Customer Ratings & Reviews

I have a MacBook Pro for work and PC to game. For work, I like this keyboard very much. It is a great typing experience because the keys are not incredibly thin (like the butterfly keys) and they are not overly thick like most gaming keyboards. The ability to adjust actuation makes this a great combo for really quick typing for me. For gaming, it is solid but I prefer my ASUS Rog Falcata and others that I have tried. Mainly because I like the more defined curvature on those keycaps and texture. You can swap those things out I believe, but that isn't something I want to do. The battery life is excellent and the new Corsair web-only iCue is really great so you don't have to download or run actual software anymore. Overall, it fits my use-case for now. I like it, don't love it.

This keyboard is initially great. It feels nice to type on, it's quiet, it's light to respond, but there are some QA/QC issues that never should have allowed this to release yet First and foremost, it doesn't support iCue yet. If you have other Corsair products that you keep unified lighting, this won't talk to them yet Second, this is the first item to use their new Slipstream tech. It's unstable, and only supports one device per USB plug, versus the old Slipstream supporting up to 3 devices per USB. Old devices also don't register on the new one, so you need a dedicated USB port for this. There are also some bugs, like occasionally taking a few seconds after waking up to communicate with your device, or rarely repeating a single key press a dozen times in a split second. The battery is decent, but seemingly worse than most Corsair keyboards The features are nice, there are lots of options for customization, including uploading personal images to the screen. Overall, the bugs and issues happen rarely enough that it's not a massive ding against the keyboard, but for Corsair's standards, it's subpar. They should have ironed out the issues and unified the iCue experience with this, and it would have been a 5/5 for me

I’ve always wanted a keyboard that strikes a balance between wireless typing freedom and comfort as well as gaming prowess. Finally, that keyboard has arrived and I love it. I used to have two keyboards, a Logitech for typing and work, and then a conventional loud clicky gaming keyboard that I had a love/hate relationship with because of the noise and size. The Corsair Vanguard Air types even better than the Logi it replaces yet still has enough key distance to make for a solid gaming experience while remaining quiet and comfortable. It can sync via Bluetooth, the slipstream wireless dongle, or by plugging in the included USB cable. You can also easily change between the 3 options with a switch right next to the USB port. In addition, it can sync 3 different devices simultaneously via Bluetooth and yet another with the dongle plugged in. It is compatible with PC or Mac and even Xbox or PlayStation and has a set of keys in the box for Mac and for the row of keys that can be used for stream deck functions as well. Easily customized via the Corsair web hub or the on-board screen which gives you several status points such as battery life, connection mode, key locks, volume, and can have a custom background set to it. The resolution is good and the overall brightness for the lighting is adjustable and has lots of combinations available right out of the box. The main chassis is metal, and the kickstand on the underside has two heights available. It feels like a super premium device and well worth the investment in my opinion. I love typing on it, and the feel while gaming is also exactly what I prefer with just the right balance between them. This is what I was looking for, thanks Corsair for making the dream a reality.

Just when you thought Full Size Keyboards with Numpads were gone forever with the trend toward TenKeyLess, HomeKeyLess and even ArrowKeyLess 60-70% keyboards, Corsair comes back with a 100% Full Size Keyboard that not only brings back the Numpad, but also a series of programmable "SD Keys" while mixing in some familiar and novel features as well. What you'll notice immediately after plugging in the Vanguard Air 99 is the outstanding looks and build quality. There's a styling that is new and distinctive but beyond that, you'll see it blends familiar mechanical RGB gaming keyboards with some popular laptop features. - Keys are hybrid low profile so they actually have lower key travel with almost NO WOBBLE, which is outstanding. Beyond the lower travel, this actually makes the top of the key caps LARGER and Corsair also made them oval with rounded edges. Look closely, the caps are just different and you will notice this as your fingers have more of a landing pad on each keypad. The switches are also gasket mounted with 5 layers of sound dampening, so while these are linear mechanical switches that are fast to press, they don't fully bottom out and hit some resistance and sound dampening, 5 layers to be exact according to Corsair. This manifests in a confident, but very quiet typing experience along with the larger key cap heads makes for an overall very pleasant typing experience especially in an office or shared space. - The body of the keyboard is chiseled in ways I haven't seen before. While the switches aren't quite flush with the top face, they also aren't totally in a "well" and slightly depressed. This makes it easier to clean the switches but also makes it so you can see the RGB in the mechanical switches better. - The F keys are secondary function similar to a laptop keyboard, with the top row defaulting to brightness, media, microphone, media forward/backward/volume etc. as you would expect to see on a laptop. There's also a game mode button and a Stream Deck button that enable those features. The media dial button is also there which is awesome for quickly adjusting volume or muting sound by pressing the dial. - SD or Stream Deck keys allow you to customize macros for games, but also use the Stream Deck software to create Stream Deck custom function keys and map them directly to the Vanguard Air. The IPS display will also give info accordingly. - The Vanguard Air 99 has 3 ways to connect, wired mode, wireless Slipstream via dongle, and wireless 3xBluetooth. What's new is that the BT connectivity has 3 different connection profiles you can cycle through. This is amazing for anyone who works from home or has multiple devices they want to connect to. You can connect your work laptop, your personal laptop, and your desktop or phone/tablet all via BT and cycle through them and still use your keyboard. I love this feature as it saves me both money and desk space as I can use the same keyboard instead of having multiple or needing a wired keyboard and KVM which can become a mess of wires. - Full arrow keys and Numpad are so back! I am personally not as reliant on the Numpad any more since I have a BT 10-key I use if I need to do a lot of number entry, but some games are made easier with the numpad and some people are just used to using the 10-key. The arrow key spacing and size is also preserved, although they are not separated like a true 100% keyboard used to be, which is probably why this is a 99% keyboard. The Keyboard space is constantly evolving and innovating and the Vanguard Air 99 mixes a lot of old with a lot of new to create something that is familiar yet innovative. I think a lot of people will find this keyboard hits that comfy spot they've been missing with full size keyboard with numpad, but new features like Stream Deck integration, LCD and media keys with the newer OPX low profile quiet keys.

