This keyboard boasts a high level of customization and precision, making it a popular choice among gamers and typists alike.
I purchased this keyboard a few months ago and have been thoroughly impressed with its performance. The Cherry MX RGB Brown switches provide a satisfying tactile response, making typing a breeze. The per-key RGB backlighting and LightEdge across the top of the keyboard offer a dynamic and customizable lighting experience. The six dedicated macro keys have also been a game-changer for my gaming experience, allowing me to program complex macros for my favorite games.
Design and Build Quality
With its strong and durable construction, the Corsair K95 RGB Platinum XT Mechanical USB Gaming Keyboard is built to last. The keyboard has the same basic chassis as the original K95, with the same familiar 110 key layout. The aluminum top plate is black anodized brushed, which looks sleek and modern. The keyboard has a detachable wrist rest, which is made of simple foam padding wrapped in thin leatherette. The wrist rest, though, feels cheap and is a bit of a downgrade from the heavy and reversible magnetic pad on the original K95. The underside of the board has the same cable channel as the original K95, which lets you run something like a normal size headset cable underneath your keyboard. The rubberized pads and rubberized extendable legs are exactly the same as before. Overall, the build quality feels about the same as the original K95, with a little bit of flex when mashing down on the board.
Lighting and Keycaps
Boasting per-key RGB backlighting and a 19-zone LightEdge across the top of the keyboard, the Corsair K95 RGB Platinum XT Mechanical USB Gaming Keyboard delivers dynamic and vibrant lighting effects with near-limitless customization. The board is controlled with their ID software, which remains mostly exactly the same as before, although they did introduce one minor improvement with this release in the form of a D bounce delay that reduces double strokes. The 19 zone light bar at the top of the board makes a return, same with the RGB enabled logo and media keys. All of the keys do have perky RGB, as you would expect, but the keys themselves are not as bright and vibrant due to the new key caps.The Corsair K95 RGB Platinum XT Mechanical USB Gaming Keyboard comes with double shot PBT keycaps this time around. Corsair’s PBT keycaps have nice, thick sidewalls, and they have a nice textured surface to them. With most competitors pushing out new boards, all with PBT keycaps, Corsair’s inclusion of them is a smart move. Although with the PBT keycaps does come some reduced permeability in the lighting on the keys. The font is still the same large and somewhat divisive font that Corsair has gone with for a while.
Switches and Sound
Available in both Cherry MX Brown and Speed switches, the Corsair K95 RGB Platinum XT Mechanical USB Gaming Keyboard offers a choice that suits your preferences. Although you can now get this board in Cherry MX Blues as well. The switches are advertised with a 100 million keystroke lifespan, while Cherries still advertises theirs, which is a 50 million. Cherry switches are still mainstream these days, and they make some of the best quality switches that are available on mainstream production keyboards. The blue switches on the K95 Platinum XT felt like a very tame version of the switches on the K70. The K95 handled the A/B switch flawlessly. The build quality is pretty amazing on the K95, and the wrist rest feels fantastic.
Corsair K95: Features
Gain an in-game advantage with six dedicated macro keys on the Corsair K95 RGB Platinum XT Mechanical USB Gaming Keyboard, fully programmable for complex macros and key remaps. The board has full n-key rollover in the U.S. The board has a detachable, soft textured cushioned leatherette palm rest that offers plush comfort to breeze through marathon gaming sessions. The keyboard has a dedicated button for switching profiles, changing the brightness, and activating windows lock, as well as dedicated media keys with metal volumes. The Corsair K95 RGB Platinum XT Mechanical USB Gaming Keyboard also comes with two sets of textured accent keys for WASD and QWERDF and six blue textured keys for the macro keys.
Corsair K95: Product Reviews
The Corsair K95 RGB Platinum XT Mechanical USB Gaming Keyboard has customers raving about its performance. One customer said it is the last keyboard you’ll ever buy, with great hand feel, built like a tank, very sensitive actuation, and awesome, well thought out features. Another customer said it is a great keyboard, but they were disappointed with the iCUE software and the non-standard keycap sizes. Another customer said it is an awesome product and beyond their expectations, with a sexy look to their gaming beast.
Corsair K95: Verdict
A top-of-the-line gaming keyboard, the Corsair K95 RGB Platinum XT Mechanical USB Gaming Keyboard is a must-have for serious gamers.
Pros:
- The Corsair K95 RGB Platinum XT has a durable build quality with an anodized brushed aluminum top plate, making it a long-lasting gaming keyboard.
- The keyboard has 100% CHERRY MX RGB mechanical keyswitches, providing reliability and accuracy for gamers who demand precision.
- The per-key RGB backlighting and 19-zone LightEdge across the top of the keyboard deliver dynamic and vibrant lighting effects with near-limitless customization options.
Cons:
- The detachable wrist rest feels cheap and offers very little actual padding, which is a downgrade from the original K95 Platinum.
- The iCUE software used to control the keyboard is considered to be a big bloated piece of software, taking up almost 4GB of disk space, which can be a hassle for IT professionals.
- The new double shot PB tiki caps reduce permeability in the lighting on the keys, causing a 10-15% reduction in overall brightness.
Read also:
- K55 RGB Gaming Keyboard Review
- Razer Huntsman V2 – Customizable Gaming Keyboard
- Arctis Nova 1 Gaming Headset Review
Conclusion
Overall, I highly recommend the Corsair K95 RGB Platinum XT Mechanical USB Gaming Keyboard. Its sturdy construction, customizable lighting, and programmable macros make it a top choice for gamers and typists alike. While the wrist rest may not be as solid as previous models, the overall performance and features of this keyboard make it a worthwhile investment.
Questions & Answers:
Question: Can the six dedicated macro keys be customized to perform any function?
Answer: Yes, the six dedicated macro keys are fully programmable for complex macros and key remaps, or they can be swapped with the included S-key keycaps to program special streaming commands through Elgato Stream Deck software.
Question: Is the Corsair K95 RGB Platinum XT compatible with different switch types?
Answer: Yes, the keyboard is offered in Cherry MX brown, speed, and blue switches, allowing gamers to choose between clicky tactile or linear variants.
Question: Does the Corsair K95 RGB Platinum XT come with additional accessories?
Answer: Yes, the keyboard comes with two sets of textured accent keys for W A S D and Q W E R D f, six blue textured keys for the macro keys, and a plastic key cap puller. Corsair also includes a Corsair sales logo key cap for extra customization options.
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