Review of K57 RGB Corsair Wireless Gaming Keyboard



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Why, exactly need a wireless keyboard? Using the latest effort from Corsair, the K57 RGB wireless gaming keyboard at $ 99.99, I found myself asking this question. The unattached version of the company's $ 49.99 K55 gaming keyboard costs $ 49.99 and costs about twice as much and offers the same features, but without cable. Some of these features are nice, such as dedicated multimedia controls and a row of macro keys, but the range of keys requested by these extras makes the K57 RGB less convenient as a wireless device. It's a big keyboard. you will not want to travel with her or park her on your lap. You may want a wireless card for other reasons, of course, but the premium that the K57 RGB perceives for this trait makes it a difficult sell, at least at its catalog price.


No wires, but strings attached

Despite this rigorous evaluation, the K57 RGB is by no means a bad keyboard. In fact, among non-mechanical keyboards under $ 100 like its wired counterpart K55 RGB, this effort is considerable.

This is a complete table with 110 keys, a numeric keypad, and six macro buttons to the left of the input box. Multimedia controls are above the numeric keypad (all keys, no volume roll), as well as keys to adjust the brightness of the RGB backlight. You get here a precious comfort.

Corsair K57 Wireless gaming keyboard up and down without rest

Additional controls around the margins, however, extend the depth and width of the keyboard. At 1.4 18.9 out of 6.6 inches, the body looks and feels wide and wide in front. You can find keyboards, even those with a full layout, more portable, and it's hard to balance the K57 RGB on your lap.

Corsair K57 Wireless Gaming Keyboard Left Angle

The board is even deeper when you attach the hard rubber wrist rest that Corsair does with it. A wrist rest is always appreciated in the box, but it is not luxurious. It offers a good slope up to the keys, but the hard plastic is not particularly comfortable for long typing sessions.

I would put the keys in the same class, especially since it is a $ 99 keyboard: usable, but not particularly comfortable. The keys of the K57 RGB allow for decent round trips, but I have noticed an unsatisfying squeak when you press a key. Unlike a mechanical keyboard, which in most cases gives a clear feedback, these keys always give the impression that you should be able to press a little further. This is a common feature in membrane keypads with a longer path.

Now, if you agree with this particular touch sensation is the personal preference, but it is a reason why mechanical keyboards are so popular. (That said, most users would find nothing better than typing on almost all laptops.) The problem is that at $ 100, it's not hard to get something more comfortable, it it's a real mechanical keyboard or a mechanical hybrid like the Razer Ornata. Chroma. This will probably not be wireless, or the key coloring could be a single color, but mechanical switches would be what you get in exchange.

Macro Keyboard Corsair K57 Wireless Gaming Keyboard

The wireless connectivity of the K57 RGB, however, works well. You can connect the keyboard via Bluetooth or via a 2.4 GHz wireless connection via a USB adapter, supporting what Corsair calls "Slipstream". I prefer the USB version, which does not require the trouble of Bluetooth pairing, but I found that both options allowed a solid and stable connection with minimal or no offset. Slipstream also allows you to connect multiple Slipstream devices to your computer via a single compatible dongle, following the same principles as Logitech's Unifying technology.

Of course, creating something wireless also poses problems with battery life and charging. The K57 uses an internal battery that recharges via a USB cable. Corsair has a 35-hour battery life with the backlight on and 175 hours with the backlight. Before reloading, I could get out of the K57 RGB between three and four days. (The backlight has been on forever.) Note that the keyboard works with the battery discharged and the micro-USB charging cable plugged in, so you can use it as a wired keyboard when the battery is depleted.


iCUE the lights

The K57 RGB relies on Corsair's advanced configuration software, iCUE, to give players configuration options, such as macro configuration and RGB lighting configuration. iCUE is simple and it's pretty easy to configure all the features you might want to customize or tweak regularly. With iCUE, you can create multiple profiles and connect them to individual games or applications.

However, bringing these profiles easily to another location is a problem. Indeed, the K57 RGB does not have built-in memory, a feature found on many high-end gaming keyboards. Having built-in memory to keep profiles can be useful, especially on a wireless device, because you might want to take it from one place to another (for example, when 39, a local sport competition) or transfer it between different home gaming systems.

Corsair K57 Wireless Gaming Keyboard Configuration Parameters

The RGB backlight also offers less flexibility than what you get on many high-end keyboards. You have 10 predefined lighting options, with some possibility of customizing them, but not touch by key. The lights shine bright enough, however, so if your goal is to produce as much bling, you'll get a large amount of color from all the options you choose.


What is wireless technology worth for you?

This brings us back to the original question: why do you need a wireless keyboard or a wired keyboard, or rather, why do you need this wireless keyboard? There are some reasons in favor of the category in general: you want more maneuverability on your desk; you want to release a USB port using Bluetooth; you simply prefer to keep the cord jungle in check.

Corsair K57 Wireless Gaming Keyboard, Right Angle

All these reasons are perfectly logical, but the K57 does not deliver enough to justify the introductory price. At $ 49.99, the K55 RGB is a solid budget keyboard choice, especially if you do not have the heart connected to a mechanical model. Paying double to give up a thread (and not gaining much in portability) seems extravagant. At $ 100 you have to expect something special from a keyboard, especially if it is not mechanical keys.

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