Corsair K95 RGB Platinum Mechanical Gaming Keyboard – 6x Programmable Macro Keys – USB Passthrough & Media Controls – Fastest Cherry MX Speed – RGB LED Backlit – Aluminum Finish Video Games

4.0 out of 5 stars

Steep entry fee, remarkable keyboard

Tldr; version: If you like lights and keys that actuate at a feather touch, then you will want this keyboard. With that out of the way, I’ll go in depth about certain elements of the keyboard.Keys:I was initially attracted to this keyboard because of the Cherry MX Speed keys utilized in it. I am used to various types of mechanical keys, but had been using a Logitech G910 with Romer-G switches for well over a year. Several reviews I have read have compared the MX Speed switches to the Romer-G due to the similar actuation force and engage, and this isn’t exactly off. Every time I try to think of a comparison for these switches, I think of the Sanwa Denshi OSBF-30 arcade buttons. Much like those buttons, these keys actuate if you simply breath on them; I have actually engaged therm with a spray from my compressed air can while cleaning. While this is mostly positive, there are some things to consider.The keys will engage if you apply even a light touch to them, and if you’re used to keys that require a little more weight for actuation, you may find yourself accidentally depressing keys when you don’t mean to, especially if you like to idle on home row. This, of course, is something that you can adjust for, and the switches seem to lose this as you break them in. With that being said, the MX Speed keys are very easy to press, especially in rapid succession. Again, though, if you are not used to typing on keys such as this, you will probably find yourself bottoming out quite often, so you need to either (A)adapt or (B)buy some o-ring dampeners to help relieve the feel of bottoming out.Curiously, the space bar has a textured feel to it, which I am still not sure whether I appreciate or not, and would have liked Corsair to offer a non-textured space bar included with the rest of the alternate keycaps, which I will detail later.Lights:So, if you weren’t aware, Corsair puts lights on everything but their chairs ( much to my disappointment ). To up the ante compared to previous keyboards, they have implemented a RGB light strip across the type of the keyboard. As you probably already know, you can customize the lighting in any way you want. You can stack lighting effects on top of each other to achieve several effects ( something you still cannot do in Logitech’s software ). The lighting is bright, but comes with two caveats. (1) The LEDs are centered at the top of the switch, so keys with double rows of text are dimmer on the bottom. Because of this, the lighting on the keys isn’t quite as uniform as it is on some other keyboards with centered LEDs or keycaps made specifically to accommodate the top-mounted light. (2)Because the body of the switch is clear, they emit light from all sides, which causes bleedout from under the keycaps. Whether you like this or not depends on personal taste, and almost every illuminated keyboard aside from Logitech’s Romer-G keyboards suffer from this. It’s not a bad thing, just a result of how the keys are crafted.The RGB LED strip on top of the keyboard has its own problems. The lighting is uneven and you can tell where there LEDs are placed and the space between them because of the dark zones here and there. This is less noticeable if you have a rapidly moving effect, but on static lighting, it is very glaring. While this could be forgiven, Corsair’s own Polaris mousepad, which has a led strip on the entire side and bottom perimeter of the mousepad, does not have this problem; the lighting is completely even. I am confused why my $50 mousepad has more even lighting than my $200 keyboard, when it has to be more or less constructed in the same way.Body:The keyboard itself appears to be a single piece of “aircraft grade aluminum,” according to Corsair’s own description. It is a very elegant look with a fair amount of weight behind it. Imperfections are obvious, if there are any ( mine had a weird stripe on it out of the package that I had really wipe and buff out ), and it likes to attract dust in the thin lines of the metal. Not a big deal and usually cleans easily with a can of air or a microfiber cloth.Wrist rest:I have used a K95 before and was a little surprise to find that the wrist rest on the Platinum is really not as good as the previous rest found on other models. On previous keyboards, the wrist rest was attached solidly with screws. That is not the case here, and if you left the keyboard without support of the rest, it may fall off since it’s only held in by two plastic tabs. Not a big deal, but when you’re supposed to be “getting it all,” on a “Platinum” product, you’d expect it to have all the bells and whistles, including a more sturdy wrist rest. Aside from that, it functions well enough and offers a double sided rubberized padding; one is softer, the other has a little more texture. I am not sure why anyone would ever want the softer, less textured side, but to each their own.Unlike the hollow plastic of the Logitech G910 and several Razer keyboards, this thing is a hefty chunk of plastic, so it’s going to take a lot of rage to break it.Extra Features:So, the extra features on the keyboard are (1)6 macro keys, (2)Media control keys, (3)Profile switch keys, (4)Illumination control key, (5)Windows Lockout key, (6) USB passthrough, (7) underside cable routing, and (8) additional keycaps.Another odd choice in naming conventions is why Corsair decided to call this the K95, which is known for having 18 macro keys on the left side compared to 6. It’s not a big deal, but it is odd, but I have also realized as games have simplified, there’s not really a need for 18 macros for what I do. More keys are handy for image/video editing, so if you need more than 6 macro keys, this may not be the keyboard for you. This seems to suit me and I imagine it would be fine for most gamers, though. Unlike the rest of the keyboard, the macro keys have a textured gray finish on top and are angled to the left so that you know when you’re pushing them. I’ve never really had any problems telling what key I am pressing, but I suppose that’s a welcome addition.Like many higher grade keyboards, the K95 Platinum has media control keys that allow you to control your music tracks, volume, and muting. Pretty standard and unlike certain keyboards, blend in well with the overall design. The volume wheel is quite luxurious, but overall, these are nothing to write home about, much like the profile switch and windows lockout keys. These are things that should more or less be standard on any backlit gaming keyboard with macros, so I won’t waste too much time on that.The USB passthrough is handy, although it does require a second USB port on the keyboard. If you don’t want to use it, you can choose not to plug in the USB connector with the USB marker on it and save a USB port on your computer. It is however, handy, especially if you are using a headset which has a cable that can fit in the underside routing on the bottom of the keyboard. I believe this feature was noticeably absent on some of Corsair’s initial RGB offerings, which is probably why it’s back on this model…As for the underside cable routing, there are two tracks in an X-shape along the bottom center of the keyboard and two straight lanes on the wrist rest to lead the cable out of. Whoever designed this only designed it for the Corsair Void’s non-braided, thin cable. It takes a mighty thin cable to fit in these tracks, and anything that is braided likely won’t fit. It’s a neat feature, but could have used a little more development put behind it to accommodate more products. As it stands, you might be able to fit a phone charge cable in the tracks, but I could not fit the USB cable for the Logitech G633 headset into these tracks; again, though, the cable for the Corsair Void USB headset fits fine.Corsair includes replacement keycaps and a standard keycap puller for MOBA and FPS gaming in mind. These caps have the same texture as the space bar and the macro keys and are angled in such a way as to bring attention and center your hands in one place. They seem nice and do help in finding keys, but I can’t imagine anyone that is an actual professional gamer ever needing them. The keycap puller is a very cheap standard plastic puller, so I would suggest care in removing keys, as this sort of puller can damage the sides of keys if the user is not careful.Software:You need the Corsair Utility Engine to support macros and customize the lighting of the keyboard. The current version, CUE 2, is a godsend compared to the original CUE that Corsair launched a year previously. While CUE 2 still has bugs, more and more of these seem to get ironed out with each new update. The important thing, however, is that CUE 2 is usable by just about anyone. The original CUE software was universally panned as unstable and complicated, issues which Corsair has handled. I say mostly because I do still experience a few crashes, but only when trying to open the software, and there are still issues with upgrading the software itself through the software’s built-in upgrade feature. This is important, because I had originally sworn off Corsair products a year prior, because the CUE software would just crash whenever it wanted to–including in the middle of a game. This is no longer the case, though, and there is even a open source alternative if you have problems with the CUE 2 software. I generally find very few issues with the official CUE 2 software though.All in all, you are getting what you pay for with the K95 Platinum. There are a few minor things to consider, but overall you are getting a beautiful looking keyboard with some of the best Cherry MX keycaps for gaming and typing. There are less expensive options, of course, but none of them seem to quite nail it as well as the K95 Platinum.