The layout took a little getting used to, but this is an outstanding wireless keyboard on all fronts. The build quality is outstanding, the keys are responsive, and the knurled metal knob and color LCD screen give it that extra drip. But what really sets this keyboard apart is customization. Not only with the keycaps and lights, but the Corsair Web Hub app makes it easy to reprogram keys, record keystrokes, and even record macros. Not enough custom for you? How about a completely reprogrammable Fn Layer that changes every key when holding the FN key? You can even assign a key to customize your mouse buttons! And while I can’t comment on the functionality, the Vanguard Air 99 integrates with the Elgato Stream Deck, which is another area where recording custom macro sequences could be useful. I don’t know what the battery life is supposed to be, but one week into using it and I’m still near 100% on the original charge. The only downside I can offer is that the key layout feels a little cramped for being a full sized keyboard. Long story short, if you like silent keyboards, use an Elgato Stream Deck, or just want an amazing keyboard with a plethora of easy to customize functions, you’ll love the Corsair Vanguard Air 99. PROS - Excellent build quality - Quiet keystrokes - Responsive mechanical switches - 8k polling - FlashTap - Elgato Stream Deck integration - Caps easy to change - Corsair Web Hub App easy to use - Easy to record macros and program keys - Can program almost the entire keyboard - Long battery life - LCD screen is pretty neat - Wired, bluetooth, and usb dongle connectivity - Knurled metal volume knob - Decent preprogrammed lighting effects - Built-in USB dongle storage CONS - Key layout feels a bit compact

