Corsair - Strafe Mechanical Gaming Keyboard - Cherry Mx Red Review

Connectivity Wired

Size Full-size (100%)

Mechanical Yes

The Corsair STRAFE RGB MK.2 is an outstanding gaming keyboard. Information technology'south compatible with the Corsair iCUE software which lets you customize the RGB backlighting and set up macros to any key you want, and information technology has many actress features like defended media keys, a volume control wheel, and a USB passthrough. The Ruby MX Scarlet switches on our unit feel fairly light to printing and they provide a good typing experience, but it's available with Scarlet MX Silent switches as well. Information technology's comfy to type on despite its hard wrist rest. Information technology feels well-built and has minimal flex, but the ABS plastic keycaps experience a niggling cheap.

Our Verdict

The Corsair STRAFE RGB MK.2 is fantastic for gaming. It feels well-built, comfortable, and you tin can customize the RGB lighting through the iCUE software. Also, all keys are macro-programmable. The Crimson MX Ruby switches on our unit experience adequately light to printing, and the keys should feel responsive cheers to the low pre-travel distance. It's available with Blood-red MX Silent switches as well, which may provide a unlike typing experience.

Pros

• All keys are macro-programmable.

• Fully customizable RGB lighting.

• Good typing experience.

Cons

• Wrist remainder connectors feel fragile.

• ABS keycaps feel cheap.

The Corsair STRAFE RGB MK.2 isn't designed for mobile devices as it has no wireless options.

The Corsair STRAFE RGB MK.2 is very skilful for office employ. It'south well-built and quite comfortable for long usage; however, the included wrist rest feels quite hard. All the same, the Red MX Crimson switches on our unit feel very lite to type on and information technology's placidity, and then it shouldn't bother those effectually you. Also, it'south available with Cherry MX Silent switches, which may provide a different typing experience.

Pros

• All keys are macro-programmable.

• Fully customizable RGB lighting.

• Good typing experience.

Cons

• Wrist residual connectors experience fragile.

• ABS keycaps feel cheap.

The Corsair STRAFE RGB MK.2 is very good for programming. It feels well-congenital and comfy, with customizable RGB backlighting, and whatever key tin be ready as a macro. Our unit uses Cherry MX Reddish switches that experience fairly lite to type on, although it'southward also available in Red MX Silent switches. Unfortunately, it tin can't pair to multiple devices at once since it has no wireless connectivity options.

Pros

• All keys are macro-programmable.

• Fully customizable RGB lighting.

• Skilful typing experience.

• Good overall build quality.

Cons

• Wrist residual connectors feel fragile.

• ABS keycaps feel cheap.

Pros

• All keys are macro-programmable.

• Fully customizable RGB lighting.

• Good typing experience.

Cons

• Wrist residual connectors feel fragile.

• ABS keycaps feel cheap.

• ix.0 Gaming
• 2.vii Mobile/Tablet
• vii.9 Function
• vii.viii Programming
• 5.4 Amusement / HTPC

1. Updated Aug 26, 2021: Converted to Exam Bench 1.0.
2. Updated Nov 04, 2020: Review published.
3. Updated Oct 27, 2020: Early admission published.

Test Results

Design

Design

Dimensions

Pinnacle 1.six" (4.0 cm)

Width 17.7" (45.0 cm)

Depth 6.7" (16.9 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 8.6" (21.9 cm)

Weight 3.09 lbs (1.400 kg)

The Corsair STRAFE RGB MK.two is a total-sized keyboard that takes up quite a scrap of room on your desk. The wrist remainder is removable if yous want to save space. If you'd like a TenKeyLess keyboard, check out the Corsair K65 LUX RGB.

vii.5

Design

Build Quality

Keycap Fabric ABS

It has adept build quality. It's made primarily of plastic with an aluminum strip along the top, and it exhibits minimal flex. The ABS plastic keycaps wobble a little, merely it isn't noticeable while typing. The thin safe feet at the bottom practice a good job of keeping the keyboard in identify; still, the incline feet aren't as grippy. The included wrist residue is made of difficult plastic and it isn't padded. The wrist rest connectors experience inexpensive and breakable, and they're quite difficult to attach, only they feel sturdy when in place.

7.five

Design

Ergonomics

Board Pattern Straight

Minimum Incline 3.5°

Medium Incline N/A

Maximum Incline 6°

Wrist Rest Detachable

The Corsair STRAFE MK.2 has skillful ergonomic features. It comes with a wrist rest that'due south quite hard and not padded. There's one incline setting, and the fundamental spacing is adequately standard.