47 people found this helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars

Best Quality Gaming Keyboard You Can Buy! Now Affordable!

I’ve owned many keyboards in the past 29-years, most of them membrane keyboards, but a few mechanicals as well. My first mechanical keyboard was from the Aukey brand and it lasted 6-months until the key switches started failing. Because of that experience, I decided that it was best to upgrade to a higher quality brand, so I chose Corsair and went with the Vengeance K70 RGB Rapidfire. I owned the Corsair K70 for a year, and then the cable developed a short where it enters the casing of the keyboard and stopped working, still waiting on RMA under warranty for that one. While waiting already a week now for an RMA authorization for the K70, I decided to buy the K95 Platinum keyboard.The K95 Platinum is Corsair’s top of the line keyboard, it is fully featured, with all the bells and whistles. If you’ve used the K70 before, then you will recognize the same stout cable on the K95 with the twin plugs, one for the keyboard, and the other for the USB pass-through port. Unlike the K70 which has a very smooth bottom, which can cause it to slide around easily. The K95 has a textured bottom with quality rubber feet, and it does not move around at all. I primarily use my keyboard from the couch, and it won’t slide down my legs. Additionally, this keyboard has slots on the bottom of it to allow you to rout a headphone cable, to keep things nice and neat.The K70 Rapidfire and the K95 Platinum have pretty much the same kind of Cherry MX switches. They feel about the same in the switches, same quick actuation, and the same quietness. However, the K95 uses stronger keys. When I tapped on the keys for the K70, they had a tendency to move around a bit besides just pressing straight down. When I press down on the keys for the K95, they push straight down, which basically tells me that the keys have more structural rigidness.The K95 Platinum also has more keys, there are 6-programmable macro keys on the left side, which are primarily intended for use in gaming. The K70 did not have any dedicated macro keys. Just like with all Corsair gaming keyboards, this one is fully illuminated. And just like the old K70, the K95 has full RGB color pallet, which means there are a million shades of color that you can choose from. The beauty with these keyboards, is that you can set each individual keys to whatever color you want. Also high end Corsair keyboards can use special effects, such as the default spiral rainbow effect.All the color effects, key bindings, and programmable macro keys, are administrated by the CUE software, if you are on Windows. However, if you are on Linux, you will not be able to install and use the CUE software. In order to utilize the keyboard on Linux, you have to install the Corsair keyboard drivers for Linux, then you need to install CKB-Next. After restarting your computer to insure the CKB daemon is running, the software will detect your keyboard, and then you can administrate your keyboard from there. When I used this software with the K70, I was able to save the settings to the keyboard, so that after a restart, its still the same.However, the K95, according to the developer of CKB-Next, says the K95 uses a different file system, which is why CKB cannot save the settings to the hardware. Which means as soon as I restart the computer, the keyboard is back to its default rainbow spiraling, until the OS loads up and loads the CKB daemon, then my settings return, well, mostly. Unlike the K70, which has no fancy lighting bar on the top of the keyboard, the K95 has one. After the CKB daemon loads up, all my settings return except for the top light bar, its like it has a memory malfunction where it knows to make the light bar blue, to what I set it too, except a couple of zones are in rainbow mode. So I have to go in and change the color back and fourth to reset it. Its a slight pain for sure, but not a big deal, easy fix.What I love however, is the flexibility of options that are available for the K95. There is just so many settings that you can choose to administrate this keyboard. If there is something you don’t like, just change it! An advanced feature that I’ve been enjoying, is activating RGB for the Num, Caps, and Scroll lock keys. When the lock keys are off, they are blue like most of the keys. But when the locks are turned on, I’ve set them to be a brighter blue, so its just basically another level of indicator when the locks are on is all, but very cool. Another example of this is I set the media mute button to be a dark red when off. When I hit the mute button to mute my sound, the button turns into a brighter red as a clear indicator, incase I forget its on later and I need to turn it back off.I also noticed that I had a tendency to hit the MACRO G-keys with my pinkie finger, because I am used to keyboards which don’t have them, and thinking I am hitting the CTRL, SHIFT, CAPS, and TAB keys. So I chose to make the G-keys GREEN to more easily distinguish them, it no longer has been a problem. 