2025-04-30T13:30:00Z

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When it comes to mechanical keyboards that bear the title Pro, expectations are inherently high. Gamers and enthusiasts alike anticipate a flawless experience with superior build quality, advanced features, and a performance that outstrips its standard counterparts. Razer has successfully delivered on this promise with their latest offering, the BlackWidow V4 Pro. This gaming keyboard not only surpasses the original V4 model but also reaffirms the notion that a high-quality gaming keyboard does not necessarily require Hall effect switches to achieve excellence.

On the flip side, Corsair's approach with the K70 Pro TKL keyboard illustrates that the inclusion of Hall effect switches is not a guaranteed ticket to superiority. The K70 line comes in three variants: the Core priced at $100, the Core Wireless at $150, and the Pro TKL at $180. While the Pro model boasts some advantages due to its Hall effect switches, it notably lacks wireless connectivity. However, it does feature an impressive 8,000-Hz polling rate, vibrant RGB lighting, and a magnetized wrist rest, all of which make it appealing to gamers. Yet, there are several compromises that prevent the K70 Pro from truly shining compared to its Core siblings and even its competitors in the market.

A Tale of Two Switches

According to Corsairs official product page, the K70 Pro TKL utilizes Corsair MGX V2 switches, but this announcement is somewhat misleading. The technical specifications omit any mention of conventional mechanical switches, leading to confusion. An exploded view of the keyboard reveals that some of the switches are identifiable by their pink stems and are labeled as MLX Plasma switches. This is not just a minor oversight; it raises significant questions about the uniformity of the keyboard's design.

In fact, all keys outside the main clusterincluding the function row, the Escape key, arrow keys, and other navigation keysare mechanical switches. Unfortunately, this crucial detail is buried in fine print on the packaging, while the more prominent claims focus solely on the MGX Hyperdrive switches. For consumers investing in a premium keyboard, such lack of clarity is frustrating. When purchasing a keyboard, one naturally expects uniformity in switch type across the entire device.

Fortunately, the typing experience on the K70 Pro TKL is far from disappointing. The MGX V2 Hyperdrive switches offer a crisp and tactile feedback that is notably responsive, providing a satisfying experience without any noticeable softness at the base of each keypress. Thanks to the innovative contact-free design characteristic of magnetic Hall effect switches, there is minimal scratchiness, whether typing quickly or pressing down gentlya feature that contributes to a superior typing experience.

Additionally, the Hyperdrive switches share a design resemblance to Wootings Lekker switches, allowing for interchangeability between certain keyboards. However, its important to note that both switch types utilize an older design of Hall effect technology, which means they are not compatible with the newer iterations utilized by Keychrona point of contention I explored in my review of the Keychron Q1 HE last year.

The MLX mechanical switches integrated into the K70 Pro TKL also deliver an enjoyable typing experience. They feel heavier than their Hall effect counterparts, producing a deeper tone and a slight scratchiness reminiscent of the good feedback one might expect from Cherry MX Black switches. Nonetheless, these MLX switches exhibit a slower rebound after each keypress, which contributes to a different typing feel.

Throughout my testing, the contrasting characteristics of the MGX Hall effect switches and the MLX mechanical switches often threw me off balance. While I found the MLX switches to be commendabletheir performance on the standard K70 Core is quite satisfactorythe dissonance between the two switch types was occasionally distracting, particularly during rapid typing or gaming sessions when I had to alternate between both switches.

Half High-Speed

Despite the confusion regarding the switch types, the K70 Pro TKL excels in gaming scenarios. The keyboard delivers precise and highly responsive inputs, and the tuning of the MGX switches ensures that they are weighted and rebounded just right for quick, accurate responses, without being so light that accidental key presses become an issue.