The Corsair K70 RGB MK.2 low profile is much leaner than its predecessor, so does it pack the same heavy-weight punch?
Product on Review: Corsair K70 RGB MK.2 Low Profile
Manufacturer: Corsair
Street Price: £159.98 GBP / $169.99 US / $249.99 AUS
The Corsair K70 is a well-acclaimed keyboard that has been around for quite some time now, and over the years it’s seen a fair few subtle facelifts as well as some incremental performance tweaks, but the MK.2 changed that with its biggest update yet.
If you wish to see how the K70 has evolved over the years you can check out all our reviews on them.
K70 MK.2 Rapidfire.
K70 LUX RGB.
K70 RGB Rapidfire.
K70 RGB.
K70.
So, now you’ve seen the differences between the older K70’s and the newer MK.2, you may be curious to see what the even newer low profile variant brings to the table. Well, at first glance it doesn’t look like much has changed, sure the keycaps are now flatter and wider, but other than that – aesthetically at least, not much has changed. Where you do see the biggest difference (visually) is with the height, the Low Profile MK.2 or LP MK.2 (to shorten it) is 25% slimmer than the K70 MK.2 though it remains just as long and wide. The most notable change the LP MK.2 sees, however, is on the switch front. As the LP MK.2 is a lot slimmer, Corsair couldn’t exactly install the regular switches Cherry make, so instead, they’ve selected Cherry’s new low profile switch, will this have a negative impact on the performance? Read on to find out.
Corsair on the K70 RGB MK.2 Low Profile:
The CORSAIR K70 RGB MK.2 Low Profile Mechanical Gaming Keyboard combines the all-day comfort of low-profile, low travel keys, with the performance of Cherry MX mechanical keyswitches and stunning RGB lighting.
Technical Specifications
Keyboard
Format – Full-size 105 key
Interface – USB 2.0 Type A
Report rate – 1000Hz
Full N-key rollover
100% Anti-ghosting
RGB lighting
USB pass-through
Media controls
8MB onboard storage for profiles
2 year warranty
Switches
Switches – Cherry MX
Variant – Low profile silver speed
Lifespan – 50million keystrokes
Actuation distance – 1mm
Actuation force – 45g
Travel distance – 3.2mm
Dimensions & Weight
Dimensions – 438mm (L) x 168mm (W) x 29mm (H)
Weight – 1.08kg
System requirements
Spare USB Type A port
Internet connection
Format – Full-size 105 key
Interface – USB 2.0 Type A
Report rate – 1000Hz
Full N-key rollover
100% Anti-ghosting
RGB lighting
USB pass-through
Media controls
8MB onboard storage for profiles
2 year warranty
Switches
Switches – Cherry MX
Variant – Low profile silver speed
Lifespan – 50million keystrokes
Actuation distance – 1mm
Actuation force – 45g
Travel distance – 3.2mm
Dimensions & Weight
Dimensions – 438mm (L) x 168mm (W) x 29mm (H)
Weight – 1.08kg
System requirements
Spare USB Type A port
Internet connection
Packaging & First Look
The box the Corsair K70 RGB MK.2 low profile arrives in has seen a big overhaul from the one the Rapidfire arrives in. Corsair has stripped back the main design elements and replaced them with a much cleaner flat look. The colours changed too as it was black with splashes of yellow, now it’s nearly all yellow with black accents. We can’t be certain if this is their new packaging or whether it’s unique to the LP MK.2.
The back has been cleaned up too as it’s now more concise and less scattered.
We’re happy to see that Corsair has kept the accessories consistent as you still get a keycap puller, textured keycaps, the wrist rest and the manuals.
As we mentioned in the intro, not much has changed in terms of aesthetics and to be honest this is fine as the K70 is a very attractive keyboard.
Closer Look
Size wise the LP MK.2 is (almost) identical to the MK.2 Rapidfire which is not surprising at all, this means it’s still a big keyboard and will require some decent space to accommodate it and a mouse.