The Corsair Vanguard Air 99 is a feature rich gaming keyboard with versatile configurability, compatibility, and a bright color screen! Design The Vanguard Air 99 feels strong and rigid. The keys don't have a lot of extra play, which is a good thing to me. There's an angled bevel around the edge. They keys have a good feel, with very little play. All the characters on top of the keys are very easy to read. Some keys have other characters or symbols on the slanted, front, face, and those are not so easy to see. I love the way they combined the main keyboard with the letter keys, a full inverted T arrow layout, and the numeric keypad. I also love the six extra Shortcut keys on the left side. There's some empty space between the main keyboard and the six shortcut keys, about the same as between the number keys and the Function keys at the top. There is also a similar space on the right side between the numeric pad and the rest of the keyboard. The narrow breaks help me feel easily and quickly where my I'm at on the keyboard. I love the dial placement and feel as you turn it. It turns easily but there's a clear but subtle bump you can feel with each increment as you turn. The dial is also a button. The screen is bright and clear. See the picture I included from a road trip showing a lake with some mountains in the background. It also displays helpful information like battery life, pooling rate, number/caps lock status, and and more. Typing I like the feel of keys and the travel. There isn't too much play in the key caps, complimenting the overall solid feel of the keyboard. With the default setting (no delay between pressing) I had no problem at all in video games. When just typing I did have a double presses sometimes when I didn't want them. I added a 1 ms delay in the settings of the Corsair Web Hub app and that duplicate character issue went away. Again, I'm glad for the small break on the right before they numeric keypad and the left before the shortcut keys. Function keys work well, though there is no Function/Media Key lock. You can turn on the Mac mode and then you will get the media keys by default, but that messes with or disables some of the buttons on either side of the space bar, like the <CTRL> and <Windows> buttons. I'm hoping they add a toggle for the function row keys that with a firmware update. I like <Fn>-<ESC> if they're looking for ideas. Key Mapping I've had other keyboards that let you map different functions to keys, but usually it's hard to decide which key I want to sacrifice to map a macro to or some other function. Often I end up pairing it with <CTRL> or something like that. With the six Shortcut keys on the left side, that's not a problem. I have a bunch of keys to work with as well as whole new profiles I can create. So you can make separate profiles for specific games, media editing, and other tasks. Just use <Fn>-<Z> on the keyboard to switch profiles. You can map keyboard keys, mouse buttons, media control functions, keystrokes, macros, or just a bunch of text. Then there are more functions available in Stream Deck app if you want to map applications or application specific functions to the six Shortcut keys. There are even six key caps included that you can swap with the Shortcut keys, geared towards the Stream Deck. Profiles You can create different profiles using the Corsair Web Hub app. Profiles have settings for mappings, lighting, etc. You create the profiles using the Web Hub app, but you can easily switch between them, up to 5, on the keyboard using <Fn>-<Z>. That even changes the active screen on display, (Three that it comes with and I added two photos so far). So each profile could have a different picture, for instance. Lighting The lighting is incredibly functional on this keyboard! Sometimes, it's just cool. When you turn it on, you'll see a pattern of lights move across the keyboard. If you hold down the <Fn> key, only the keys that have a secondary, <Fn>, function light up while the <Fn> key is down. When you turn on "Flash Tap" (SOCD), it lights up the and the <D> keys a different color. When you use <Fn> and Num, /, *, - to change the mode of the dial, they change color as you go through options. Press the Game Mode button, and red covers the keyboard. You can also configure the lighting, with lots of colors to choose from and a bunch of customizable animations. You can also change the brightness of the keyboard, it changes the keys and the screen together. On the lowest setting, the keys are off and the screen is on but dim. There are five brightness levels to choose from. Dial The dial is great, but best thing about it is the ways it can be used. Just by pressing the <Fn> key and one of the four keys below it, you can change from the default of volume control to keyboard brightness (keys and screen), vertical/horizontal scrolling toggle, or Zoom. It also functions as button. Polling Rate This is crazy for a keyboard. It support 125 Hz all the way up to 8,000 Hz. That means the PC checked the USB Port 8,000 times a second for new data. Keep in mind, the higher a polling rate you use, the shorter your battery life will be. It can do the 8,000 Hz using either the USB cable or the SlipStream wireless dongle. Compatibility This has excellent compatibility and connectivity. You can go wired or high speed wireless with the included high-speed SlipStream dongle, or you can connect via Bluetooth. Not only that, but you can have it paired with up to three Bluetooth devices at one time and switch between them with <Fn>-<Home>, <PGUP>, or <PGDN>. There's a switch at the top/back-edge of the keyboard the change between the SlipStream USB Dongle, Bluetooth, or off. You can plug in a USB cable and connect that way regardless of the switch position. There's another switch to go into Mac mode - and this is more than just a switch. Six Mac buttons are included to replace six Windows Keys on either side of the space bar. I think that's the best Mac compatibility I've seen. And one last trick, Hold <Fn> and the <Windows> key for 5 seconds and it toggles into (or out of) Playstation 4/5 mode! So if you need a keyboard, this will probably do the job and do so very well! Battery life The Battery life seems very good, especially considering the bright color screen and all of the keys being lit up. You'll do better with your battery life with a lower polling rate. Depending on settings, the keyboard battery life can last up to 55 hours. Expect half that with common settings like a higher brightness or a fast polling rate. I still think the battery life is excellent for a keyboard with lots of bright lighting and a color screen. Summary They Vanguard Air 99 Wireless keyboard is a great keyboard with many very practical features. The compatibility and connectivity is also huge. There are widgets coming in an update to use with the screen. I expect a clock face, battery status, calendar, among others. I'm hoping they'll add a calculator since it just seems right with the numeric pad below it. I also would love to see them add a function row key toggle as mentioned earlier. But if those are not concerns for you, this keyboard is excellent now. Corsair is also continuing to push out updates. I don't even know what they're fixing because I think it works great, but I'm glad to see them actively supporting and improving their product. I highly recommend this gaming keyboard!!!

