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  1. Table of Contents
  2. Top
  3. Main Differences
  4. Design
    1. Dimensions
    2. Build Quality
    3. Ergonomics
    4. Hardware Customizability
    5. Backlight Features
    6. Backlight Clarity
    7. Cable & Connector
    8. Wireless Versatility
    9. Macro Keys And Programming
    10. Extra Features
    11. In The Box
  5. Typing Experience
    1. Typing Quality
    2. Typing Noise
    3. Switches
    4. Keystrokes
  6. Performance
    1. Single-Key Latency
    2. Multi-Key Latency
    3. Data Transmission
    4. Chord Split
  7. Software and Operating System
    1. Configuration Software
    2. Computer Compatibility
    3. Wireless Mobile Compatibility
  8. Comments

Corsair K100 RGB vs Corsair K100 AIR

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Corsair K100 RGB
Corsair K100 AIR

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Jul 29, 2024 12:55 PM

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Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Feb 10, 2025 03:31 PM

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Amazon.com
Corsair K100 RGB Picture
Corsair K100 AIR Picture
  1. Recommended in 2 articles:
  2. Corsair
  3. RGB
  1. Recommended in 1 article:
  2. Low-Profile

Variants

  • K100 RGB (Black)
  • K100 RGB (Midnight Gold)
  • K100 AIR (Black)

Our Verdict

Corsair K100 RGB

Corsair K100 AIR

The Corsair K100 AIR and the Corsair K100 RGB are high-end gaming keyboards with similar gaming performance and feature sets. However, the K100 AIR is a wireless keyboard with a much thinner low-profile design and is only available with a butterfly-style tactile switch type. On the other hand, the K100 RGB is a wired-only model with linear, tactile, or clicky mechanical or optical switch types available. It also includes a row of macro keys on the left side of the board and a wrist rest.

0 

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Midnight Gold
K100 RGB
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Black
K100 AIR
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Main Differences for
Gaming

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

9.0
8.9
No major differences between these keyboards for gaming. See full list of tests below.

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

Corsair K100 RGB Top Picture
Corsair K100 AIR Top Picture

Size 
 

Full-size (100%)
Full-size (100%)

Height 
 

1.6" (3.9 cm)
0.6" (1.6 cm)

Width  

18.5" (47.0 cm)
17.2" (43.6 cm)

Depth 
 

6.5" (16.5 cm)
6.1" (15.5 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

9.3" (23.5 cm)
N/A

Weight 
 

2.87 lbs (1.300 kg)
1.65 lbs (0.750 kg)
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

8.5
8.0

Build Quality Close Up  

Corsair K100 RGB Build Quality Close Up
Corsair K100 AIR Build Quality Close Up

Keycap Material  

PBT
ABS
Show Text 

Ergonomics 
 

6.0
7.0

Side Picture  

Corsair K100 RGB Side Picture
Corsair K100 AIR Side Picture

Curved/Angled 
 

No
No

Split Keyboard 
 

No
No

Key Alignment 
 

Staggered
Staggered

Minimum Incline 
 

Medium Incline 
 

Maximum Incline 
 

6.5°

Home Row Height 
 

32.2 mm (1.3")
13.5 mm (0.5")
Show Text 

Hardware Customizability 
 

6.0
0.7

Customizability Overview  

Corsair K100 RGB Customizability Overview
Corsair K100 AIR Customizability Overview

Replaceable Cherry Stabilizers 
 

Yes
No

Stabilizer Fixation 
 

Plate-Mounted
Non-Customizable Design

Spacebar Stabilizer Size 
 

6.25u
Non-Customizable Design

Size Of Right Mod Keys 
 

1.25u
1.25u

Hot-Swappable Switches 
 

No
No

Switch Stem Shape 
 

Cherry MX Style
Non-Customizable Design

Switch PCB Socket 
 

Soldered
Non-Customizable Design

North-Facing Cherry MX Interference 
 

Yes
Non-Customizable Design

Backlight Features 
 

10
10

Backlighting Picture  

Corsair K100 RGB Backlighting Picture
Corsair K100 AIR Backlighting Picture

Brightness Max  

Corsair K100 RGB Brightness Max
Corsair K100 AIR Brightness Max

Backlighting  

Yes
Yes

Brightness Min  

Corsair K100 RGB Brightness Min
Corsair K100 AIR Brightness Min

RGB 
 

Yes
Yes

Per-Key Backlighting 
 

Yes
Yes

Effects 
 

Yes
Yes

Software Controllable 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Backlight Clarity 
 

9.0
8.0

White Shot  

Corsair K100 RGB White Shot
Corsair K100 AIR White Shot
Show Text 

Cable & Connector  

Connectivity  

Wired
Wireless

Detachable 
 

No
Yes (Wired Mode and Charge)

