INTRODUCTION

   Keyboards have undergone numerous changes since the early 90's (some important, some less important and some which didn't make it far and were quickly dismissed) when I first started using one with the my very first PC but the ones that stand out the most are the addition of mechanical switches which increased endurance/durability many times over (almost tenfold) compared to membrane models and N-Key rollover which made it possible for people to push as many keys as they possibly could without having to worry about the keyboard acting/freezing up (some may argue that LED illumination comes first but we don't share that opinion). Still manufacturers never cease to amaze us since regardless of all the changes/improvements they've introduced over the years they still try their best to bring forward more like the low-profile Cherry MX RGB Mechanical Switches introduced recently and used in the brand new K70 RGB MK.2 Low Profile Mechanical Gaming Keyboard by our friends over at CORSAIR.

   Founded in 1994, CORSAIR supplies high-performance products purchased primarily by PC gaming enthusiasts who build their own PCs or buy pre-assembled customized systems. The company's award-winning products include DDR3 and DDR4 memory upgrades, computer cases, PC cooling products, gaming headsets, gaming keyboards, gaming mice, power supply units, USB flash drives, solid-state drives and system monitoring and control devices.

   As some of you may have already guessed the brand new K70 RGB MK.2 Low Profile Mechanical Keyboard is very similar to the K70 RGB MK.2 model which we reviewed a while back so both feature aircraft-grade anodized brushed aluminum frame, USB 2.0 pass-through port, 100% anti-ghosting with full-Key rollover (NKRO), 1000Hz polling rate, six dedicated media control keys (with a volume control wheel), detachable full-length soft touch wrist rest, macro commands (no dedicated macro keys), per-key RGB backlighting, extra MOBA and FPS keycaps and an onboard ARM processor. As a matter of fact, the sole difference between the new K70 RGB MK.2 Low Profile model and the K70 RGB MK.2 are the new Cherry RGB MX Speed Low Profile switches (linear with 35% lower key height compared to regular Cherry RGB MX Switches which according to the manufacturer improves comfort levels) which reduce its height by 9mm (29mm vs 38mm). Now of course low-profile keyboards have been around for a very long time but we've just now begun to see mechanical ones so the new K70 RGB MK.2 Low Profile model could be the beginning of something good.

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

The K70 RGB MK.2 Low Profile arrived inside a yellow and black box that has a large product picture at the front along with the layout and type of switches used.

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

The main product pictures are showcased at the rear of the box with the help of 2 product pictures.

Packaging is once again very good and so the keyboard is wrapped inside a plastic bag and placed inside a formed piece of cardboard (extension of the box).

Inside the box you will find the keyboard with its detachable wrist rest, 10 textured MOBA/FPS keycaps, keycap puller, user manual and a warranty information paper.

THE K70 RGB MK.2 LOW PROFILE

Measuring 436mm in length, 165mm in width and 29mm in height the K70 RGB MK.2 Low Profile is very similar (almost identical really) to the regular K70 RGB MK.2.

Although the keys are not very tall still the keyboard features a floating design for easier cleaning (and improved brightness).

Just like all the latest keyboards by CORSAIR the K70 RGB MK.2 Low Profile has the company logo right at the top center area right between the profile, brightness level and Windows lock keys and the media control buttons (mute audio/volume control knob/stop/previous/play-pause/next).

Here you can see the new Cherry RGB MX Speed Low Profile mechanical switches.

A USB 2.0 passthrough port is located at the front of the keyboard.

Turning the keyboard over we see 4 large rubber feet and two height adjusters.

These height adjusters raise the top end of the keyboard roughly 7mm from the desk.

At the end of the 2-meter braided cable we find two USB plugs (one provides data and power for the USB pass-through).

The detachable wrist rest has three rubber feet and features the usual clip-on system.

With the wrist rest attached the width of the K70 RGB MK.2 Low Profile increases to roughly 230mm.

Just like with the "regular" K7 RGB MK.2 model the bundled textured keycaps are nothing impressive in terms of quality.

From the above picture you can see that these keycaps are angled.

Again, we were expecting textured keycaps for the arrow keys as well but CORSAIR only chose to include these.

ICUE SOFTWARE

You can download the latest version of the iCUE software from the download section.

Once launched the software detects and lists all compatible CORSAIR devices (if a new FW version is available a notification will pop at the lower left corner).

Clicking on the K70 RGB MK.2 Low Profile reveals the current RGB lighting effect and all the available zones (104 keys plus the CORSAIR logo and the extra media and command buttons).

The iCUE software allows you to program all of the keys by assigning commands, macros, texts, timers, shortcuts and much more onto them from the actions tab (check the above screenshot for more details).

 
From the lighting effects tab not only can you choose one of the 9 available effects (or even create your very own) but you can also adjust their speed, direction and combine as many of them as you want with the per-key lighting feature (as seen above).

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

CORSAIR allows the end user to monitor the status of the system, use instant colors and adjust various settings from the drop-down menus.

Here you can see the lowest and brightness levels of the keyboard (two top pictures) along with some of the effects available.

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

   Just like the “regular” K70 RGB MK.2 Keyboard by CORSAIR the K70 RGB MK.2 Low Profile is a high-quality model with almost all the bells and whistles (the lack of dedicated macro keys being perhaps the only thing some gamers may be disappointed over) most gamers would ever hope for. The low-profile Cherry RGB MX Speed mechanical switches (made of plastic polymer and resistant to water and dust – IP40 certified) feel nice when pressed and are very quiet but being new also means we can’t comment on their endurance/durability even though Cherry reports a number of over 50 million actuations. As for comfort we didn’t really notice much of a difference between the “regular” K70 RGB MK.2 and the Low-Profile Version but in the long run CORSAIR could be right and you could notice some results.

   At the end of our review the latest K70 RGB MK.2 Low Profile Mechanical Gaming Keyboard by CORSAIR retails for USD169.99 inside the USA (Amazon) and for 183Euros inside the EU (Amazon UK) a price tag that places it roughly 15% higher than the K95 RGB model. Sure, the K95 RGB is bulkier and doesn’t have the same quiet and low-profile keys but to many gamers its dedicated macro keys are well worth the larger size. With that out of the way our take on the K70 RGB MK.2 Low Profile model is that it’s ideal for people looking for a high quality, feature-rich and quiet mechanical gaming keyboard (just looking at our charts you can see that not many can compete with it in that area) and this is also why we feel it’s well worth of our Golden Award.

PROS

- Excellent Build Quality
- Cherry MX Speed Low Profile Mechanical Switches (Over 50 Million Actuations)
- Almost Inaudible
- Full RGB Key Illumination (Custom Effects/Individual Key Color)
- USB 2.0 Pass Through
- Detachable Wrist Rest
- Up To 104 Macro Keys
- Corsair iCUE Software (Available Settings)
- Dedicated Media Controls
- Extra MOBA/FPS Textured Keycaps

CONS

- No Dedicated Macro Keys
- Price (For Some)
- Low Profile Keys Are Not For Everyone (Limited Feedback)