Where the LP MK.2 differs from the Rapidfire is in its overall height. The Rapidfire is 39mm (about average) whereas the LP MK.2 is 29mm. The underside riser feet have remained the same and still provides you with 12mm of lift which is nice.
The top bar on the LP MK.2 retains the same three buttons as the Rapidfire, these are used for switching profiles, changing the illuminations brightness, and locking the windows key.
The top bar also houses the Corsair logo; this notch styled cutout has the logo in the centre which does allow the RGB illumination to shine through it.
On the right side of the keyboard near the top are the dedicated media controls and the volume scroll wheel. These are identical to the Rapidfire in terms of design and functionality.
Closer Look (Continued)
The spacebar design also carries over which is nice and all, though we would have liked to have seen a plain one to match the rest of the keycaps.
The included wrist rest is a nice addition though it could be better made. As is, it feels very flimsy and doesn’t match the rest of the keyboard in terms of build quality.
The underside of the LP MK.2 sees some design changes as Corsair has opted to remove the cable routing, this does make sense though as the keyboard is now significantly thinner. The large rubberised feet remain though which is good as they do a great job.
Software
Corsair’s iCUE software is one of the more well-rounded offerings out there, and you can tell Corsair has invested a considerable amount of time and resources into it. During our testing, we didn’t run into any issues, and all the features worked without fault.
Performance Testing
When thinking of a gaming keyboard, you don’t usually associate them with being slim or low profile, Corsair, however, is looking to change that with the MK.2 LP and they’ve done a really great job, yet it still has some quirks we need to mention. One of these minor issues is with the typing experience. As the keycaps are considerably larger than ones found on a traditional mechanical keyboard, we noted an increase of accidental key presses when typing. This is due to the gap between the keycaps being so small, meaning it’s so easy to knock two keys at once. On the plus side they are spacious and comfortable, so they do have that going for them. The media keys haven’t seen much of a change since the MK.2 Rapidfire, but this is okay as when paired with the low profile switches they’re easier than ever to use.
The wrist rest is a nice addition too as it helps with the comfort when typing long term, however, the rest isn’t without fault either. Given the price of the keyboard we were expecting a good quality rest, but what you get is very cheap feeling one that doesn’t tie in with the premium price tag. Also, the textured pattern on the top surface can cause some minor irritation when used for an extended amount of time.
As for the rest of the keyboard, the build isn’t an issue, the main chassis feels very solid, and the brushed Aluminium backplate further adds to the overall solidity of the MK.2 LP. The fit and finish are really top notch too as all the keycaps feel well planted, the media keys and volume control feel high quality and the membrane-based profile keys are nicely tactile and responsive. Corsair has also added to this with the included swappable keycaps, these again are good quality and provide you with a different feel when using the keyboard. The supplied keycaps are used for either MOBA or FPS games, but of course, you can swap them to whatever suits you best.
For gaming we did note that the MK.2 LP was different from what you’d expect from a traditional mechanical offering, this difference isn’t bad as such, but it does take some adjusting to. This is because the keycaps are set lower, so it feels odd, especially when swapping from a “normal” mechanical keyboard. However, after a few days heavy use we quickly became accustomed to this new experience, and we found it quite enjoyable. The wide keycaps are spacious so your fingers feel well situated on the key you are using, again though we noted that we accidentally knocked more keys than we did with a traditional keycap, but this does reduce over time as you get more customary to the spacing.
Currently, the K70 MK.2 LP is available with either the MX Silvers or MX Reds, and in terms of numbers, they aren’t wildly different to their full-sized counterparts. The MX Silvers have an actuation distance of 1mm, an actuation force of 45g and an overall travel distance of 3.2mm. The Reds are a touch different with the following attributes. The Reds actuation distance is 1.2mm, the force is 45g, and the overall travel is also 3.2mm. Other notable differences to the regular MX switches are the actual height of the switch and the fact they are designed to work with lower powered LEDs. The overall height of the new LP switches are 11.9mm in comparison to 18.5mm.
