When I test I wish it was a mechanical keyboard with “Pro” and I wish it was the best, non-Pro variant without compromise. Razer figured it out: Blackwidow V4 Pro is better than the original V4 in every way, and It proves that it is good that gaming keyboards do not need to use Hall effect switches.
Instead, Corsair proves this The lobby effect switch won’t automatically make the keyboard better, especially if there are trade-offs. The Corsair K70 keyboard comes in three flavors: Core ($100), Core Wireless ($150), and Pro TKL ($180). Professionals have an advantage over the core because it has Some Hall effect switches, but skips wireless connections. It has 8,000 Hz turnout, extensive RGB and magnetic wrist rest. It also has some sacrifices that make it dull compared to other K70 models and their peers.
The story of two switches
Photo: Henri Robbins
The K70 Pro TKL’s Corsair product page says the keyboard uses “Corsair MGX V2 switches” and does not mention standard mechanical switches in the technical specifications section or elsewhere. In the exploded view of the keyboard, some switches have pink stems instead of blue, listed as “MLX Plasma Switches”.
Each key is not part of the main cluster, such as function rows, escape keys, arrow keys, and other navigation keys, are mechanical switches. Even on the keyboard’s packaging, it only renders in small prints on the top of the box, and the rest mentions only the MGX HyperDrive switch. Intentional or not, this is frustrating. When I buy the keyboard, I want all keys to have the same type of switch. If this is not the case, the company should be clearer than this.
Thankfully, the keyboard is not difficult to turn on. The MGX V2 overspeed drive switch is crisp and responsive, and there is no softness on the bottom of the keyboard. When typing, even when the switch is slowly pressed, it is a feat possible due to the contactless design of the magnetic field effect switch. (Read more about the technology here.) The double-layer design inside the switch is likely to be further improved, introduced by the KeyChron Q1 and has since been used in multiple keyboards.
Photo: Henri Robbins
The HyperDrive switch has the same design as Wooting’s Lekker switch, which means the two can be swapped between the keyboard. However, both are made with an earlier Hall effect switch design and are not interchangeable with the newer Hall effect switches used by KeyChron (I reviewed the issue I discussed at Q1 last year).
MLX mechanical switches are fun, although they feel heavier than hall effect switches. They have deeper, full tone and slight scratches that can be felt even when typing normally. Feels similar to “good” scratches like Cherry MX Black. The MLX switch feels a little slower behind the keyboard.
I feel constantly abandoned by the mix of MGX Hall effects and MLX mechanical switches because the two are significantly different. This is not to say that the MLX switch is not good. I like to type on the standard K70 core that only mechanical switches. The question is how the two are integrated. Whenever I have to use both switches back to back, it distracts.
Half high speed
Photo: Henri Robbins
The K70 Pro TKL performs well in the game. It has incredibly accurate and responsive inputs, and more than that, the weight and rebound speed of the MGX switch are tuned to be responsive without causing any unexpected erroneous inputs.
