Corsair VANGUARD 96 Wired Mechanical Gaming Keyboard - Black

Brilliant gaming keyboard

I was sent the Corsair Vanguard 96 to test, and I’ve really enjoyed using it. It’s a compact keyboard that still has all the keys of a full-size one, so it saves space without feeling cramped. The build quality is excellent – solid aluminium with smooth, quiet MLX mechanical switches that feel great to type and game on and has a comfortable wrist rest. The little LCD screen is a fun extra for media or quick shortcuts, and the macro keys on the side are handy for gaming or setting up custom commands. I also like that the switches are hot-swappable, so you can easily change them if you want a different feel. The only downsides are that the software can be a bit buggy at times and it’s wired only, so no wireless option. Overall, it’s a brilliant, high-quality keyboard that looks great and performs really well. perfect for gamers and creators who want something premium.

Hdownie1, 25 - 34, Corby northamptonshire

Wow!! What a keyboard!! A must have for any gamer!

This is a phenomenal keyboard!! That feels amazing straight out of the box! It has a real premium feel to it and feel Really solid and stable with little flex like other keyboards. Benefits are the 96%layout so gives the functionality of a full size keyboard while retaining space on your desk. It has a built in 320×170 colour LCD screen which allows for showing animations, system stats etc and 6 programmable G keys and a rotary dial Can be used On windows and Mac systems Comes boxed with clear instructions and connecting lead along with key cap puller and a magnetic wrist support which feels extremely premium and comfortable. We have used many gaming keyboards and this just feels top notch and very premium.excellent for steaming with the G keys with quick access to macros and gaming alike, with the 96%size bonus and a satisfying mechanical sound to it, you won’t be disappointed with this, I’d at a higher price point, but definitely high end quality. Very pleased with this, and can well Recommend to others looking to upgrade their gaming keyboard.

Gellybaby, 45 - 54, East Midlands

Love Love Love

This is without a doubt the BEST gaming keyboard I have ever used, from the ease of set up, the little extras and the colours, it all just works perfectly! The virtual Stream deck capabilities are very useful and so easy to set up. The cable channels to allow you to feed the wire out from either side is a nice touch and makes it easy to change it to other devices or take with you. I really think pressing the button to change the RGB lighting to ‘game mode’ is one of the most satisfying things ever. It is easy to use and has a magnetic arm rest which makes it nice and comfortable but is removable if this is not for you. It also comes with a handy key changer tool, which allows you to set it up to suit your needs. My son also enjoyed using this new keyboard and was keen to show all his friends the new set up. I would highly recommend this keyboard to any gamers out there, you won’t be disappointed!

Beth, 35 - 44, East Anglia

Fantastic mechanical keyboard for gaming

I wanted a compact mechanical keyboard that still included a number pad and wasn’t overly clicky, and this one checks those boxes. The build quality feels excellent with a satisfying weight, soft magnetic wrist rest, and smooth key feedback. The customisable dial and bright LCD screen add some flair. It performs great in games and daily use, and the 5 programmable G-keys are very useful.

Gems86, 35 - 44, Sunderland

One of the best keyboards I’ve ever used

The Corsair Vanguard 96 has to be one of the best keyboards I have ever had the pleasure of using, as an avid Corsair user I feel confident in saying this is top tier. Starting with the moment you open the box it’s well packaged and looks premium plus it uses all recyclable packaging. Onto the keyboard itself it looks very clean and polished, this is my first time using a more compact style of keyboard but it’s so feature packed you wouldn’t notice. Some of the best features are the lcd screen and jog wheel which allow you to complete multiple actions on the fly with ease but it also allows you to map custom actions also with the Icue web interface. It’s brighter than some other Corsair keyboard models I have previously used. It features 5 G keys on the side which allow for easy activation. As some one who does a little bit of part time streaming it also features Elegato which is a huge bonus. The only issue at the moment is it can’t be added to the icue software but after some research this is something Corsair have planned to add in future but for now you can use the web interface to edit the keyboard settings. Overall I would recommend this keyboard to anyone looking to add a more premium keyboard to their setup this one definitely doesn’t disappoint and I’m looking forward to using it for a long time.

