![]() In practise the keys feel a little spongy and less precise than clicky alternatives, but the Silent switch is the quietest mechanical solution we've tested, creating a cushioned sound that won't annoy everyone else in the room. Linear reds are a known quantity, with no audible click, 4mm of travel and actuation at 2mm, but the Silent variant is interesting insofar as it requires the same 45cN operating force but lowers the travel distance to 3.7mm while reducing noise by as much as 30 per cent. ![]() Switches and PricingĪnother consideration is that Strafe key-switch options are limited to either Cherry MX Red or Cherry MX Silent. Neither of those trade-offs can be considered a deal breaker, but it's a shame the MK.2 Strafe doesn't include rubber tips on the keyboard's retractable feet pop them open and the base becomes prone to unwanted movement. Whereas the K70 features an aluminium top plate, the Strafe makes do with plastic that exhibits a tiny amount of flex when pressed firmly, and the provided wrist rest is a lightweight addition that does the job without feeling luxurious. Begs the question, how is it any different to the supposedly superior K70 RGB MK.2? The answer lies in construction quality. No longer a pared-down alternative, Strafe RGB MK.2 features USB 2.0 passthrough, 8MB of onboard profile storage, braided cabling, n-key rollover, 100 per cent anti-ghosting, and textured FPS and MOBA keycaps in the bundle. The four controls above the numpad - stop, back, play, forward - feel very nice and exhibit a similar amount of travel as the other keys, however the smooth volume roller is a tad cramped and scrolling down inevitably results in your finger hitting the heightened multimedia controls. This time around the multimedia keys are present and on par with pricier models in the range. In the past, Strafe solutions tended to omit the palm rest and dedicated multimedia keys in order to meet a more attractive price point. ![]() Looking past the aesthetics, it's interesting to find that the lines between K70 and Strafe have been blurred for the MK.2 generation. ![]() It reminds of those phones designed for OAPs, with huge letters you just can't miss, and while rivals appear more elegant, the Strafe RGB MK.2 comes across as relatively cluttered. The textured spacebar is an acquired taste, I prefer a standard-sized Windows key when I'm not gaming, and though keycap fonts are a personal preference, I'm really not a fan of Corsair's chunky lettering. RGB enthusiasts will feel right at home, and Corsair's software makes light work of synchronisation between devices (more on that later), however there are some design elements that will divide audiences. The MK.2 Strafe has premium elements such as an RGB-backlit Corsair logo on the top strip of aluminium trim, and the per-key illumination is particularly vivid thanks to a white underlying tray that looks out of place when the lights are turned off but otherwise does a good job of amplifying the effects. One of the nice things about a Corsair keyboard is that they all tend to maintain a familiar design aesthetic there's no visual penalty for choosing a lower-end model. The latter will be of particular interest to those seeking an affordable path into Corsair's mechanical keyboard ecosystem, so let's see what's what by taking a closer look at the 2018 Strafe RGB MK.2 in Cherry MX Silent flavour. Appreciating that most users' budgets don't stretch quite that far, Corsair has been busy refreshing its second-tier offerings with MK.2 versions of the popular K70 RGB and Strafe RGB. Enthusiast gamers may set their sights on Corsair's flagship mechanical keyboard, the venerable K95 RGB Platinum, but the premium price tag can serve as a sizeable obstacle.
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