The Corsair Gaming K95 RGB Platinum Mechanical Keyboard Review

Conclusion

The Corsair Gaming K95 RGB Platinum mechanical keyboard truly is a special case. It is as if a designer woke up one day, gathered all of the feedback and criticism that Corsair had received for their previous models, and used it to create the a keyboard regardless of the cost. It clearly is a product trying to bridge the gap between the bulky K95 models with the many extra programmable keys and the common K70 models that are lacking them completely. We do not think that the new K95 RGB Platinum relates to the previous K95 models much; it actually is bewildering why Corsair chose to name it “K95” and did not give it a brand new model number. The K95 RGB Platinum would probably be more accurate described as an upgraded version of the K70 RGB, with extra macro keys and profile switching buttons.

In terms of quality and aesthetics, the new K95 RGB Platinum is just as elegant and robust as all of the previous K70/K95 series models. There is a reason why Corsair’s mechanical keyboards are globally renowned and highly popular. The aluminum body is very rigid and classy, while the manufacturing process is impeccable. Corsair improved aesthetics and lighting effects even further by illuminating their logo and the top edge of the keyboard. We also found the wrist rest to be very comfortable and versatile. Although it does not seem like much at first, the capability to switch from a comfortable surface for long-term typing to a textured surface for a good grip while gaming is very practical and comfortable. The rubbery surface of the wrist rest does get dirty relatively easily, especially the textured side, but it can be removed and cleaned with ease.

Our only real concern lies with the ABS keycaps, as they tend to deteriorate quickly. Very few manufacturers use other types of keycaps due to their significant cost, but we would have liked to see better keycaps on a keyboard with such a price tag and especially on a model that has a distinctive bottom row of keys, as replacements will be hard to come by. There are a few manufacturers that do offer high quality aftermarket keycaps for this layout, but these do not come cheap at all.

The designer did not stop on the hardware but is trying to address all criticism on the software side as well. Corsair used to be very proud of their Corsair Utility Engine (CUE) software, as it was one of the most advanced and versatile software packages for gaming mechanical keyboards. Its endless options and capabilities however could be overwhelming even for advanced users. Instead of working on the previous software package, Corsair did a complete overhaul of it, making it much cleaner and simpler to use by everyday users. For experts, all of the advanced options are still there, and the new interface also is much more straightforward with the programming of advanced actions and lighting effects. The new CUE also offers very useful new features, such as the online search of profiles and effects that prevents users having to browse forums and posts to find what they are looking for.

It is very difficult to find a real flaw about the new K95 RGB Platinum as a device. We cannot ask for a feature that it does not already have and its programming capabilities are virtually endless. It would be no exaggeration to claim that the K95 RGB Platinum may be the prime candidate for the title of the best mechanical gaming keyboard at this point of time. The only true competition of the K95 RGB Platinum is its own retail price. At $200, the K95 RGB Platinum is one of the most expensive mechanical keyboards at this point of time as well. If one can look past the price tag, the K95 RGB Platinum is one of the highest quality and most versatile mechanical keyboards available today.