Corsair removed the number pad keys on this keyboard to cut several inches off of the keyboard's size. It's worth noting that you won't be getting a budget keyboard just because it's smaller; this is a full-fledged option.
In terms of features and performance, the Corsair K65 LUX RGB is mostly like the K68 RGB, although it's worth pointing out that it comes with a USB port, which the K68 lacks. Also, it features an aircraft-grade aluminum design that's like the one found with the K95 RGB Platinum, which is by far the best and most durable design Corsair offers for its keyboards.
Pros:
- Fantastic design
- Excellent performance
- More compact
- USB port
Cons:
- A little expensive
- Less overall features
- No number pad
Best Compact
Corsair K65 LUX RGB
Take it with you
The K65 LUX RGB is best suited to people looking for portability, as its smaller frame and durable build is suited for traveling.
Best Wireless: Corsair K63 Wireless
The Corsair K63 Wireless is perfect for cutting the cord and playing games on your PC — or your Xbox One — while chilling on the couch. It features the same high performance seen in all of the other keyboards on this list, and it can wirelessly connect either through Bluetooth or with a USB receiver, giving you a lot of versatility.
Also, it has a detachable cloth lapboard that's perfect for using your mouse on if your game requires one, as well as a built-in wrist rest. Unfortunately, the K63 Wireless trades RGB lights for standard blue ones, so it isn't very customizable. The battery lasts for about 15 hours, which is a great result. Overall, the K63 Wireless is an excellent wireless keyboard.
Pros:
- Excellent performance
- Several wireless connection methods
- Quality cloth lapboard
- Strong battery life
Cons:
- Requires recharging
- No RGB lighting
- A little expensive
Best Wireless
CORSAIR K63 Wireless
Who needs wires?
If you're looking to go wireless, the K63 Wireless keyboard will be right up your alley thanks to its reliable connection and strong overall design.
Bottom line
At the end of the day, all of Corsair's keyboards are awesome, and each one will fulfill a different need or desire. However, when it comes to which one is the best keyboard overall, we think that the Corsair K95 RGB Platinum wins the day simply because it offers peak quality across the board. It's durable, it performs excellently, it looks awesome, and it has a ton of cool features that any keyboard user will love. It may cost a pretty penny, but ultimately, it doesn't get any better than the K95 RGB Platinum, and you get what you pay for.
Credits — The team that worked on this guide
Brendan Lowry is a Windows Central writer with a burning passion for video games, of which he's been an avid fan since childhood. He's relatively new to the writing scene, but he counters that lack of experience with a rock-solid work ethic and a desire to improve at every opportunity. You'll find him doing reviews, editorials, and general coverage on everything Xbox and PC. Follow him on Twitter.
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