😉 I’ve also set my media keys to GREEN as well for the same reason, so they are easier to spot when I need to use them quickly. Its nice that they illuminated the Corsair logo, they did not do that on the K70. If you don’t like the logo being illuminated though, you can turn it off, it uses the center top bar zone.If you’ve used the old K70, then you know how smooth the volume wheel was, I use it quite a bit. Its just nice being able to adjust my computer volume from the keyboard. The volume wheel on the K95 is considerably smoother in its movement, so thats yet another improvement that Corsair made. The feeling of the keys is really good, its quite a comfortable keyboard to use, and the illumination helps me to see the keys in the dark. I am also a gamer, so I really appreciate this feature. I haven’t set and utilized the MACRO keys yet, but if I need to set some MACRO’s, I will.This is a very durable keyboard, it has a full metal plate backing for the top of the keyboard, just like the K70 did. But this keyboard weighs more then the K70 by a little bit, the keyboard is wider afterall. If you are upgrading from the old K70, this keyboard will take a few days to get used to, cause it is a little different. All in all, this is probably going to be one of the best keyboards you could buy. I only hope that Corsair learned from their past mistakes with the old K70, and have improved the K95 Platinum enough to where it will hold up for more then a year. I of course will give everybody an update on this keyboard a year later. 4.8 out of 5 Stars!NOTE: Pictures were taken before I changed the color of the G-keys, and setup RGB lock indicators, and mute indication.

One person found this helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars

Macro keys wreck initial hand placement

Well constructed, good looking, solid, great RGB with bountiful customization options, nice multimedia controls. Loud. Coming from a Logitech chiclet keyboard, this mechanical keyboard, like most others, sounds like a horrid mess. This is less of a concern than it used to be because I moved my office downstairs, but honestly, it’s so loud I worry about waking my family sleeping UPSTAIRS while using it, even with the office door closed!The real problem for me was a bit of a surprise that only experience could reveal. It’s the Macro keys on the left side. I had no idea how much I depend on CTRL, SHIFT and TAB being the left-most controls on the keyboard. It seems that subconsciously, I pin my left pinky to CTRL by feel alone and that forms the complete basis for my hand placement. With the macro keys, my primary anchor is gone and this is simply a bridge too far. The macro keys absolutely CRIPPLE my typing.I was prepared to retrain my hands for however long it took until I discovered 2 other keyboards that resolve my 2 major complaints:1) Corsair Strafe RGB Cherry MX-Silent:* Full RGB lighting + customization* NO macro keys on the left* Quieter operation (Cherry MX Silent switches)* NO dedicated multimedia controls2) Logitech G810 Spectrum:* Full RGB lighting + customization* NO macro keys on the left* Quieter operation (Logitech’s proprietary G-Romer switches)* Dedicated multimedia controlsI wound up swapping the K95 with the Logitech G810 because the Logitech has the dedicated multimedia controls.There are lots of subtle differences between all these keyboards, so be sure to do your research to get the best possible fit for your needs.Ergonomic complaints aside, the Corsair keyboard screams quality.

5.0 out of 5 stars

Worth every penny

WOW so, I, am very picky when it comes to keyboards and I, use one often for business and for a particular game that I, play often. I, have a collection of keyboards I’ve paid good $ for and they are all #$% to me. then this k95 rgb platinum came along. this keyboard is everything you can imagine that is good. I’m blown away at how well this thing works.the pain in my knuckles is even gone. I’ve gone from keyboards not being good enough for me to thinking am I, even good enough for this keyboard lol… incredibly fast, smooth, and genuine to the core.. seriously don’t make the mistakes I made believing all the hype on other keyboards with similar prices. there ok, but why settle for ok when you can have this!?! no joke.. this is the real deal and is actually better than its description.. and yes I’ve had this for about a month now and have been using it for 6 hrs. avg. every day since. It’s not even broke in yet and I have only begun using some of its features.. with every key stroke its like bran new.. even with my wide hands my fingers are not smashed together.. like I said. its everything that is good.. get this and you’ll know what I, mean. hands down this has to be the best…I wont even go into how good looking this thing is either.. id need another page for each topic on how great this keyboard its.. Just pick this one! if there is any downside to this item I’d say sometimes I, feel guilty for having something so darn nice.. Thank you CORSAIR, well done! cheers

5.0 out of 5 stars

Better than expected, well worth the money!

