- Best Keyboard & Switches Combined - Leon, 12 July 2016
I purchased this keyboard after watching and reading many reviews. To date my experience with MX Cherry switches have been limited to Blacks and Blues. The Rapidfire keyboard uses the new MX Speed switch. The Speeds are linear like the Blacks, meaning you would typically press the keys all the way down without feeling any interruption. In contrast the Blues are tactile, meaning you would typically press the key and after a certain travel distance feel a slight bump when the key registers, allowing you to press the next key without the need to bottom it out. Many typists prefer this.
The big difference between the Blacks and the Speeds are the force required to press the key and the travel distance that the key travels before bottoming out. I find the Blacks require more force to press and need to travel further to register a keystroke. On the other hand, the Speeds are really light to the touch and register almost instantly. Initially, I found this to be downright annoying as it is so easy to press a key that I kept pressing keys in games that I did not intend to press. However, after a week or so of use I got used to the feeling and now gaming feels, for a lack of a better description, smoother, since keystrokes feel instantaneous. I also made many typos with the Speeds at first but again after some use I prefer them to Blues now. I definitely type faster. Audibly I find them slightly louder than the Blacks but much softer than the Blues. Other than the Speed switches the built quality of the Corsair keyboard is outstanding and the brushed black aluminium finish gives the keyboard a very luxurious feel. This keyboard is beautiful. The RGB lighting is excellent and very clear through the bigger font which Corsair have employed on this updated K70 model.
Many reviewers and users have complained about the new font style but personally I like it. The media controls are still among the best and the volume wheel a blessing since my headphones do not have in-line volume control. You also get additional keycaps for the QWER and ASDF keys with a different texture and colour if you prefer to customise those keys. Some negatives are the extremely thick braided cable that is very inflexible especially if you are somebody that is concerned about cable management as well as the Corsair CUE software which has a very steep learning curve attached to it. The built quality of Corsair and the responsiveness of the Clears make for an unbeatable combination, at least in games, if not for typing as well.