CORSAIR - MAKR PRO 75 Hall Effect DIY keyboard - full aluminum build, gasket mounting, and 8kHz polling - Black

The Corsair MAKR PRO 75 Keyboard is one of Corsair’s most ambitious attempts yet to merge enthusiast level keyboard customization along with cutting edge gaming technology, and it largely succeeds though not without a few tradeoffs. Right out of the box, the prebuilt version feels solid and premium, thanks to its full aluminum chassis and gasket mounted construction. The 75% layout strikes a practical balance between compactness and functionality, while keeping a full function row and dedicated arrow keys while saving desk space. There’s also a programmable rotary dial that adds a layer of convenience for volume control, media playback, or custom macros. In the box it comes with A USB-C to USB-A braided cable, keycap and switch puller, screw driver, Allen wrench, rubber spacers, and extra screws. The standout feature in this keyboard is the new MGX Hyperdrive magnetic switches. Unlike traditional mechanical switches that rely on physical contact, these switches use Hall Effect sensors to detect actuation, which opens the door to a level of customization that standard keyboards simply can’t match. You can fine tune actuation anywhere from an ultra sensitive hair trigger to a deeper, more deliberate press, and even assign dual actuation points to a single key. For my settings I set the actuation point to 0.1 for my WASD and my space bar. I saw a noticeable difference in gaming, especially in FPS titles when I also had Flashtap turned on and I had it set to “Last Priority” for better strafing that allows keys to reset instantly without needing to fully release them. Movement feels sharper and way more responsive, and the keyboard essentially adapts to how you want to play rather than forcing you into a fixed switch behavior. Corsair didn’t stop at just the switches. The board runs up to 8,000Hz polling rate through Corsair’s AXON platform, which translates to extremely low input latency. While the difference may not be obvious to casual users, it’s very much aimed at competitive players who care about every millisecond. Features like Flashtap cleaning and per key actuation tuning further reinforce that this keyboard is built with high level performance in mind. Customization is another area where the MAKR PRO 75 stands out. Even though this is a prebuilt keyboard, it still leans heavily into customization and modularity. The switches are hot-swappable (within the magnetic Hall Effect ecosystem), Pre-lubricated and can last up to 150 Million keystrokes. Corsair has designed this keyboard to support optional upgrades like the ability to add wireless connectivity with MAKR 75 Wireless Module or you can remove the Volume knob for the MAKR 75 LCD Module (sold separately). That being said, at this price point I would have liked to see the wireless module included. On the software side, Corsair now gives you the option of using its iCUE software app or their new web browser based software “Web Hub”. Which is a welcome addition and I ended up using the “Web Hub” so that it's one less program running in the background on my PC. Within Web Hub you are able to customize the RGB lighting, Macros, Actuation Points, Mulit-Action keys, Rotary Dial, and the onboard memory allows you to save multiple profiles directly to the keyboard. Which I found really helpful because I also ended up using this keyboard for work and I found having the actuation point at 0.1 was not great for typing emails, so I made another profile where the actuation point was the highest at 0.4. The ability of being able to switch profiles for work and gaming was huge, because I use a Mac for work and I can switch between Mac and Windows layout with a simple switch flick on the the back of the keyboard. When it comes to the typing experience, though, this is where things get a bit more nuanced. The gasket mount and internal dampening do help reduce harshness and unwanted noise, and the overall feel leans more toward “precise and controlled” than “soft and bouncy.” The switches are smooth and consistent, but the board doesn’t quite deliver the deep, thocky acoustics that some enthusiasts often look for in custom builds at this price point. It’s not bad by any means, it's just clear that Corsair prioritized performance and consistency over sound tuning and flex in this keyboard. Pros: MGX Hyperdrive magnetic switches with fully adjustable actuation point Rapid trigger and dual actuation for competitive gaming Premium aluminum build Deep customization, including per key tuning Web Based software in Web Hub 8,000Hz polling rate for ultra-low latency Modular platform with upgrade potential Cons: Expensive compared to other keyboards Typing feel is more stiff and controlled than soft or flexible Sound profile isn’t the greatest Some features like wireless connectivity cost extra Overall, the Corsair MAKR PRO 75 prebuilt keyboard is a solid gaming keyboard that pushes the limits of what modern gaming keyboards can do. It’s best suited for those who value performance in gaming, adjustability in their switches, customization and those who want to slowly dip their toes into the world of customizable keyboard with a prebuilt that can be upgraded at their own pace. If you’re coming from a traditional mechanical keyboard, the level of control offered by the magnetic switches alone is a significant upgrade. And I'm very pleased with its overall performance when it comes to gaming.