The Corsair Vanguard Air 99 is a compact, highly customizable keyboard designed for both productivity and gaming. One of its standout features is the built in Stream Deck on the left side, which includes six programmable buttons that can be customized using Stream Deck software. This makes it incredibly useful for streamlining workflows, boosting productivity, or even enhancing everyday web browsing. The keyboard is impressively quiet, making it a great option for users who prefer a more silent typing experience. Its compact 99% layout keeps all essential keys within easy reach, allowing for faster reactions and a more efficient gaming setup. In addition to performance, the Vanguard Air 99 is lightweight and versatile, offering three connectivity options: Bluetooth, a 2.4 GHz USB receiver, or a wired connection. It also features a built in display and a volume knob. The screen can be personalized with your own images and provides visual feedback when adjusting volume, adding both style and functionality. Overall, this keyboard is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a compact, feature rich option that performs well for both work and gaming

After spending some time with the Vanguard Air 99, it’s clear Corsair put a lot of focus on the typing feel. While it’s a very capable piece of hardware, I found it to be a bit of a mixed bag. The build quality is definitely there; the aluminum frame makes the board feel heavy and stable on my desk, and it doesn't move around during a session. The typing experience is the standout feature here. Corsair used a gasket-mounted design with several layers of sound-dampening, and you can really feel and hear the difference. The pre-lubed switches have a smooth, muted sound without any of the annoying rattle you find on cheaper boards. At 2.5 mm of travel, the low-profile keys feel responsive for gaming while still being comfortable for standard typing. The PBT keycaps are durable and the lettering is sharp, which helps the RGB look clean across most of the layout. However, there are some design choices that don't quite land for me. The transparent keycaps on the arrow keys and the left-side macro bank are surprisingly bright and cause a lot of light bleed, which I found more distracting than helpful. The LCD screen is more of a gimmick and, other than the battery indicator, isn't particularly useful. For a keyboard at this price point, I was also expecting adjustable actuation, which is becoming more common in high-end gaming boards but is missing here. Where this board starts to justify its price is the Elgato Stream Deck integration. This isn't just for streamers; having those six dedicated keys mapped through the Stream Deck software effectively turns that side of the board into a powerful command center. Whether it’s controlling system hardware monitors, managing apps like Teams or Zoom, or running complex macros for work, it adds a level of functionality that standard keyboards just can't match. It saves a lot of desk space by essentially building a Stream Deck Mini right into your main board. Ultimately, it’s a well-constructed keyboard that feels excellent to type on. If you are a power user who will actually utilize the Stream Deck ecosystem for productivity and aren't bothered by the extra-bright accent keys, it’s a very reliable choice.

A couple of years ago, after refining my gaming craft through many years with numerous consoles, I decided to try computer gaming and I never looked back. I quickly learned that a powerful system means nothing without good hardware, among them gaming boards; and the Corsair Vanguard Air 99 really impressed me with its many features and overall performance. Connecting it to my computer was easy and quick both via Bluetooth or connecting through usb-c. I was impressed with the great quality build that felt premium with the well designed aluminum frame, and a slim footprint. I also liked the addition of a numeric pad that Corsair managed to make as compact as possible while being full size; giving you an advantage with some games requiring data entry while using a mouse. A good surprise was typing on the Vanguard Air 99. Usually, gaming keyboards sound cheap and “clacky”, but the sound dampening deliver a sophisticated, muted "thock" that I normally find in more expensive boards. In my opinion, the OPX Low-Profile switches are the stars of this keyboard. With a 1.5mm actuation and 8,000Hz hyper-polling, they feel unreal and instantaneous especially with fast-paced shooters. It was a learning curve for me though; I had quite a few accidental keypresses at first due to how light they were but, after a few trials, I got the hang of it and never looked back. The 1.9" IPS display is more than just fluff. Having real-time rotary dial feedback and custom animations is great, but the real power lies in the six dedicated SD-keys. I sometimes use a Stream Deck for macros, having those keys baked directly into the layout and supported by the Elgato ecosystem, speeds up some gaming, workflows or streaming. Also, the iCUE software is among the best customization suites out there. My only gripe with the Vanguard Air 99 was the battery life. On weekends when I played for hours on end, I had to charge it at the end of the day even with the RGB and screen brightness reduced. With my other gaming keyboards, I can go weeks without needing a charge. It might be due to its slimmer than usual profile which limits battery size and the iCUE software can be a resource hog. Overall, the Vanguard Air 99 has officially overtaken my previous gaming keyboard. It bridges the gap between a high-performance gaming powerhouse and a professional workstation, surpassing every other board that I own. If you can handle the frequent charging, it sets a benchmark as the definitive "do-it-all" configuration.

