Corsair K70 Pro Max review: Fancy magnetic switches and big improvements

Price When Reviewed

$219.99

Mechanical keyboards are far and wide, particularly in gaming circles. It’s getting onerous for an organization to face out, which might be why some have turned to throwing each potential characteristic and gimmick on the wall to see what sticks. Corsair is taking a extra centered strategy with the Ok70 Max. It’s the corporate’s first keyboard with “magnetic MGX” switches, which permit for variable actuation factors and twin assigned features on each key press.

That alone could be price a glance, if not an computerized advice. But the Ok70 Max additionally piles on a bunch of gamer-friendly, high-end options, like a full 100% format, PBT keycaps, a brand new dampened physique, a super-comfy wrist relaxation, and sensible media controls. And it does all this with out being overpriced in comparison with the competitors…although on this extremely particular area of interest, there isn’t that a lot competitors available.

All that mixed earns this keyboard a advice, albeit a conditional one. If you’re wowed on the concept of variable actuation for key switches and two features on the identical key press (and also you’re keen to pay for it), then the Ok70 Max is the keyboard to go for.

Further studying: See our roundup of the best mechanical keyboards to study competing merchandise.

Corsair Ok70 Max RGB design

The Ok70 Max RGB has a basic gamer keyboard look. It’s full-sized, so put together a reasonably large chunk of your desktop for it, and just a little extra if you would like the included wrist relaxation too. Extra media controls are above the quantity pad, plus a quantity wheel and profile/lighting/Win lock buttons on a good increased strip, which it shares with Corsair’s shiny strip of LED indicators for num lock, mute, et cetera. That quantity wheel is steel, non-clicky, and doesn’t have a recessed button. Also be aware the tasteful hexagon printing on this raised steel shelf, a pleasant contact.

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The wrist relaxation deserves explicit reward. I’m of the thoughts that any keyboard on this worth vary wants to incorporate one, and Corsair didn’t skimp right here. Its barely rubbery triangle texture grips my palms whereas the comfortable foam beneath is tremendous plush, and the entire thing simply sits on the excellent spot to make gaming or typing for hours on finish comfy. It’s stored in place with magnets and a few foam pads, that means it’s each comfortable in place and straightforward to take away if you happen to ought to wish to. Just aces throughout, and a notable enchancment over final 12 months’s mannequin.

The sides of the keyboard beneath the sandblasted aluminum deck are naked, whereas the highest has a “tournament mode” toggle subsequent to the detachable USB-C cable. This swap will disable and lock any person customizations or macros (together with lighting) and repair it in place with just a little plastic bracket. I haven’t been to any PC gaming tournaments recently, so I can’t converse as to if that’ll fulfill any sticklers for event guidelines.

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There’s just a little extra considerate design happening beneath the keyboard, too. In addition to sturdy dual-stage ft — a necessity for this three-pound chonker — there are angled grooves for rerouting the USB-C cable, additionally seen on the Ok70 Pro. Also, the best way the swap LEDs shine by the translucent plastic on the underside is tremendous cool, though you’ll by no means see it whereas really utilizing this factor. It brings again fond reminiscences of an Atomic Purple Game Boy Color.

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Other notable bodily options embrace good, thick PBT keycaps (an absolute must-have at this worth level), that are rather less “rough” than some related examples; double-layer inner foam for sound dampening; and 8,000Hz polling for the superhuman esports sorts. The key format and swap stems are normal, so this board ought to work with any customized keycaps, however the fancy switches don’t permit for hot-swap sockets. Speaking of which…

What concerning the Ok70 Max RGB’s magnetic switches?

Alright, it’s time to get down and soiled with this board’s defining characteristic: the “Magnetic MGX” switches. If you don’t set up Corsair’s hefty iCue software program, you then’ll by no means know there’s something significantly outstanding about them. They’re linear (which means no click on or bump from high to backside), with a typical 45g spring. They really feel easy and satisfying if just a little extra “rattley” than regular switches, as a result of they lack a bolstered box-style stem. Oh, and Corsair has fastened that annoying “ping ping ping” problem from the last version of the K70.

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The magic in these switches is that the actuation level may be set magnetically, anyplace between .4mm and 3.6mm. In layman’s phrases: It helps you to decide how mild or onerous you must press the important thing to ensure that it to register. You can set it from a fairy mild contact to a full, Beethoven’s Fifth smash, in additional than 30 increments. And this setting may be personalized for each single swap on the board. So for instance, if you would like your WASD directional keys to reply to a feathery faucet however you like a tough press on “G” for grenade, that’s straightforward to perform. Perhaps extra virtually, you may set the Caps Lock or quantity row to solely interact with a full 3.6mm press.

