INTRODUCTION

   It may be hard for some people to picture this but it wasn't until roughly 15 years ago that the very first backlit keyboards made their appearance in the market. Up until then we only had regular membrane keyboards that had no type of lighting for their keys and even though back then we really didn't care at all (you can't care about something you haven't seen or experienced ever before) today it's an entirely different era. For example, even i sometimes find myself in need of that feature (especially when typing in the dark) so even though RGB backlit keyboards are chosen by most people because of their looks for others they just sport a very useful feature. The K60 RGB PRO Mechanical Gaming Keyboard by CORSAIR which i have here with me today puts even extra weight in its RGB backlighting so i just had to take a closer look myself.

   CORSAIR (NASDAQ:CRSR) is a leading global developer and manufacturer of high-performance gear and technology for gamers, content creators, and PC enthusiasts. From award-winning PC components and peripherals, to premium streaming equipment and smart ambient lighting, CORSAIR delivers a full ecosystem of products that work together to enable everyone, from casual gamers to committed professionals, to perform at their very best. CORSAIR also includes subsidiary brands Elgato, which provides premium studio equipment and accessories for content creators, SCUF Gaming, which builds custom-designed controllers for competitive gamers, and ORIGIN PC, a builder of custom gaming and workstation desktop PCs and laptops.

   For the K60 RGB PRO CORSAIR has used the latest Cherry MV VIOLA mechanical switches (45cN actuation force - 75cN at the end of the total travel distance of 4mm) which in reality are not quite mechanical but rather a type of hybrid (mechanical/rubber) which for some reason Cherry can't "guarantee" the number of keystrokes they can deliver. Certainly, Cherry is not your average manufacturer so chances are we're talking about millions of keystrokes before they cease working so this isn't something every day consumers or even gamers should be concerned about. The VIOLA switches also have the SMD RGB LEDs mounted directly on the circuit board of the keyboard and that in combination with their transparent top of each switch results in a more vivid illumination than most keyboards in the market today (11 RGB effects in total). The K60 RGB PRO also features a brushed aluminum anodized frame, full NKRO (N-Key Rollover) with 100% anti-ghosting, 1000Hz polling rate, tangle-free rubber cable and as with previous models thanks to the iCUE software you can assign commands and macros to all of its keys.

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

The K60 RGB PRO arrived inside a yellow and black box that has a large product picture at the front right beneath the company logo and next to the iCUE software logo.

At the base of the box, we find the system requirements printed in 8 languages.

Turning the box around we see yet another product picture and the main product features printed in 8 languages.

As expected, the keyboard is wrapped inside a plastic bag and safely kept in place via a cardboard extension of the box.

Along with the K60 RGB PRO keyboard you'll also be getting a safety information paper, warranty information paper and the user guide.

THE K60 RGB PRO

The latest K60 RGB PRO mechanical keyboard measures 441mm in length, 136mm in width and 35mm in height.

As usual CORSAIR used the floating keys design for the K60 RGB PRO which not only allows easier/faster cleaning but also increases lighting/illumination levels.

The F1 doubles as the Windows Lock key whereas F3-F4 double as the brightness levels keys, F5 as the mute key, and F7-F12 as the multimedia keys (volume up-down/stop/previous/play-pause/next).

As mentioned earlier the Cherry VIOLA keys are hybrids so they should produce very low noise.

4 rubber feet and 2 height adjusters are placed at the base of the K60 RGB PRO.

These two height adjusters raise the top end of the keyboard roughly 11mm from the desk.

The 1.8 meter long cable is made out of tangle-free rubber.

ICUE SOFTWARE

CORSAIR has redesigned their iCUE software and so this time over i started by updating the firmware of the keyboard as seen above.

Once launched the software detects and lists all compatible CORSAIR devices on the right side whereas on the left it now has a system monitor and several shortcuts for iCUE color scenes (effects).

Clicking on the device lists all available options/features.

The iCUE software allows you to program all of the keys by assigning commands, macros, texts, timers, shortcuts and much more onto them from within the key assignments tab.

From inside the lighting effects tab not only can you choose one of the 11 available effects (10 hardware ones) but you can also adjust their speed and direction, "tie" them with specific profiles and even combine them with the per-key lighting feature.

Inside the performance tab you can only adjust everything related to the Windows lock key.

Accessing the settings tab allows you to change the temperature unit, enable plugins, check for updates, customize the system monitor and enable software and game integrations.

Here you can see the minimum and maximum brightness levels of the K60 RGB PRO.

A couple of its effects are showcased above.

AUDIBLE FEEDBACK

Many people ask my opinion on what keyboard they should get for their needs. Some want a “silent” model for use in their living room or even in their bedroom while others ask for a model with good audible feedback for use in the office or for gaming. Because of this I decided to test keyboards by placing our ExTech HD600 vertically over each keyboard (5cm distance) and typing NikKTech a total of 6 times with each (after that the max recorded number - max hold - is placed in the graph). I have to admit that this methodology may not be 100% accurate but it does give a good idea on what you can expect from each model since aside the type of switches used keycaps and keyboard material also matter.

CONCLUSION

   The K60 RGB PRO Mechanical Gaming Keyboard by CORSAIR may not be their best model to date (certainly not their most durable one) but it combines vivid RGB key backlighting with good overall build quality and switches which are good both for typing and gaming. Honestly aside the lack of some features which I do occasionally find useful (USB passthrough, dedicated media and macro keys and a wrist rest) the sole thing that troubles me about the K60 RGB PRO is the lifecycle of its VIOLA switches, especially since Cherry doesn’t report a keystrokes number. Again, I don’t believe Cherry would release something that wouldn’t last many years (and all the mechanical keyboards I’ve had issues with were with their electronics and not their switches) but it would really help if people knew just what to expect. Revamping their iCUE software was a good move by CORSAIR. It may not easier to navigate compared to its previous version but it looks better and looks do matter.

   Currently retailing for USD82.99 inside the USA (Amazon.com) and for 116.99Euros inside the EU (Amazon.de) the K60 RGB PRO Mechanical Gaming Keyboard by CORSAIR is priced right, even more so on the other side of the Atlantic. Overall, I have no complaints from the CORSAIR K60 RGB PRO, yes, the VIOLA switches may not be the most durable out there but they should still outlast most of your hardware and peripherals and so I do believe it deserves the Golden Award.

PROS

- Good Build Quality
- Cherry VIOLA Mechanical Switches (IP40 Certified)
- Full RGB Illumination (11 Effects / Intensity / Per Key Illumination)
- Backlit Intensity
- Corsair iCUE Control Software (Available Settings)
- Price (USA)

CONS

- No Dedicated Multimedia & Macro Keys
- No USB Pass Through