Corsair Vanguard Pro 96 Gaming Keyboard Review – The Everything Keyboard

Between the K70, K100, and K55 from years past, Corsair had consistently been successful the speech for apical keyboard shaper alongside the likes of Razer and SteelSeries (and Keychron, if you inquire me). In caller years, though, the aforementioned brands had pulled up with their caller models, weaving innovations successful present and determination to support things fresh. Corsair has present closed that spread and made a connection with the caller Vanguard Pro 96. It's not conscionable due to the fact that it adopted magnetic switches, but things similar the 96% layout, astute macro buttons, and LED show adhd up to marque it a benignant of "greatest hits" of the champion gaming keyboards. There are a fewer insignificant plan quirks I'm not a immense instrumentality of, but the Vanguard Pro 96 feels similar 1 of the much complete gaming keyboards I’ve tested, adjacent successful the high-end space.

Corsair Vanguard Pro 96 – Design and Features

The Vanguard Pro 96 has the basics locked down with double-shot PBT keycaps, a beardown aluminum frame, and vibrant RGB backlighting that shines done the exposed keycaps. The framework flares retired a spot which makes for a somewhat wider base, and portion that’s not needfully a plan flaw, it's not rather arsenic clean-looking arsenic immoderate of the champion keyboards successful caller years (though it is tidier than astir different Corsair boards). You besides get a bully padded wrist remainder that attaches magnetically with a small branded flair successful the middle.

However, this gives country for the cleverly implemented macro buttons connected the near broadside of the committee (designated G1 done G5). The six programmable buttons space outward of the base, making them casual to spot and property successful a moment's notice. Most different keyboards with macro buttons person them arsenic an other file of keys that adds immoderate unwanted bulk, and thankfully, Corsair figured retired a mode to bring the functional benefits without the heft.

You'll announcement a agleam 1.9-inch LCD surface astatine the apical close of the keyboard adjacent to the textured aluminum rotary dial. It acts arsenic a benignant of heads-up show that shows your keyboard's accusation and lets you power galore of the Vanguard Pro's settings connected the fly. I've praised this benignant of diagnostic connected Razer's caller BlackWidow and the SteelSeries Apex Pro, and Corsair has done thing akin connected different high-end offerings, but this is simply a sleek rendition of the idea. I privation that it was much intuitive to navigate the menus connected the surface (you person usage the FN + F12 to shuffle done the controls), but erstwhile you get the bent of it and/or customize its functions via the web software, it's reasonably creaseless sailing.

While this isn't thing I tin property to the Vanguard Pro alone, I'm conscionable truly blessed that Corsair decided to usage the 96% layout – it's a format I've gushed astir since getting a Keychron K4 years agone (and subsequently reviewing the K4 HE) due to the fact that it doesn't compromise full-size functionality and inactive saves a decent magnitude of deskspace. Sure, you suffer a dedicated halfway column, but since I seldom usage those controls and tin inactive entree them via the keypad, it's an casual concession to make. And the information it was inactive capable to slap connected a LCD power panel, rotary dial, and macro keys is the benignant of plan I've been looking for.

The past headlining diagnostic is Corsair's ain MGX magnetic switches, which stack up highly good to their Hall Effect contemporaries. Each keystroke comes with a smooth, linear consciousness and a accordant absorption curve (from 30g to 55g) passim its afloat 4.0mm question distance. Like immoderate Hall Effect keyboard worthy its salt, you tin set the actuation constituent anyplace betwixt 0.1mm to 4.0mm, which is 1 of the main advantages of having magnetic switches. Corsair has lone utilized the MGX switches connected 2 of the apical K70 models, and they radiance conscionable arsenic agleam connected the Vanguard Pro.

One insignificant annoyance is the unnecessarily obtuse USB-C larboard placement – it's saddled heavy into the underside of the committee and the cablegram needs to beryllium wedged done notches. Once it's set, it's fine, since this isn't precisely a question keyboard. This besides highlights the information the Vanguard Pro is simply a wired-only keyboard, which limits its versatility. At a clip erstwhile keyboards successful this terms scope connection 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connectivity, it's a spot disappointing. On the upside, you don't person to interest astir artillery life, particularly if you're utilizing the super-fast 8000Hz polling rate. As I've noted connected different enthusiast-level keyboard reviews, precocious polling complaint isn't precise beneficial for a instrumentality focused connected binary input (whether the cardinal is actuated oregon not) arsenic opposed to a rodent that perpetually tracks indefinite miniscule movements. At slightest you cognize you're getting the champion show possible.

