Are Corsair MGX switches the same as regular mechanical switches?

No. MGX switches are magnetic Hall-effect switches that use a magnet and sensor to detect key position, allowing software-adjustable actuation points, unlike traditional mechanical switches which register a keypress at one fixed physical contact point.

Can I put regular mechanical switches in the K70 MAX?

No. While the board is hot-swappable, the sockets are built specifically for Corsair's MGX magnetic switches and are not compatible with standard 3-pin or 5-pin mechanical switches.

CORSAIR K70 MAX RGB Magnetic Mechanical Wired Gaming Keyboard - MGX Adjustable Switches, Simultaneous SOCD and Rapid Trigger, PBT Double-Shot Keycaps, Sound Dampening, 8000Hz Polling, QWERTY NA, Black

Product image from current catalog data

Best Adjustable Magnetic-Switch Keyboard

CORSAIR K70 MAX RGB Magnetic Mechanical Wired Gaming Keyboard - MGX Adjustable Switches, Simultaneous SOCD and Rapid Trigger, PBT Double-Shot Keycaps, Sound Dampening, 8000Hz Polling, QWERTY NA, Black

By Corsair

9.1Excellent matchFeature and use-case score

A full-size wired keyboard built around Corsair's own Hall-effect magnetic switches, letting you set how far you have to press each key before it registers.

Corsair MGX Hall-effect magnetic switches with per-key adjustable actuation (0.4mm-3.6mm, 0.1...
Rapid Trigger and SOCD support via Corsair AXON processing, up to 8,000Hz polling
1.5mm-thick PBT double-shot keycaps on an aluminum frame with dual-layer sound dampening

See Price at the store →Price, delivery, and configuration can change at the retailer.

ByTopFiveFind Research Desk

How this was made: AI-assisted research and drafting organize the evidence. Exact product identity, source claims, owner-feedback patterns, conflicts, and publication checks are documented before indexing. No hands-on or human-expert testing is claimed unless a page explicitly shows that evidence. Read the full methodology.

Product overview

Corsair K70 MAX: What to Know

The K70 MAX (model CH-910961G-NA) uses Corsair's proprietary MGX switches, which are magnetic Hall-effect switches rather than traditional mechanical switches. Instead of a fixed actuation point, software lets you set each key's actuation distance anywhere from 0.4mm to 3.6mm in 0.1mm increments, and enables Rapid Trigger (the key resets the instant you release rather than at a fixed point) along with SOCD handling for opposing directional inputs.

One naming discrepancy worth disclosing: the Amazon listing verified here describes the color as "Black," while Corsair's own product page, and most other major retailers (Best Buy, CDW, PCPartPicker) list this exact same model number, CH-910961G-NA, as "Steel Grey." It appears to be the same physical product with inconsistent color naming across listings rather than two different SKUs, but buyers who care about exact color should look at product photos rather than relying on the color name alone.

The K70 MAX is described by Corsair as hot-swappable, but that comes with a caveat: the hot-swap sockets are built specifically for Corsair's own MGX magnetic switches. Standard 3-pin or 5-pin mechanical switches from other brands, including the Gateron switches used in the Keychron board in this guide, are not compatible with this socket, so "hot-swappable" here means swapping between Corsair's own magnetic switch options, not open compatibility with the wider switch market.

Other specs: Corsair's AXON processing claims up to 8,000Hz polling, keycaps are 1.5mm-thick PBT double-shot (more wear-resistant than ABS), the frame is aluminum, it includes two layers of internal sound-dampening foam plus a magnetic memory-foam wrist rest, and it connects over a wired, detachable USB-C to USB-A cable rather than wirelessly.