I had the MX brown version of this keyboard delivered yesterday, and it is absolutely amazing. I started looking for a tactile keyboard because I have MS, which has affected my ability type on laptop/membrane-style keyboards since the keys are very sensitive, have short strokes, and they don’t have enough feel. I got a membrane style Logitech to replace my laptop keyboard, and while it was “better,” it certainly wasn’t best. So I started looking for something with a solid, tactile feel that would require deliberate keystrokes to actuate the keys, and this keyboard delivers.Everything about this keyboard is awesome; the construction is very solid, the key placement is just right, the Cherry MX brown switches are fantastic (clicky but not obnoxiously so, and perfectly tactile), the volume roller has a nice firm roll to it, and the lights are a really nice feature. I love how I can change the color to a solid color for productivity, and brighten or dim the lights depending on the ambient lighting. My only complaint is the iCUE software to control the lights; it’s not very intuitive. Corsair obviously spend a lot of time on the hardware, but now they need to spend more time on the software.I didn’t get this for the RGBs, but it’s really nice, honestly. If you want this for work, being able to change the key lighting color is a big plus, and the macro keys would definitely be useful. Green backlighting is perfect for working at night. If you’ve ever driven a Saab at night, you understand how nice green lights are at night. And blue or white works really well during the day (for me at least).

5 people found this helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars

Great Keyboard – Almost perfect

The K95 is my third Corsair keyboard. K70 was my first one, and I loved it until the day it finally died.K68 was a temporary replacement, but I didn’t like the plastic feel and Cherry MX Red switches.It would be an easy 5 star rating, but the A key died on me after just under two weeks of use, so I was upset to say the least.The Pros:Looks amazingSingle key RGB lightingProfiles for macros and lightingWrist rest is comfortable, and it doesn’t moveMX Brown switchesAluminum body (no flexing if/when you type hard)The Cons:Almost $200 with few additional features over the K70 that was $120-140The keycaps. Even though they look ok. It was the feel of them for me. They are not textured (except for the macro keys and the space bar)iCue – it has come a LONG way, but it still isn’t great. Razer has a much easier to use program for a larger array of itemsProfile – part of iCue, and it can be annoying to see your keyboard revert when iCue isn’t runningOverall the keyboard is really nice. It is almost a good for a typist as a Das Keyboard or a Ducky and almost as good for a gamer as a Razer or a HyperX. Overall an almost perfect keyboard that would be perfect with a few software tweaks and some different keycaps. (I recommend Razer ones over HyperX)

4.0 out of 5 stars

Overkill awesome, but quality control could use some work

I bought the Gunmetal version because I thought it would match well with my Alienware desktop and monitor, which also have a gunmetal theme currently. While the gunmetal color matched perfectly, I felt that this keyboard managed to outshine the rest of my setup. This keyboard REALLY stands out and steals the show unless the rest of your setup is just as flashy and RGB-ey. Oh my god is it gorgeous, but it seemed too overstated compared to the Alienware tower and monitor which look a little more sleek and understated.If you are not used to having macro keys on the side of your keyboard, you may find them really annoying. They are a bit too close for comfort for me, when I hit the control key my pinky finger often would brush it slightly and with Cherry MX Speed’s smaller actuation distance, that’s all it takes to trigger. Also, most people instinctively look for the Escape key by reaching for the top left corner without looking, which, in this case is a macro key. While there is a toggle button for disabling the Windows key, there isn’t one for the macros. As far as I could tell, if you programmed your macro keys, you can’t disable them unless you deprogram them or change profiles via CUE, which I don’t want to do every time I play a game. These are small gripes and they won’t apply to everyone though, because some folks buy this because they want macros, such as video editors and MMORPG players.As for quality control, the LEDs in the light bar were not consistent. Some were bright and some were dim. There were also a few chips on the plastic on the bottom edge of the keyboard. I think most people would not have noticed it, but for a $200 premium product, your keyboard should have zero flaws. This led me to believe I may have received a refurbished product. As I’ve heard other similar complaints, this made me want to stay away from this particular model. I ended up returning this keyboard and purchasing a K70 Rapidfire RGB. I find that it matches my setup much better, as it is a little more understated, but very professional and still beautiful as hell. It is essentially the same keyboard just without the lightbar, no macro keys, no built in memory for saving lighting profiles, and no cable channels underneath.In the end, you can’t go wrong with either though. The K95 is still pure awesome and the lightbar rules. For some of you that lightbar will be the only reason to spend the extra money, so you have to really consider if the price difference is worth it.