Length  

5.9 ft (1.8 m)
5.9 ft (1.8 m)

Connector (Keyboard side) 
 

Not Detachable
USB type-C
Show Text 

Wireless Versatility 
 

0.0
10

Bluetooth 
 

No
Yes

Bluetooth Multi-Device Pairing 
 

No
3

Proprietary Receiver 
 

No
Yes

Battery Type 
 

No Batteries
Rechargeable
Show Text 

Macro Keys And Programming 
 

8.9
8.2

Dedicated Macro Keys Count  

6
4

Onboard Macro Programming 
 

Yes
Yes

Macro Programming With Software 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Extra Features 
 

Extra Features  

Corsair K100 RGB Extra Features
Corsair K100 AIR Extra Features

Media Keys 
 

Dedicated
Dedicated

Trackpad / Trackball  

No
No

Scroll Wheel 
 

Yes
Yes

Control Knob 
 

Yes
No

USB Passthrough 
 

Yes
No

Numpad  

Yes
Yes

Windows Key Lock 
 

Yes
Yes

Lock Indicator  

Caps, Scroll & Num lock
Caps, Scroll & Num lock
Show Text 

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

Corsair K100 RGB Bundle Picture
Corsair K100 AIR Bundle Picture
Show Text 
Typing Experience

Typing Quality 
 

8.5
8.0

Key Spacing 
 

19.0 mm (0.748")
19.0 mm (0.748")
Show Text 

Typing Noise 
 

7.1
8.6

Typing Sample  

Average Loudness 
 

54.3 dBA
47.8 dBA

High Pitch Clicks 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Switches 
 

Wobble Video  

Switch Name 
 

Cherry MX Speed
Cherry MX Ultra Low Profile Tactile

Switch Type 
 

Mechanical
Mechanical

Feel 
 

Linear
Tactile

Analog 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Operating Force 
 

42 gf
62 gf

Actuation Force 
 

41 gf
39 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

1.1 mm
1.0 mm

Total Travel 
 

3.4 mm
2.0 mm
Show Text 
Performance

Single-Key Latency 
 

9.7
9.8

Single-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Best Connection 
 

1.1 ms
0.8 ms

Best Connection Std Dev  

±0.1 ms
±0.1 ms

Wired 
 

1.1 ms
0.8 ms

Receiver 
 

N/A
2.7 ms

Bluetooth 
 

N/A
13.7 ms

PCB (Estimated) 
 

0.0 ms
0.2 ms
Show Text 

Multi-Key Latency 
 

9.4
9.1

Latency Video  

Multi-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Connection Evaluated  

Wired
Receiver

Key Press 
 

1.0 ms
2.7 ms

Key Release 
 

6.3 ms
5.8 ms
Show Text 

Data Transmission 
 

8.8
9.3

Multi-Key Raw USB  

Corsair K100 RGB Multi-Key Raw USB
Corsair K100 AIR Multi-Key Raw USB

Connection Evaluated  

Wired
Wired

USB Polling Rate 
 

8,000 Hz
8,000 Hz

Effective Update Rate 
 

4,000 Hz
4,000 Hz

N-Key Rollover (NKRO) 
 

Yes
Yes

Multiple Keys Per USB Report 
 

No
Yes
Show Text 

Chord Split 
 

7.9
8.4

Chord Split Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

4 Chord Split Delay 
 

5.8 ms
4.5 ms

8 Chord Split Delay 
 

10.2 ms
11.0 ms
Show Text 
Software and Operating System

Configuration Software 
 

Software Tour  

Software Name  

iCUE
iCUE

Software Windows Compatible 
 

Yes
Yes

Software macOS Compatible 
 

Yes
Yes

Onboard Memory 
 

Yes
Yes

Profiles 
 

6+
6+
Show Text 

Computer Compatibility 
 

10
10

Windows 
 

Fully Compatible
Fully Compatible

macOS 
 

Fully Compatible
Fully Compatible

Linux (Ubuntu 22) 
 

Fully Compatible
Fully Compatible

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Windows, MacOS & Linux
Windows, MacOS & Linux
Show Text 

Wireless Mobile Compatibility 
 

0.0
10

Android 
 

Not Compatible
Fully Compatible

iOS 
 

Not Compatible
Fully Compatible

iPadOS 
 

Not Compatible
Fully Compatible

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Not Compatible
Android, iPhone & iPad
Show Text 

Check Price

Midnight Gold
K100 RGB
Searching
Finding store
Black
K100 AIR
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Corsair K100 RGB

Corsair K100 AIR

Comments

  1. Comparison

Corsair K100 RGB vs Corsair K100 AIR: Main Discussion

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