The Corsair Gaming K100 RGB Keyboard Review: Optical-Mechanical Masterpiece
by E. Fylladitakis on November 19, 2020 8:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Peripherals
- Corsair
- Mechanical Keyboards
- RGB
Conclusion
The K100 RGB is the keyboard that Corsair developed as the successor to their highly successful K95 RGB Platinum. Even though most companies would be content with releasing a new product with just one additional feature or a subtle design change, Corsair overhauled several key components of the keyboard. Thus, the K100 RGB ditches traditional mechanical keys entirely, and is instead based around new optical-mechanical switches. Coupled with that is a much more powerful processor, a second rotary wheel, more iCUE configuration options and support for the Elgato software, and even a better wrist rest to round out Corsair's premium keyboard package.
The switch to optical-mechanical switche is a significant and beneficial one, but it does come with a learning curve. In order to maximize the potential of the K100 RGB, users need to press the keys softly, so that the keycap will move only a little more than a millimeter below its resting point. It takes quite a bit of time for someone who is used to a typical mechanical or, worse, membrane keyboard to acclimate to the delicate OPX switches. However, once that happens, I find that the OPX switches are more comfortable and feel more responsive than any mechanical switch available today.
The quality of the K100 RGB is, as we expected, fantastic. Overall, the keyboard is made of very high quality materials, with a very rigid frame and an excellent assembly job inside and around it. The new OPX switches also are naturally more reliable because of the replacement of mechanical parts (contacts) with electronics (optical sensors). Our only concern lies with the softness of the wrist rest, as it can be damaged with relative ease.
Aesthetics are a subjective matter, yet we believe that the Corsair K100 RGB has something to offer to nearly everyone. Its design and lighting configurability allow for the end user to decide whether they want to keep things traditional or go for an extravagant, colorful scheme. No matter what direction one decides to go, the impeccable craftsmanship of the K100 RGB is always going to be evident.
Overall, considering how stale the commoditized keyboard market has become over the past couple of years, the Corsair K100 RGB Optical Mechanical keyboard is a refreshing addition. It offers something truly different than the now run-of-the-mill mechanical keyboards that fill the gaming keyboard market – and that difference is something we think makes for a better keyboard. Nevertheless, the $230 retail price is is truly a premium price, and most users can probably get the job done with a good keyboard that costs significantly less. If, however, what you want is one of the most versatile keyboards available, then the Corsair K100 RGB should definitely be on your shortlist.
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Kurosaki - Friday, November 20, 2020 - link
+1!umano - Sunday, November 22, 2020 - link
There is no point, we can't buy them :(FunBunny2 - Thursday, November 19, 2020 - link
"It takes quite a bit of time for someone who is used to a typical mechanical or, worse, membrane keyboard to acclimate to the delicate OPX switches. However, once that happens, I find that the OPX switches are more comfortable and feel more responsive than any mechanical switch available today."this makes it sound like a substantial wrist rest is a requirement. I doubt anyone who uses the keyboard as text input device, aka not a gamer, will cotton to *not* resting fingers on the Home Row, which is conventional with all other keyboards (esp. my revered IBM model M :) ). having to 'float' one's entire hand above the keys would lead to significant forearm strain in no time at all. or do I infer incorrectly? you don't mention whether resting on the Home Row, from first use, caused key actuation.
I've only used chicklet/scissors keyboards a few times, and not happily, for about that same reason.
emilemil1 - Thursday, November 19, 2020 - link
This applies to gaming as well. As a MOBA player I want to have my fingers on QWE at all times, and it's not good if that may accidentally cause them to trigger. This was a problem I experienced switching from membrane to a much more sensitive mechanical keyboard, it added wrist strain I never experienced before since I could no longer rest any significant weight on the keys.Though I'd imagine since the switches are optical, there should be no problem to configure the sensitivity in software.
grant3 - Friday, November 20, 2020 - link
optical switches are still binary (i.e., "on" or "off"), so there is no software sensitivity configuration available.Beaver M. - Monday, November 23, 2020 - link
Not the ones on the Wooting.Thayios - Thursday, November 19, 2020 - link
RA handicap here...no issues with this what so ever. Your fingers "learn" the new resistance and how you can still lean on the key but not press it. For people first starting off on it, yeah you'll definitely hit a few keys.grant3 - Friday, November 20, 2020 - link
The key actuation force almost entirely depends on the keyspring, and not whether the switch is optical or mechanical.Probably the author is referring to the fact that optical switches likely have a different actuation *point* on the downstroke. And also probably a different feel, depending on the type of mechanical switch he is used to.
Virtually no mechanical keyboard out-of-the-box, including this one, will have springs so soft that they actuate the switch when fingers are simply rested on them.
That said: I have never experienced actuation on chiclet keyboards merely from resting my fingers, so your fingers may be particularly heavy. If you were otherwise interested in this keyboard, I'm virtually certain you could invest a ridiculous amount of time in replacing the springs with stronger ones.
K_Space - Saturday, November 21, 2020 - link
+1 grant3.I think the OP has assumed (not unreasonably, I might add) that the acutation force correlates with travel disance and therefore the short travel distance in this keyboard correlate with a low acutation force and therefore poor typing experience (caps pressed on the lightest of touches). OP please correct me if I inferred incorrectly.
But that's true: if you look at the per-key accutation for this keyboard it averages 44.1 cN. That's hardly different than Corsair's own K70 Mechanical keyboard with an averge per-key acutation force of 44.9cN (https://www.anandtech.com/show/10301/corsair-k70-r... so no: resting your fingers on the keys won't trigger an acutation.
OPX switches are certainly innovative, and the price whilst difficult to chew is certainly justifiable for what is a new design. The question is what will Corsair do next? Release next iterations to the masses or go with a niche route like VR companies? I'd certainly hope for the former, but won't be suprised if the pricing remains obscene.
K_Space - Saturday, November 21, 2020 - link
Sorry massive correction: 2nd paragraph should read: But that's NOT* true.