Introduction

CORSAIR announced the original STRAFE keyboard around three years ago, and a lot has changed since then. For example, it was reviewed here on TechPowerUp by not just my predecessor, but his predecessor to boot. CORSAIR used to be referred to as Corsair then (marketing had not caught on to the impact of all caps at the time presumably), and then there was the Corsair Gaming logo that was.. divisive at best. RGB mechanical keyboards have become the norm for the higher-end market today, and there are significantly more switch options to choose from as well. Is there enough room to bring forth an update in 2018? CORSAIR certainly thinks so, as we see with the announcement of the new STRAFE RGB MK.2 keyboard.


I have had a look at the STRAFE RGB in person before, and even in multiple switch options to get used to the then exclusive Cherry MX Silent Red switch. CORSAIR is still only referring to the switch as the Cherry MX Silent, which is potentially misleading since Cherry has two MX silent switches—the other being the MX Silent Black—with each coming in RGB and non-RGB options. That aside, there is no mistaking this is an updated STRAFE or even K68, which we saw before, given the very similar aesthetics. At the same time, I can already spot several subtle changes that appear positive upon first glance. Thanks to CORSAIR for providing a review sample thus, as we get to a more detailed examination beginning with the specifications below.

Specifications

Packaging and Accessories

CORSAIR operates a web shop in the USA. However, this sample came from a marketing hub, so we begin with a look at the product packaging. A plastic wrap covers the packaging, which I maintain is not very practical, and removing it shows off the product box in more detail. We have the usual CORSAIR Gaming black and yellow color scheme with an illustration of the keyboard, along with the company and product name. There is also the Cherry MX switch label on front, which corresponds to the switch your keyboard inside uses (MX Silent Red in this case). Specifications and marketing features continue on the back and sides in multiple languages, along with another printed illustration that highlights some of the salient aspects of the keyboard.


There are two seals as well as a double flap on the side to help keep the contents inside in place during transit. Opening the box, we see the keyboard itself in a plastic wrap with the keyboard cable in the cardboard cutout compartment above. The accessories are housed in separate layers of the cardboard packaging, which is not the best I have seen, but this setup will suffice provided the shipping packaging is done well. We have three sets of accessories with the STRAFE RGB MK.2, and the first set contains the product quick start guide (online copy in the downloads tab here), a warranty guide, and a warranty note specific to Australia.


The second set of accessories includes replacement keycaps and a plastic ring-style keycap puller, all of which come in a vacuum-sealed plastic pouch. I would have liked to see a metal wire-style puller instead as the included version can scratch the sides of keycaps when used. The spare keycaps here are the same as those CORSAIR has been including with all their higher-end keyboards for a while now. These have a different profile and a soft rubber finish at the top, and the base is ABS plastic with etched legends. You get a set of W-A-S-D and Q-W-E-R-D-F keys for FPS and MOBA/RPG games.


The final accessory, also in a plastic wrap, is a removable wrist rest. It is completely made out of plastic with no reversible surface, unlike for their current flagship K95 Platinum keyboard. Instead, it has a dimpled, soft-touch finish to its plastic surface. There are two clips on the back, and rubber pads help prevent the keyboard and wrist rest from moving around on your desk.