Closer Examination

The CORSAIR K70 RGB PRO is a full-size keyboard that still has a few extra keys, so the best way to describe it in the CORSAIR keyboard lineup would be as their high-end keyboard without dedicated macro keys, which the K95 and K100 get. It is also using the updated ID from previous-generation K70 keyboards (MK.2), with the new logo in the top center no doubt backlit as before, "K70" etched into the bottom-left corner, and mostly uniform bezels on the sides and bottom making it wider than before owing to slightly larger side bezels, which have a trimmed down, beveled edge at the bottom for a more subtle unit. The K70 RGB PRO is currently only available in a single color scheme using the classic black anodized aluminium frame with the brushed finish that has become a hallmark for the CORSAIR K70. The keycaps are also all black, and the subtle branding makes for a keyboard that will fit into a variety of environments easily. Just remember to remove the protective sticker on the logo inlay.

There still are extra keys for the profile switch, LED brightness toggle, and Win Lock to the left of the CORSAIR logo inlay in the center, as well as the dedicated volume scroll wheel alongside a mute button in the top-right corner and media playback controls above the numpad. Speaking of which, we see secondary legends below the primary ones on the numpad keys, in contrast to the alphanumeric section that has secondary legends alongside the primary ones at the top. This and the location of single legends in the top-center are indicative of where the backlighting will be more uniform, and the legends at the bottom may not end up as bright as those at the top if the CORSAIR K70 is using north-facing LEDs as pretty much all keyboards today. The font typeface is also a departure even compared to the doubleshot PBT keycaps on the K95 Platinum XT. These legends are smaller throughout, which may be the company accepting feedback that the previous legends were too large for many. The use of loop-less doubleshot injection also means some of the legends are different from their ABS laser etched ones, especially in the Ins-Pg Dn cluster.


Flipping the keyboard around, we see the usual certification sticker, but shaped like a trapezoid and biased towards the top to better align with the case design across the top. Four large rubber pads on the corners keep the keyboard from sliding around on the desk, and two feet at the top open up sideways to optionally elevate the keyboard; these feet also have rubber pads to ensure they don't scratch easily. Back are the cable-routing cutouts we saw with some other high-end CORSAIR keyboards,but there are no USB passthrough ports, so these channels are not as practical either.


The detachable cable adds to the portability of the keyboard, although not as much as with the 60% form factor K65 Mini, of course. The side facing away from the user has a cutout in the middle, where the USB Type-C connector of the cable plugs in, and substantial casing on either side protects the connectors. The cable is also braided in a durable black sleeve matching the rest of the keyboard. Next to the port is a switch we have seen with the K70 RGB TKL CHAMPION. This switch activates "Tournament Mode," which deactivates macros and custom actions to prevent any cheating in gaming tournaments, changes backlighting to a static single color, and only allows profile switching compatible with tournament regulations. There is also a latch that goes over and secures the switch when in this mode, which has a hidden red LED as an indicator that Tournament Mode is on for referees and the audience to see. The provided cable fits in snugly and requires a spare USB Type-A port on your PC, where USB 3.2 Gen 1 (USB 3.0) is recommended.


Installing the wrist/palm rest is trivial because of the magnets. Simply guide the plastic tabs in place as seen above and wait for magnetism to take effect! Ideally, one should not use a wrist rest at all, but I understand that this is easier said than done for most people. Once again, I would rather it be more comfortable as with the one CORSAIR used to include with the K70, but it still makes for support for when you want to take a break from touch typing with both hands hovering above the keys as the best case scenario.


The K70 RGB PRO uses the tried and tested OEM profile. It consists of keycaps in their usual slanted rows with concave surfaces on top, and we of course have the now-expected "standard" keycap spacing for the bottom row increasing compatibility with aftermarket keycap sets. There are six replacement keycap sets CORSAIR sells, some of which we have seen before. The absence of an included keycap puller makes swapping keycaps more difficult, but the floating nature of the keycaps means removal and installation is easier as well, even if it is just for cleaning the keyboard. The stock keycaps are very good to begin with because of their thick PBT plastic composition (average wall thickness 1.5 mm) and doubleshot injected legends that will not wear out before the rest of the keyboard—PBT plastic resists signs of wear and shine from finger oils better than ABS plastic. These are compatible with backlighting, which is no doubt part of the RGB lighting feature.


There are five Cherry MX switch options in the Cherry MX Red, Brown, Blue, Silent Red, and Speed (Silver) RGB switch. This makes for two additional switches over the K70 RGB TKL CHAMPION that was all about linear switches, and thus covers all three feedback mechanisms as well. I again find myself asking what happened to the CORSAIR OPX switch that debuted with the K100 RGB over a year ago and has not been seen since. CORSAIR perhaps sought to keep things simple by having the K70 RGB PRO remain purely a mechanical keyboard. Regardless, a quick examination confirmed I have the Cherry MX Red version. The larger keycaps use plate-mounted stabilizers, which helps with their removal at the expense of that typical mushy feeling with these stabilizers. CORSAIR applied no lube to these, which is a shame considering a big deal was made of it with the K70 RGB TKL, but the bigger issue was a big crack in the space bar stabilizer itself—not ideal for sure, it did hold up fine throughout the course of testing.