Sometimes we have to tie ourselves in knots to explain our findings and justify our awards, but for the first time in a while that’s not the case. The Vengeance K95 is just that good.

It is sometimes difficult to reconcile the expense of a mechanical keyboard with the value-added nature of the features included. Such was the case with the K70, which despite being an excellent keyboard asked a lot for the £120. With the Vengeance K95 much of decision is devoid of stress. Whether MMO, FPS or frankly any genre of game is your preference you’re more than adequately catered to.

Macro keys are of course very welcome but eighteen could be overkill if gaming trends towards a simplified input design. The Vengeance K70 differs from the competition in that the layout allows you to set up a key assignment pattern to your own particular tastes, rather than relying on one vertical or horizontal line of macro keys. They’re all mechanical keys, so there is no issue with expected longevity. Being on a slightly different elevation to the main keys also helps to orientate your fingers in the short term, and shouldn’t be a distraction in the long term.

The value of macro keys can be appreciated by those who play a MMORPG titles on a regular basis, but their potential is truly unlocked by multiple profiles. Corsair’s K95 has three on-board and extremely easily selected key assignment states, allowing you to switch up configurations at will. The per-key backlighting is also assigned on a per-profile basis. Couple that flexibilty with some of the best NKRO characteristics in its class and the K95 is arguably the best of all worlds.



We should temper our enthusiasm a little however. The aesthetics are marred slightly by the brushed aluminium not extending to the macro key backplate, and the white LEDs are a little problematic to those with corrective glasses in low-light conditions. The choice of solid plastic extendible feet and a plastic pad on the macro block for when the legs are not extended are somewhat baffling, and in this case make using the keyboard a little tricky without legs in place.

All these quibbles are relatively minor though.

The Vengeance K95 is an exceptional keyboard which more than justifies its place as the flagship in Corsair’s updated keyboard range. Solid construction backs up an attractive design, and those with a varied gaming palette will appreciate the daunting macro and profile options. Cherry MX Red mechanical switches will suit the majority of gamers in all fields, and the backlighting options are exemplary. Matching premium components to intuitive software and innovative features, the Corsair Vengeance K95 is without doubt a Vortez Gold & Creative Award winner.