The Corsair K100 RGB is a fantastic gaming keyboard. It's very well-built and feels comfortable to use, plus it comes with a detachable padded wrist rest. It's compatible with the Corsair iCUE software, which lets you customize the RGB backlighting and set macros to any key you want. It has many extra features like dedicated media keys, a volume control wheel, a multi-function iCUE wheel, and six dedicated macro keys. The Cherry MX Speed switches on our unit feel light and responsive to type on, and it's also available in the new Corsair OPX linear switches, which may provide a different typing experience from our unit's switches. It also has a maximum polling rate of 8000Hz and an effective update rate of 4000Hz, resulting in remarkably low latency for a responsive gaming experience.
Our Verdict
The Corsair K100 is excellent for gaming. This very well-built keyboard is comfortable to use, and it has customizable RGB backlighting. The Cherry MX Speed switches have very short pre-travel distance, and the latency is remarkably low. It's also available in Corsair OPX switches, which are optical switches advertised as having a slightly shorter pre-travel distance and will feel a bit more responsive. All the keys are macro-programmable, and six dedicated macro keys are on the left side.
- Customizable RGB backlighting.
- Dedicated macro keys.
- Includes a wrist rest.
- Remarkably low latency.
- Switches provide no tactile feedback.
The Corsair K100 is great for office use. It's a comfortable, well-built keyboard that comes with a padded wrist rest and two incline settings. The Cherry MX Speed switches provide a light typing experience that shouldn't cause fatigue when typing for a long time, although typos might be more common due to the short pre-travel distance. They're quiet to type on, so it shouldn't be bothersome in an office setting.
- Excellent build quality.
- Includes a wrist rest.
- Quiet to type on.
- Short pre-travel distance might cause more typos.
The Corsair K100 isn't designed to be used with mobile devices or tablets.
The Corsair K100 is great for programming. It has excellent build quality with a padded wrist rest. Also, it has full RGB lighting that can be customized to your liking, all of its keys are macro-programmable, and it has six dedicated macro keys on the left side of the board. The Cherry MX Speed switches feel light to type on, and it's also available in Corsair OPX switches which are advertised as having a shorter pre-travel distance and should feel even more responsive.
- Customizable RGB backlighting.
- Excellent build quality.
- Dedicated macro keys.
- Includes a wrist rest.
- Short pre-travel distance might cause more typos.
- Switches provide no tactile feedback.
The Corsair K100 is disappointing for HTPC use. It's wired-only, so you'll need to sit close to your TV to use it. It also lacks a trackpad, meaning you may need a mouse to navigate the on-screen menu. On the plus side, it has full RGB backlighting and dedicated media keys, making it easy to skip tracks or play/pause content.
- Customizable RGB backlighting.
- Wired-only.
- No trackpad.
- Rather large for a HTPC keyboard.
The Corsair K100 RGB has excellent raw performance. The Cherry MX Speed switches on the unit we tested have minimal pre-travel and release-travel, producing remarkable single- and multi-key latency. While it has a maximum polling rate of 8000Hz, its effective update rate is only 4000Hz. That said, this doesn't bottleneck performance in a significant way.
- Remarkably low latency.
Changelog
- 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 Nov 15, 2023: We've found that latency results are impacted by the placement of the testing solenoid, so we retested this keyboard for consistency with other reviews. This review has been updated, and you can find more information regarding this retest here.
- Updated Oct 17, 2023: We've added a link to the newly-reviewed Corsair K70 MAX in the Switches section of this review.
- Updated Oct 17, 2023: We've added a link to the newly-reviewed Razer BlackWidow V4 75% in the Data Transmission section of this review.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Corsair K100 is available in two different switch types. Although we tested the Cherry MX Speed switches, this keyboard has a Corsair OPX variant called the Corsair K100 RGB Optical-Mechanical Gaming Keyboard, which features Corsair's new optical switches. The Corsair OPX switches are also linear, but they're advertised as having a shorter pre-travel distance than the Cherry MX Speed switches on our unit, resulting in an even more responsive feel. You can see the label of our unit here.
Popular Keyboard Comparisons
The Corsair K100 RGB is a fantastic full-sized mechanical gaming keyboard. However, some people may not like its linear switches due to the lack of tactile feedback, and unfortunately, it isn't available in this switch type.
For more options, check out our recommendations for the best gaming keyboards, the best mechanical keyboards, and the best keyboards for programming.
The Corsair K100 RGB is better than the Corsair K70 RGB MK.2 for gaming, mainly due to its lower latency. Also, the K100 has dedicated macro keys, making it a great option for MMOs. The K100 is available with two types of linear switches, while the K70 is available in a variety of Cherry MX switches, so you can get the ones you prefer. The K100 has a multi-function wheel, and the included wrist rest is more comfortable.
The Corsair K100 RGB and the Corsair K70 MAX are full-size gaming keyboards that both offer exceptional raw gaming performance. The K100 RGB is available with Cherry MX Speed switches or Corsair OPX optical switches. While it has a polling rate of 8000hz, it only has an effective update rate of 4000Hz. On the other hand, the Corsair K70 MAX has an effective update rate of 8000Hz. It uses Corsair's analog OPX switches, allowing you to adjust pre-travel and reset points of individual switches.
