We talked about this reference at the beginning of September when the brand announced it. Today, Corsair has kindly sent us a copy of it in order to offer you the full test. The K100 Air Wireless is a very slim wireless mechanical keyboard with Ultra low profile switches from Cherry. Compared to the last K100 from Corsair, it is its total opposite!
In short, what is this new wireless mechanical keyboard reference worth? The answer in our review!
Technical specifications:
With this new keyboard from Corsair, we will have the right to an ultra thin wireless keyboard of 17 mm. In addition, our keys rest on an elegant black anodized aluminum plate. The K100 Air Wireless is wireless, as its name indicates. It can be used in Bluetooth, or thanks to the dongle provided with it. Of course, a USB cable is also part of the game to allow the recharge of the latter.
Corsair announces an autonomy of nearly 50 hours for this keyboard, or even more depending on the lighting and the light intensity chosen in the iCUE software (200 hours without lighting).
On top of the numeric keypad, we have the right to 4 macro keys customizable according to the user’s wishes. For my part, I find them better positioned there than on the left of the keyboard (as for the K100 first of the name).
The K100 Air Wireless has a USB polling rate of up to 8 GHz with the Corsair Axon. In addition, 8 MB of storage are available for saving profiles (up to 50 profiles).
Here, exit the big thick keyboards. We will find here touch switches Cherry MX Ultra Low Profile. The keyboard measures 437 x 156 x 17 mm and weighs only 760 g. Compared to the 38 mm thickness and 1.31 kg weight of the K100 RGB, without palm rest, we are clearly not in the same class.
Recommended System:
To use the latest K100 of the brand, you must have a Windows 10 or 11 operating system. Regarding Mac, you will need to be on version 10.15 and above. This reference would also be compatible with mobiles, in Bluetooth 4.0 and more. To connect and recharge it, you will need at least a USB 2.0. The K100 can also be used on a Playstation 4 or 5 on a USB 2.0, ditto for the Xbox Series. Of course the K100 Air Wireless is compatible with the iCUE software from Corsair.
[nextpage title=”Unpacking”]
Box:
Our keyboard of the day arrives in a box with the brand colors: black and yellow. On its front, we can discover a representation of our K100 Air Wireless. It appears illuminated with its RGB LEDs. We also learn that this reference has an ultra-thin design and that it can connect to several devices at the same time. The K100 Air Wireless is equipped with ultra low profile tactile switches. Moreover, this reference is compatible with PC, Mac, mobile, Xbox and Playstation.
Now let’s go to the back of the box. Once again, we have the right to a representation of the keyboard with some details of the brand on the thinness of it, on its connectivity, its autonomy (50 hours announced) or on the Axon technology.
When we open the box of this K100 Air Wireless, we discover the keyboard under a transparent plastic protective shell. It is simply placed on the keyboard to protect it from possible damage during transport. Obviously, it works well because our sample arrived without any problems. 
Bundle:
The K100 comes with two manuals and a USB cable for charging. Considering the size of this keyboard, it’s a pity it doesn’t come with a small carrying case. After all, this keyboard is wireless, light and especially ultra thin, it would have been logical, I think, to propose it with this type of accessory.
K100 Air Wireless:
It’s time to discover together this brand new K100 Air Wireless. Out of the box, it clearly makes its little effect. It is very aesthetic, sober and its brushed aluminum plate anodized black is particularly neat. The keyboard itself is not very big for this size. Indeed, here, except above the keys, there will not be much frills (at least compared to the original K100). There are some additional keys to manage profiles, lights and block the windows key as well as the classic multimedia keys. In the center, a small screen is available to display the caps lock, the blocking of the windows key, etc… There are also 4 macro keys to set up with the iCUE software. A small wheel to manage the sound is also part. Otherwise, with this reference, the brand does not offer a wrist rest or PBT keys, it’s a shame. 
What does it look like from the back?