The build quality on this keyboard is excellent. The aluminum frame feels solid, looks great on the desk, and doesn’t have that cheap hollow feel some keyboards do. The typing feel is also really satisfying. Coming from a MacBook Pro keyboard, this was definitely an adjustment, but in a good way. The OPX switches feel smooth, cushioned, and clicky. Very satisfying. I also really like the 99% layout. Having a numpad without going full oversized keyboard is a big win for me. It feels compact, but still gives me the extra keys I actually use. The dial is probably my favorite part. It’s not just there to look cool. In Final Cut Pro it was genuinely useful for zooming the timeline, and it gave me much better control than using a trackpad. The Stream Deck keys are also a huge plus once they’re working right. After setup, this thing started feeling more like a control center than just a keyboard. My issues were mostly with getting it set up on Mac. The included USB-C adapter/extension cable caused a problem where the Stream Deck software would not recognize the keyboard at all. I had to stop using that and switch to a separate USB-C to USB-A dongle before it finally worked. That was the biggest headache. The other issue is that if you use Mac, the layout takes some getting used to. I kept reaching for an Fn key to the left of the spacebar out of habit, and it’s not there. I also wanted the S6 key to act like a Mac Fn key, but that didn’t just work out of the box. So then I had to use Karabiner and spend extra time messing with it to try to get it doing what I wanted. I'm still not there yet. The LCD screen is nice, but I’m mixed on it. The on-screen mode feedback is useful, but the default spinning ship animation felt more distracting. Overall, I really like this keyboard. The build quality is premium, the typing feels great, the dial is actually useful, and the Stream Deck integration adds a lot once everything is configured. I’d rate it very highly, but Mac users should know this is not a plug-and-play experienc despite the custom configurability.

The Corsair VANGUARD AIR 99 WL is an awesome addition to a long list of gaming keyboards on the market. The build is sturdy and the low profile design is fantastic. If you’re a fan of the Vanguard series and love low profile keyboards, this might be the one for you! The VANGUARD AIR 99 shines when it comes to style. The design looks modern and fits nicely with any gaming setup. RGB lighting is vibrant and can be customized to match your mood or game. Functionality is top notch. Wireless performance is smooth and reliable. No problems gaming and typing without lag. Unique features like customizable macros, fast response keys, a rotary dial and the mini LCD screen give you an edge while gaming, but also add to the slick style. The keyboard’s low profile switches provide fast actuation and a satisfying click, making typing comfortable and responsive. I love low profile keyboards in general, but I was happy to find a gaming centric one that fits the bill! The profile keeps your hands relaxed and helps prevent fatigue. The slim design also makes your desk feel more spacious and organized without excess clutter. Overall, the Corsair VANGUARD AIR 99 WL is a fantastic choice for gamers and tech fans. It combines great build quality, stylish looks, and advanced functionality for a truly enjoyable experience.