One person found this helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars

Great keyboard with a few minor gripes

So I did a lot of tossing and turning at night trying to decide which premium mechanical keyboard to get. I have never owned a mechanical keyboard of any kind and considered buying a “switch sampler” so I could type on them first. I ended up just taking a chance on the MX Browns. I wanted either at Razor or Corsair but choosing the type of switches and the exact model was tough. So many options. I wanted a switch that was clicky but not obnoxiously loud. I think the MX Brown switches are amazing to type on and not too loud. I am very happy I chose MX Browns. I wanted a comfortable wrist rest and RGB lighting. The Razer looks like the wrist rest is much more comfortable but I wanted the build quality of the Corsair. Here are my thoughts after taking the plunge with the K95 platinum.The corsair cue software is horribly confusing to use. I do not understand the difference between the simple and advanced profiles. It took me a long time to figure out when using the static lighting you had to first select all the keys. Maybe I’m just not smart enough but it has been a pain in the butt. After using this keyboard for a few days I would probably have gone with the Corsair K70 RGB MK.2 because I found that I don’t really like the look of the K95’s light-bar at the top. I ended up disabling it. Also it seemed to not perfectly match the color of the RGBs on the keys.Pros-Cherry MX Brown Switches are a joy to type on (sweet spot between tactile and clicky).-The brushed aluminum look is very attractive.-The 3 stored profiles on the keyboard hardware itself (not software) enable you to choose a lighting scheme without having to first load the software (I want my keyboard to be aqua blue ALL the time, not just once I’ve loaded the Corsair program (such as during my PC’s booting up process).-Wrist rest feels nice and smooth (although it could be cushier)-Volume knob feels very nice.-Yes it is $200 but it feels like a premium product and solid build quality.Cons-You can not light up the Corsair logo independent of the light bar. You must have the light bar lit for the logo to be lit.-Corsair CUE software is confusing to use and must be loaded to take advantage of the advanced profiles.-Lightbar seems a slightly different color than the RGBs under the keys.-2 USB 2.0 plugs required if you want to use the USB pass-through.

One person found this helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars

The Best Keyboard That I’ve Ever Owned. PERIOD

Yes, this is an excellent keyboard! In the past I wasn’t picky on keyboards, until I started using them more and more in the recent years as a developer. Finding a really nice keyboard wasn’t easy, I searched through many keyboard reviews (text & video), and now this one seemed to meet what I thought was going to be a nice upgrade to my previous $30 keyboard… WOW I was wrong. This keyboard, the Corsair K95 keyboard has EXCEEDED my needs for an upgrade, and I have not been disappointed. As I type this review out on this magnificent piece of PC hardware, it has become the best part of my new custom PC build that I built in December 2020. Even better than my new AMD Ryzen 9 3950X CPU! And I really like the CPU, but this keyboard is a masterpiece to my new PC build. After using my old Microsoft keyboard from my 2012 build, this keyboard has earned a place in my heart and soul. For the price, this keyboard is worth it for every dollar spent.The keystrokes are registered so perfectly, it’s like Apple magic. I sometimes feel that I’m using an Apple computer, but this Windows updates messes that feeling up :-DIf this keyboard didn’t meet or exceed my needs and expectations, I was considering to get a Model M keyboard by Unicomp. The mechanical switches are very solid, but not too soft. The seem to provide just enough loft for any task, word processing, coding, gaming, command line interface, and whatever you can think of. The features are great, and many other keyboards have similar features, but what makes this the best modern keyboard is the way it feels when completing any task with it. At first it took some time for me to get adjusted to how smooth it is, but I’ve grown to love it more and more every day.If you’re looking for the best modern keyboard today, then look no further!Enjoy!

5.0 out of 5 stars

Great keyboard for gaming, few annoyances nothing major

I’ve used this keyboard for about a year. first off it has been great and I do recommend it. I use it for intense MMO gaming and it provides everything I require. It is a bit loud but expected for this type of keyboard. the keys off to the left to create macros. I’ve never created any before this and use the Icue system it was realitivly easy to figure out but there was a slight learning curve through guess and check but got everything working the way i wanted. Lightning is great and customizable. easy to switch it up or just cut it off.Now for the errors. seems to be few. Had to uninstall and reinstall the icue system because it got corrupted two times during my use somehow. Had a few issues reinstalling and getting everything working the 2nd time.The biggest annoyance (at least its something small) is the volume buttons on top right to mute, lower or raise the volume will just stop working. ill restart icue but that wont work. The only way to fix this is either A: restarting the computer sometimes fixes it. B: Go to settings in Icue and force update the firmware. even though you are currently on that firmware you have to force update it so it starts working again. While this is a rather simple fix. I’ve had this issue for over a year and it still hasn’t been fixed but is a known issue (i found it by googling forums)

5.0 out of 5 stars

After nearly 2 years, still holding strong.

This thing still works like new after nearly 2 whole years. What I was surprised by is the volume bar still functioning perfectly after all this time, those things are usually the first thing to malfunction.It’s a little noisy but that’s to be expected. The usb pass through can cause a brief disconnect alert on the pc when moved around but it doesn’t seem to actually disconnect at least not long enough to tell.The keys shine bright in dim or darkness and are easy to read. The A and S keys however wore out so much that they’re just blobs now but I believe this came with extra keys to replace them with so if it bothers me I can change them.My only gripe is the plastic that covers the palm rest. Idk if I should be removing that or not, it’s thoroughly attached so I haven’t touched it but it does cause a bit more sweating.

5.0 out of 5 stars

Solid, Beautiful, and One of the Best.

