The Corsair K70 RGB TKL is a fantastic gaming keyboard that's a smaller 80% version of the Corsair K70 RGB MK.2. It's a well-built model that comes with solid doubleshot PBT keycaps. It has a ton of gaming features, like macro-programmable keys, full RGB backlighting, and there's a 'Tournament Mode' switch that disables all macros and displays a single color so you can focus on gaming. Our unit has Cherry MX Speed switches, which are very light to press for a responsive gaming experience, and it's also available with linear Cherry MX Reds. If you want to use it for the office and don't mind the sensitive switches, it has great typing quality, but sadly, it doesn't come with a wrist rest.
Our Verdict
The Corsair K70 RGB TKL is a fantastic gaming keyboard. The Cherry MX Speed switches on our unit are very light to press with minimal pre-travel distance. Its latency is also very low for a responsive gaming experience. All keys are macro-programmable, it has full RGB lighting, and it's very well-made. Sadly, it doesn't come with a wrist rest for those long gaming sessions.
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Keys are very light to press.
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Full RGB backlighting.
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All keys are macro-programmable.
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Very well-built.
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No included wrist rest.
The Corsair K70 RGB TKL is good for office use. It's very well-made, and the doubleshot PBT keycaps feel great. It has great typing quality, but the linear Cherry MX Speed switches don't have any tactile feedback and can cause more typos than usual. Unfortunately, it doesn't come with a wrist rest, which may be disappointing to some.
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Very well-built.
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Great typing quality.
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Keys are quiet and won't bother people around you.
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No included wrist rest.
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Keys may feel too sensitive for some.
The Corsair K70 RGB TKL is wired-only and can't be used with mobile devices.
The Corsair K70 RGB TKL is very good for programming. You can set macros to any key, and it has full RGB backlighting. The typing quality is great, but the linear switches can be too light to press for some, which can cause an increase in typos. It's very well-made with a solid frame, but it doesn't come with a wrist rest.
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Full RGB backlighting.
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All keys are macro-programmable.
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Very well-built.
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No included wrist rest.
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Keys may feel too sensitive for some.
The Corsair K70 RGB TKL is disappointing for home theater PC use. Since it's wired-only, you have to connect it directly to the TV and sit within its cable range. It also lacks a trackpad, so you'll need a mouse to navigate the user interface. However, it has full RGB backlighting, so you can see the keys in the dark, and it has dedicated media keys.
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Full RGB backlighting.
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Dedicated media keys.
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Wired-only.
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No trackpad.
- 8.9 Gaming
- 6.9 Office
- 1.7 Mobile/Tablet
- 7.6 Programming
- 4.0 Entertainment / HTPC
- 9.1 Raw Performance
- Updated Nov 29, 2023: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.3.1, which adds a new estimated PCB latency test to the Single-Key Latency section and a new Analog test to the Switches section of this review. You can see the full changelog here.
- Updated Oct 27, 2023: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.3, which overhauls how key input is evaluated. We've added new tests for Single Key Latency, Multi Key Latency, Data Transmission, and Chord Split. We've also introduced a new Raw Performance usage and adjusted how the Gaming and Office usage scores are calculated. You can see the full changelog here.
- Updated Jun 12, 2023: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.2. This update introduces new Backlight Features and Backlight Clarity test boxes. We've also added a new Switches test box, added additional test comparisons to our Hardware Customizability test box that we introduced with our last Test Bench. For an in-depth look at our changes, you can see our full changelog here.
- Updated Apr 26, 2023: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.1. This update adds several new tests addressing Hardware Customization, Macro Keys And Programming, and Wireless Mobile Compatibility. We've also added new objective evaluations to the Typing Noise test, and we've simplified several tests and removed several others that were no longer relevant. For an in-depth look at all our changes, you can see our full changelog here.
- Updated Oct 05, 2022: Added a comparison to the recently reviewed SteelSeries Apex 9.
- Updated Aug 19, 2022: Added in a comparison to the newly reviewed Corsair K70 PRO MINI WIRELESS.
- Updated May 03, 2021: Review published.
- Updated Apr 27, 2021: Early access published.
- Updated Apr 20, 2021: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Apr 20, 2021: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated Apr 14, 2021: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the Corsair K70 RGB TKL with Cherry MX Speed switches, and it's also available with Cherry MX Red switches. In name, this keyboard is a TKL version of the Corsair K70 RGB MK.2, but they have a few different features so they aren't exactly the same.
If you have the Corsair K70 RGB TKL and notice it's different from ours, let us know, and we'll update the review. You can see the label for our unit here.