As for the switches, our sample is using Cherry’s Low Profile Silver Speeds, and these do share some characteristics with their full-sized counterparts, but they are different too. The things that are similar are the linear nature of them, this means that they don’t possess a tactile bump. They are also really fast which makes them ideal for FPS shooters and other genres which require rapid input. On the downside, the travel of the LP switch just doesn’t feel as smooth as the traditional MX Silvers do which are really smooth by design. This doesn’t impact their actual speed, though it does give the impression that they are slightly slower. In terms of noise, they are equally as quiet as the full-sized Silvers which is great for those that aren’t a fan of traditional mechanical clicks and clacks.
Finally to the illumination and Corsair offers some of the best in the business. The lighting is vibrant, the colours are rich and have a really pleasing level of saturation. The light fill is great too, and there really isn’t any area on the illumination that causes concern. The effects are also extremely well implemented and the gradients produced are superb. Corsair also offers a comprehensive list of different effects with varying levels of customisation, so if you are a big fan of RGB, then the K70 MK.2 LP won’t disappoint.
Conclusion
Corsair hasn’t changed too much with this iteration of the K70, and that is understandable as the K70 is one of the best mechanical keyboards on offer. What Corsair have done are made some small incremental changes that have altered the dynamic of the K70 MK.2 LP, and these are highly welcomed.
Though the main recipe hasn’t changed too much, the changes made have altered things in a way that does take some getting used to. Usually, with a mechanical keyboard, you can plug it in, get going and crush it, but with the K70 MK.2 LP that isn’t the case. We noted during our testing that the low profile nature of the keyboard took longer to get used to than usual. This adjustment period wasn’t bad as such, it was just different trying to adjust to the new feel this offers.
The design hasn’t changed too drastically which is again good as the K70 is an attractive keyboard. Corsair has achieved this with the sleek Aluminium top plate, colour neutral scheme and just enough of their Corsair style. The build is mostly superb too as the main keyboard feels very solid and well put together. The wrist rest though is another issue entirely as it doesn’t live up to the rest of the keyboard, this is due to it being all plastic and rather flimsy. We would have liked to have seen more effort put into the rest as it’s expected at this price point.
Now to the new low profile Cherry MX switches and they are great, but they still require some polish. As is the Silvers are fast and work extremely well though they just don’t feel as smooth as the full-sized MX Silvers do. Considering these are a first gen switch, Cherry has done a fantastic job, but there is still room for improvement. The RGB is fantastic too, and it’s clear that Corsair really knows what they are doing in this department. iCUE continues to impress also and is one of the better software packages out there.
Overall for the price of £159.98 ($169.99 US / $249.99 AUS), the Corsair K70 RGB MK.2 Low Profile is easily worth it, as the whole package is very impressive. Though it does have a few quirks, it still retains enough of what made the previous model and gen so great. We will still say that it does take some time to get used to, but if you have that time and want something different, then we can highly recommend the K70 MK.2 LP.
Even though the Corsair K70 MK.2 Low Profile is leaner than ever, it still manages to pack the same weighty performance punch that the previous gen did.
Pros
+ Excellent RGB
+ Dedicated media controls
+ USB pass-through
+ Comfortable typing experience
+ 8MB storage for profiles
+ Solid construction
+ Great gaming experience
Neutral
+- Slightly flimsy feeling wrist rest
+- A touch on the pricey side
+- Switches are solid but not as polished as their full-sized counterparts
Cons
– Only USB 2.0 pass-through
– No dedicated macro keys
+ Excellent RGB
+ Dedicated media controls
+ USB pass-through
+ Comfortable typing experience
+ 8MB storage for profiles
+ Solid construction
+ Great gaming experience
Neutral
+- Slightly flimsy feeling wrist rest
+- A touch on the pricey side
+- Switches are solid but not as polished as their full-sized counterparts
Cons
– Only USB 2.0 pass-through
– No dedicated macro keys
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