The Corsair K95 PLATINUM and the Corsair K100 RGB are both outstanding gaming keyboards with similar features. They're both full-size models with extra macro keys on the left side. The K100 feels better built because it has PBT keycaps as opposed to ABS, and the wrist rest is plushier, and typing also feels better. The units we tested use the same Cherry MX Speed switches, but you can get the K95 with Cherry MX Browns and the K100 with linear optical switches instead.
The Corsair K100 RGB and the Logitech G915 LIGHTSPEED are both fantastic gaming keyboards with different features. The Corsair is a wired keyboard with a USB passthrough, and the Logitech is a wireless option with multi-device pairing. They each have dedicated macro keys, but you can reprogram every key on the Corsair, which you can't do with the Logitech. The Corsair is available with two types of linear switches, while the Logitech is available with either tactile, clicky, or linear low profile switches.
Test Results
The Corsair K100 is a full-sized keyboard that takes up a significant amount of room on your desk, but you can remove the wrist rest to save space. However, if you prefer a modular keyboard where you can remove the numpad to use it in TKL mode, then look into the Mountain Everest Max.
Update 07/22/2021: While the majority of the keys on the board are made of PBT, the macro keys and the extra keycaps in the box are actually ABS keycaps. We updated the text accordingly.
The Corsair K100 has excellent build quality. Its plastic base and metal top plate exhibit a slight amount of flex, but it's hardly noticeable when using it as intended. The doubleshot PBT keycaps feel solid and hardly wobble. While all the black keycaps are made of PBT, the dedicated macro keys G1-G6 and the extra FPS and MOBA keycaps included are made of ABS. The incline feet are thick and grippy, and they shouldn't collapse when moving the keyboard around. It comes with a cushiony wrist rest that attaches magnetically.
The Corsair K100 is a straight board with two incline settings and a comfortable padded wrist rest that attaches magnetically.
It has full RGB backlighting with individually-lit keys. It has 44 RGB zones on the strips of lighting on the left, right, and the top-side edge of the board. You can customize the RGB effects and colors through the Corsair iCUE software. If you're interested in a similar mechanical gaming keyboard with low-profile keycaps that allow more backlight to shine out from the switch housings, check out the ROCCAT Vulcan II Max/Mini.
The thick braided cable has two USB-A plugs: one to connect to your computer and the other for the USB passthrough.
The Corsair K100 is wired-only and can't be used wirelessly.
The Corsair K100 has many extra features. All of its keys are macro-programmable, including the volume wheel, profile switching button, and media keys. It also has dedicated macro keys on the left side of the board. It features a unique iCUE wheel that lets you adjust brightness, rewind or fast forward media, scroll through applications, and zoom in or out of windows, but you can also remap all of these to other actions. The RGB lighting around the wheel changes color as you cycle through the different functions so you know exactly which one is active.
- Corsair K100 RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
- Wrist rest
- Extra keys (2x W, 2x D, A, S, E, R, F, Q)
- Keycap puller
- User manual and warranty card
The Corsair K100 has excellent typing quality. The linear switches don't require much force to actuate, but the low pre-travel distance may result in more typos. There's also no tactile feedback when a key is actuated. The doubleshot PBT keycaps feel stable and nice to type on. The switches shouldn't cause much fatigue, and the included plushy wrist rest also helps with reducing any fatigue.
The Cherry MX Speed switches on our unit are quiet. It shouldn't bother anyone around you in a silent office. While we haven't tested it, we expect the variant with the Corsair OPX switches to be just as quiet.
If you're interested in a similar mechanical gaming keyboard that uses Corsair's MGX switches, which let you adjust the pre-travel distance of individual switches, check out the Corsair K70 MAX.
The Cherry MX Speed switches on our unit are linear, provide no feedback, and feel very light to type on. The pre-travel distance is very low, which results in a very responsive feel, but it may cause more unintentional strokes to be registered. The keyboard is also available with Corsair OPX switches which are advertised to have a shorter pre-travel distance. If you're interested in a similar, feature-loaded keyboard that has a hot-swappable PCB, check out the ASUS ROG Strix Flare II Animate.
This keyboard delivers remarkable single-key latency performance that's extremely stable and consistent at the tested polling rate of 8000Hz.
This keyboard delivers superb multi-key latency performance that's very consistent on both key press and key release due to the high polling rate and effective update rate.
This keyboard supports a polling rate of 8000Hz from your computer, but note that the keyboard can only provide an effective update rate of 4000Hz. However, this discrepancy doesn't significantly impact the overall raw performance, which is excellent.
If you're more interested in a keyboard with an effective update rate of 8000Hz, check out the Razer BlackWidow V4 75%.
This keyboard has very good chord split performance with relatively low 4-chord and 8-chord split delay, meaning it can accurately report many simultaneous key presses quite quickly.
This keyboard is compatible with the Corsair iCUE software, which offers fantastic customization features. You can reprogram any key to a macro or a preset action, and you can customize the RGB with different colors and effects. Corsair claims you can save up to 200 individual profiles to the onboard memory. You can easily program the six dedicated macro keys to perform any task you want. It also has integration with the Elgato Stream Deck, allowing you to perform tasks like launching a program or recording a clip.
The Corsair K100 is fully compatible with Windows. Only the Pause Break, Scroll Lock, and Print Screen buttons don't work on macOS. Since the software isn't compatible with Linux, the G1-G6 macro keys are disabled by default, but you can still program them on a Mac or PC first and save them to the onboard memory beforehand in order to use them on Linux.