Preface: Keyboards are a highly subjective item in relation to tactile feedback, "feel" and aesthetics. My frame of reference is prior Corsair offerings in the full-sized & low-profile offerings - along with a plethora of other boards from competing manufacturers; Glorious, InLand (Microcenter..), Logitech, HyperX, Keychron, Drop and several less recognizable KB brands from Chinese companies - to name only a few. Corsair VANGUARD AIR 99 WL - A Transformational Corsair Keyboard... Unboxing & Setup The Vanguar Air 99 comes in a minimalist container yet impresses upon immediately opening. Along with the braided USB cable & the USB-cable, xmitter adapter dongle - - Corsair also provides 6 Stream Deck customization and 6 Apple Mac specific key caps. The keyboard, in black, is rather understated and that is something that I like. Straight away, I was taken by just how thin, slender and light weight the entire KB was. Compared to a fair amount of other low-profile keyboards I've owned, tried or reviewed - this Vanguard Air is hands down the best I've ever experienced. The actual wireless xmitter stows away, magnetically along the top edge of the board. Along that same top edge, you'll find the connection "mode" selector slide-switch, the USB C port and the Mac/PC selector switch. The keycaps themselves are nicely concave, have good travel and have appropriate spacing for low-profile caps. Illumination is good with something like an all-Red profile (against black) but most the other RGB, multi color changing/animated modes seemed unnecessarily dim to my eyes. Personally, I usually go with a solid, static backlight or run with lighting off. Honestly, Corsair should have figured out a more illuminous design for the RGB crowd, but they probably aimed for better longevity as the primary concern - and sacrificed brightness levels in the process. I'm usually not a fan of display panels on keyboards - but again - this keyboard has changed my mind. The display on the Vanguard Air 99 is actually useful, providing verbose function switching feedback - battery level - connection mode, etc. ... and you can load your own image into it. I loaded my Aorus eagle head and it looks phenomenal. The rotary volume knob to its right, has encoder-like detents to it and it works/feels great to use. Not cheap. What Corsair has done recently is switch to the web-based control mechanism, essentially catching up to the more esoteric brands. There's one web page for checking & updating firmware and an entirely different one for in-depth configuration control. I was excited to see a Corsair keyboard that didn't rely on iCue software and - for the most part - this move doesn't disappoint. I did however experience a few hiccups with this method, with the keyboard not being found. I chalk this up to "new software territory", requiring some further tweaking by Corsair and hence - didn't subtract one Star from my rating. When the Web Hub software does work, it's organized brilliantly, thoroughly and intuitively. General Typing Experience The Vanguard took me several days to get comfortable with. But that's usually a normal thing - for most people and usually exacerbated by a change in vertical (Z) height and/or with low-profile decks/key caps. I enjoy these switches & caps and they are mighty quiet. Some of the best I've used! Gaming Experience What can I say – This KB performed flawlessly during long Insurgency: Sandstorm sessions, Quake Champions battles and many a Command & Conquer Kane’s Wrath skirmish rounds - during 10 days of testing. Conclusion I've never been a big fan of Corsair keyboards, but this particular model and design approach has seriously changed all that. I love this keyboard! Sure, the software approach needs a little more polish but hardware wise - I think this design hits it out to the park. In the PC realm, this has to be the finest low-profile, gamer-oriented keyboard introduced in a long time – possibly ever. You can adjust the bounce delay, the polling rate up to 8K, integrate some level of Steam Deck functionality and change out key caps - depending on preference & configuration. It looks & feels like a quality, solidly designed platform - even for being light weight & portable. I look forward to continued Corsair keyboard evolution… Pros: Great ergonomics Wealth of customization Truly low profile without sacrificing on the typing experience, e.g. solid key travel and perfect actuation point One touch "Game Mode" Super quiet yet commanding, optical-mechanical switches. A real joy to type on! No joke. The internal layering/gasketing actually delivers! Useful and good-looking onboard display with 5-deep, profile memory Truly portable Cons: Web Hub software needs a little more polish & reliability Backlighting in animated, RGB modes look dim in normally lit environments (fine in a dark room...)

When my Corsair Vanguard Air 99 Wireless keyboard arrived, my first thought was that this wasn’t just another keyboard - it immediately felt like something unique. And it truly is more distinct than anything I’ve ever typed on, thanks to its very low‑profile design aimed at hitting a sweet spot of full‑on gaming and everyday productivity. First hands‑on impressions land a few different ways. The Vanguard Air 99’s design feels noticeably different from a standard keyboard, even compared to my daily driver - so I’ve found myself re‑learning the layout’s natural flow. The keys provide good feedback in feel and sound damping is spot on with gasket‑isolated structure combined with a multi‑layer acoustic dampening stack. After a few days of working and gaming with the Vanguard Air 99 Wireless, it’s clear this keyboard is built for fast, competitive play while still holding its own as a solid daily driver. The keycaps reflect that intent: they’re slightly larger, flatter, and more closely spaced than usual, which makes rapid movements feel smoother and more controlled. My fingers glide across the board instead of catching on edges - something you notice immediately when you compare it side‑by‑side with a typical keyboard. Results from gameplay were impressive. Once I acclimated to the board’s layout, the Vanguard Air 99 Wireless delivered a smooth, fast experience unlike anything I’ve used before. It genuinely elevates the pace of play and gives you that extra edge you’re always looking for on the keyboard. Likes and Notes: - FlashTap SOCD handling - delivering ultra‑fast, highly responsive input - Bluetooth, USB-A, and 2.4GHz Slipstream Wi-Fi v2, (Corsair’s fastest wireless) - Elgato Stream Deck app integration - Integrated Stream Deck SD keys with native Elgato support - Windows and Mac – easy switch over from one system to the other - Two level flip out feet – nice having two elevations of height - Plastic/metal construction – Sculpted aluminum frame - 100% RGB with no bleed thru - Brilliant LCD screen – a genuinely impressive display with a lot of capability Gamers will be drawn to the Vanguard Air 99 Wireless for its combination of Corsair’s OPX optical switches, 8,000 Hz hyper‑polling, and a solid, well‑engineered build throughout the keyboard. If you are looking for: - A top‑tier low‑profile gaming keyboard - Optical switches with extremely fast response - Wireless performance that feels as immediate as wired - Stream Deck SD keys that boost productivity or streaming workflows Choose the Vanguard Air 99 Wireless

This gaming keyboard feels amazing to use. The keys are super responsive, the RGB lighting looks clean, and it makes gaming and typing way more enjoyable. It feels sturdy, sounds great, and definitely exceeded my expectations for the price.

