The Corsair K95 RGB Platinum XT is a super popular keyboard used for the purpose of gaming.
Today we’re going to take a look at this keyboard and check out all of the features packed into it such as media keys, wrist rest, macro keys, and more.
Let’s get started.
The Verdict
The Corsair K95 Platinum RGB XT is the flagship keyboard from Corsair. If you look at the size of this thing, it’s absolutely massive.
Corsair really packed as many features as they could into this keyboard.
The K95 Platinum RGB XT comes with Cherry MX switches which are sure to last a super long time without breaking.
The RGB does not fail to impress, in conjunction with the Corsair software you can really customize and tweak the RGB to your setup and preferences.
The PBT keycaps are also really nice, it’s cool to see a big brand such as Corsair use such high-quality material.
The cherry on top of the whole build is all of the dedicated media keys that make the keyboard extremely convenient to use, such as the volume wheel and brightness settings.
You also get USB passthrough so you can connect an additional USB device directly into the keyboard.
The main downside to the Corsair K95 RGB Platinum XT is the poor typing experience. The switches are very scratchy and the stabilizers shake a ridiculous amount.
If you’re looking for a keyboard that’s packed full of utility and don’t plan on typing a ton, the Corsair K95 Platinum XT could be a good choice for you.
You can check the keyboard out on Amazon, just beware, it is quite pricey.
In The Box
The K95 Platinum RGB XT comes in a massive black and yellow box with a few additional add-ins.
The box looks really nice and was quite exciting to open, sort of like tearing open a present.
Inside the box, you have all of the parts packed neatly into partitioned areas, everything is secure and protected. Here’s what was included in the box:
- Wrist Rest: The K95 Platinum RGB XT comes with a detachable plush wrist rest that snaps into the keyboard. The wrist rest is made from a breathable leather-like material that feels soft and comfortable on the wrists. The wrist rest connects to the keyboard with plastic clips.
- Keycaps: Additional keycaps are also thrown in the box to replace the several of the keys with a more textured feel. It can be nice if you want to feel for WASD instead of having to look down at your hands. You get a few blue and grey colored options so you can do a two-color setup.
- Keycap Puller: A keycap puller is also included so you can easily remove the keycaps without needing to use your fingers. The puller is made from plastic, which we don’t recommend using because it can scratch the sides of your keycaps. Instead we recommend a wire keycap puller.
- Warranty Info: To make the warranty information easy to access, a guide is included in the box. It lays out the terms for the warranty of the product. Nothing interesting here.
- Instruction Manual: This teaches you how to operate and use the keyboard and explains all of the items included in the box. Pretty helpful for figuring out what each media key does.
Build Quality
Let me start by saying this keyboard is massive, like really big.
A full-sized keyboard is already big enough, but this keyboard has a massive forehead and a wrist rest. It barely fits on my desk.
The build quality of the keyboard itself is not the best to be honest. The case is made from plastic and has a brushed aluminum metal top plate.
The K95 creaks when you try to twist it and feels a bit flimsy. The large size amplifies how much it bends when you hold it.
The detachable wrist rest included is quite fragile. It is thin and made primarily from plastic. You can bend and twist it and seems like it would be easy to snap in half.
As far as ergonomics go, the build is actually quite nice. The wrist rest and angled case design make the keyboard feel very easy on the wrists. There are also kickstands so you can add an additional typing angle.
I would’ve liked to see more than one adjustment setting, but this keyboard is already so packed with features I can see why they passed on that.
The Keycaps
The keycaps are quite interesting.
There are a few different types included, but they are all made from PBT plastic.
The main set is all black and doubleshot so the RGB lighting can illuminate the keycaps. The rest of the keycaps have a textured rubber top to them.
This improves the grip and texture on a few select keys. You also have the option to replace a few with different colors such as blue or grey.
The extra keycaps make using the keyboard more fun and I could see it being better for gaming.
The only thing I’m not a big fan of is the fonts on the keycaps. It looks a bit too gamery for my tastes, but then again this keyboard is made specifically for gamers.
Overall, I’m quite impressed with the keycaps and the amount of customization Corsair brought to the table with this keyboard.
