Corsair Ok68 RGB overview: A really spill-resistant keyboard?

We’ve all executed it. I’ve even ruined a moderately costly gaming laptop computer doing it. And but, I nonetheless hold a protracted, tall glass of water on my desk day by day (to not point out a number of mugs of tea) as a result of I’m an fool who can’t be taught from her personal errors. Right subsequent to my keyboard. One unintended swipe of my arm, or a mad sprint throughout my desk from one among my cats (as they’re more and more wont to do today), and it might all finish in destroy.

I’m a idiot, I do know – which is why Corsair’s new Ok68 RGB keyboard often is the reply to our collective drink-related woes. It’s IP32 water and dust-resistant, you see, which implies it’s acquired some gentle safety towards unintended spillages, making it a bit extra sturdy than your typical mechanical keyboard. I’ve acquired the RGB model right here, which prices £120 within the UK, however it’s additionally obtainable in plain previous pink LEDs for lots much less (£87 or $88). Let’s see what it’s fabricated from.

So what precisely does that IP32 score really imply? Well, you’ve in all probability seen IP scores bandied about in smartphone circles during the last couple of years, and many of the prime ones today have a score of at the least IP67, which signifies they’re utterly dust-tight and will be dunked in as much as a metre of contemporary water with out challenge. The larger the IP quantity, the higher.

IP32, subsequently, doesn’t supply practically as a lot safety, however it’s nonetheless higher than nothing. Admittedly, the three bit, which pertains to its mud safety, isn’t really all that helpful, as this solely means it’s protected towards issues like instruments and thick wires from moving into its chassis. Anything beneath 2.5mm in thickness, like skinny wires, small screws, crisp flakes, tacky Monster Munch mud – and huge ants of all issues, in keeping with Wikipedia – is just about truthful recreation. So a lot for my desires of a cat-hair resistant keyboard, then…

Instead, it’s the two bit we’re keen on, as this tells us its water safety. This means it’s proof against dripping water – an equal to 3mm of rainfall – over a interval of ten minutes in complete. Crucially, it’s additionally protected when the keyboard’s tilted at a 15 diploma angle. So whenever you carry it as much as try to drain it, you shouldn’t have to fret about inflicting any further injury.

What it’s not protected towards are splashes of water. That would require a score of IP34. I’m going to check each – a pitter patter of drippy water splashes and a full-on glass of water knocked over it. But I’m solely going to do it on the finish of this overview simply in case I do really break it and may’t end typing the remainder of it.

Putting apart its water safety for a second, then, the Ok68 RGB is a fairly simple mechanical keyboard. It doesn’t have a USB port due to that aforementioned water safety, and when it comes to ornament its plain matte chassis is adorned with a single groove alongside the highest, partitioning off its quantity, LED and Windows lock buttons from its Fn and media keys. It additionally has exceedingly sharp corners, so it’s simply as properly it’s acquired a little bit of liquid safety as you’ll want it for whenever you by chance slice open your fingers setting it up.

At the second, the Ok68 RGB solely appears to be obtainable with pink Cherry MX switches, that are nonetheless fairly noisy within the grand scheme of issues, however at the least they’re not as ear-deafeningly loud as blue Cherry MX switches. Still, I wouldn’t advocate it to be used in communal areas, as its CLACKY CLACK stays fairly grating even when utilized in isolation.

The Ok68 additionally comes with a textured area bar. I actually didn’t get on with this once I first began utilizing it, and even now after many extra hours of use I’m nonetheless not overly keen on it. My most important beef with it’s that it doesn’t supply as a lot buy as I’d like when typing at pace, however it additionally simply feels plain bizarre in comparison with the graceful caps on the remainder of the keyboard. I’ve grown extra accustomed to it as time’s gone on, however what I wouldn’t give to swap it out for a plain one.

I had the identical downside with the palm relaxation as properly, which is completed in the identical tiny triangle sample (as seen above). It’s comfortable sufficient for normal typing and gaming, however I used to be continuously conscious that my fingers had been step by step slipping down it with each passing second, so I removed it in the long run and made do with resting them on the desk.

In each different respect, although, the Ok68 did a superbly good job. Each key felt very responsive whereas blasting by means of a fast spherical of Doom, for instance, and their peak didn’t make an excessive amount of of a dent on my normal typing pace. I nonetheless desire barely shorter keys if I’m doing quite a lot of typing for work, however on the entire I acquired together with it simply tremendous.

Since that is an RGB keyboard, you’ll be able to, after all, customise its lighting results utilizing Corsair’s Utility Engine (CUE) software program. Here you get all method of RGB color profiles, however you can too use it to vary the operate of the Windows lock key to disable Alt+Tab, Alt+F4 or Shift+Tab if you happen to get the non-RGB model. You may also add your individual recordable macros to any key you please.

So how about that water resistance, then? Let’s begin with child steps. First, I went and rinsed my fingers beneath the sink and shook off the surplus water onto the keyboard. Result: nonetheless typing completely tremendous. Hooray. Next, I gave the Ok68 RGB a little bit of a shake and a tilt, swishing the water round a bit to ensure it acquired into the cracks. Still all techniques go, it could seem.

Not dangerous, not dangerous. But let’s get actual for a second. How usually do you solely spill such a teensy little bit of water onto a keyboard? When I destroyed a laptop computer of mine a few years in the past, it was as a result of I knocked a large glass of water throughout it, killing numerous keys within the course of. I do know the Ok68 isn’t splash resistant, however I do that within the identify of science. It’s time to see if it will possibly survive an unintended knock of my large Les Mis glass, which is my most popular water supply receptacle. 3…2…1…

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Oh expensive. I’ve plugged in a distinct keyboard now as a result of that simply began occurring as quickly as I related the Ok68 RGB again as much as my PC and wouldn’t cease. Sorry Corsair.

So the Ok68 RGB gained’t survive a correct, conventional spillage (and can virtually definitely go kaput if you happen to spill a gentle drink or mug of tea on it, as IP scores solely relate to contemporary water), however you’ll in all probability be okay if it’s on the sting of a wayward splash and will get hit with these previous couple of drips. Maybe.

RIP Ok68 RGB.