Corsair Vanguard PRO 96 Wired Hall Effect Magnetic Mechanical Gaming Keyboard 96 Layout MGX Hyperdrive Switches 8000Hz Polling

At first I was nervous about going from the Corsair K95 to a 96% keyboard, but the layout and features on the Vanguard are actually pretty easy to adjust to even after being on a full sized keyboard for well over a decade. The muscle memory is very similar. I love the way the build feels, the entire keyboard feels very sturdy and I love how the size is close to a TKL (was kind of the selling point for me, close to full size function in the size of a TKL). The G keys placed on the side also is a very nice touch without changing the size of the keyboard like my previous K95 and the feel and sound of the keys are amazing. As for the cable routing under the keyboard I can see why people dislike it, but using the default cable I love it. The only real problem I have which I did see a lot of people have is that the iCue software is currently only web based. I previously had a bunch of profiles for different games on the K95 so I would like to do the same on the Vanguard. Once they release the support for iCue my opinion of that part will likely change. The screen on the keyboard is actually very well done and not as much of a gimmick as I thought it would be. I do like how most of the settings can be adjusted right on the keyboard via the little screen (macros & actuation point being a big one for the Hall effect keys) without having to go into software, mainly the web iCue or even the regular iCue when it eventually updates to support it. Read more

I want to share my experience so anyone thinking about buying this knows what to expect. The keyboard itself is well-built. The switches feel great, the layout is nice, and the hardware definitely has potential. But there are a few things I really wish I knew beforehand. First, iCUE Web doesn’t always detect the keyboard, and Corsair doesn’t explain this anywhere. In my case, I had to switch to a different USB port before it finally showed up. It also only works properly on Chrome or Edge — if you use Firefox, it simply won’t detect the keyboard at all. Once it does connect, the software still feels very limited. Some features don’t work the way they should, and firmware updates can be unpredictable. There’s also no easy way to roll back the firmware if something goes wrong. Second, the keycap print quality isn’t great, especially on the numpad and Print Screen area. When the RGB brightness is turned up, you can see uneven legends and slight misalignment. It doesn’t ruin the keyboard, but it does take away from the premium feeling I expected for this price. I’m keeping it because the hardware is nice, but the overall experience isn’t as smooth or polished as I hoped. If you’re considering this keyboard, just be aware that the software still has issues and might require some troubleshooting before it works properly. In summary: The keyboard is good, but the software needs more work. If you want something that works perfectly out of the box, you may want to wait for a future update. Read more

Probably my favorite keyboard so far! I have no compliants whatsoever, the key presses feel nice but a little mushy (if you like really clicky keyboards, this ain't it), but it is really quiet as a result, so it doesn't produce too much background noise and doesn't get picked up by microphone. The lighting is really cool and fits my set up well, but it does currently require using a web utility instead of the Corsair desktop software. As a result, you can't customize what is displayed on the little screen, but that's whatever, probably a gimmicky feature anyways since I don't really look at the screen 99.9% of the time anyways. The audio dial being a physical knob instead of simple buttons is nice, it makes it easier to adjust volume without having to take your eyes off the screen. Read more

I will start by saying that I am bias in that I am a Corsair fan boy. This review should be 3-stars, but it gets a little love from me. I purchased the Vanguard PRO 96 Hall Effect version. Probably one of the most satisfying sounding keyboards I've ever owned. Coming directly from the Cherry MX Speed series, these magnetic keys are something else and the sound scratches places of my brain that I didn't know existed. Pros: Looks great, feels solid, good build quality, no rattles, has built in Elgato support (not fully functional yet but they are working on it), great FN alternative keys/setups, easy to setup, easy to configure, key customization out the wazoo. Display screen is vivid and does the job it is supposed to (currently running a Burnt Peanut GIF). The WebHub is easy to navigate to and use although there are some CONS I will hit on next. Cons: MUST QUIT ICUE TO USE WEBHUB*** people hate this but if I'm idling, I don't really mind shutting down iCUE to fiddle with the keyboard. What I don't like is not being able to switch all my profiles at once. I've been assured they are working on bringing the Vanguard 96 into iCUE but for now, we have to deal with this annoyance. Really the only other complaint I have is that the screen stutters a bit when using GIFs. This is a 5-star keyboard once they consolidate WebHub/iCUE and fix the display. 8.5/10 would recommend. Read more

Cons: 1# Corsair sold this keyboard before the software is even ready. currently icue software doesn't support this keyboard yet. 2# Lighting effects and setting extremely limited in the web interface. no brightness level setting for layers. 3# LCD image setup has no mention in the manual or in the web interface. I had to just pick random pictures of different dimensions and resolutions to figure out what images will work. Pros: 1# solid keyboard 2# great build quality 3# keys are smooth and thonky I will keep this keyboard, but if corsair keeps pushing new hardware before it's ready like so many other companies these days my money will go elsewhere. Read more