Compared To Other Keyboards
The Corsair K70 RGB TKL is a fantastic gaming keyboard that challenges its competition in terms of gaming performance. It's very well-built, has a ton of features, and the linear Cherry MX Speed switches are light to press. Those looking for a more versatile keyboard may be a bit disappointed with the lack of wrist rest and switch variety, but it should please most gamers.
Also see our recommendations for the best gaming keyboards, the best Corsair keyboards, and the best keyboards for programming.
The Corsair K70 RGB TKL and the Corsair K70 RGB PRO are both wired, mechanical gaming keyboards that perform very similarly with some slight differences. The RGB TKL is a smaller form factor, so it doesn't have a Numpad. Also, its latency is somewhat lower than the RGB PRO. On the other hand, the RGB PRO allows you to program macros directly onboard without using the software, and it includes a wrist rest. Both keyboards have a Tournament Switch to create a distraction-free gaming experience, and they also have an 8000Hz maximum polling rate.
The HyperX Alloy Origins and the Corsair K70 RGB TKL are both fantastic gaming keyboards. The HyperX is available with linear, tactile, and clicky switches, so you can get the type you prefer, while the Corsair is only available with linear switches. Since the HyperX is bigger, it has a numpad, but the Corsair has dedicated media keys, which the HyperX doesn't have. Even though the Corsair has PBT keycaps, typing feels better on the HyperX because the keys aren't as sensitive as those on the Corsair.
The Corsair K70 RGB TKL and the Corsair K70 RGB MK.2 are fantastic gaming keyboards with similar features. The MK.2 is full-sized and has a wrist rest, which the TKL version doesn't have. The full-sized is available in more switch types, while the TKL is only available with linear switches, so if you prefer tactile switches, the full-sized model would be a better choice. However, the TKL keyboard feels better-built because it has PBT keycaps instead of ABS.
The Corsair K70 PRO MINI WIRELESS is the compact (60%) wireless upgrade of the K70 RGB TKL. The K70 PRO MINI WIRELESS is wireless, while the K70 RGB TKL is wired-only. The K70 PRO MINI WIRELESS also has a hot-swappable printed circuit board, so you can change the stock switches without having to solder. As a result of the downsizing, however, the K70 PRO MINI WIRELESS lacks the extra hardware features, like dedicated media keys and the volume wheel found on the K70 RGB TKL.
The Corsair K70 RGB TKL is a much better gaming keyboard than the Logitech G Pro Mechanical Gaming Keyboard. The Corsair is available in two types of linear switches, while the Logitech only has proprietary clicky ones. This means that the Corsair's switches are much lighter to press for gaming but may lead to more typos. You can also set macros to any key on the Corsair, and on the Logitech it's limited to the function keys. The Corsair feels better-built because it has an aluminum plate and PBT keycaps.
The Corsair K70 RGB TKL and the SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL are both fantastic gaming keyboards. They're both well-made and offer great typing quality; however, the SteelSeries is available with tactile, linear, and clicky switches, so you can get the ones you prefer, but the Corsair is only available with linear switches. The SteelSeries comes with a wrist rest, which the Corsair doesn't. The Corsair has lower latency, but the difference between both shouldn't be very noticeable.
The Corsair K100 RGB and the Corsair K70 RGB TKL are both fantastic for gaming. The K100 is bigger because it's full-size, has a numpad and wrist rest, and there are also dedicated macro keys on the left side, which the K70 doesn't have. The K100 also has a USB passthrough, so you can connect your peripherals directly to the keyboard, and it has better typing quality because the Cherry MX Speed switches on our unit of the K70 feel a bit more sensitive than those on the K100. Overall, they're very similar in performance, so choosing one over the other comes down to size preference.
The Corsair K70 RGB TKL and the Corsair K65 RGB MINI are fantastic gaming keyboards with similar features. The K70 is TenKeyLess, so it has a function row, control pad, and dedicated arrow keys, which the 60% K65 doesn't have. In terms of performance, they're very similar with low click latency, macro-programmable keys, and the units we tested each have Cherry MX Speed switches. The K65 has onboard memory, which the K70 doesn't. However, the K70 has better ergonomics because it has an incline setting.
The Corsair K70 RGB TKL and the Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed are compact gaming keyboards that have incredibly low latency. The Corsair is a better choice if you prefer a wired board with a dedicated F-row, dedicated media keys, and a volume control wheel. It's available with linear Cherry MX Speed switches only, which may not be ideal if you prefer a different feel. On the other hand, the Razer is a better choice if you prefer a wireless board that you can pair with up to three devices at once via Bluetooth. It's available with linear Razer Yellow and clicky Razer Green switches.