This keyboard has been a fine add to my gaming set up for a variety or reasons. Firstly the exterior build is sound, as noted it is a premium aluminum build with MGX Hyperdrive switches. The keys are semi clicky but do give that satisfying snap everytime one is touched. Designed with swappable switches, this layout gives me the ability to customize my layout in a variety of ways too. All needed tools for customization are provided inside the box. Another thing I really enjoy about this keyboard is how condense it is, this keyboard is tenkey-less too which contributes to the compact layout. A neat thing that was included inside the box is a list of all shortcuts (ie FN + FS = Scroll Lock) that can be utilized to assure this condensed keyboard can accommodate your daily needs. From a responsiveness standpoint it is noted that this keyboard has Rapid Trigger technology for responsive actuation and 8,000Hz hyper-polling with AXON while wired. This can assure you that you are receiving top tier connectivity while gaming. Even thought this keyboard is smaller than others performance does not take a hit. In short, if you need a customizable, responsive desktop gaming keyboard then this should be a top contender. Pairing its performance with its sleek, yet sturdy design will guarantee eyes are drawn to this accessory for not only its visuals but its responsiveness too!

Corsair really launched a high end keyboard in this MAKR PRO 75 that can be DIY or used as is! With very few caveats, silky smooth keys, great volume to the bottom out "clack" (sounds good without being too noisy, probably still wouldn't use in a bunch of cubicles for work probably) EPIC build quality, like I've never felt or even seen a keyboard that looks and feels this solid! It has an online app instead of having to download something and run in the background! Corsair is really making a name for themselves with gaming accessories and peripherals that encompass the ENTIRE stack of users, from pretty low end to the top, and not just mainstream stuff. This keyboard is proof that out of the box, you have an ultra high end unit that feels as premium as the value seems to be! I’m not a keyboard snob, (but I am in my late 30s and have used hundreds of different keyboards by this point) but this has to be the most consistent and smooth keyboard I’ve ever used. I only have a few issues with it, and they’re nitpicks and not a big deal for most. The key texture is a bit odd/grainy almost. I don’t really notice it when I’m gaming but typing I really notice and it's a bit offputting. Also, the USB-C connector in the back of the unit feels extremely flimsy and the port isn’t well supported. I’m guessing it will make it easier to take apart/customize, but I just feel like the port should be a touch stronger for this value class. (The LEDs are actually quite dim to me, and I'm in a pretty dark basement with it!) All in all, I highly recommend this keyboard if you’re in the market for a DIY keyboard but need a starting point, or just want something to possibly customize down the road!

