Professional’s Score
Professionals
- Spectacular analog-style switches
- Cozy wrist relaxation
- Main physique enhancements over the past K70
Cons
- Complicated software program
- Very area of interest
Our Verdict
Whereas it’s dear and very area of interest, probably the most hardcore players who’re keen to place in main tweaking time will admire how the K70 Max RGB permits you to create an extremely personalized management setup for every recreation. The supplies and design have proven main enhancements over final 12 months’s mannequin, too.
Greatest Costs Right now: Corsair K70 Max RGB keyboard
Mechanical keyboards are in every single place, particularly in gaming circles. It’s getting arduous for a corporation to face out, which might be why some have turned to throwing each doable characteristic and gimmick on the wall to see what sticks. Corsair is taking a extra targeted method with the K70 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 can be value a glance, if not an automated suggestion. However the K70 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.
It’s the corporate’s first keyboard with “magnetic MGX” switches, which permit for variable actuation factors and twin assigned features
All that mixed earns this keyboard a suggestion, albeit a conditional one. In case you’re wowed on the thought 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 K70 Max is the keyboard to go for.
Corsair K70 Max RGB design
The K70 Max RGB has a traditional 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 need the included wrist relaxation too. Additional media controls are above the quantity pad, plus a quantity wheel and profile/lighting/Win lock buttons on an excellent larger 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. Additionally observe the tasteful hexagon printing on this raised steel shelf, a pleasant contact.
Michael Crider/Foundry
The wrist relaxation deserves explicit reward. I’m of the thoughts that any keyboard on this value 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 good spot to make gaming or typing for hours on finish snug. It’s stored in place with magnets and a few foam pads, that means it’s each comfortable in place and simple to take away when you ought to wish to. Simply aces throughout, and a notable enchancment over final 12 months’s mannequin.
The edges of the keyboard beneath the sandblasted aluminum deck are naked, whereas the highest has a “match mode” toggle subsequent to the detachable USB-C cable. This change will disable and lock any consumer 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 these days, so I can’t communicate as to if that’ll fulfill any sticklers for match guidelines.
There’s just a little extra considerate design occurring beneath the keyboard, too. Along with 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 K70 Professional. Additionally, the best way the change LEDs shine via the translucent plastic on the underside is tremendous cool, regardless that you’ll by no means see it whereas really utilizing this factor. It brings again fond reminiscences of an Atomic Purple Recreation Boy Shade.
Different notable bodily options embody good, thick PBT keycaps (an absolute must-have at this value level), that are rather less “tough” than some comparable examples; double-layer inside foam for sound dampening; and eight,000Hz polling for the superhuman esports varieties. The important thing format and change stems are normal, so this board ought to work with any customized keycaps, however the fancy switches don’t permit for hot-swap sockets. Talking of which…
Michael Crider/Foundry
What concerning the K70 Max RGB’s magnetic switches?
Alright, it’s time to get down and soiled with this board’s defining characteristic: the “Magnetic MGX” switches. In case you don’t set up Corsair’s hefty iCue software program, then you definitely’ll by no means know there’s something notably outstanding about them. They’re linear (meaning no click on or bump from prime 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 strengthened box-style stem. Oh, and Corsair has mounted that annoying “ping ping ping” drawback from the final model of the K70.
Michael Crider/Foundry
The magic in these switches is that the actuation level may be set magnetically, wherever between .4mm and three.6mm. In layman’s phrases: It permits you to choose how mild or arduous you must press the important thing to ensure that it to register. You’ll be able to 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 change on the board. So for instance, if you need your WASD directional keys to reply to a feathery faucet however you favor a tough press on “G” for grenade, that’s simple to perform. Maybe extra virtually, you’ll be able to set the Caps Lock or quantity row to solely have interaction with a full 3.6mm press.
This may appear to be a gimmick. And for lots of customers, it will likely be, particularly in the event that they’re not serious about diving deep into software program customization. However there’s so much you are able to do with this when you’re the sort of gamer obsessive about perfecting each final facet of your expertise, notably for esports. On prime of customizing the pressure wanted for every particular person key, you’ll be able to set some (or all) keys to double actions. A delicate press prompts one perform, a tough press prompts one other, once more, each of which may be set to customized actuation factors. That is just like some high-end recreation controllers, which might detect a number of ranges of stress on the buttons. So for instance, you’ll be able to press that “G” button evenly to throw a flash grenade or roughly to throw a frag grenade (assuming the sport will allow you to bind these actions individually).