The Corsair K70 RGB TKL and the SteelSeries Apex Pro are both fantastic gaming keyboards with different features. The SteelSeries uses proprietary optical switches you can customize to your liking; you can set a low pre-travel distance for quick gaming or a higher one for better typing accuracy. The SteelSeries is also bigger as it has a numpad, and it comes with a wrist rest for better ergonomics. The Corsair is available with two types of linear switches, and the Cherry MX Speed switches on our unit as still very light to press.
The Corsair K70 RGB TKL and the HyperX Alloy Origins 65 are both wired mechanical keyboard designed for gaming, but the Corsair performs slightly better. It has better latency, dedicated media keys, and its companion software is available on macOS. Alternatively, the HyperX feels better built thanks to its metal chassis and baseplate. Also, its smaller than the Corsair, leaving you more room for mouse movements on your desk.
The Corsair K70 RGB TKL and the Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition are two fantastic gaming keyboards. The Razer has proprietary linear optical switches, making for a light gaming experience, but they're too sensitive for typing, so the Corsair has better typing quality. The Corsair also has dedicated media keys, which the Razer doesn't have. Other than that, they're pretty similar in terms of performance.
The Corsair K70 RGB TKL and the Ducky One 2 RGB TKL are both fantastic gaming keyboards. The Corsair is only available with linear switches, so the Cherry MX Speed switches on our unit are lighter to press than the Cherry MX Brown switches on the Ducky. However, the Ducky is available with a wide range of switches, so you can get the ones you prefer. The Corsair iCUE software allows you to set macros through the software, while on the Ducky, you have to record all macros directly onboard. The Ducky feels better to type on because the keys feel well-spaced out, and the tactile switches on our unit aren't as sensitive as the linear ones on the Corsair.
The Corsair K70 RGB TKL and the Logitech G PRO X Keyboard are both TenKeyLess (80%) gaming keyboards, but the Corsair is a better option overall. It has a much higher build quality, more durable keycaps, and more software customization options. On the other hand, the Logitech has a hot-swappable circuit board, meaning you can easily customize and replace the stock switches.
The Corsair K70 RGB TKL and the Fnatic miniSTREAK are both TenKeyLess, mechanical, gaming keyboards, but the Corsair is slightly larger because of its extra top row for dedicated media keys and volume wheel. The Corsair feels slightly better built with its aluminum top plate and doubleshot PBT keycaps, and it's also better at color mixing. Also, the Corsair has much lower latency, making it a better choice for gaming if switch response time is very important to you. Both boards have incredible customization software, but the Fnatic also lets you set macros directly from the board, while the Corsair needs the software to customize your board.
The Corsair K70 RGB TKL and the HyperX Alloy Rise are mechanical gaming keyboards that support a maximum polling rate of 8000Hz. However, both keyboards are bottlenecked with lower update rates and are unable to fully take advantage of their 8000Hz polling. In the case of the Corsair, the bottleneck is much less impactful, and it performs significantly better than the HyperX, which has much lower and more consistent latency performance. The HyperX, on the other hand, suffers from a more severe bottleneck. On the bright side, it offers more hardware customizability with a hot-swappable PCB and a slightly more enjoyable typing experience with a softer-feeling gasket mount design.
The Corsair K70 RGB TKL and the Ducky One 3 are outstanding mechanical gaming keyboards. The Corsair is a TenKeyLess keyboard available with linear Cherry MX Speed switches or linear Cherry MX Red switches. It has dedicated media keys and a volume wheel. It also has dedicated software for changing settings or setting macros, while the Ducky only allows you to adjust settings directly on the keyboard itself via button combinations. On the other hand, the Ducky comes in a variety of MX Cherry switches. It's also a hot-swappable keyboard, so you can install the switches you prefer. Both keyboards have exceptional latency, and you won't notice any delays gaming on either.
The Razer BlackWidow Tournament Edition Chroma V2 and the Corsair K70 RGB TKL are fantastic TKL gaming keyboards. The Razer is a bit more versatile for other uses like office use because it's available in more switch types than the Corsair, like clicky and tactile, and it also comes with a wrist rest. However, the Corsair feels better-built because it has a sturdy frame and comes with PBT keycaps. Also, Corsair's iCUE software is compatible with macOS, while Razer's Synapse 3 software isn't.