I had decided to purchase this KB after my disappointment with the Razer Blackwidow rgb. It was way too ‘clickity’ (loud) and required a lot of downward force to activate a keystroke. Plus, the software for Razer was horrible and kept crashing my system. I did plenty of research and decided on the Corsair K95 RGB. I already was pleased with the Corsair mouse and pad, so adding the keyboard was a no brainer. It was just a matter of which one. I needed some macro keys so I could map some Linux commands I commonly use, passwords to servers, etc. This also allowed me to use their iCue software to manage the peripherals from one dashboard.Pros: Solid, well built, beautiful. Making the adjustments to lighting and assigning macros, reassigning keys, is really simple once you get a handle on the iCue software. I love the multiple profiles you can create since I do use it for work as well. Media controls are great once mapped to the player. Now I can play and control the tunes without leaving the game. Much quieter than the other mechanical keyboards I’ve used. One of the best keyboards I’ve used since my old Mainframe keyboard from back in the day.Cons: for a mechanical keyboard, it is really sensitive. I find that just placing my hands on the home row…it types just by placing my hands on it…not even pressing the key down. A little annoying having to backspace every once in a while, but not an inconvenience and I can deal with it. Others, may not like that. But other than that, I have absolutely no other issues with it.Overall: One of the best keyboards I’ve used since my old Mainframe keyboard from back in the day.

5.0 out of 5 stars

Specific key switches are poorly implemented, but the keyboard itself is great!

The keyboard by itself is great, no complaints on design, ergonomics, lighting or the keycaps, including the swap-out gray keycaps. I like this keyboard a lot actually!The only compliant is the switches used, where they tend to double or triple input, when you only press the button once.From my research into a fix for this, I discovered that this is apparently a common issue with the switches Corsair uses in their keyboards, where they are either slightly bent, or have some manufacturing error that causes them to receive multiple inputs from a single press. The Spacebar on mine tends to double, triple, or quadruple space, when it is only pressed once. It isn’t as noticeable when typing out words, but it’s a tremendous peeve when trying to play games that have you using the spacebar frequently.

One person found this helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars

Reliable RGB Keyboard with Minor Backlight Glitch—Overall Great Performance Since 2021

Amazing keyboard of 3+ that has gotten me through since 2021. Recently saw that one of my backlit keys (the i-key) no longer glows as bright as the others, unfortunately. Checked through the onboard iCue settings and troubleshooting, and it looks like it might have resolved itself. Not sure if there’s a way to reproduce it or if this was just a sporadic issue w/ a temporary fix. To continue to monitor and update my review. See attached images for details:Otherwise, keyboard still feels perfect in terms of usage and tactile feedback.

5.0 out of 5 stars

This truly is a Gamer’s Keyboard <3 It (Note: I manually changed to white Corsair Keycaps)

I am a very picky individual. If you are like me, then you compare compare compare! I previously owned the Razer Huntsman Elite and Corsair K70 Rapidfire along with other Mechanical Keyboards over the past couple years.Why I prefer this keyboard compared to the Razer & other Corsair Keyboards.Pros- I love the texture of the keys. I did change mine from the black to the Corsair white keys. But both the original and Corsair White replacement keys feel so good on the fingertips. I changed mine simply for more color on my desk.- Volume dials and easily accessible buttons. Nowadays, I must have a volume dial on my keyboards. It's easy to listen to spotify and just hit next, turn up & down the volume. It's also nice being able to see if you have your Numlock on as well as the ability to "lock, turn off lighting" directly on the keyboard.- Functionality. This keyboard offers amazing software. It was simple for me to setup, easy to customize. I love that you can use Corsair Link if you have other Corsair Products. (as I use a Corsair Scimitar Pro RGB for gaming)- Simplicity & Elegance. This keyboard is just beautiful to look at. I personally prefer the RGB lighting on top compared to my other Razer Hunstman Elite. I just feel it's a more elegant keyboard to look at.- The material the keyboard is made of is top notch. I love the aluminum frame. When you are installing or moving it. You can just feel the quality of this keyboard.- Works perfectly after removing/replacing the keycaps. I had issues with Razer keyboards in the past that keys would get stuck after replacing. Not an issue at all with Corsair. Still running strong.- Lastly - this keyboard is easy to clean. I've used other keyboards that just tends to get anything and everything inside it. I love the raised keys so you can use a little air can and get any dust or particles off the keyboard easy. I also have no problem keeping the face of the keyboard clean.Con- The only thing I can come up with that I would improve upon on this keyboard is the wrist rest. I don't care that it doesn't have RGB, I actually prefer it not to but the wrist rest has a slant and doesn't really help prevent me for long hours of gaming or web/graphic design when I spend all day on the PC. I think it needs to be a bit more elevated and less slope. This is easily replaceable though with any wrist rest you prefer. I like the memory foam 1/2 inch to 1" thick wrist rest for long hours of use to help prevent carpal tunnel.Photos: I took one of the full keyboard, along with zoomed in larger photos so you could see the design and layout up close and personal.Changes: Replaced the original keys with CORSAIR Gaming PBT Double-Shot Keycaps Full 104/105-Keyset - White. This is not necessary for those who prefer the black original keys. I replaced mine for visual preference to match other desktop accessories like Yeti White microphone and White AudioEngine speakers.Length of Use: We purchased the product on Sept. 5th 2018. I prefer to install/use the product before I leave feedback on a product because I want to give a thorough review after use. I use the keyboard for at least 8-12 hours a day and almost 6 days a week.

95 people found this helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars

Perfect keyboard, might need more than one to get a perfect keyboard.

