Best Corsair Gaming Keyboard 2023
A more in-depth at the keyboard market to try and find the best from peripheral powerhouse Corsair
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Most people don’t think too much about their keyboards, even though they interact with them more than almost any other peripheral. But a great keyboard can make all the difference when you’re gaming!
Corsair came crashing out of the gate in 2014 with a volley of incredible computer peripherals aimed at gamers. They immediately showed they were serious contenders in the industry, and have only kept improving their gaming lineup.
Sure, you can just use the keyboard that came with your system or pick up one on the cheap. But quality gaming keyboards cost money! You’re going to be paying for mechanical switches, backlighting on your keys, lighting customization, and anti-ghosting technology that ensures no keystrokes are lost in the heat of battle. But the question is, of course, what do you need in a keyboard? Does the size of it matter, or a number pad? Do you like customizable macros? Or do you prefer one that you can shove into a backpack and bring with you on the go?
We’re going to help you with this comprehensive guide to all of Corsair’s keyboard lineup, where we’ll detail just what each model has to offer. Many of these keyboards have already made their way into our best-of lists, and all are guaranteed to help you do everything to play at the best of your ability.
Let’s see what Corsair has to offer in 2024!
Our Top Picks
How We Choose
We know this is an important purchase for you. Most people don’t have the money to be buying a new keyboard all the time, so this one has got to last. It’s hard to buy a keyboard without getting your fingers on it and not knowing exactly what it will feel like.
Fortunately, our team has done all the research you could possibly need. We’re going to explain to you all of the features these Corsair keyboards have to offer and leave you certain that you make the right decision.
Fortunately, Corsair makes it fairly easy! These are all top-of-the-line keyboards, many of which are award-winning in their own right. There isn’t a bad one in the bunch, but with so many similar product names, it’s easy to get confused about their differences, leaving you confused about what you need. We’re here for you!
How We Test
At WePC, we test the products rigorously, ensuring that we know everything about its build quality, construction, performance, and value.
This involves a lot of gaming – a tough job, but someone has to do it.
Of course, it’s not all fun and games. We also perform stress tests and quality checks; the less interesting stuff that makes sure we know everything there is to know about a product. We push each product to the limit, just the way you will do when you get it home, to ensure there are no surprises to come.
This is the only way to make sure your gaming keyboard is worth every penny, and for it to earn a coveted spot as part of your gaming rig.
Things To Consider
Mechanical Or Membrane?
Most people don’t pay attention to the kind of switches their keyboard uses. They press a key, it goes down, and it registers on the screen. What else is there to know?
Turns out, a whole lot. Most keyboards nowadays use Membrane Switches. A membrane keyboard switch has molded rubber under the keys that trigger the flow of electricity to each key. Since it’s just a piece of rubber, this type of switch allows for thinner keyboards with smaller keys, and it can also give off a bit of a squishy feel. Some people prefer this feeling, but generally, gamers have come around to realize that Mechanical Switches are where it’s at.
Mechanical switches offer individual switches under each key, and there’s no mistaking when you’ve pressed one. This makes for a keyboard that’s much more accurate since each key is on its own, but also it gives you a much more responsive and tactile feel. The only downside of this is that it makes for a much louder keyboard. Many people love the distinctive clacking that comes with mechanical keyboards, but type near a sleeping loved one at your own risk!
Size
The size of a keyboard determines its use. A full-sized keyboard will offer all the standard keys you’d expect, including a number pad for crunching numbers more easily. Perhaps you want something smaller and more portable, and you could make do with a TKL keyboard (TenKeyLess).
Corsair’s full-sized keyboards offer all the usual keys, including the Fn buttons and number pad, as well as media and lighting controls to ensure you have everything you could possibly need at your fingertips.
You can shave a few inches off this keyboard with a TKL keyboard that takes the number keypad away.
There are smaller keyboards than this as well, but Corsair mostly likes to go big. It also offers up even larger than full-sized keyboards, such as the K90, which offers up customizable macro buttons. While all the keys on Corsair’s keyboards can be customized to your heart’s desire using their iCue software, it’s nice to have a dedicated bank of buttons on the left side of the keyboard.
What’s Your Budget?
Mechanical keyboards don’t come cheap, and as you likely know, Corsair is a premium brand. Still, budget is always a huge consideration when seeing if a keyboard is worth it. Considering that these keyboards are designed to last for years and years (we have a K70 that’s still going strong with daily use four years later!), they’re worth the investment.
But still, there’s a difference between a $60 keyboard and a $200 one. Each of the Corsair keyboards is made with similar build quality, but the larger they get, the larger that price tag gets. Mechanical keys also cost a lot more than a membrane keyboard, so take that into consideration if you’re looking for something cheaper.
- Low-end gaming keyboard– $40-80
- Mid-range gaming keyboard – $100-120
- High-end gaming keyboard– $150+
The Best Corsair Gaming Keyboards
In-depth Review
- Cherry MX Speed Switches
- Included wrist rest
- Smaller and thinner keys than other mechanical keyboards
- Only one passthrough, not USB 3.0
This keyboard is the perfect mix of price, quality, and function and easily our choice for the best overall keyboard of Corsair’s entire line.
