Final words and conclusion

Final words and conclusion

I like the updated K95 RGB Platinum XT. The main improvements here are the 1.5 mm PBT keycaps that resist wear and fading through years of extensive use. That’s a huge step forward over the predecessor, which used ABS keys. Apart from that, you can’t miss out on the iCUE compatibility, right? The keyboard has dynamic per-key RGB backlighting with 19-zone LightEdge. The quality is simply put, great, and you can’t really complain about anything here. Even the palm rest is a cushioned, leatherette one. The feet have rubber inserts, and the rubber pads in the corners do their job properly as well. For the MX Speed and Brown switches, the durability is increased from 50 to 100 million keystrokes. Overall, the improvements are subtle and not very obvious at first glance, but they do make the experience even better than what you got with the previous model.

Aesthetics

The K95 RGB PLATINUM XT is, in fact, very similar to its predecessor. You get that aluminum frame, as well as media, volume, and profile keys. You can’t forget the backlit Corsair logo, either. All these changes were a move in the right direction. The overall look is very sleek for a keyboard of this size. Replacement caps for WASD, QWERDF, and macro keys make the look even more unique. I particularly liked the volume slider with a tactile feel. The LED lighting system is really great (vivid and clear colors), and you can adjust each key to your preference. Isn’t that cool? Even anti-RGB guys should be satisfied.

 Final words 

If you don’t mind the price, you’ll be more than happy with the K95 RGB PLATINUM XT. The market for mechanical keyboards is becoming more crowded, but this Corsair product has some features that might make you want to choose it over the competition. That said, this an evolution, rather than a revolution, so don’t get your hopes too high. Our Guru3D Recommendation is based on the overall excellent quality and features. It’s a high-end product, and you can really feel that. The RGB is even better than in the previous model, and you get PBT keycaps instead of ABS this time. There’s also an aluminum frame, as well as dedicated media, profile and volume keys that can really come in handy. If you’re not a fan of RGB, remember that you can always adjust the lighting per key (on/off/dim, etc). iCUE software lets you synchronize lighting effects with other Corsair RGB gear, like a mouse, headset, or fans. This can look really cool if you put a little effort into it. The MX Speed and Brown Switches have the enhanced (100 million) keystroke guarantee, but it's impossible to check the manufacturer's declaration, right? Even the 50 million for Blue ones is a huge number. The ARM CPU and 8 MB of built-in memory will make customization easier, and you don’t have to set up things all over again after each software restart thanks to the 5 profiles, which you can change at the press of a button. The PLATINUM XT is available with a selection of Cherry MX switches: MX Speed and MX Brown and Blue are available. The former did a great job in the reviewed sample, and we really liked them.

With a 2-year warranty and a price of 199 USD, this is definitely not a cheap keyboard. That said, there’s little left to complain about except that price tag, the K95 RGB PLATINUM XT easily deserves our Guru3D Recommended product award.

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