Alright guys, for those of you wondering about the gunmetal version of the keyboard, it looks great and in my opinion better than the black. It looks lighter, sort of a silver looking metal, and is really complimented by the anodized aluminum frame. Sturdy, feels like genuinely crafted metal while always cold to the touch for those that care!Pros: Frame and build feels and looks top qualityRBG Lights are perfectly balanced at full brightness, can be adjustedCUE2 software allows for amazing profiles that allow endless customization of lighting effectsBraided thick USB cable that has good lengthIncluded keycaps are FPS/MOBA keycaps, easily switched out for the regular keycapsWrist rest is amazing quality, corsair overdid themselves hereSynchronization works well across multiple corsair products, lighting effects appear on all devices in regard to profile chosenCons: CUE2 software seems a bit buggy, but very user friendly interfacePrice is very pricey for a high end keyboard, consider buying this when the price dropsVolume wheel does not affect USB powered headphones(Astro A50-Gen2 here)USB pass through port requires an additional USB port, so no extra USB port as advertisedAside from the build quality, I gave it a 3/5 since my experience was not the best. Initially, I was very impressed with the keyboard and began testing out its potential. It lived up to the Corsair keyboard hype, and I was fully satisfied with my purchase due to it’s capabilities. What went wrong for me was after some hours of gaming, on day one of the keyboard, it completely froze on my while in game(BF1 for those who care). No response was given from the keyboard and the lights also froze in the stage it was last left in. My heart dropped and I immediately thought the worst for this keyboard.Contacting Support: First I figured, it’s a brand new keyboard I can just find some quick fix in google. I went ahead and did so, there was no fix and no one had a similar issue to what I was experiencing. Technical support chat was not very helpful, apart from the very delayed responses I was getting, I was over speculating and questioning what I thought Corsair had amazing customer service. Technical support chat referred me to technical support number, so I went ahead and gave them a call. Guy picks up and I can immediately tell this guy has a sarcastic tone, along with I just work here for the paycheck attitude. He gives me some steps that were listed in the front page of the FAQ, which also did not help for my issue.At the end of the day, great keyboard(I Suppose mine was defective), somewhat bad customer service through calls, and a very un professional chat support experience. 10/10 keyboard, 4/10 customer service3-21-17 Edit: I went ahead and ordered a replacement for the keyboard as the first had the issues i stated. The replacement has yet to have a single problem, only some slight tearing in the package it came in. Keyboard is now 11/10 and will bump back up to 5 stars!

79 people found this helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars

I highly recommend this great looking, wonderful-to-type-with keyboard

I ordered this keyboard and just got it from UPS today along with a Corsair M65 Pro mouse. Previously I was using a 2013 Razer Black Widow Ultimate (MX blue) and a 2014 Razer Naga. This keyboard was an excellent upgrade from the Black Widow. I was a bit skeptical at first of the new RGB mx switches, but they are just as good as the regular brown switches (which I have on my Logitech G610 on my work PC). I have been anxiously awaiting the release of this keyboard as it ticked all the boxes for what I was looking for, and when I heard of the upcoming release of this keyboard, I chose it over the Logitech G810.There are a lot of things I like about this keyboard, first of which is the feel of the switches and keys which have just the right feedback and under-finger feel to make typing and gaming great. I also like being able to easily switch through my custom lighting/macro profiles that I have just set up for different games and general purposes. The volume wheel is a nice touch that is much better, in my opinion, than the FN hotkeys on the Razer keyboard. The last thing was a decent surprise: the attachable wrist pad. When I first ordered the keyboard, I was certain I wouldn’t use it, but I have to say I am more than pleased with how much more comfortable using the keyboard is with the wrist pad. Lastly, this keyboard looks great sitting on my desk!There are a few cons for this keyboard though. First is trivial, but it bugged me: when setting the keyboard to a static color and choosing plain white (R, G, and B all at 255), the lighting on the keyboard actually has a bit of a blue tint. I fiddled with the color a bit and got a better white with R 255, G 232, and B 216. Also concerning the lighting, the highest brightness isn’t really that bright. Those two things shouldn’t be dealbreakers though if buying this keyboard. Another thing I didn’t like is that the included grey, textured keycaps have a bit of an angle to them that makes using them a bit awkward feeling. I used the FPS keycaps for a bit, but I just didn’t really like them, so I switched back to the standard caps. Lastly, I feel that the size of the letters on the keycaps is a bit too large.Altogether, I am very pleased with this keyboard functionally and aesthetically even considering the minor cons, and I would definitely recommend this keyboard to anyone. I hope to get a solid 4 years out of this keyboard like I did with my last one!

One person found this helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars

My personal take on the Keyboard

As others have mentioned, typing is a lot more touchy as the actuation is quick, so if you’re a student looking to type and coming from a non mechanical keyboard, you will make quite a few mistakes, gradually you’ll get use to it but I’ve had the keyboard for roughly a month and still taking some getting use to.I haven’t found much use for the macro keys, but if I need them, they’re there.I love the RGB customization, for me the software really hasn’t been an issue as others have explained, linking it with the Black Skimitar was no issue as well.Love the multimedia keys, my scroll wheel has this click, not sure if it’s suppose to have it, but it kinda sounds like the metal wheel is grinding on the metal base.The wrist rest is ok, compared to Razer’s Ornata wrist rest, the ornata wins, but for the added feature, I’d say it is better than nothing. Dust and other particles getting stuck between the features of the wrist rest is extremely common and is a bit annoying, it shows, and it sucks, but it’ll happen.Gaming wise, this keyboard is awesome, Playing overwatch, COD, PUBG, Terraria, etc… They keyboard doesn’t fail there and that is what I was going for.Some complain about the textured keys and spacebar but I like them, I replaced my WSAD with the textured gray immediately, I feel as if they’re easier to find when gaming, very helpful to me!One last thing that got to me was that I could not fit my Astro A40’s cable through the keyboards underneath cable slots, with some pushing I was able to, and actually left it for a bit, but it was too tight of a fit and I couldn’t stand knowing I was crimping a wire. Definitely meant just for the small cables.I haven’t tried the usb pass through as I have a gaming mouse port on my mobo, thus it will stay in that port.Will update as needed!Definitely recommend Corsair and their products! Just bought 3 fans of theirs, sadly a size too small, was looking for 140’s but nonetheless, my fault, they do great!Have a good one.Awesome keyboard.

