I honestly can’t remember when was the last time I tried a wired keyboard, I have another incoming though, a completely modular, be sure to subscribe for that one. Anyhow, here with me I have the new Corsair K60 RGB Pro model with their new Cherry Viola switches which are the first one for me. Before I go into it, the new K60 series has a total of three different models, so right out of the gate – what’s the difference between these three models?
Well, it’s pretty straightforward. We have the regular base K60 Pro model, the K60 RGB Pro, then one is self-explanatory, and the most equipped K60 RGB Pro SE, which comes with a nice magnetic wrist rest and most importantly, PBT keycaps, and that can be yours for just 10$ difference over the one I have here the K60 RGB Pro. With that out of the way, let’s check out the keyboard itself.
Oh yeah, if you’re wondering what ISO layout do I have, this one is the UK one, with a two-row enter, I’ll soon do a video explaining this a little bit more details because I get this question a lot, so feel free to subscribe for that one.
Corsair K60 RGB Pro – Brings back memory
The build quality is exceptional, it reminds me of one of my first Corsair’s keyboard that I took a look at and also owned, the original K60 so to speak, Vengeance K60, and it also in some ways resembles it style and look-wise, although it’s much slimmer than them, with a brushed aluminum metal top plate, and again completely out there put keycaps and switches, you can see them in their full glory, maybe a bit too much, as the keycaps are actually not that sunken into the switch, as they are a low profile type of keys caps, so they rather just hanging on top of the big regular switch, which like this reminds of a mushroom tip. A bit weird looking, but hey, some may like it.
Speaking of the switches, this is something that makes this model special in a way, as it brings in Cherry’s Viola switches, and it’s actually my first time encountering them. This a true mechanical switch, it’s not some kind of hybrid switch, Cherry successfully made it in a way that it’s more affordable, but still mechanical, thus lowering down the overall cost of the keyboard. Here’s how they compare to the Cherry MX Browns which I daily drive in this Cherry Viola sound test.
The typing feel on it reminds me a bit of my first true proper keyboard, Logitech’s ever so popular G11 and G15. The feel is very soft, with subtle, constant, and linear resistance, sort of like driving a finger into a thick “deserted” sand. They’re really good for typing and gaming, with N-Key rollover, anti-ghosting, 1000 Hz pulling rate, usual bits, and bobs, but be prepared for some getting used to it at first. You won’t notice any bump or bottoming out, while the total travel distance is 4 mm, actuating at 2mm and only needing 45 grams to do so, so very similar to Cherry MX Reds. They are really quiet, but the spring does resonate quite a bit, probably due to how the housing is done. On the other hand, the switches are extremely stable, with just a slight wobble, and with very good stabilizers for the bigger keys. Although at first switches look to be replaceable, they actually aren’t, but thankfully we do have Cherries cross stem, so you’ll be able to put varieties of key-caps.
No PBT for K60 RGB Pro, only SE
Speaking of them, as I mentioned Corsair K60 RGB Pro has ABS ones, they do feel a bit cheap and slippery, although the letter etching is quite nicely done, so the RGB back-lighting shines through. Another reason for that is that the moving shell of the switches is completely transparent, making the light dissipation of RGB more balanced, while it’s overall really vibrant and does a good job of how it actually looks despite being pretty opened up from the bottom. The back-lighting can be customized further using Corsair’s iCUE software, while you have basic control over the brightness and some basic effects using FN and top row number keys from 1 to 0. The caps lock, num lock, and other indicator lights have every so subtle white LED.
Unfortunately, there’s no onboard memory for memorizing custom settings, so you’ll have to do everything over the software, being it back-lighting related or anything else for that matter, for example, if you want to set up and save a special profile with the different key assignment, macros and so on, you’ll have to control it and set it only via the iCUE, it won’t carry over to the keyboard. There’s also no dedicated media keys, but you will find pre-programming such controls on the keys themselves at the top Function row, again triggerable with the combination of Fn key, similar to solutions seen with Razer and Logitech products.
Since I’m talking about con’s, I have two other minor complaints, the one is that we don’t have any USB pass-through ports, which would have been nice, and the other one is… Maybe a detachable cable? Not a deal-breaker for either of them, but they would round things up more nicely. Although, the 1,8 m long rubber cable is nice and thick, really good quality, and the plug itself also feels rugged. On the bottom, there are not cable management routing canals, just a lot of rubber pads for better grip and adjustable feet with an 8° angle.
Affordable, but depending where you live
All in all, for 90$, this keyboard is easily recommendable, especially coming from a brand like Corsair. But, we do have a problem once we cross over the Atlantic and come to Europe, which is where I live, and where the price for this model is higher, and I’m not talking about fraction higher, but much, much higher. At the time of doing this video, it was selling for 135-140€ at the lowest, and I honestly don’t know why. I, we, can understand if the price is let’s say 90€ or 100€ as a refection of that 90$ US price tag, which is usually the case when the retailers do these conversations, but this is almost double the original US price. With this being the case, unless there’s a price correction down the line, I’m afraid that a lot of European customers will most likely turn to other models.
That’s it for this time, thanks for checking out my Corsair K60 RGB Pro review, if you have any question feel free to hit me in the comments section of my YouTube video listed above, you can contact me via my social media channels!
