Product On Review: K70 RGB TKL Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
Manufacturer: CORSAIR
MSRP (inc. V.A.T. where applicable): UK: £139.99 / EU: €149.99 / US: $139.99 / AUS: $219

Introduction

CORSAIR’s reinvigoration of their peripheral lineup ventures into unexplored territory this week as they release a brand new variant of the veteran K70 Mechanical Keyboard. Sitting within a compact tenkeyless footprint and boasting unique features for competitive gaming, the K70 RGB TKL mechanical gaming keyboard is a significant addition to their Champion Series for competitive gamers.

The Champion Series is a collection of products that CORSAIR are tweaking towards competitive esports gaming. Until now only two products officially fit the criteria - the MM250 and 350 mouse mats, so the K70 RGB TKL is something of a big deal when it comes to the Series’ future.

Despite the age of the model name this is the first tenkeyless K70 to make it to the market. It shares some of the looks and features of the K63 and K65, but premium features (including the familiar volume roller) push it towards that more premium SKU. If this is a streamlining of their range then it’s a welcome one; the number of keyboard SKUs CORSAIR offer can be bewildering at times.

Elements of both external and internal design updates have clearly been rolled forward from the K100 RGB, and none are more significant than the AXON processor engine. It pushes the USB polling rate well beyond 1000Hz, and controls lighting and key assignments for dozens of on-board profiles.



Nonetheless, it’s still unmistakably a CORSAIR keyboard. A brushed aluminium unibody frame is joined by the now familiar lip with auxiliary keys - in this instance media keys - give it sharp lines and a high-end appearance. But it’s not quite chock full of luxuries; there is no wrist rest in this model, unlike some other K70 variants over the years.

But as with the K100 RGB before it, premium features command a premium price even with the numberpad lopped off. An MSRP of £139.99 / US$139.99 / AUD $219 puts it on par with many full-sized mechanical gaming keyboards, but the keyboard actually comes in under some competitors such as the ASUS ROG Strix Scope TKL Deluxe we reviewed last year.



CORSAIR’s K70 RGB TKL in their own words