The Keychron K6 and the Corsair K70 RGB TKL are two very different keyboards designed for different uses. The Keychron is a wireless compact 65% keyboard, and you can connect it with up to three devices at once via Bluetooth. It's available in tactile, linear, and clicky switches, while the Corsair is only available in linear. On the other hand, the Corsair is a wired-only TKL keyboard designed for gaming; it has much lower latency, macro-programmable keys, and the Cherry MX Speed switches on our unit have a low pre-travel distance.
Video
Test Results
Even for a TKL keyboard with dedicated media keys, the Corsair K70 RGB TKL is fairly compact and won't take up too much space on your desk. However, if you want a smaller version of this keyboard that takes up even less space, check out the Corsair K70 PRO MINI WIRELESS.
The Corsair K70 RGB TKL has excellent build quality. It has a hard plastic body that shows no signs of flex, and there's an aluminum plate on top, but it feels sharp at the edges. The doubleshot PBT keycaps are advertised to be 1.5 mm thick, and they feel very solid and thicker than most keycaps. They also feel resistant to wear or oil shine. It comes with extra caps with different shapes or textures, but those are ABS plastic. All keys feel stable; only the spacebar has a bit more wobble than other keys, but it's not too bad. There are rubber feet on the bottom that hold the keyboard in place during regular use so it doesn't slide around easily. Overall, it's a premium and well-built keyboard without any obvious quality control issues.
The Corsair K70 RGB TKL is a basic straight keyboard with one incline setting, but there's no wrist rest included like with the Corsair K70 RGB MK.2. However, the incline is low enough that it doesn't put too much strain on the wrists, and you shouldn't feel too tired using it for long periods.
This keyboard has full RGB backlighting with individually lit keys. You can rotate through lighting effects by pressing Fn and cycling through the number row.
The Corsair K70 RGB TKL comes with a braided USB-A to USB-C cable.
The Corsair K70 RGB TKL is a wired-only keyboard that can't be used with mobile devices.
The Corsair K70 RGB TKL has a few extra features to improve the user experience. There's a Windows key lock, which you can reprogram to disable other functions. All keys are macro-programmable, and you must record macros through the dedicated software. There's a 'Tournament Mode' switch on the top side next to the USB-C input, and when activated it disables all macros and displays a single static color. You can change which color it displays. Lastly, its polling rate can be set to 125Hz, 250Hz, 500Hz, 1000Hz, 2000Hz, 4000Hz, or 8000Hz.
- Corsair K70 RGB TKL keyboard
- Extra keys (A, 2x D, E, F, Q, R, S, 2x W)
- USB-C cable
- Keycap puller
- User guides
The Corsair K70 RGB TKL offers great typing quality. The PBT keycaps feel great to touch, and the keys are well-spaced out so they don't feel cramped. They're also stable, and even though the spacebar is a bit wobbly, it's not too bad. The keys are very light to press, so you shouldn't get tired while typing, but that can also cause more typos because they actuate so easily. Overall, you can tell it's designed for a quick gaming experience, but once you get used to the linear feel of the switches, it feels great to type on this keyboard. If you're interested in a similar keyboard with a more versatile typing experience, check out the SteelSeries Apex 9, as you can choose between two preset actuation point settings: one that's suited for gaming and one that's better for typing.
The Cherry MX Speed switches on our unit are quiet and shouldn't bother those around you. We also expect the Cherry MX Red switches to be quiet.
Our unit of the Corsair K70 RGB TKL has Cherry MX Speed switches, and it's also available with linear Cherry MX Red switches.
The Cherry MX Speed switches on the unit we bought and tested have very low pre-travel distance and are light to press. However, we noticed that the switches don't feel completely linear like those on the Corsair K95 PLATINUM because there's a tactile event before the actuation point, similar to tactile switches, but this shouldn't be noticeable for most people. If you're interested in a similar high-performance gaming keyboard that has a hot-swappable PCB so you can use whichever switches you prefer, check out the Ducky One 3.
The Corsair K70 RGB TKL has extremely low latency. We tested it with the polling rate to be set to 8000Hz, and we don't expect there to be a significant increase in latency at settings of 1000Hz and above.
Corsair's iCUE software is a user-friendly program that's available for both Windows and macOS. You can set macros, customize RGB lighting, and set the polling rate. The keyboard has onboard memory, so you can easily carry over your macros and settings to a computer that doesn't have the program installed.
The Corsair K70 RGB TKL is only fully compatible with Windows; on Linux every key work, but the software isn't available. On macOS, the Stop, Scroll Lock, and Pause/Break buttons don't do anything. Also, F11 minimizes windows, Print Screen functions as F13, and the volume wheel controls the system volume and not the iTunes volume.