Cherry MX Red or Brown for my purposes? With Corsair Strafe RGB

They are so different. I prefer dome over any mechanical switch, but the ones I liked the most out of the MX were the Red switches, because in driving games and driving in general was so much more comfortable. Obviously beat by controller, but close enough...

Honestly, I've ordered all Corsair Keyboards with the K70 RGB Cherry Red MX, Cherry Brown MX, and Cherry Blue MX. I've also ordered the Strafe Cherry Red Silent MX. And also ordered the Razer Chroma with their proprietary Green keys. Honestly, the reds are really nice to type on as well as for gaming. The browns I just do not like because they are the in-between keys that just aren't good at anything (at least they try to be). The Cherry MX blues is what I ended up keeping. I ended up returning the others. I love the blues and honestly do not find them to be annoying.

Take a second and click your mouse button. Now, click it really fast 10 times. This is what the Cherry MX Blues sound like, but with a more hollow sound. But the feel of them are amazing. You can't go wrong with Reds or Blues. But I would not want anything to do with the Browns.

The Corsair K70 RGB Cherry MX Red keyboard appealed my interests strongly because of its ability to customize keys with different lighting, sports the MX Key Switches, integrates dedicated media keys, has aerospace-grade brushed aluminum backplate for durability, doesn't have bulky USB heads, has a braided covering over the wires, and had very positive reviews. All reviews were so positive that I've attempted to search for negative reviews with very few results.

Although the K70 RGB has all of these nice professional features and aesthetics there are very important issues that raised concern when using the keyboard. Some of these issues are strictly opinionated and others are engineering defects.

First, let me point out the obvious defect. The much so-hated "tramp stamp" branding emblem that is generically printed in the middle of the keyboard. Aesthetically, this is the most hideous logo I've ever seen across any professional computing company. The logo just looks terrible and depreciates the keyboard in very unsounding ways. Secondly, the lack of USB pass-through. I've been using mechanical keyboards for most of my life, personally and professionally, and never came across a keyboard that has a price tag representative of being high-end without a USB pass-through. This poses limitations for those that are looking for a diverse keyboard within dynamic environments. Personally, I'm using this keyboard with a laptop and do not have many USB ports, so it's imperative that a keyboard I use has an integrated USB pass-through. Finally, the most important issue that affects this keyboard is the lighting. Spending $178 (with taxes) on a professional grade keyboard for a specific feature that lacks the competency to vividly display a satisfying effect and appeal is, in my opinion, unjustly. The lighting is extremely dull and not satisfying at all when compared to the Razer Chroma or the Corsair Strafe, which has a price point that is significantly lower than the K70 RGB. And, the Razer Chroma along with the Corsair Strafe have USB pass-through.

In every personal computer that I've built Corsair is always the brand to be trusted for its amazing quality and performance. This is the first time that I've actually been let down by Corsair. Currently, I own a Razer Chroma which functions really well from a performance perspective. The Chroma is very vibrant and vivid in terms of its main features and selling points. However, I'm no longer a Razer fan because I've been with Corsair for so long. I'd like to consider myself a loyal customer. Therefore, I've thrown the Chroma to the side and will no longer use the keyboard on any of my personal computers.

Next, I own the Corsair Strafe Cherry Red MX Silent edition that I purchased through Best Buy. There are features that I like about it and features that I do not like about it when comparing it to the Corsair K70. The Strafe is EVERYTHING that the K70 should have in terms of lighting effects. The Strafe is vividly sharp and contrastly appealing. Did I also mention that it has a USB pass-though? However, these are about the only features that I like on the Strafe. Oh, and no more tramp stamp!

***I do not like the Cherry Red MX Silent keys on the Strafe. They feel very generic, take away from natural flow of typing, and feel very very mushy when pressing on a key. If you thought Cherry Red MX's were mushy, then wait until you press on the Silent keys. This is NOT Corsair's fault. By design, this board is meant to have these keys. Personally, this is a preference of my own, which is why there are a variety of different flavors of Cherry MX switches. Just thought I would share this with you since I was on the topic.***

Today, I've exchanged the Corsair K70 RGB for the "RED" edition. What I did get with the Red edition is EVERYTHING I wanted in a professional-grade keyboard BESIDES the RGB lighting effects. The Red edition came with an elegant and professional company branding logo; the Corsair name with the sail ships in a metallic, 3-dementional, logo in the middle of the keyboard. I'm not afraid to show this keyboard off to colleagues and friends because it now has a more professional look. The Red edition also sports a USB pass-through, which gives its users the ability to use other peripherals and hardware. And, of course, you get the braided wrapped wire, media keys, aluminum backplating, wrist rest, exchangeable Red dedicated gaming keys, and a sense of getting everything you want in a keyboard that you are willing to spend money on.

What really frustrates me is that I spend $96 on the K70 Red edition that comes with all of the desired features (and then some) that anyone would want in an expensive, professional grade, keyboard that is $86 cheaper than the RGB version which has limited sets of features when compared. Yes! I am frustrated that I spent less money on a keyboard that I would consider to be more superior, even though Corsair would argue the opposite. The only thing the Red edition is missing is the RGB lighting effects. Why pend an extra $86 for "just" lighting effects when they aren't even remotely close to being competitive with other keyboards on the market????

*****What really frustrated me is that the K70 Red edition's lighting is more vivid and vibrant, comes with all desired features and aesthetics, and is $86 cheaper! Am I the only one confused here?

***IMPORTANT: The Red edition's lighting is MORE vivid and vibrant than the lighting on the RGB! How?!? Although the K70 Red edition only has one color scheme (Red), it's still brighter than it's superior. I know it must be the logic board within the keyboard itself, but the RGB should be much better with vibrancy and vividness. After all, that is the sole purpose of the RGB version by design, which is why it costs $86 more than the standard edition. It's an extreme engineering flaw.

I'm quite disappointed that I have to suffice for the standard Red edition, which is an amazing board, but lacks the RGB that I am looking for in a professional keyboard. *I also just purchased the Corsair Scimitar for $80 and love it! However, I CANNOT team up my keyboard to match it's Teal, Yellow, and Red Corsair color scheme.

I wish I can say that I was 100% satisfied because I have a ton of Corsair products that I love. But I'm not because I have this beautiful Corsair Scimitar sitting on my desk all lit up with different colors, while my K70 just sits in Red. I'd be willing to pay a higher price to get it all. Just to have the "right" keyboard.

P.S. I've wasted a ton of time, traveling, and money on returns, exchanges, and research into this product. Don't kill yourself like I did. If you're NOT at all concerned about aesthetics and lighting, then get the K70 Standard "Red" edition. If you DO care about lighting aesthetics, then I would recommend looking toward another product. Just wish I can say different!

Thanks,
Mark