CLP18, 25 - 34, Hertfordshire

Great keyboard for a gamer, new or old!

This keyboard is great if you are a proper gamer! It come with cap pullers so you can remove each key for your own choice, each key can be programmed to whatever you like using corsairs hub. The buttons along the side can be programmed for shortcuts but you don’t accidentally press them like on some other keyboards. The screen and dial can be used for all the adjustments like sound/brightness/ect. I’m not a hardcore gamer but I could see how this would be useful for someone who is.

RuthLydia, 25 - 34, Burton on trent

Feature rich keyboard with a built in LCD display

An excellent branded keyboard with premium build quality. Compact but functional layout. A feature rich board with a built in LCD display, a rotary dial and six programmable macro keys. The hot swappable hall effect switches offer and excellent typing and gaming feel. The reason for only 4 star is due to the LCD display being hard to see with normal use and the web based settings hub is troublesome - standalone software would of been better.

Cludsy, 35 - 44, Dorset

Great, responsive mechanical keyboard

I replaced my previous (non mechanical) gaming keyboard with the Corsair, and I’ve really enjoyed getting to grips with it. It’s got a very compact footprint, basically shaving the size of the numpad off the size of a standard keyboard. The RGB lighting isn’t too garish (even in gaming mode) and goes nicely with the white keys. The keypress action is incredibly satisfying, with just the right amount of click, in feel and sound. It also has some customisable gaming keys to which macros can be assigned. The inbuilt LED screen is clear, but for personal preference I wish it had indicators on the actual CAPS/ NUM keys- the icons for caps lock et al are quite small and I found myself halfway through a sentence in full caps without realising. I also miss having a double sized 0 key in the numpad as I’ve spent my working life using my thumb whilst entering 0s and now I’m often pressing the right arrow key instead. The keyboard height/ angle is very comfortable (especially with the included rest) but isn’t adjustable, aside from being up or flat- I’ve had keyboards in the past with multiple height adjustments. The keyboard came well packaged with no plastic wrapping, but to get to the instructions requires scanning a QR code- can’t imagine that would be a problem for the target market of this keyboard, but something to be aware of. All in all, a fantastic piece of desk candy!

ExtraHarvey, 35 - 44, Bristol

Excellent mechanical gaming keyboard

Never had a mechanical keyboard before so didn’t know what I was missing, but oh my this keyboard is fabulous. The mechanical switches are crisp and a delight to press. Connection to a computer is through a usb c to a cable that comes in the box, the thought that has gone into this design is stunning. There are multiple entry points for the cable depending on where you are positioning it. The keyboard also comes with a very comfortable wrist rest which connects magnetically to the keyboard. This works really well and it holds firm. The RGB function is also amazing. This can be set easily by using chrome or another compatible web browser. It literally takes 2 minutes to program the keyboard without the need to install any additional software. The modes include rainbow spiral which is my personal favourite and the speed can be adjusted to suit your preferences. The screen is a nice addition, and it’s possible to use the same web based control panel to upload a different image. The screen also displays caps lock and num lock status. There’s also a nice rotary dial which can be used to adjust volume or zoom. I would recommend this keyboard to anyone who wants to play pc games or just wants a nice mechanical keyboard for typing. You feel the excellent quality as soon as you unpack the box. It’s also nice to note the environmentally friendly packaging, everything is wrapped in recyclable paper rather than the standard plastic wrap.

Andrew, 35 - 44, Worcestershire

Brilliant product

Excellent keyboard. Multiple LED choices. Built to last and has the best key tap sounds. Like AMSR. Honestly cannot find a fault with it. My only little niggle was finding where the cable went as it blends in. Either that or I’m getting old and blind 😂🤷🏻‍♀️

Sarah, 35 - 44, Oxfordshire