Best Corsair K95 RGB Platinum Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals & Sales 2020:

Corsair’s new high-end keyboard, the K95 RGB Platinum has the difficult task of replacing the K95 (RGB) in the manufacturer’s catalog. To put the odds on its side, it is equipped with the latest ultra-fast Cherry MX Speed ​​switches and plays the card of bright aesthetics with a new backlit area on its upper edge. In return, it loses two thirds of its macro keys, which may disappoint fans of additional commands. This at least has the merit of reducing the size of the keyboard.

Presentation

The K95 RGB Platinum is offered in two versions in our regions: one is equipped with Cherry MX Speed ​​switches, the other with Cherry MX Brown. A bronze gray color also exists in addition to the black color by default, but it is only found across the Atlantic (QWERTY version therefore)

Best Corsair K95 RGB Platinum Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals & Sales 2020

1. Corsair K95 RGB Platinum XT Mechanical Gaming Keyboard, Backlit RGB LED, CHERRY MX SPEED RGB Silver, Black

2. Corsair K95 RGB Platinum Mechanical Gaming Keyboard – 6x Programmable Macro Keys. USB Passthrough & Media Controls – Fastest Cherry MX Speed – RGB LED Backlit – Black Finish

3. CORSAIR K95 RGB PLATINUM Mechanical Gaming Keyboard – USB Passthrough & Media Controls. Fastest Cherry MX Speed – RGB LED Backlit – Aluminum Finish and CORSAIR MM300 – Extended Mouse Mat

4. CORSAIR K95 RGB PLATINUM Mechanical Gaming Keyboard – USB Passthrough & Media Controls. Tactile & Quiet – Cherry MX Brown – RGB LED Backlit and CORSAIR MM300 – Anti-Fray Cloth Gaming Mouse Pad. High-Performance Mouse Pad Optimized for Gaming Sensors. Designed for Maximum Control – Extended

Ergonomics

Right out of the box, the K95 RGB Platinum imposes and clearly marks its high-end claims. Less massive than its predecessor (465 mm wide against 502 mm due to the removal of 2 rows of macro keys), it nevertheless still occupies a good space on the desk (171 mm in height, about 60 mm more with the rest palms installed), but without appearing invasive thanks to relatively simple lines and side edges of only 5 mm.

This new K95 knows how to remain sober on the aesthetic level and does not show too much its video game side. Only the row of macro keys (G1 to G6) and the font used to write the characters betray this orientation, without however removing this relatively serious aspect. At least, this is true if we ignore the backlight, which is rightly highlighted by Corsair on this new keyboard. In addition to the multicolored backlighting (RGB) of the keys, the K95 RGB Platinum has a light strip at its top, for an effectively very nice rendering, although quite gadget, let’s face it. The effect can nevertheless remain discreet and brings a certain cachet to the keyboard.

The backlighting of the keys is very clean, thanks to the Cherry MX RGB switches used, which diffuse the light better because of their transparent structure – the LED is located at their base and not on the top, unlike previous led switches of the brand. However, the light diffuses between the keys and does not only illuminate the inscription engraved with the laser on the key, for lack of a very precise directivity – the switches Logitech Romer-G and SteelSeries QS1 conversely only illuminate the top of the button. One is not better than the other, it is a matter of personal preference.

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We find the brushed aluminum finish, typical of the manufacturer’s high-end keyboards, in the form of a plate just under 2 mm thick. It covers a beautifully made plastic chassis and provides good keyboard rigidity. The switches are fixed directly on this plate and no plastic shell is added so as to keep the ” frameless ” design dear to Corsair. In addition to the aerial side of this design, with its keys that seem to float above the chassis, this facilitates maintenance since it only takes a blow of a blow gun to expel dust and other dirt that never fails to settle between the keys. The impression of quality is always there and the finishes are once again impeccable.

User comfort is also there, especially thanks to a beautiful palm rest, incorporating a non-slip and reversible magnetic strip, for two different types of coverings: one studded with small holes, the other covered of triangular patterns in relief. The rubberized material used is particularly soft and therefore very pleasant under the hands, not very sensitive to fingerprints, but it too easily captures dirt.