9.vii

Blueprint

Backlighting

Backlighting Yes

Color RGB

Individually Backlit Keys Yes

Color Mixing Ok

Furnishings Yes

Programmable Yes

It has full RGB backlighting with individually-backlit keys that you can customize through the iCUE software. You can cycle between three brightness levels directly from the keyboard, or yous tin choose your preferred brightness more precisely through the software. All of its keys can be set with a different color and effect, including the keys for media, brightness, and profiles.

Design

Cablevision & Connector

Detachable No

Length 6.five ft (2.0 thou)

Connector (Keyboard side) Not Detachable

The Corsair STRAFE MK.2 comes with a thick braided cable that maintains kinks. It has two USB plugs: 1 to connect to your reckoner and the other for the USB passthrough.

0

Blueprint

Wireless Versatility

Bluetooth No

Bluetooth Multi-Device Pairing No

Proprietary Receiver No

Battery Type No Batteries

Since this keyboard is wired-only, it doesn't take any wireless options.

Design

Extra Features

Media Keys Defended

Macro Programmable Keys All

Trackpad / Trackball No

Wheel Aye

USB Passthrough Yes

Numpad Yep

Windows Cardinal Lock Yeah

Lock Indicator Caps, Scroll & Num lock

The Corsair STRAFE MK.two has many actress features, including a volume control bike and defended media keys. All of its keys are macro-programmable, including the bicycle and media keys. If you'd like a wireless board with a modular numpad, bank check out the ASUS ROG Claymore II.

Design

In The Box

• Corsair STRAFE RGB MK.2 mechanical gaming keyboard
• Wrist rest
• Extra keys (2x Due west, A, Southward, D, E, R, F, O, Q)
• Keycap puller
• User manual

Typing Experience

Typing Experience

Keystrokes

Primal Switches Scarlet MX Red

Feel Linear

Operating Force 48 gf

Actuation Force 49 gf

Pre-Travel 2.3 mm

Full Travel 4.0 mm

The Corsair STRAFE MK.2 unit of measurement we tested uses Cherry MX Red switches. They require a bit of force to activate, but the feeling remains adequately light. The low pre-travel distance should provide a quick gaming experience. This keyboard also comes in Cherry MX Silent switches which are very similar to the Ruddy MX Red but quieter. If you prefer a tactile experience, check out the Corsair K70 RGB MK.2.

viii.0

Typing Experience

Typing Quality

The Corsair STRAFE MK.2 we tested has great typing quality. The key spacing is fairly standard and doesn't cause unintentional keystrokes, but it can be hard to know when a key is registered since there'southward no tactile feedback. The ABS keycaps experience stable and don't wobble while typing, but their quality feels a flake cheap. Although the wrist residual isn't padded, it does aid with the general comfort, and you shouldn't feel whatever fatigue when typing for long periods. Information technology also comes in Ruby MX Silent switches, which seem similar to the Cherry-red MX Cerise but quieter, and information technology may provide a unlike typing experience, although nosotros haven't tested them.

Typing Feel

Typing Noise

Dissonance Quiet

The Cherry MX Carmine switches on our unit are repose. It shouldn't bother anyone around you while in a noise-sensitive surroundings. While nosotros haven't tested it, we look the variant with the Cherry MX Silent switches to exist even quieter.

nine.6

Typing Experience

Latency

Latency Wired 4.one ms

Latency Receiver N/A

Latency Bluetooth N/A

Software and Operating System

nine.6

Software and Operating Arrangement

Software & Programming

Software Name iCUE

Account Required No

Profiles 6+

Onboard Retentiveness Yes

Deject Sync No

Macro Programming Software

Ease Of Use Like shooting fish in a barrel

Software Windows Uniform Yeah

Software macOS Compatible Yes

The Corsair iCUE companion software is fantastic. You can set up macros or presets to whatsoever key you want, including the profile switch, effulgence control, media keys, and volume wheel. The keyboard has three onboard memory slots, merely you can salve as many profiles as you like in the software.

vii.2

Software and Operating Organisation

Keyboard Compatibility

Windows Full

macOS Partial

Linux Fractional

Android No

iOS No

iPadOS No

The keyboard is fully compatible with Windows, and only the Pause Break and Curlicue Lock don't piece of work on macOS. Since the software isn't uniform with Linux, you tin't customize any of the settings, just all the keys should still work properly.

