Our Verdict
The Corsair K55 is an effective finances gaming keyboard that doesn’t complicate its easy design and has an interesting value to match. It gained’t compete with mechanical, magnetic, or optical keyboards on responsiveness or efficiency, however it’s not attempting to. As an alternative, it’s an approachable gateway peripheral for these trying to make a begin with the straightforward programmability, RGB lighting enjoyable, and software program integration accessible from a longtime model.
- Unbelievable worth
- Construct high quality could be very stable
- Media keys and iCUE compatibility
- Non-removable rubber cable
- Loud to kind and sport with
- Keyswitches gained’t final so long as mechanical ones
I wouldn’t blame anybody for shuddering on the time period ‘finances gaming keyboard’, purely resulting from the way it evokes ideas of a product that’s low-cost whereas nonetheless in some way being not definitely worth the funding. Nonetheless, the Corsair K55 Core is a stunning finances choice that could be very cut-and-dry however continues to be worthy of a glance, offered you mood your expectations.
The Corsair K55 Core is definitely the most effective gaming keyboard on a finances I’ve used, and whereas it isn’t good for everybody, these with tighter purse strings will discover a lot right here to understand, so long as you’re conscious of the downfalls versus a mechanical various.
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Corsair K55 Core options
The Corsair K55 Core comes with Home windows, Mac, Xbox, and PlayStation compatibility out of the field, all through a wired connection. Its polling fee is ready at 1,000Hz whereas the load is available in at round 760g together with the cable, which is sadly a ‘tangle-free rubber’ fairly than braided, so that you don’t get the additional safety the braiding gives. That is significantly notable given the cable isn’t detachable so can’t simply be swapped if broken.
In keeping with lots of Corsair’s peripherals, the K55 Core is suitable with its iCUE software program, permitting you to regulate the ten RGB zones nevertheless you please. There are additionally six macro keys so that you can create assignments for, and the K55 Core has onboard reminiscence, that means you gained’t must depend on having iCUEe open on a regular basis in your customizations to be stay.
The Corsair K55 Core is a full-size gaming keyboard, providing 110 keys and multimedia buttons that sit within the high proper nook, offering handy play/pause, monitor ahead/again, and quantity up/down management. There’s additionally a Home windows key lock button right here, for turning off the Home windows key when gaming. Alongside these are 4 LEDs, three of which point out the Lock key (Caps, Num, Scroll) standing whereas the fourth reveals when the Home windows key has been disabled.
Lastly, the Corsair K55 Core is spill-resistant as much as 300ml, which hopefully is one thing you’ll by no means must put to the check, however it’s good to have in a worst-case situation.
Corsair K55 Core design
The K55 Core is a smart-looking keyboard. Its body is a fundamental black plastic however there’s a sure simplicity that’s extra interesting than the numerous extra outlandish designs gaming peripherals are available in. The RGB is a pleasant inclusion too and never an entire afterthought because it typically tends to be in cheaper boards. Because of the iCUE compatibility, you might have full management over 10 completely different zones and might both create your individual patterns or choose from the checklist of presets.
The board has adjustable toes, permitting you to regulate its angle, however not like some boards, you solely get the 2 choices: flat or barely raised on the again. There’s little or no flex to the board, which is an indication of sturdy construct high quality, and irrespective of how heavy-handed I allowed myself to be when typing or gaming, it held up.
Corsair K55 efficiency
On the subject of efficiency on the Corsair K55 Core, I’ve to begin with the 12 key rollover (12 KRO) restrict, which is the largest disadvantage of this board. Because of this in the event you develop a quick typing tempo, or play video games that require a number of simultaneous key inputs, you would be going through a difficulty the place the K55 Core doesn’t register all of the inputs correctly.
As a gaming keyboard, this might look like a reasonably deadly flaw, however a restrict of 12 keys without delay is unlikely to intrude with most gameplay and typing conditions – most of us solely have ten fingers, in spite of everything. Throughout my testing, I didn’t encounter any dropped key inputs, although there’s at all times the possibility you might encounter this limitation and so would require an n-key rollover keyboard the place each key press is at all times registered.
Concerning the membrane switches, there’s a honest quantity of drive required to activate every key, after which a really sudden drop by means of to the whole press. It is a typical membrane keyboard really feel, and the smoother motion of mechanical/optical/magnetic switches is among the causes many individuals take into account them a must have for something above an entry-level board. Even in the event you like clicky or tactile suggestions keys, mechanical switches nonetheless are typically far smoother and fewer effort to press than membrane ones.
That being mentioned, after I acquired into the rhythm of utilizing the K55 Core, hardly ever did I discover it had a destructive impression on my gaming expertise. Past some overly shiny keys that may turn into a bit slippery, the final really feel of gaming and typing with the K55 Core is admirable for such an affordable product.
As an alternative, the opposite most important disadvantage that may probably come to the fore over time is that membrane keyboards have a tendency to wear down a lot faster than mechanical boards. With heavy use we’ve encountered boards that may noticeably begin to really feel much less responsive – keypresses don’t register – after solely a yr or so of use. However, to get that further longevity, you’ll must pay extra or lose options at the same value.
As talked about earlier, there’s no flex to be felt when typing or gaming and regardless of a barely grating typing sound that’s hole and really loud, that got here and went in how a lot it bothered me, I actually can’t discover fault with the K55 Core with out unfairly evaluating it to merchandise that price a minimum of 3x as a lot.
Corsair Core K55 conclusion
The Corsair K55 Core is a superb finances membrane gaming keyboard. It’s exhausting to promote it to anybody who has skilled the advantages of high-end options like adjustable actuation, speedy set off, or simply the texture of mechanical switches, however Corsair isn’t interesting to this market with the K55 Core.
As an alternative, that is purely a gaming keyboard that’s nice for a youthful or extra inexperienced viewers who’s simply moving into PC gaming, with the extra advantage of providing an honest sufficient typing expertise and loads of fundamental gaming programmability choices through Corsair iCUE.
For $39.99 (£39.99), it’s spectacular how a lot Corsair has packed into the K55 Core, all whereas protecting it comparatively quiet too.
Options
SteelSeries Apex 3
When you’re eager for some added consolation and safety whereas nonetheless sticking with membrane switches, the SteelSeries Apex 3 comes with a premium magnetic wrist relaxation and is IP32 water and dust-resistant, as a result of we’ve all been responsible of spilling our mountain dew whereas raging within the CoD lobbies.
The Apex 3 additionally has full integration with SteelSeries GG, permitting for some particular RGB results for video games and apps like Minecraft and Discord.
Royal Kludge RK920
Royal Kludge is among the extra dependable names in finances mechanical keyboards and the RK920 provides a full-size keyboard with RGB lighting for simply $40. You don’t get multimedia keys or the software program programmability and RGB gentle syncing of the K55 Core however the uncooked typing expertise will probably be higher.