Let’s go to the back of this K100 Air Wireless signed Corsair. The underside of the keyboard is very neat. We have the right to two elevating legs to raise the keyboard, on two levels. We will also find the serial numbers and recycling instructions. Moreover, visually speaking, the back is worked with some small geometries very aesthetic and the Corsair logo on the left. At the bottom, we will find a rubber band allowing the keyboard to adhere well to the desk.
[nextpage title=”iCUE Software”]
The K100 Air Wireless keyboard from Corsair is proposed with the Corsair Utility Engine software (iCUE) in its latest version.
[nextpage title=”Test”]
Let’s now test the K100 Air Wireless. We put it to the test in almost all scenarios: video games, office automation, etc…
The grip:
The grip on this reference is relatively classic. Indeed, here we have access to all the keys provided on a keyboard of this format. Moreover, unlike the original K100, the macro keys are not present here on the left of the keyboard. Nevertheless, we will find 4 macro keys above the numeric keypad and which will be assignable through the iCUE software. However, we regret the absence of PBT keys as on the first K100.
To manage the profiles and colors of this reference, we will find some additional keys at the top of the keyboard. For example, a key to change the profile or the light intensity of RGB LEDs . You can also block the Windows key with the small lock. We will lose on this K100 Air Wireless the wheel that existed on the K100 tested earlier this year. At the bottom of the keyboard, on the left, a small mention //K100 is available. Working daily with computer code, it will remind me all the time the comments we can put in our code.
In the center of the keyboard, we will find a very aesthetic screen where the logo of the brand appears in the center. It will be illuminated with the same colors as the other effects of the keyboard. On this one, we will also have the different icons to indicate us the blocking of the Windows key or the NumLk.
On the right, there are some multimedia buttons to manage the volume and music on the PC. It is also here that we will see the 4 available macro keys.
On the front of the keyboard, we will not find much, except for a place to store the connection dongle . But also, an ON/OFF button to turn the keyboard on and off (and thus avoid unnecessary battery loss) and finally a USB-C slot to charge the K100 Air Wireless.
Under the keyboard, we have the right to two elevating legs on two levels. Gone are the legs that fold up on the sides and that systematically folded up when I moved my first K100. There is also a large rubber band that allows a good grip on a desk or mouse pad. Another nice feature is the visual aspect of the bottom that I found nice and worked. 
The design of the K100 Air Wireless
Visually speaking, this K100 Air Wireless is very nice. It is thin, discreet and sober. Far from all the artifices that the original K100 could have. Here, it is simply class. No ultra gamer aspect. In addition, this K100 Air Wireless is very thin, it measures no more than 17 mm thick, so it’s easier to take it on the road than a big, thick keyboard. And this despite the fact that it is a 106-key keyboard.
This reference is also equipped with a beautiful brushed aluminum plate and anodized in black. It is very aesthetic. We are on the top of the range and it shows!
The switches :
For its new keyboard reference, Corsair has equipped this K100 Air Wireless, Cherry MX Ultra Low Profile (or ULP) switches . These are ultra thin tactile switches. The point of emphasis is located at 1 mm and will require a force of 65 cN for activation (against 45 for the old K100, but it is not the same type of switches). For their total stroke, it is very short since it is only 1.8 mm. If you are not used to such short switches, typing errors will be common at first.
In use, when you press a key of this reference, you have a small stop where you have to put “quite a bit” of force until you activate the switch. And when we say “quite a bit”, it’s more than on the MX Black, which, as a reminder, requires a force of 60 cN for activation. Nevertheless, this stop is very short and very firm since it does not leave any “soft” point at the beginning of pressure, we are directly on the hard.
Once the switch is activated, the key presses itself until the end of the switch stroke. The keystroke is very reminiscent of the scissor switches on laptops, but much harder and with the added benefit of touch.
In games, Corsair’s switches will be very responsive and are therefore ideal for FPS type games where the slightest movement is sometimes vital. For other types of games where you need to be precise and not move at the wrong time, this may be a bit of a handicap at first.
