Introduction

We have covered over a hundred different keyboards on TechPowerUp so far, and it would be a good bet to say that no other company has released more keyboards in the past few years than CORSAIR. It has gotten to where they not only have iterations of existing keyboards coming up with newer features, but also totally new keyboards to show off innovations such as their Slipstream wireless technology and the Capellix LEDs for lighting. The CORSAIR K95 Platinum was among the very first reviews I wrote here, all the way back in January 2017, coinciding with its announcement at CES 2017. It is all the more fitting then that today, as part of CES 2020, we take a look at its update. Thanks to CORSAIR for sending along a review sample!


CORSAIR seemingly is shying away from discrete names for their keyboards, with precedence given to the Kxx naming scheme to keep things simple. In general, the larger the number in the model name, the higher up in the keyboard product portfolio it is placed. Their popular K70 series is a fantastic full-size keyboard which has evolved to have a lot of features that were previously on the larger flagship K95. Indeed, it got to where simply having a bank of dedicated macro keys was not enough to sway the public to purchase the K95 over the K70, or even other competing options. The K95 Platinum introduced a light bar at the top to have more LED zones, as well as a pretty nifty wrist rest, and we see the former at the very least retained here with the new K95 RGB Platinum XT. There are a few more tricks up its sleeve, however, which help make this an actual gaming keyboard, too. We will cover this and more more in the review we begin 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. Specifications and marketing features continue on the back and sides in multiple languages, along with another printed illustration that highlights more of the salient aspects of the keyboard. Two seals on the sides help keep the contents inside in place.


Removing the seals, we see a two-piece packaging with the top simply lifting upwards and away to reveal the keyboard held snugly between more cardboard and foam pieces for protection, with the attached cable in the compartment above and accessories all underneath. This layered approach makes for a more premium unboxing experience and is part of the halo product experience CORSAIR wishes to present with the K95 RGB Platinum XT. There is a box with most of the accessories enclosed, as opposed to loose manuals or keycap sets, and the wrist rest itself.


CORSAIR includes a warranty guide, as well as a multi-language manual that summarizes the various parts of the keyboard when it comes to functionality. It can be a handy resource given there are so many things pre-programmed onboard outside of the standard keyboard keys themselves, making it well worth a look early on. We also see not one, but two different replacement keycap sets. The first is a WASD/QWERDF set for FPS and MOBA gaming, with a textured gray surface with thin ABS plastic and laser etched legends typical of mass market keyboards. There is also a plastic ring-style keycap puller, which can potentially scratch the sides of keycaps when used but is still better than nothing.

The second, and arguably more interesting set, is what CORSAIR calls the S-key keycap set, and it is meant to replace the macro key "G keys" on the keyboard. These are similarly formed to the other set, but have a blue surface, hinting heavily towards one of the bigger features on the K95 RGB Platinum XT keyboard tying into CORSAIR's acquisition of Elgato Gaming in 2018. Finally, there is an R1 profile 1u keycap with the CORSAIR logo on it, which you can use to replace the default Esc key if you so desire. It, too, as with the S-key keycap set, is composed of thin ABS plastic with laser etched legends, but as seen above, all the replacement keycaps retain support for backlighting.


The included wrist rest comes in a wax paper wrap and is actually a downgrade from the one that came with the previous K95 platinum. It is more luxurious than those CORSAIR includes with their other keyboards, with a dimpled leatherette surface at the top, but loses the reversible, thick top from before. There are two clip sets to pair it with the keyboard, which goes well with the bottom surface that is angled to fit with the side it touches, and there are rubber pads on the bottom to add friction against the resting surface.