Make no mistake, this can be a deep gamer rabbit gap to go down. So as to use this characteristic successfully you’ll must arrange a customized profile for every recreation, and possibly do plenty of very finicky testing to see which one works finest for you. In case you’re not ready to spend precise hours making an attempt out completely different setups, the a number of actuation level perform in all probability isn’t that helpful for you. Ditto for the “Speedy Set off” perform, which Corsair didn’t have prepared in time for this evaluate. Speedy Set off permits for an prompt reset perform as quickly because the keyboard detects both downward or upward movement on the change, ideally suited for crazy-fast strafing.
Corsair’s iCue software program
So as to set any of those features, you’ll must dive into the iCue software program, beneath the Key Actuations menu. For the standard single-key perform, it’s fairly easy, with a helpful illustration of exactly the place in the important thing press it’ll be activating. You can too 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 while you launch stress. And you’ll arrange the identical customized activation and reset on a second perform, sometimes the “more durable” setting, for every key.
Michael Crider/Foundry
iCue handles a staggering quantity of data and settings, so it may be forgiven for being lower than user-friendly. However I discovered that having to maneuver between two completely different menus to set a number of actuation factors, and the precise features that they set off, considerably tiring. And that’s on prime of a stable 20 minutes of poking round to see how this course of really works. The software program additionally has the same old instruments for managing lighting results with plugins out there for Lenovo, Asus, MSI, and Nvidia {hardware} (there are even two completely different zones only for the Corsair brand on prime—good grief) and varied {hardware} toggles.
Michael Crider/Foundry
Once more, this in all probability received’t deter anybody who’s really within the K70 Max for the variable actuation characteristic. They had been going to spend a big 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 arduous actuation level, it’s simple 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 had been in for.
How does the K70 Max RGB evaluate in worth?
Keyboards with user-selectable actuation factors, typically going by an “analog” shorthand, are nonetheless extraordinarily skinny on the bottom. SteelSeries makes one, the Apex Pro for $200/£199 with a stylish OLED display screen, 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/£249 for the Huntsman V2 Analog with some extra-fancy lighting. (Technically this makes use of optical switches somewhat than magnetic, however it provides the identical customized actuation and twin actuation features.)
Not having examined the opposite choices on this phase, I’ll should fall again on pure specs. Corsair’s $229/£219 K70 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 resulting from its full lack of a wrist relaxation or any media controls. And I’m inclined to present the K70 extra props for its comfortable wrist relaxation than the arduous plastic on the SteelSeries.
You should purchase the Corsair K70 Max from the official retailer in addition to Amazon.
Michael Crider/Foundry
The SteelSeries additionally cheaps out just a little by having adjustable actuation solely on its main alphanumeric key part. After all, having that sort of customization on the remainder of the board is of questionable utility…as is the OLED display screen on the Apex Professional.
See the Asus ROG Azoth for an additional instance of a keyboard with a display screen nobody requested for. Name it a wash. In case you’re ready to spend $200/£200 on a keyboard with customized actuation keys, then I don’t assume a $5/£5 low cost will sway you, or a $50/£50 premium will flip you off.
Try our chart of one of the best keyboards for extra choices.
Do you have to purchase the K70 Max RGB?
As soon as 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 players will have the ability to make use of in full. In case you’re a fan of Corsair’s keyboard designs and options (and don’t thoughts the physique ping), the common K70 Professional will serve you simply advantageous at a $60/£50 low cost with quite a lot of Cherry switches to choose from. The one factor you’re lacking out on is that new padded wrist relaxation.
In case you perceive the attraction of the magnetic switches, and also you need a keyboard that’s crammed to the brim with different options, the K70 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 K70 in small however significant methods, with a quieter physique and a super-comfy wrist relaxation.
In case you perceive the attraction of the magnetic switches, and also you need a keyboard that’s crammed to the brim with different options, the K70 Max will do properly.
Michael Crider/Foundry
Go for it when you like the thought of customizing your switches with out changing them, or hitting two features on the identical key press. Remember that when you desire a smaller TKL or 65% design, Corsair will in all probability have these choices out there inside a couple of months.
This evaluate initially appeared on PC World.