Corsair K70: Mainstream Mechanical Gaming Keyboard Icon (2014-Present)
The Corsair K70 launched January 2014 as a full-size mechanical gaming keyboard with aluminum frame construction, establishing Corsair’s keyboard dominance. The RGB variant (2014) became the gaming keyboard for mainstream builders, balancing quality and accessibility.
Design & Build
The K70’s brushed aluminum top plate, Cherry MX switch options (Red/Blue/Brown/Speed), and dedicated media controls set it apart from plastic competitors. The full-size layout with numpad suited office work and gaming equally. Volume wheel and playback buttons became signature features. Build quality felt premium at $129-169 price points.
RGB Revolution
The K70 RGB (Sept 2014) brought per-key RGB lighting years before competitors, using Corsair’s iCUE software for custom effects. Rainbow waves, reactive typing, and game integration made it a YouTuber/streamer staple. The aluminum frame showcased lighting beautifully. RGB tax added $40 but became mandatory for gaming aesthetic.
Market Position
The K70 competed with Razer BlackWidow and Logitech G710+, winning via better build quality and Switch choices. It avoided “gamer” tackiness while offering RGB excess when wanted. The keyboard appeared in countless setup tours, establishing Corsair as keyboard leader alongside RAM/cooling.
Longevity & Iterations
Corsair released K70 variants for a decade: K70 Rapidfire (Speed switches), K70 TKL (compact), K70 RGB TKL Champion Series (tournament), K70 RGB PRO (2021 refresh). The original design aged gracefully, with 2014 models still functioning in 2024. It represented “buy it for life” at reasonable prices.
Sources: Corsair press releases, Tom’s Hardware review Jan 2014, r/MechanicalKeyboards surveys