Corsair K70 MK.2 Cherry MX Silver Keyboard Review

By Meng Vang

Manufacturer: Corsair Components, Inc.
Product Name: K70 MK.2 Low-Profile Cherry MX Silver Mechanical Keyboard
Model Number: CH-9109018-NA
UPC: 0843591017305
Price As Tested: $129.99 (Amazon | Newegg)

Full Disclosure: The product sample used in this article has been provided by Corsair.

The K70 is one of Corsair’s most popular full-size mechanical gaming keyboards with a wide variety of genuine Cherry MX switches. With the K70 MK.2 Low-Profile keyboard, it includes all the essential features from the standard K70 but in a low-profile form factor. With the cooperation with Cherry, both companies developed the Cherry MX Low Profile switches exclusively for Corsair. At the time of this review, these switches come in red and silver (speed) variants. They are still linear but have a total travel distance of just 3.2 mm compared to the 4.0 mm of a standard switch. Other keyboard features include RGB illumination, a USB pass-through port, volume scroll wheel, and onboard memory for storing up to three different gaming profiles. Benchmark Reviews is excited to test out the K70 MK.2 Low-Profile with Cherry MX Low Profile Speed switches.

• All-day Comfort Low Profile RAPIDFIRE Keys
• Modern, Slim Design
• Durable Aluminum Frame
• Dynamic Multicolor Per-Key Backlighting
• Programmable with CORSAIR iCUE Software
• Detachable, Soft-Touch Palm Rest
• Dedicated Multimedia Controls
• USB Pass-Through Port

• 8 MB Onboard Profile Storage
• 100% Anti-Ghosting with Full-Key Rollover (NKRO)

In terms of performance, the K70 MK.2 Low-Profile keyboard performs very well with its Cherry MX Low-Profile Speed switches. They respond well and sound great as expected, but could be a bit sensitive to users who are coming from standard Cherry MX switches. If MX Speed switches are not your type, Corsair does offer this keyboard in Cherry MX Low Profile Red switches too.

The K70 MK.2 Low-Profile keyboard does not look too different from the standard K70, but the low-profile design does give it a premium look and feel to the keyboard overall. RGB illumination is brighter than before due to the design of the switches, and lighting effects transition very smoothly across the keyboard.

The Cherry MX Speed switches have been known for their reliability with a 50 million click life cycle. This is pretty standard among mechanical gaming keyboards, so they should last a good long while. Body construction is very solid with no flexing with the metal top and plastic bottom. Although the K70 MK.2 Low-Profile keyboard is smaller than the standard K70, there is also a good amount of weight on it to prevent it from sliding around the table.

Functionality wise, this keyboard met most, if not all, of my expectations. What really got my attention was the ability to store up to three profiles on the keyboard without the software running. Although you lose the flexibility of running creative lighting effects, just having a static lighting theme along with other settings stored on the keyboard is important for portability and Windows startup.

As of January 2019, the Corsair K70 MK.2 keyboard with Cherry MX Low Profile Speed switches sells online for $129.99 (Amazon | Newegg). This is a good price when compared to other competing mechanical gaming keyboards, but prices do fluctuate quickly within the gaming market. For someone who is coming from a basic membrane keyboard and wants a good upgrade, this keyboard is not a bad choice as it includes many features and of course, the low-profile design.
+ Great build quality
+ Onboard profile storage
+ MX Low Profile Speed switches
+ USB 2.0 and audio pass-through port
– Wrist rest is not the best in terms of durability

• Performance: 9.75
• Appearance: 9.75
• Construction: 9.25
• Functionality: 9.00
• Value: 8.75

Quality Recognition: Benchmark Reviews Golden Tachometer Award.