I bought this both as a replacement for my workbench computer and for at home gaming. The benefit of the bluetooth, wireless communication, and ease of use for directly connecting it to my gaming consoles was the main draw of this. I was initially looking at another Corsair brand keyboard but this was more appealing. The keys are tactile and comfortable. Has a very satisfying yet not too noisy level of feedback when the keys are pressed. Overall a very good keyboard and I gave this a good try to use it. At work it helped with coding to give me the feedback I wanted without the fatigue I get from using Apple Magic Keyboards to program. At home when gaming or using my desktop, it just worked without needing extra anything really to get going. Everything was smooth until I connected it to my desktop and iCue. iCue informed me when I plugged in initially that the keyboard required 2 updates to unlock full functionality. One for the internal firmware and one for the wireless connection which I assumed was between the dongle and or the bluetooth connections. I plugged in and the firmware update pulled up an external site. It felt sketchy but it connected to my keyboard and kicked off. The 5 minute update only seemed to hit the firmware and then I had to perform the same steps to get the wireless update to go through. Unfortunately because the firmware update seemingly had not committed, I had to reboot my machine to get it to stick because I would open the same site for the upgrade and it would prompt again for the firmware. After a reboot I had to do the wireless and thankfully it was not prompting again for the firmware. It started but I never had any prompt, indication, or otherwise tell me the wireless update went through. I unplugged it from the USB and then tried the dongle connection to my desktop and from iCue the firmware was present but the wireless version was "-.-.-". I assumed it was fine because the keyboard was still functional between my desktop and on my Xbox over the dongle. Problems started to randomly crop up afterwards from there. On my desktop gaming mode, performance mode, or whatever iCue called it was either randomly turning on when games like Paralives, Age of Empires, and multiple other Steam games I tried to play using the keyboard were on. And it was never when the game was started, just randomly during the play sessions. When it would activate, the keyboard disabled all of the keys and the only 2 that were lit a different color from there were "A" and "D". I would need to alt tab out of the program and back into it to get the keyboard back over to the saved color profile I had on the keyboard from iCue and when I'd look for the mode it activates from the panel it always showed turned off. Then came using it with my Xbox after I started noticing the weird keyboard lock up. If I was typing into private messages on Xbox or typing into internal game chat like Warframe or Path of Exile, the game mode wouldn't turn on but the keyboard just stopped responding suddenly over the dongle or USB connection and a single keypress would behave like it was stuck. I'd unplug or switch off the connection type on the back panel of the keyboard and it would stop but it was overall very weird when it would happen. I had the keyboard for 4 days before ultimately deciding maybe I had purchased a dud, and gave it a fair shot because it looked like the perfect fit for all the use case situations I was planning to use it for. When I had purchased it, I was a little weary because it was on the shelf and the seals on the bottom were already cut but the contents were still present inside. I can't point fingers at anything specific about this keyboard but I wouldn't purchase it again outright for now knowing my experience post updates seemingly caused a lot of the problems. However I would still buy Corsair because they've been reliable for everything else I've bought from them.

This is one of the best typing experiences I've ever had in a low profile keyboard. The keys have an amazing typing feel and I would love to keep it if it weren't for a flaw, not on the keyboard's part but my own. I just can't get used to keyboards that have the arrow keys so meshed in or any keyboards with a column of macro keys left of the escape key. I use the home, end, page up, page down, del key and my muscle memory just doesn't like it changed. Also, the numpad is more left than normal (meshed near the arrow keys). I did find that when I used a Razer huntsman v3 pro wrist rest, it was easier to key with the numpad and ignore the macros keys on the left, but what pushes me to the return was the column where page up, down, home, end, del, etc. was situated; I literally kept messing up and I use those keys regularly. Coming from a Razer Huntsman V2 Pro Linear (my favorite still of all time), if you can get used to the keyboard layout, the Corsair Air Vanguard is hands down one of the most amazing typing experiences I've ever had in a low profile keyboard. I have the Blackwidow V4 Low profile and I HATE typing on that thing. I am still hesitant to return this Corsair Vanguard keyboard because it's sooo good typing on this keyboard, I cannot express how much pleasure I have typing on this keyboard (sorry I keep repeating this, but seriously it's in a league of it's own). I'm still giving it a 5 star rating because of what it is if you can get used to it, right now there's no contest for low profile optical switch. One thing I would like to see Corsair do (besides making a full size one) is that the keys are more dented in than flat with rounded edges.