Be careful, if you have to remove the keys of this K100 Air Wireless since, the switch can be dislocated and it will be very complicated to put back the spring and the two parts of the scissor which come to put around the switch. In short, if you don’t want to spend 2 hours reassembling them, skip it. Obviously, this happened to us! ?
The noise :
As far as noise is concerned, we are on something relatively contained on this K100 Air Wireless. Indeed, we are far from the matt noise that the K100 RGB could give off. However, we are still on something noisier than a classic laptop. After all, we mustn’t forget that we’re dealing with touch switches.
The RGB:
The RGB is relatively discreet. It is not bright like some references in the field. In sunlight, it will even be somewhat pale. But we did not notice any illumination of the letters and this is a good point. Also, we will always find all the classic lighting effects of iCUE. What to do! 
[nextpage title=”Conclusion”]
It’s high time to come to our conclusion about the Corsair K100 Air Wireless. So, what did we think of it?
A very thin and light keyboard
With this new reference from Corsair, we are dealing with an ultra thin and light keyboard. Indeed, it also takes up much less space than the first K100, while offering many features. We also have an aesthetic keyboard, very neat, very well finished and with noble materials, like aluminum. Moreover, here the K100 Air Wireless is a wireless keyboard with an interesting autonomy. At the time of this test, we used it for more than 8 days without seeing its battery fail.
Nevertheless, compared to its big brother, we still lose a lot of assets. For example, there are no PBT keys, no palm rest, no optical switches, no USB offset… In short, many features that we liked on the K100 are missing.
In use, be careful if you try to remove the keys of this reference. As with a laptop, it will be difficult to put them back on properly if the switch becomes dislodged.
On this K100 Air Wireless, we find 4 macro keys allowing to add some shortcuts or additional features. It’s great! Beside that, the iCUE software is still as functional, efficient and easy to use. This new K100 is also very pleasant to use and its switches remind us strongly of the keys of a laptop, while allowing a tactile feedback. Corsair also fixes one of the shortcomings of the first K100: the elevating legs that folded to the sides. On the old model, as soon as you moved the keyboard to the side, one of the two legs folded up. Here, this is not the case anymore.
How much is the K100 Air Wireless?
As I write these lines, the brand announces this K100 Air Wireless at a price of 299,90 €. For us, it is clearly the black point of this reference. As a reminder, the first K100 was at the time of our test around 250 euros that we found already expensive. We lose here a lot of features, while gaining a wireless keyboard, for an additional 50 euros … To pay such a sum, it will clearly seek expressly a keyboard of this type.
Corsair K100 Air Wireless
We liked:
- Its very neat design, very aesthetic
- The exceptional thinness of this reference, it is clearly passe-partout
- The presence of noble materials (aluminum cover plate)
- The additional macro keys (4)
- The software iCUE always so complete and intuitive
- That it is a very pleasant keyboard to use
- That it stays in place thanks to its rubber feet
- Its two-level elevating legs that no longer retract to the sides
- The laptop-like typing is very interesting
We liked less:
- The bundle is rather inexistent considering the price, a small carrying case would have been appreciated for example
- No wrist rest available?
- Its price, clearly not within the reach of all pockets
- We would have appreciated some PBT keys like the K100 RGB
- The absence of optical switches
- The absence of a USB offset
- That the switches are fragile and difficult to reassemble
- No more control wheel
- No more cable channels under the keyboard
With this K100 RGB Air Wireless, Corsair offers us an ultra high-end keyboard very neat and very aesthetic. It has many interesting features and noble materials (aluminum). Be careful though, as it loses a lot of things compared to the original K100. Moreover, its bundle
is rather inexistent for its price. In short, to adhere to this keyboard, you should clearly look for this type of model. At nearly 300 euros, you can’t go wrong. For us, it will be the bronze.
Thanks to Corsair !