The Stabilizers
The stabilizers are where this keyboard really struggles. There are few spacebars out there that make such an unpleasant noise.
Each keystroke on the spacebar sounds likes a mini-earthquake.
Now I know this keyboard wasn’t made for the purpose of typing, but I would’ve really like to see Corsair give the stabilizers a little love, especially considering the price tag on this beast.
The stabilizers are the typical Cherry style. They just rattle really loud on each keystroke. They are by far the worst part of the keyboard.
I suppose you could try to improve them through the band-aid, clip, and lube mod, but the keyboard is not hot-swappable. You would need to take apart the case and desolder the switches to make it sound better.
That would be quite the time-consuming project.
The Switches
The Corsiar K95 Platinum RGB XT comes with a few different switch options, all from Cherry MX.
You get to pick between the following:
- Cherry MX Speed Silver: The Speed Silver is a linear switch made for the purpose of gaming. It has a shorter travel distance which in theory is supposed to boost your reaction time. I’ve tested it out for myself and saw no improvement when using a Speed Silver switch, although it’s still a good option if you want to go linear.
- Cherry MX Brown: This switch is the jack of all trades. It’s relatively quiet, has a small tactile bump, and is not too intrusive in any way. You really can’t go wrong with the Cherry MX Brown, but there isn’t anything special about it either.
- Cherry MX Blue: If you want a keyboard that clicks, the Blue switch is perfect for you. This switch will click on every keystroke, so it’s perfect if you enjoy auditory feedback. It can be quite annoying for those around you so beware. The blue switches are what make this board one of the best keyboards with Cherry MX Blue switches.
Overall, Cherry MX switches are a high quality option that will last for a very long time. The only downside to them is they tend to be a bit on the scratchy side.
Because of this, the keyboard won’t have the smoothest typing experience. You can lubricate them to improve the feel, if you are interested in a better feeling switch.
The Features
Being a flagship product from Corsair, this keyboard is absolutely loaded with features that most keyboards down come outfitted with. If you want an all-in-one battlestation, this actually isn’t that bad of an option.
Here is what’s included:
- Customizable RGB: The RGB sort of speaks for itself. You can change the colors along with switch between preset designs. You can also customize your own by using the downloadable software. Beware the software download is HUGE.
- Dedicated Media Keys: The keyboard comes packed with several different dedicated media keys. I really like them because it makes it easy to change songs when playing a video game or using any other full-screen application. No longer do you need to exit your screen to change the Spotify settings.
- Dedicated Macro Keys: If you have a few functions that you do everyday, the dedicated macro keys can make everything faster. I like to use them to open certain pages in my web browser that I use everything. I’ve never felt so efficient in my life.
- Volume Wheel: The volume wheel is pretty fun and quite high quality. You can adjust the sound settings without having to navigate your cursor to the bottom of your screen. Quite convienent.
- USB Passthrough: USB passthrough is a lifesaver if you have something you like to plug in without wanting to reach for your PC. The only downside is the power cable is thick and non-detachable. It makes the keyboard feel extra bulky and less portable.
All of the extra features really make this keyboard feel like it’s worth the steep price tag, although I could see a lot of people not getting much value out these features unless they plan on using them often.
Conclusion
The Corsair K95 Platinum RGB XT has a lot of great items packed into it that make the keyboard an excellent pick for many.
If you need a keyboard that’s all-encompassing with tons of media keys and macros, it’s awesome. The wrist rest is really comfortable, the textured PBT keycaps are fun to customize, and everything is quite nice across the board.
But at the end of the day, the K95 RGB Platinum XT is not for everybody.
The keyboard is massive and takes up your entire desk space. The switches are scratchy and the stabilizers rattle a ton. The typing experience is not very good.
If you’re a gamer who doesn’t plan on typing a whole lot, this keyboard could be absolutely perfect for you. But if you don’t fall into that category, I wouldn’t this keyboard as an option.
It all depends on what you plan on using the keyboard for.
If you are interested, you can find the Corsair K95 RGB Platinum XT on Amazon.
Happy Typing!