Introduction

CORSAIR had announced and released their updates to the popular STRAFE and K70 series of RGB mechanical keyboards last year, and we took a look at the STRAFE RGB MK.2 then. Referenced in that review was also the K70 RGB MK.2 from CORSAIR, which aimed to offer a more-metal, less-plastic experience targeted at a higher price point. The K70 has always been a higher-end keyboard from CORSAIR with dedicated media controls and RGB backlighting a feature for years now. There was a special RAPIDFIRE version that came out in recent years, making use of the new Cherry MX Speed Silver switch, and CORSAIR decided they wanted even more SKUs under the K70 name. Here we are thus, and thanks again to CORSAIR for providing a review sample.


The SE in "K70 RGB MK.2 SE" stands for Special Edition, and that usually comes at a higher price point than the more standard (is that even a thing here?) K70 RGB MK.2. Indeed, as the image above shows, gone is the black color scheme in favor of a splendid silver that reminds me of the original CORSAIR keyboards, and we also see a different keycap set. The internals are all the same, however, which in many ways makes this a review of the non-SE K70 RGB MK.2 keyboard. The newer K70 does not have 512 colors and associated flickering, back from when it was the first kid of the RGB mechanical keyboard block, and also has a very different software driver from then too. We will go over the keyboard in more detail—inside and out—as we begin the review with a look at the specifications below.

Specifications

Packaging and Accessories

CORSAIR operates a web shop in the USA. However, this sample came from a marketing hub, so we begin with a look at the product packaging. A plastic wrap covers the packaging, which I maintain is not very practical, and removing it shows off the product box in more detail. We have the usual CORSAIR Gaming black and yellow color scheme with a large illustration of the keyboard and the company and product name. There is also the Cherry MX switch label on the front, which corresponds to the switch your keyboard inside uses (MX Speed Silver RGB in this case). Specifications and marketing features continue on the back and sides in multiple languages, along with another printed illustration that highlights some of the salient aspects of the keyboard.


There are two seals as well as a double flap on the side to help keep the contents inside in place during transit. Opening the box, we see the keyboard itself in a plastic wrap with the keyboard cable in the cardboard cutout compartment above. The accessories are housed in separate layers of the cardboard packaging, which is not the best I have seen, but this setup will suffice provided the shipping packaging is done well. We have two sets of accessories with the K70 RGB MK.2 (SE or otherwise), and the first set contains the product quick start guide (online copy in the downloads tab here), a warranty guide, and a warranty note specific to Australia.


The final accessory, also in a plastic wrap, is a removable wrist rest. It is completely made out of plastic with no reversible surface, unlike the wrist rest for their current flagship K95 Platinum keyboard. Instead, it has a dimpled, soft-touch finish to its plastic surface. There are two clips on the back, and rubber pads keep the keyboard and wrist rest from moving around on your desk. This wrist rest is in a dark gray color scheme for the SE version of the CORSAIR K70 RGB MK.2 keyboard and will be black for non-SE versions.