Corsair K100 RGB review 2024: great mechanical keyboards

Corsair’s new K100 RGB gaming keyboard takes a page from CPU makers by adding multithreading. This is done through an AXON SoC that is built into the keyboard, which helps the keyboard achieve a 4,000 Hz polling rate. The company says that the K100 registers key presses “four times faster than standard mechanical keyboards,” which usually have a poling rate of 1,000 Hz.

Most people won’t see big performance improvements from a keyboard that pings their PC 4,000 times a second instead of 1,000 times a second, unless they have four times as many fingers as the average gamer. But many of the K100’s other new features, like in-house optical-mechanical switches with a 1mm actuation point and a programmable metal control wheel, are much more useful.

Corsair K100 RGB specifications

Corsair K100 RGB review: Design

In the picture above, the Corsair K100 is on the right and the K95 Platinum XT, which was made before the K100, is on the left. On the back of the K95, you can see the Corsair iCue Nexus touchscreen controller. You can also connect the Nexus to the back of the K100 through the USB passthrough port.

However, with two metal wheels, a touchscreen, and all the other media keys, that might be too many ways to control the Nexus. As you can also see from the picture, the new K100 (again, on the right) is an improvement on the K95 Platinum XT. It has a control wheel and a better wrist rest, but none of the extra names.

The second one is much better because it has a bigger cushion area and uses magnets instead of plastic clips that could break easily, like the Razer Huntsman Elite. But it should be said that the first K100 keyboard Corsair sent us had major problems with the magnets and other problems as well.

When we attached the wrist rest to the keyboard for the third or fourth time, both magnets popped out of their housing and stuck to the keyboard. The keys on that keyboard also got stuck once in a while. Over the course of a few days, we saw keycaps randomly pop back up a second or two after we pressed them. You can buy this keyboard from its official website.

Corsair K100 RGB review: Keys

The K100 has 110 keys to type on, including a row of customizable G keys, 44 zones of RGB lighting, an iCue-powered wheel dialer, Corsair’s own OPX optomechanical switches, a wired connection with a USB passthrough, and a cushioned wrist rest that you can take off. This is the keyboard that has everything but the kitchen sink.

Corsair K100 RGB review: RGB lighting

When it comes to RGB lighting, the K100 RGB doesn’t skimp like most of the best gaming keyboards do. The keyboard has 44 different RGB zones. This includes the keys, the dial, the Corsair logo in the middle, and the sides and back of the keyboard. Through iCue, it’s very easy to change.

On different parts of the keyboard, you can have more than one preset. If you don’t have iCue, you can use the function key and the number keys at the top to move through the presets. The Corsair K100 RGB is available with either Cherry MX speed switches or Corsair’s own OPX switches.

The OPX switches that came with our review unit are mechanical optical switches that can be turned on or off with the lightest touch. This is because the actuation distance is only 1 mm and the key resets right away. Not only do they feel like feathers when you touch them, but they are also guaranteed to work for 150 million times before they break.

Corsair K100 RGB review: Performance

The Corsair K100 RGB is fast, just like they said it would be. Thanks to its 4000Hz polling rate, there was no lag at all in AAA games. There were no response or press problems with the K100, no matter what the game was. In the new Marvel Avengers game, for example, you have to use a number of keys along with the mouse to use special and power moves.

Most of the time, these key presses are right next to the WASD keys, which are used to move around in the game. Because it’s a fast-paced action game, there’s a lot of rushing to press those buttons, which is the kind of thing that often leads to missed presses. But because of the amazing polling rate, the 1.0mm actuation rate, and the N-key rollover.

Corsair K100 RGB review: Conclusion

The Corsair K100 RGB is a great keyboard for gaming. It’s well-made and feels good to use. It also comes with a padded wrist rest that you can take off. It works with the Corsair iCUE software, which lets you change the RGB backlighting and assign macros to any key you want.

It has many extra features, such as media-specific keys, a volume control wheel, an iCUE wheel with multiple functions, and six macro-specific keys. The Cherry MX Speed switches on our unit feel light and responsive. The Cherry MX Speed switches are also available with the new Corsair OPX linear switches, which may feel different when typing.

Is Corsair K100 RGB worth it?

The K100 RGB is a 110-key control panel that can be changed in a lot of ways and has the first Corsair OPX optical-mechanical switches. But for $229, you have to click on the keyboard to get your money’s worth.

Is the Corsair K100 a good keyboard?

The Corsair K100 AIR is a good computer for work. It feels very sturdy and has a sleek, low-profile design that makes it easy to type on without a wrist rest. The low-profile switches make typing feel good and are relatively quiet. The keycaps are also very stable.

Is Corsair high quality?

Corsair is one of the biggest companies that makes accessories for video games. It has a good reputation for being reliable and having good quality control. They almost only make keyboards for gaming, which makes their range of products much smaller than a company like Logitech, which makes keyboards for work and other devices.