The MAKR PRO 75 from Corsair is a pretty good gaming keyboard - you get great switches right out the box which are hall-effect (MGX Hyperdrive) and the whole thing is very sturdy and not as loud as other mechanical keyboards which I can appreciate. I did however have some annoying issues which I wanted to cover first as once I figured everything out the experience was much better. - Out of the box there were some screws rattling inside which were loose and some were even stuck in the keycaps. I just took it apart and put them in their appropriate spots on the board, but it was certainly not a great first impression. - The F5 / F6 keycaps are labeled wrong on the physical keyboard itself - they control the brightness of the keyboard but are not actually labeled as such. - The font in the Corsair WEB HUB which you use to customize the actions/actuation/RGB etc. of the keyboard is tiny. Its small white text on a greyish background - I could barely see it and my eyesight is fine, so it could be an issue for others. - If any of your keys are repeating themselves (mine was the CAPS lock key) a simple key calibration which is in the HUB should fix any issues. I’ve had no problems since and the process was pretty straightforward. Now onto the positives: What really stood out to me is the design of this board and the tasteful keycap color combo. Corsair has actually been doing this for a while but I think this looks the best by far. I really like having the main keycaps be white and the rest black with the yellow accent pieces. The MGX hyperdrive switches themselves feel great and they aren’t overly loud or muted. The consistency is also on point - on some keyboards the bigger keys like the spacebar would feel maybe a bit off but on this board everything is honestly perfect for me. It’s also great for just general typing. I’ve pretty much transitioned to only using hall-effect boards because I play eSport titles like CS2. I dialed in my settings (0.6 actuation/0.1 rapid trigger) on the main keys I use in-game. The movement in-game felt on point and I didn’t have any times where I felt off which would be totally normal on a brand new keyboard, but hey I’ll take it! In terms of the RGB it’s not the strongest and some colors aren’t that accurate. I personally found that setting it to white looked great - the board is mostly closed off so there is minimal light leakage around the keycaps. Now the last selling point I wanted to mention are the optional wireless modules - an LCD screen instead of the volume knob OR an entire wireless add on module. I haven’t gotten a chance to test these but in theory it’s nice to be able to go wireless and not have to buy another keyboard. Overall besides the few small issues I mentioned this keyboard is awesome! Will it entice true custom keyboard enthusiasts? Probably not. Still I’m glad major brands are at least catering more towards them and I found the MAKR PRO 75 to be more than good enough for me out-the box.

While I'd intended to test this keyboard with a gaming PC, the SSD in my PC died, and as a result, I'm out a gaming computer until I receive a replacement from the manufacturer. I'd requested this item before that happened, so please forgive me. I've been using this just for my day to day use - writing emails and messages, mainly - connected to a Mac. It's been perfect in just about every way. While I didn't get to customize the keyboard the way it's designed to allow, I can at least say that the out-of-box experience is excellent. The whole keyboard feels robust, durable. It's got a good weight to it, likely thanks to the metal chassis. The keycaps are lovely, too - they've got a nice texture, and feel like they're made of rugged plastic. I think it will be a long time before I begin to wear them down. The included cable for connecting to a PC is standard Corsair quality. It's a braided cable with a long, reinforced plug, so it's not likely to fail in normal conditions. I've had some of these cables last me close to 10 years, now, and they're still going strong. The switches within the keyboard are great, too. They're highly sensitive linear switches, as far as I can tell. It is a little annoying for typing, but would be fantastic for gaming. Not to mention, they sound great, too. They're not too loud or too clicky, but make a satisfying sound nonetheless. Not thocky, however, so if that's what you're looking for, you may need to change in different switches. One can swap the switches out for other ones very easily, as long as they attach via magnets, as far as I understand. I don't have a set of replacement key switches lying around to test how easy they are to swap in and out, but it's an excellent feature. I don't know about the RGB software, however. I haven't looked into it, as the rainbow colors that it defaults to don't bug me. If it's anything like the software they usually tell you to install - Corsair iCue - I would highly recommend looking into third party RGB controller software. iCue is a disaster and I will never recommend it to anyone. One shortcoming of the keyboard - and it's quite minor - is the keyboard leg things. I like to have mine at a relatively steep angle, but there's no way to do that with this keyboard out of the box. The included stands attach magnetically, which is excellent, but they are limited in height and not adjustable. It's likely that there's ways to make new ones vie 3D printing or something, but I don't have access to a 3D printer, so that's not an option. All in all, this is a wonderful wired keyboard. I would highly recommend it to people who want a nice keyboard, and are perhaps dipping their toes into the world of keyboard customization.