5.0 out of 5 stars

It’s worth the money. Amazing keyboard. I use it primarily for work – with a little gaming

I splurged and bought this keyboard after my Logitech 910 Orion Spectrum started to have problems after 4 years. In the end I decided to buy the top-top-top of the line because I use the keyboard for hours every day, why not have the nicest keyboard around? I know it sounds extravagant, but it’s really not. Think about it this way – if it lasts 4 years (and it’s supposed to last longer), that’s $45/year or roughly $0.25/day.Pros:1. Beautiful keyboard. Truly stunning. It looks beautiful and the RGB is cool. (As a side note, RGB actually is useful for typing in dim environments)2. It feels high quality (and I am assuming given the price, it is)3. I really like the cherry brown switches. A great balance between gaming and day-to-day work. I have dramatically reduced the typos from the G910 (which had very twitchy keys). They also feel good when typing.4. I appreciate the USB port on the keyboard (although I sacrifice an extra USB port in the back.)5. While historically I only use the programmable keys for my rare Starcraft 2 game, I really like having them if I decided to use them in the future. I never liked the idea of programming one of the existing 104 keys – which some competitors offer.6. I love the volume dial (G910 had one also)7. You can replace keys and switches if there are problems (and it comes with some extra keys and switches). While this sounds trivial, I had to discard my G910 because they use proprietary switches and keys – so I was stuck when one keys broke and I could not find a replacement F2 key.8. I love the wrist restMy only con (besides the price) is that the Shift key options are shown BELOW the main option on the key. For example, the “4” is on top of the “$”. This is not conventional and throws me for a loop every time.

4.0 out of 5 stars

A sturdy, colorful keyboard that is lightning fast

I’m on the fence about this keyboard. It looks magnificent. It has a heavy base to ensure the keyboard isn’t moving around when you type. The wrist rest is sold and comfortable. The USB cables are thick and durable. The lighting schemes are just stunning and it’s hard not to just stare them. This keyboard plays well with Windows and Linux (Red Hat Enterprise Linux in my case) and can be plugged/unplugged without a fuss.The USB passthrough on sits to the left of the keyboard USB cable which seems slightly odd. I had expected it on the right side.There are a few minor concerns though:1) The Cherry MX keys are fast. Almost too fast. I type around 85 wpm and am constantly having to slow down and correct my typing because these switches are sooo fast, they sometimes record two or three key presses when I press a key once. (admittedly, this might be my poor typing style. hard to say) If you’re migrating from a generic or slower keyboard, you might have an adjustment period with this keyboard.2) The CAPS LOCK and NUM LOCK LEDs are very dim and often get blocked out by the stunning colors of this keyboard.3) Something seems off with the backspace key. It just feels odd when my pinkie hits it. Almost like I’m hitting it on angle and it doesn’t fully depress. Again, could just be my typing style. Hard to say.4) The volume control “rocker” only goes one way. Down. Not sure if this is by design.So, a keyboard that is built like a tank, lights up like a Christmas tree, and has the fastest keyboard switches around. Worth the price? Yeah, I think so. Just be aware that this keyboard is truly fast and you might need to adjust your typing to compensate.

3 people found this helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars

Great keyboard – if you buy the Doubleshot keycaps

I upgraded to the gun-metal K95 platinum with MX Speed Switches over the K70 Mark 2 with blue switches.Compared to the K70 Mark 2, the detachable wrist-wrest is slightly more comfortable. It has the same design, but is made of a rubbery material, vs. rough plastic.The macro keys are a neat feature. For example, I’ve set the top macro key to the Alt-F4 shortcut, which makes it really easy to quit programs, since it’s in a similar location to the escape key. It just feels more natural. I’ll have to be careful I don’t press this in-game, though!If you have an extra $40-50, I would highly-recommend you buy corsair’s doubleshot keycaps. They make the keyboard feel much higher quality. The doubleshot keys are something more like what legos are made of, where as the stock keycaps, I feel like I could break with a tool without much effort.I bought the white ones, since I think they look really nice with the gun-metal texture. I would have given this product a full 5-stars if these were included. But, they weren’t. A keyboard of this price should have them included (Note: if you didn’t buy the gun-metal version, they would have been included, except they would have been the black version).I am a gamer, but I LOVE the speed switches for typing! I love how buttery smooth these feel! They make a pleasant, soft sound. It’s like the keys were fitted with the equivalent of a silencer, or something. The switches just feel and sound creamy. And, they’re so easy to press! You don’t have to apply much force in order to get the keys to register.I was worried from listening to other people that the speed switches were only good for gaming, and not for typing. But, me personally, I’m switching over to these, for both purposes.