Corsair Vanguard Air 99 Wireless Review

The Corsair Vanguard Air 99 Wireless is an ambitious attempt to pack almost every premium keyboard feature under the sun into one sleek, low-profile chassis. Retailing at a hefty £239 MSRP, it features smooth low profile optical switches, a bright integrated screen, per-key RGB, and an 8,000Hz polling rate. But by opting for optical switches over Hall Effect in the name of battery life, has Corsair actually delivered a coherent wireless experience, or is this keyboard crippled by frustrating compromises?

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro
01:01 Streamdeck functionality
02:34 Corsair web hub
03:22 OPX low-profile switches + keycaps
04:31 Screen, rotary dial and RGB
05:46 Pricing discussion
06:42 A cascade of bad decisions…
09:04 Slow wireless reconnection
10:04 Actual keyboard experience
11:05 Rattly stabilisers…
11:46 Closing thoughts

Specifications:

• Form Factor: 99% Layout (Low-Profile).
• Switches: CORSAIR OPX Low-Profile Optical (1.5mm Actuation / 2.5mm Total Travel).
• Connectivity: 2.4GHz Slipstream Wireless, Bluetooth, and USB Wired.
• Polling Rate: Up to 8000Hz.
• Features: LCD Screen, Rotary Encoder, dedicated macro keys.
• Software: iCUE, CORSAIR Web Hub, and Elgato Stream Deck app.
• Battery Life: Up to 57 hours without RGB and at 1000Hz

Closing Thoughts

The Corsair Vanguard Air 99 Wireless is a product in conflict with itself. On paper, it looks like a productivity and gaming powerhouse. Its integration into the Corsair and Elgato ecosystems is fantastic, allowing you to configure custom macro keycaps with remarkable ease. The OPX low-profile optical switches are smooth and snappy, offering a quick 1.5mm actuation that feels right at home if you prefer laptop-style keyboards. I also love Corsair's push toward the Web Hub, which gives you near feature parity without forcing you to keep the bulky iCUE desktop app running at all times.

However, the hardware compromises are baffling. I think Corsair skipped Hall Effect switches to save battery life, but then added a bright screen, per-key RGB, and an 8KHz polling rate. The result? The battery dies in roughly 10 hours of typical use if you use all of those features, and then takes a painfully slow three and a half hours to recharge. Because it dies so fast, you will likely leave it plugged in permanently, making the omission of true Rapid Trigger Hall Effect switches a massive missed opportunity for gamers. The software-based Snap Tap feature simply isn't a replacement for Rapid Trigger, and utilizing it can even get you kicked from competitive games like CS2.

Throw in intensely rattly stabilizers that constantly tick as you type, a slow 3 to 5 second wake-from-sleep delay, and a strange wireless interference with other wireless mice, and this keyboard becomes very hard to recommend. Even at its occasional discounted promotional price of £189, there are simply too many better, more focused alternatives on the market.

You can buy the Corsair Vanguard Air 99 Wireless for £239 HERE.

Pros:

• Excellent Stream Deck integration with distinct, dedicated macro keycaps.
• The screen and per-key RGB are bright and easily visible in daylight.
• OPX optical switches are smooth and responsive right out of the box.
• The Web Hub software is a great, lightweight alternative to iCUE.

Cons:

• Terrible battery life and very slow charging (maxes out at just 7.1W).
• Lacks Hall Effect switches (and genuine Rapid Trigger) at a premium gaming price point.
• Stabilizers are intensely rattly, ruining the acoustic and typing experience.
• Wireless dongle caused bizarre interference and lag with other high-end gaming mice.
• Frustratingly slow to wake from sleep, often missing the first few keystrokes.

KitGuru says: The Corsair Vanguard Air 99 Wireless attempts to do it all, but terrible battery life, rattly stabilizers, and the lack of Hall Effect switches make it a confusing and overpriced package.

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