The new Low Profile version of the K70 was a perfect demonstration for the capabilities of the Cherry MX Sped switches, which are 35% lower than the beloved Cherry MX ones, all while offering the same precision. The smaller keys mean that the keyboard functions just as well for typing as it does for gaming, and since its sleek aluminum surface looks so neat, you’ll want to use it for everything.
The K70 offers individual RGB lighting for each key, both static and dynamic, so you can light it up in any color or design you can imagine. There are some patterns installed automatically, but with Corsair’s iCUE software, it’s easy to customize it as you please.
Like Corsair’s other offerings, it comes with a detachable wrist rest that’s a bit plasticky but definitely helps your hands feel better for long sessions.
There’s maybe only one issue we can possibly have with the keyboard! While the addition of a USB passthrough is nice (older models didn’t have one), a 3.0 would have been nicer, or even multiple ones. This is nitpicking at this point, though, as this solid machine will get you through anything you can throw at it. Its solid construction and comfortable style mean that you can use this one on the regular, more than making it live up to its price tag.
- Elgato Stream Deck support
- Six customizable macro keys
- PBT doubleshot keycaps
- Priciest of the bunch
If money is no object and you love the idea of having customizable macros at your fingertips, Corsair’s K95 RGB Platinum XT is the top of the line choice for you. Its six extra keys offer video streamers a multitude of options for customizable controls, can turn your keyboard into a Stream deck. You can just use those extra keys for standard macros if you like, but since it syncs with Elgato’s Stream Deck video mixers, you can easily use it for livestream functions- tweeting that you’re going online or starting a stream.
If that wasn’t good enough, it’s just as solid a construction as the other keyboards. You can choose to purchase this with Cherry MX Blue, MX Brown, or MX Speed keys, depending on your preference. Each key has its own individual RGB backlighting, offering you tons of potential.
This really is the pinnacle of Corsair keyboards, but of course, not everyone will need it. The price tag will put many people off, but you get what you pay for, and there’s no doubt that this keyboard will stand the test of time. If you want to up your streaming game, this could be the option for you.
- Wireless
- Cherry MX red mechanical switches
- Dedicated media controls
- Blue backlights
- Battery runs out in 15 hours
The only wireless keyboard on our list, the K63 is a cheaper and more portable alternative that still offers the quality you’ve come to expect from Corsair.
This TKL keyboard offers Cherry MX Red gaming switches to ensure that every keypress is registered to clicky perfection, and you’ll soon know why they’re the favored switch for gamers. The keyboard just feels great, and the tactile feel really is like no other. The detachable wrist rest is plasticky but offers a good option to rest your tired hands.
While it doesn’t have the RGB lighting of the other keyboards, it does offer nifty blue backlights so you can game in the dark. Even though it’s a smaller keyboard than the others, it still has dedicated volume and multimedia controls.
Corsair’s iCUE software makes getting set up a snap, and it also allows you to easily customize your keybinds and macros.
Perhaps our only disappointment is that it only offers 15 hours of battery life. Other wireless keyboards can offer up to weeks of battery life, but then again, this is a wireless mechanical keyboard with backlighting! It offers more than enough juice to get you through the longest gaming session, and if you’re really having a marathon, it’s not any trouble to plug it in whenever the battery starts running low.
- Price
- Full-size keyboard with six macro keys
- Detachable wrist rest
- Three-zone RGB backlighting
- IP42 dust and spill resistance
- Membrane Switches
- Only eight-key anti-ghosting
We talked a lot about how superior mechanical switches are for games (and really, it’s hard to go back after you’ve really grown to appreciate them!), but some people just can’t stand how clicky they are! Plus, there’s the fact that adding mechanical switches causes the price to rise significantly. There are many more moving parts there, which add up the costs a lot more than a rubber membrane does.
Still, this keyboard proves that the quality of a keyboard truly matters. If you’re a gamer who’s a fan of quiet, squishy keys, this is the choice for you.
For around $50 you can get a huge, full-featured keyboard. Its IP42 dust and spill resistance means that if you spill an entire drink onto your keyboard, you won’t destroy it.
Sadly the lack of mechanical keys also means that it only offers eight-key anti-ghosting, but then again, that’s probably way more keys than you’ll be hitting simultaneously in a typical game.
The keyboard also offers three-zone RGB backlighting with which you can customize your board with both static and dynamic lighting. It’s really easy to set up with Corsair’s iCUE software and will make your set-up stand out above the rest.
Final Word
So that’s our comprehensive guide to all of Corsair’s finest keyboards. You really can’t go wrong with any of them, but choosing the perfect one is crucial, as ideally, you’ll be using this keyboard for years to come. We hope this article has made your decision easier!
Already use a Corsair keyboard? Let us know which one is your favorite in the comment section below! Better still, you can head over to your Community Hub, where you can discuss everything keyboards with other enthusiasts.
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