The Corsair K55 RGB Pro is one of the biggest non-mechanical RGB gaming keyboards we've seen in ages. For $59.99, you get 120 keys that make you feel like the pilot of a mecha suit. With the ability to easily create macros without firing up a software utility, the K55 can do what you need it to when you need it to. It may monopolize your desk space, but if you're looking for an RGB keyboard with plenty of inputs at a price that won't break the bank, look no further.
Almost Too Many Keys
It's easy to be overwhelmed staring down the 120 keys of the K55 RGB Pro. The recent trend among high-end keyboards is a move to a slimmer profile that takes up less room on your desk, so it's getting harder to find the large keyboards that were once a standard for playing World of Warcraft and similar MMOs online. This Corsair has roots firmly in this old guard. The lion's share of the extra keys are down the left side, in a column of programmable shortcut keys, labeled G1 to G6.
The G keys contribute the most of all to this keyboard's extra spread. The keyboard measures 2 by 20.2 by 7.2 inches (HWD), which means it will take up most of the space in front of your gaming monitor. The included wrist rest adds 2.6 inches to the depth. This piece attaches via two plastic clips on either end; it provides a minimal layer of comfort for people who like to rest their hands while typing, though it isn't as plush as the padded rest of the Razer Ornata V2. The rubberized surface of the rest also collected a fair amount of dust during our testing, so cleaning might be a hassle.
The keys feel responsive for a rubber-dome keyboard. I use an Epomaker TH96 at home, and while the K55 lacks the clickiness of that unit's Blue mechanical switches, the K55 offers a pleasant typing experience that let me maintain a faster-than-average pace. It's important to note that, as with all rubber-dome keyboards, the switches' membranes will degrade with use, so that responsiveness will dwindle over time.
The K55 features extra buttons at top right, styled differently than the rest of the keyboard. Three keys to the left of the indicator light control specific keyboard features: a brightness button for the RGB backlighting, a lock button to secure Windows, and a key marked M for setting macros. Holding down the key will capture your keystrokes, and pressing one of the G1 to G6 keys will record the macro.
You also get dedicated media hotkeys for play/pause, stop and next/previous track. They're handy shortcuts for music streamers. Above the media controls are volume up, down, and mute keys.
Testing the K55 RGB Pro: CUE the Software
Customization software can make or break a gaming keyboard, but you don't get a ton of functionality with iCUE with this particular keyboard. This is the Corsair utility used by the K55 RGB Pro and many of the company's other products. At least you can control the four-zone (not per-key) RGB lighting and add keyboard shortcuts via the utility.
The K55 RGB Pro also works with Elgato apps, which you can use to assign additional software shortcuts to control your live streams (though you can assign regular macros and shortcuts as well). Starting and stopping a stream, changing scenes, or muting your audio can be tied to the left-side "G" function keys.
Verdict: A Basically Excellent Budget Board
While we typically recommend mechanical keyboards for both gaming and productivity use, the rubber-dome Corsair K55 RGB Pro offers most of what people want in an affordable keyboard and more. Dedicated media keys are always a nice inclusion, especially for a streamer-focused keyboard, and the macro keys add functionality if you're willing to take the time to program them.
Its all-plastic design makes the keyboard lighter than we'd like (a heavy keyboard offers a stabler typing experience), and the K55 RGB Pro hogs your desk. But its $59.99 price makes up for many of these faults, earning it a look from cash-conscious casual gamers.