The palm rest is slightly raised relative to the keys to limit the arch of the wrists and the inclination of the fingers. However, users who prefer a more pronounced angle will be able to extend the feet located under the back of the keyboard, passing the top of the keys from 30 to 32 mm on the first row and from 38 to 48 mm on the last. Conversely, unlike the K70 RGB Rapidfire , the K95 RGB Platinum has no feet on the front and therefore we cannot obtain a more level striking position; a slight inclination remains.

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The stability is impeccable thanks to 4 very large rubber pads placed under the keyboard, supplemented by 3 others under the palm rest. The 1324 g also contributes to this good impression, the keyboard also seems quite robust.

In terms of connectivity, the K95 RGB Platinum connects to the computer via two. USB 2.0 ports combined in a single braided sheath to avoid cluttering the desk too much. One of the two USB cables is actually used to provide a pass-through port (direct link) on the keyboard, in order to connect a headset or a mouse, or even a USB key, for example. No USB hub mode, however, you have to settle for a single port. The K95 RGB Platinum also ignores the mini-jack sockets that could have allowed you to connect a headset. Too bad, even if the keyboards offering these additional sockets generally fail to clutter up with an even thicker sheath to group all the cables.

On the side of the additional controls, we are delighted to find the row of multimedia keys above the numeric keypad, as well as the volume adjustment wheel which overhangs it, which is attached to the mute button. On the left part of the upper strip, three other buttons are used to change the profile on the fly – see box at the end of the test -, modify the backlight intensity (3 levels or total deactivation) or activate the game mode (deactivation of Windows key and key combinations to select in the adjustment software).

Final

At the left end of the keyboard, the K95 RGB Platinum retains macro keys, but only offers 6 in a row, against 18 in 3 rows for the previous K95. Most players will probably be satisfied with it, but the biggest users of macros can be disappointed. However, it was tricky to juggle 3 columns of keys and this deletion limits the width of the keyboard, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Everyone will of course have their opinion on the matter. Good point to avoid making the wrong key when using a blind keyboard, the macro keys are distinguished by their shape tilted to the right and their gray surface in slight relief. They are also separate from the other keys.

Finally, let’s not forget the “special game keys” provided by Corsair, offering a coating identical to that of the macro keys, without however being of a different shape from the classic keys, so as not to disturb when typing.

Hit

The K95 RGB Platinum has the distinction of being offered in two versions, one of which is fitted with. Cherry MX Speed ​​ultra-fast switches – introduced for the first time with the K70 RGB Rapidfire. We have just tested this version, the other based on touch switches. Cherry MX Brown, more classic and with a different touch. The special feature of MX Speed ​​is that it activates after only. 1.2 mm of travel, against 2 mm for the other Cherry. MX switches – the total travel being reduced to 3.4 mm, against 4 mm usually. They are therefore more reactive and it feels when typing. Since it suffices to press the key lightly to trigger activation. 

We thus gain in games requiring a high speed of reaction and even typing if the we like to touch the keys and strike without pressing them all the way down – for more flexibility and silence. The Cherry MX Speed ​​remains noisier than the Cherry MX Silent, however, followers of silence will therefore always find it difficult to use a mechanical keyboard such as this one, even if we have known more noisy in the genre.

Of course, high-end keyboard for players requires, the K95 RGB Platinum offers a complete anti-ghosting with N-Key Rollover (NKRO) in order to be able to activate all the keyboard keys at the same time, without error in interpretation.

STRONG POINTS

  • Very fast Cherry MX Speed ​​switches.
  • A very good manufacturing quality.
  • Convenient multimedia controls.
  • Full and aesthetic backlight.
  • Good comfort of use.
  • 6 dedicated macro keys.
  • USB pass-through port.
  • 3 customizable profiles saved in the internal memory of the keyboard.

WEAK POINTS

  • No headphone and microphone jacks.
  • One USB port.
  • A little thick braided sheath.
  • No deployable feet on the front (the K70 RGB Rapidfire is however equipped).
  • Messy palm rest.

CONCLUSION

Attractive, well constructed, comfortable and responsive, the K95 RGB Platinum is a success. The removal of a few macro keys is, in our opinion, not a big loss. Even if the biggest users of these functions will be inevitably disappointed. This however makes it possible to reduce the size of the keyboard, which becomes significantly less bulky and regains more conventional proportions. The integration of Cherry MX Speed ​​switches on our test version will also delight fans of extreme responsiveness.

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