Corsair Vanguard Pro 96 – Software and Customization

With galore Corsair products, you'd person to usage the iCUE bundle suite for customization – 1 of my slightest favorites among peripheral bundle arsenic it's rather convoluted to navigate. In a astonishing crook for the better, Corsair made the Vanguard configurable lone done the Corsair Web Hub which is simply a browser-based tool. This is however galore boutique keyboards spell astir software, specified arsenic the Keychron K4 HE – it's a overmuch much agile attack to customization, particularly since you're capable to debar bloated download-only suites. It puts the Corsair merchandise catalog successful a weird spot wherever you whitethorn request iCUE for some, but not all, devices; overall, however, this is simply a astute determination and I anticipation for it to beryllium a inclination moving forward.

In the Web Hub, you tin customize the RGB backlighting with a full roster of effects and colour schemes portion adjusting their speed, behavior, and directional flow. More importantly, this is wherever you set the actuation and reset points for the magnetic switches connected an idiosyncratic basis. You tin acceptable customized cardinal assignments, delegate the 5 broadside macro buttons, and physique macro sequences for them, portion besides redeeming aggregate layers you tin power between.

Here, you'll find the Flash Tap relation that enables simultaneous opposing cardinal absorption (SOCD) input, a diagnostic that’s becoming rather communal among modern gaming keyboards. (Be cautious though – portion this lets you quick-strafe with inhuman ratio successful games similar Counter-Strike 2 and Valorant, it is simply a bannable discourtesy due to the fact that it veers into cheating territory.) Rapid Trigger, connected the different hand, isn't rather arsenic contentious arsenic it lets the magnetic power admit immoderate upward question arsenic a reset point, making repeated inputs easier.

The past noteworthy happening present is the Elgato Stream Deck fastener adjacent the right-side FN key, which comes successful useful for contented creation. This volition admittedly cater to a tiny crowd, but it’s a bully value-add that works similar an other instrumentality to supplement those who usage the Stream Deck app and privation further control.

There's a batch going connected software-side betwixt the web-based bundle and Stream Deck app if you privation to get the astir retired of the keyboard, and I accidental it would person a batch to relegate this level of fine-tuning to iCUE. But arsenic a result, Corsair has robust and easy-to-use tools for adjusting the wide roster of features connected the Vanguard Pro without a bloated app you request to download.

Corsair Vanguard Pro 96 – Gaming and Performance

Gaming connected a Hall Effect keyboard has been pugnacious to travel backmost from, adjacent with immoderate standout mechanical keyboards similar the Razer BlackWidow Low-Profile that are inactive surefire greats. The benefits of magnetic switches radiance done connected the Vanguard Pro – the precision of Corsair's MGX switches and their airy interaction and adjustable actuation points enactment it up determination with immoderate of my favourite performers.

As per usual, I did my rounds of Counter-Strike 2 ranked matches to trial retired the keyboard successful a multiplayer environment. And to nary astonishment of my own, the precision of the Vanguard Pro was fantastic for playing a highly competitory shooter. Setting my actuation points to 0.8mm lets my inputs registry with a somewhat quicker edge, and consistency of keystrokes lets maine jiggle-strafe and jump-crouch with ease. Assigning bargain sequences to the macro keys is different nice-to-have arsenic well.

I besides similar to spell done raids successful Final Fantasy XIV to get a consciousness of however a keyboard holds up successful an MMORPG wherever there's a batch much to juggle successful presumption of controls. The magnetic switches decidedly held up successful presumption of in-game performance, letting maine deed my onslaught rotation efficiently (and usage a longer actuation constituent to mitigate important input mishaps). But it's the G1 - G5 macro keys that truly propulsion the Vanguard Pro supra its contemporaries. Mapping predominant actions that usually necessitate a cardinal combo is simply a godsend; adjacent small things similar summoning my equine oregon hitting my bounds is simply a large prime of beingness diagnostic I'm going to person occupation letting go. It's not that macro keys are innovative – I cognize they've been astir since the advent of gaming keyboards – it's the astute plan that allows for casual entree and without adding immoderate other bulk to the committee itself.

I besides benignant retired each my keyboard reviews connected the keyboard itself, and implicit the people of utilizing the Vanguard for a week, it has ridden the equilibrium betwixt being casual connected my fingers truthful arsenic to not tyre them retired aft a agelong time of typing for work, yet steadfast capable to stave disconnected errant inputs from having a dense hand. All of the features astir the edges are sweet, but they wouldn't mean overmuch if the Vanguard Pro 96 didn't nail the fundamentals. It does wonderfully.