This would possibly appear to be a gimmick. And for lots of customers, will probably be, particularly in the event that they’re not focused on diving deep into software program customization. But there’s so much you are able to do with this if you happen to’re the type of gamer obsessive about perfecting each final facet of your expertise, significantly for esports. On high of customizing the drive wanted for every particular person key, you may set some (or all) keys to double actions. A tender press prompts one operate, a tough press prompts one other, once more, each of which may be set to customized actuation factors. This is just like some high-end recreation controllers, which might detect a number of ranges of stress on the buttons. So for instance, you may press that “G” button flippantly to throw a flash grenade or roughly to throw a frag grenade (assuming the sport will allow you to bind these actions individually).

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Make no mistake, it is a deep gamer rabbit gap to go down. In order to make use of this characteristic successfully you’ll must arrange a customized profile for every recreation, and possibly do loads of very finicky testing to see which one works finest for you. If you’re not ready to spend precise hours making an attempt out totally different setups, the a number of actuation level operate in all probability isn’t that helpful for you. Ditto for the “Rapid Trigger” operate, which Corsair didn’t have prepared in time for this assessment. Rapid Trigger permits for an instantaneous reset operate as quickly because the keyboard detects both downward or upward movement on the swap, superb for crazy-fast strafing.

Corsair’s iCue software program

In order to set any of those features, you’ll must dive into the iCue software program, underneath the Key Actuations menu. For a regular single-key operate, it’s fairly easy, with a helpful illustration of exactly the place in the important thing press it’ll be activating. You may also arrange a customized reset level — this allows you to launch the activation instantly or with a slight delay because the spring pushes the stem again up if you launch stress. And you may arrange the identical customized activation and reset on a second operate, usually the “harder” setting, for every key.

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iCue handles a staggering quantity of data and settings, so it may be forgiven for being lower than user-friendly. But I discovered that having to maneuver between two totally different menus to set a number of actuation factors, and the precise features that they set off, considerably tiring. And that’s on high of a strong 20 minutes of poking round to see how this course of really works. The software program additionally has the standard instruments for managing lighting results with plugins obtainable for Lenovo, Asus, MSI, and Nvidia {hardware} (there are even two totally different zones only for the Corsair brand on high—good grief) and varied {hardware} toggles.

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Again, this in all probability gained’t deter anybody who’s really within the Ok70 Max for the variable actuation characteristic. They have been going to spend a major chunk of time customizing this board in any case. And if all you actually wish to do is play with just a little customized lighting and set all of your keys to the identical mild or onerous actuation level, it’s straightforward sufficient to do. So there’s room for enchancment, however those that get deep sufficient to seek out iCue irritating in all probability knew what they have been in for.

How does the Ok70 Max RGB evaluate in worth?

Keyboards with user-selectable actuation factors, generally going by an “analog” shorthand, are nonetheless extraordinarily skinny on the bottom. SteelSeries makes one, the Apex Pro for $200 with a stylish OLED display, and there’s the considerably area of interest Wooting Two HE at $195. Razer, to nobody’s shock, has the most costly providing at $250 for the Huntsman V2 Analog with some extra-fancy lighting. (Technically this makes use of optical switches quite than magnetic, but it surely presents the identical customized actuation and twin actuation features.)

Not having examined the opposite choices on this phase, I’ll must fall again on pure specs. Corsair’s $220 Ok70 Max has Razer beat in pure {hardware} functionality, as its customized actuation settings begin at simply .4mm, versus a a lot deeper 1.5mm on these optical switches. I’m ready to knock the Wooting Two HE out of the worth argument on account of its full lack of a wrist relaxation or any media controls. And I’m inclined to provide the Ok70 extra props for its comfortable wrist relaxation than the onerous plastic on the SteelSeries.

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The SteelSeries additionally cheaps out just a little by having adjustable actuation solely on its main alphanumeric key part. Of course, having that type of customization on the remainder of the board is of questionable utility…as is the OLED display on the Apex Pro. (See the Asus ROG Azoth for an additional instance of a keyboard with a display nobody requested for.) Call it a wash. If you’re ready to spend $200 on a keyboard with customized actuation keys, then I don’t assume a $5 low cost will sway you, or a $50 premium will flip you off.

Should you purchase the Ok70 Max RGB?

Once once more I ought to stress: “Analog” keyboards are an extremely area of interest product, and one which solely probably the most demanding, tweak-happy avid gamers will be capable to make use of in full. If you’re a fan of Corsair’s keyboard designs and options (and don’t thoughts the physique ping), the common Ok70 Pro will serve you simply nice at a $60 low cost with quite a lot of Cherry switches to select from. The solely factor you’re lacking out on is that new padded wrist relaxation.

If you perceive the attraction of the magnetic switches, and also you need a keyboard that’s stuffed to the brim with different options, the Ok70 Max will do properly. Not solely does it debut the customized actuation characteristic surprisingly nicely in Corsair’s line (complicated iCue software program however), it additionally improves upon the earlier Ok70 in small however significant methods, with a quieter physique and a super-comfy wrist relaxation.

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Go for it if you happen to like the thought of customizing your switches with out changing them, or hitting two features on the identical key press. Keep in thoughts that if you happen to choose a smaller TKL or 65% design, Corsair will in all probability have these choices obtainable inside a couple of months.