Differences Betwixt Sizes And Variants

While the variant nosotros tested uses Red MX Scarlet switches, the Corsair STRAFE RGB MK.two is besides available with Cherry MX Silent switches. See the label for our unit here.

If you come across other variants of this keyboard, permit u.s. know in the discussions and nosotros will update our review.

Compared To Other Keyboards

The Corsair STRAFE RGB MK.two is an outstanding gaming keyboard and it performs very similarly to the Corsair K70 RGB MK.2. The actuation strength of our unit'due south Cherry MX Ruddy switches is somewhat high compared to other types of linear switches, merely information technology should withal experience fairly light to press. Although some other options take a shorter pre-travel distance, its switches should nonetheless feel quick enough for gaming. For other options, see our recommendations for the best gaming keyboards, the best RGB keyboards, and the best mechanical keyboards.

Corsair K70 RGB MK.2

The Corsair STRAFE RGB MK.2 and the Corsair K70 RGB MK.2 are both outstanding gaming keyboards that perform very similarly. They too look very like, except that the K70'due south entire superlative plate is aluminum while the STRAFE has an aluminum strip only at the acme. The biggest difference is that the STRAFE comes in merely Cherry MX Red and Cherry MX Silent switches, while the K70 is bachelor in a wider multifariousness of switches.

SteelSeries Apex Pro

The SteelSeries Apex Pro and the Corsair STRAFE RGB MK.two are both fantastic gaming keyboards, just the SteelSeries has a unique feature that allows you to ready the operating force and pre-travel altitude on a per-key basis. However, the Corsair has a Windows Key Lock push to foreclose you from minimizing your game, and it comes with extra keycaps.

Corsair K68 RGB

The Corsair STRAFE RGB MK.2 is slighter meliorate than the Corsair K68 RGB. The STRAFE feels ameliorate built, has a volume wheel, and has onboard memory so you can relieve your settings directly to the keyboard. On the other paw, the K68's Red MX Blue clicky switches on our unit take a shorter travel altitude than the Crimson MX Ruddy linear switches on our STRAFE unit, resulting in a lighter and more than responsive typing experience.

Corsair K95 RGB PLATINUM XT

The Corsair K95 RGB PLATINUM XT and the Corsair STRAFE RGB MK.2 are both exceptional gaming keyboards, just the K95 is meliorate for gaming and programming since it has dedicated macro keys. It requires more force to actuate the Carmine MX Blue switches of our unit, but its pre-travel distance is shorter than the STRAFE.

Corsair K65 LUX RGB

The Corsair STRAFE RGB MK.ii and the Corsair K65 LUX RGB are very similar gaming keyboards, but the STRAFE is better for gaming. Its Crimson MX Blood-red switches take a much lower pre-travel distance than the K65's Cherry MX Red switches, and so they should feel more responsive for gaming. Even so, the K65 is more compact, then at that place's more space to motility effectually your mouse next to it.

SteelSeries Noon 7 TKL

The SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL and the Corsair STRAFE RGB MK.2 are both outstanding keyboards. The Cherry MX Reddish switches on our Corsair unit are provide no feedback and fairly light to blazon on, while the SteelSeries Dark-brown switches practise provide feedback and are even lighter to blazon on.  The Corsair has a Numpad since it'south a full-sized keyboard, and the SteelSeries is fully uniform with macOS, different the Corsair.

ASUS ROG Claymore II

The ASUS ROG Claymore 2 and the Corsair STRAFE RGB MK.two are both full-sized gaming models, only the ASUS can be used wired and wirelessly, while the Corsair is wired-only. The ASUS has a modular numpad that can be positioned on either side of the board or removed completely if you prefer a TKL size. Information technology has a lower wired latency, and it comes with a plushier wrist-remainder. It'due south available with proprietary linear and clicky ROG RX Optical Mechanical switches. On the other hand, the Corsair has dedicated media keys, and it's available with Cherry MX Red and Silent switches.

Corsair K63 Wireless Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

The Corsair STRAFE RGB MK.two is a meliorate keyboard than the Corsair K63 Wireless Mechanical Gaming Keyboard. The STRAFE has RGB backlighting, onboard retentivity, and it feels improve built. Although both use Cherry MX Crimson switches, the STRAFE's switches on our unit feel lighter than the switches on our K63 unit. Nevertheless, the K63 is uniform with more operating systems, and information technology has remarkable wireless connectivity options, which the STRAFE lacks.

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Source: https://www.rtings.com/keyboard/reviews/corsair/strafe-rgb-mk-2

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