I chose this keyboard because it looked like it would work perfect for my needs. I game a little on PC but mostly I use my PC for productivity and entertainment. I prefer a backlighted keyboard with a full number pad. My gaming PC does triple duty not only for games but it’s also connected as a media center computer and I use it for my CAD program on the big screen sometimes when I’m feeling lazy and want to work from the couch. I love my 75% keyboard for its compact size but it’s not ideal for CAD since it doesn’t have a number keypad. I will be using this keyboard in wireless mode with the included dongle since my PC is across the room. That lets it run in 2.4 GHz Slipstream, if there’s any lag it is completely undetectable to me. Corsair also included a magnetic spot on the keyboard to store the dongle when it’s not in use which was very thoughtful. Upon unboxing the first thing I noticed is that it has some weight to it. With the aluminum top frame and plastic back it tips the scales at 915g. That’s right about two pounds. It’s not uncomfortable to rest on my lap while I’m working and if you have it on a desk it won’t matter. The onboard battery is 4170 mAh which gives a use time of about 29 hours with the LCD and keyboard brightness at 20% and about 55 hours with the LCD at 20% and the keyboard backlighting off. A 30 min charge gives it an additional 4.9 hours of use. I like the low profile keyboard and I noticed it has multiple heights of flip out feet to adjust the keyboard angle to your preference. The keyboard has five layers of sound dampening so while you can hear the key presses they are more of a quiet “thunk” than a clack. The keyboard arrived configured for a Windows PC, there are additional keycaps in the box for Mac users and also for the SD buttons. A single button press puts the keyboard in game mode which by default changes the backlighting to red, locks out the Windows key, and if you have FlashTap enabled then the A and D keys will light in amber. FlashTap allows you to peek around a corner easier. Ok, now for the things I know nothing about. I’m just beginning to learn more about video editing and content creation and I was curious to see if a Stream Deck would be beneficial to me. With my PC being across the room a conventional Stream Deck really isn’t an option so having the Stream Deck keys on the keyboard looked like my best option. First thing I did after connecting the keyboard via Bluetooth was to navigate my browser to Corsair’s Web Hub. The keyboard was not detected. A quick internet search revealed that my preferred browser (DuckDuckGo) was not compatible, it needs a different Chromium based browser so I opened the Web Hub in Chrome and it did detect the device but was unable to connect. I plugged in the included usb cable and it connected instantly. I found that I could connect to WebHub either with the cable or with the wireless adapter. Note that the wireless adapter may need a firmware update itself. I first loaded a few .jpeg images to the keyboard’s LCD screen. You can cycle through the images by holding the FN key and using the left and right arrow keys. There was recently an update to Corsair’s iCue software (5.43.73) that was supposed to add additional support for this keyboard and allow you to add different widgets to the keyboard’s LCD screen but it doesn’t appear to be working just yet. The update only dropped about three days prior to my review on this holiday weekend. I added a few shortcuts to the SD keys to try it out, you can also load macros. I set one key to open two apps I use together often and it worked fine. I’m probably barely scratching the surface of what a Stream Deck can do but I’ll need more time to give it a test drive.

I bought this leyboard as I was looking for something with RGB. This has been a great addition, soft keys, customizable lcd screen, volume control and one of the best parts is an integrated elgato stream deck with 6 button. You can program them to do anything you like! The key caps are swappable and low profile which I like and very responsive. You can use it wired or wireless and it integrates into the icue eco system flawlessly. Its been a great addition to my setup.

This keyboard is an absolute steal! I was looking for something that wouldn't break the bank but still felt high-quality, and this nailed it. The keys are responsive and tactile, making it perfect for both gaming and everyday typing. It looks great on my desk, feels sturdy, and performs just as well as keyboards twice its price. If you want top-tier performance on a budget, look no further. Highly recommended!

While the keyboard feels great to type on, it's held back by software bugs and hardware flaws. Although Corsair iCUE supports this keyboard as of June 12, 2026, saving your settings can corrupt the onboard memory and cause GIF animations to stutter—making the Corsair Web Hub the safer choice for customizations. Worse yet, large keys like the Spacebar and Enter keys rattle, creating high-pitched ear-piercing sound. At this premium price point, that's unacceptable. If this keyboard cost less than $200 and didn't rattle, I would rate it a 5-star.