Corsair Okay70 Core RGB Assessment: Third Time’s a Attraction

Corsair has made fairly a splash in gaming keyboards within the final 12 months with its K70 Max RGB keyboard, which has customizable magnetic switches and a few fairly spectacular sound-dampening. However the Okay70 Max RGB’s dual-actuation magnetic switches are considerably area of interest (we now have but to seek out a lot real-world use for dual-actuation switches), and the board is dear at $230.

Corsair’s newest board, the Okay70 Core RGB, is a extra accessible full-size gaming keyboard — and fairly probably one of many finest gaming keyboards we have examined. It retains the Okay70 Max RGB’s spectacular sound-dampening and lack of case ping with two layers of EVA foam, however drops the customizable magnetic switches for pre-lubed Corsair Crimson (linear) switches. It has an aluminum prime plate and is available in all black or “metal grey,” with double-shot ABS keycaps. It options per-key RGB, onboard storage with assist for as much as 5 profiles, and has a customizable rotary dial. And it retails for simply $99.99 — way more budget-friendly than the decked-out Okay70 Max RGB. 

Design of the Okay70 Core RGB

The Corsair Okay70 Core RGB is a wired, full-size mechanical keyboard with double-shot ABS keycaps, flip-up ft, and an adjustable rotary knob. It hasn’t been lengthy since I examined the corporate’s flagship full-size board, the K70 Max RGB. Whereas I actually favored that board, it was a bit dear ($230), considerably area of interest, and just a little overwhelming at instances. 

The Okay70 Core RGB has a number of neat options, together with pre-lubed Corsair Crimson (linear) switches, two layers of EVA foam within the case for sound-dampening, an aluminum prime plate, an adjustable rotary knob, and an included magnetic wrist relaxation. I’ve reviewed plenty of mechanical keyboards in my day, and the Corsair Crimson switches are by far the smoothest switches I’ve ever utilized in a prebuilt, inventory mainstream gaming keyboard. When Corsair instructed me the switches had been pre-lubed, I did not assume a lot of it — I’ve heard that so many instances and I have been dissatisfied virtually each time. However I am in love with the Corsair Reds — they really feel and sound implausible. 

Switches apart, the opposite standout function on the Okay70 Core RGB is the management dial. Not solely does the dial appear and feel good due to its steel building and notching, it is customizable. The dial may be set to regulate quantity, RGB brightness, vertical and horizontal scrolling, and web page zoom. All of those options are good, individually, however I can not emphasize how a lot I recognize the choice for horizontal scrolling — I work in Microsoft Excel always, and notched horizontal scrolling is a game-changer.

The keyboard options double-shot ABS keycaps with shine-through legends that showcase the board’s beautiful per-key RGB lighting. For my part, Corsair by far has the very best RGB implementation, in each instances and peripherals.

In contrast to different keyboards within the Corsair Okay70 lineup, the Okay70 Core RGB doesn’t have a removable USB-C cable. As an alternative, it has a six-foot, fastened, rubber USB-C cable — which issues me so far as future sturdiness. The Okay70 Core RGB additionally lacks Corsair’s AXON know-how. In the event you’re not conversant in AXON, it makes use of a particular microcontroller that ups a keyboard’s polling charge to eight,000 Hz, its scanning charge to 4,000 Hz, and provides storage for as much as 50 onboard profiles with 20 lighting results.

Typing and Gaming Expertise on the Okay70 Core RGB

I received the Okay70 Core RGB simply in time for the discharge of Counter-Strike 2. Whereas I usually do not play the Counter-Strike franchise, as I discover it to be just a little too aggressive, this is a gaming keyboard. So I fired it up — and I used to be very impressed. The Corsair Reds had been {smooth} and speedy, and their 45g actuation drive by no means felt too heavy — I may drop my Famas assault rifle for my pistol instantaneously.

I ultimately shifted gears and began up the Cyperpunk 2077 DLC, Phantom Liberty. My character in Cyberpunk 2077 is constructed round velocity — so I am all the time sliding or dashing by the air whereas throwing knives. As a result of Cyberpunk 2077 is such a hardware-heavy recreation, my rig heats up and my palms get fairly sweaty. Thankfully, the double-shot ABS keycaps on the Okay70 Core RGB weren’t overly slick (like a worn-in set of GMK caps).  

I additionally examined the keyboard in a non-gaming capability. My full-time job requires plenty of information entry, so I would like a stable keyboard to get by the workday. The Okay70 Core RGB’s buttery-smooth switches and properly sound-dampened case made it a terrific workhorse, and I did not as soon as really feel the necessity to swap again to my each day driver. I did not want to make use of the board’s management dial for horizontal scrolling as a result of I’ve the Logitech MX Grasp 3, however the management dial was nonetheless handy for different issues, reminiscent of quantity management. 

My solely actual subject with this board was the included wrist relaxation. It has the identical football-like texture because the wrist relaxation that comes with the Okay70 Max RGB, and it is simply not very snug.

Software program of the Okay70 Core RGB

The Okay70 Core RGB is powered by Corsair’s common peripheral iCue software program. You should utilize iCue to remap keys, regulate the keyboard’s RGB lighting, file macros, and alter varied settings. Whereas the keyboard would not have Corsair’s AXON know-how with assist for 50 onboard profiles, it does assist a way more cheap 5 onboard profiles — although you may should program onboard profiles and software-based profiles individually as a result of iCue is, like most peripheral software program, unusually convoluted.

I used to be dissatisfied to find that the management dial wasn’t absolutely customizable. It isn’t programmable in any respect, however comes with 5 presets that may be toggled on or off for comfort.

Backside Line

That is the third keyboard from Corsair’s Okay70 lineup that I’ve reviewed — and it is by far my favourite, regardless of being the least “premium.” Actually, contemplating the $99.99 price ticket, this board is implausible: the sleek linear switches blew me out of the water, and the whole lack of case ping undoubtedly impressed me. No matter Corsair did by way of sound-dampening within the case made this keyboard sound nice — significantly better than another keyboard I’ve used from a mainstream gaming firm. 

Corsair is not the one firm that is including fanatic options to its gaming keyboards — a number of firms are listening to issues like case ping and swap lubrication: Razer just lately launched the BlackWidow V4 75% and Asus launched each the ROG Azoth and the ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wi-fi earlier this 12 months. However the Okay70 Core RGB is each full-size and (simply) beneath $100, which makes it a really tempting deal.

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