Lighting and Performance

The CORSAIR K60 RGB PRO supports N-key rollover USB out of the box, which tested successfully using Aqua's test. Switch Hitter confirmed no chatter with these keys either, and the K60 RGB PRO SE tested similarly when I had used it last year.

When first connected regardless of iCUE running or not, the keyboard lights up in a spiral rainbow lighting effect, which is the default option for the hardware profile, too. The transition animation is smooth, and the effect is a good demonstration to also ensure the keyboard is powered on and working properly.


In a separate test via one of the preset multi-color options, I tested for light bleed, and it was definitely present at the common edges because of the floating keycaps, but not to where it is distracting. Indeed, the light show from all the RGB LEDs underneath the keys makes for a bigger attention grab anyway. I then manually set all the keys to white using the software driver to test for color fidelity since RGB LEDs have a hard time depicting white, and it was weirdly a light green hue to the white here. This is especially noticeable at lower brightness levels. Also seen above is the keyboard lit up in the popular rainbow wave effect, which will be used for further comparison below.


This is what I was referring to. With the replacement keycaps on, the white keycaps obviously make for a brighter appearance owing to more light being reflected around even with the thicker keycaps. The same dynamic effects as earlier are done here to help emphasize this point. The black PBT keycaps that come with the K60 RGB PRO SE aren't that different from the ABS ones here when it comes to lighting, but there is less light bleed owing to the full-size keycaps that aren't as cut down on the sides.

Using the CORSAIR K60 RGB PRO, or K60 RGB PRO SE from before, doesn't take much getting used to, at least as long as you are used to the language layout. I have been on the US ANSI layout my entire life, which definitely had me struggle for a while with this UK ISO keyboard and went so far as to have me make some quick key-mapping changes with iCUE before slowly going back to the default layout. Likewise, having the US ANSI replacement keycaps made it hard to fully test the set on this unit, but CORSAIR does offer the same set in the ISO layout, too. Regardless, the new K60 series of keyboards are all full-size units with a dedicated numpad. There isn't much functionality you will lose out on thus, and even media controls have pre-programmed secondary functions on the Fn key row by default, with several other options available through iCUE. This is a wired-only keyboard too, so there's no wireless functionality to discuss or test here.


As we saw before, the CORSAIR K60 PRO, K60 RGB PRO, and K60 RGB PRO SE only come with the Cherry VIOLA switches. These are intended to be Cherry's budget mechanical switches, clearly meant to compete against the likes of Outemu, TTC, and a few more budget-conscious switch makers. You can't find any mention of the Cherry VIOLA on the Cherry MX website though, which in a way makes sense since it is a different line altogether and instead gets a dedicated page here. I won't be talking any more about the design and construction of the switches, having done so already in this review, but do appreciate the engineering at play with the simple but effective contact system. It also enables a fairly linear feedback with a single contact position before and after which the spring simply provides linear resistance as depicted in the force-travel diagram above. This can best be compared to the Cherry MX Red when it comes to Cherry's own offerings, with an actuation force of 45 gf at 2.0 mm and total travel of 4.0 mm with a peak force of 75 cN. That peak force incidentally does get relatively high to where you won't bottom out as easily as with most medium-force linear switches. I wish I could say these are good to type on, but my biggest issue with them unfortunately was the friction between the POM housing and slider itself. It's also not the most consistent feel, although totally separate from the contact point itself, which was quite consistent. You also can't just lube the contact surface since it is not a closed switch, though a thin layer might do the trick.



As always, the sound of a keyboard is based on more than just the switch type. So when comparing sound clips, consider the keyboard as a whole. In this case, I have provided above a sound clip of me typing on the CORSAIR K60 RGB PRO keyboard sample at ~105 WPM as it comes out of the box with the Cherry VIOLA switches. The first file is with the stock ABS keycaps, and I then have another using the replacement CORSAIR PBT keycaps. For context, you can find sound clips from other keyboards here, including those with linear switches. I did bottom out more often than not, but you can train yourself not to. The thicker PBT keycaps definitely affect the sound signature, making it less high-pitched, but the keyboard itself is a great equalizer with plenty of pings and reverberations even before the switches themselves enter the picture. Not my favorite to type on or listen to, as it turns out!