I’m sure at some point there’s going to be a whole show called ‘Battle of the Brands’ and several seasons will be dedicated to gaming hardware and peripherals.
Thankfully though, in this guide, we aren’t going to look at a ton of brands, but instead only focus on Corsair, Razer, and how they compare to each other in different product categories.
As you’ll see, there’s very rarely a clear winner. 🏆 🎮
Corsair vs. Razer Keyboards
In this category, Corsair is the aforementioned clear winner. This isn’t at all surprising considering that Corsair keyboards are considered some of the best gaming keyboards on the market, beating out not only Razer, but also Logitech, Alienware, and Cooler Master keyboards handily.
So why are Corsair keyboards better overall? Well, they’ve nailed the keycaps, which are just lovely to use, their RGB lighting is excellent, their choice of macro keys and general keyboard layout is excellent for almost all their models and most importantly, their pricing is perfectly fit for their value.
Also, the functionality is great, since the keys are raised it’s a simple matter to remove them and clean the keyboard. Similarly, the palm rest is removable in pretty much all their keyboards, something which isn’t common.
Actually, if you don’t mind the shameless plug, I’ve written up a nice article on the best Corsair keyboards if you’re in the market to buy.
Winner: Corsair 🏆
Corsair vs. Razer Mice
Alright, so this category is a little bit less clear cut. Both Corsair and Razer have good mice for different uses; but, which company manufactures the greatest mice for gaming?
For MMOs and RPGs, Razer beats out Corsair with their Razer Naga Trinity. The interesting thing about that mouse is that the side buttons are modular, and comes with three options: One for MMOs with 12 buttons, one for RPGs with 6 buttons and one with just two buttons for general use. So in terms of functionality, the Razer Naga is perfect, and if you play a lot of MMOs and RPGs, then that’s the mouse for you.
It even won the best choice spot in our article on the best MMO gaming mice, so check that out.
If you’re looking for the best FPS mouse, Corsair has the better selection. Two great options are the Corsair M65 Pro RGB and the Corsair Harpoon RGB Wireless. FPS mice are generally simpler, more compact and lighter to an extent and Corsair handles all those aspects really well.
Winner: Tie 🏳️
Corsair vs. Razer Mouse Pads
In this category, Razer beats out Corsair if only on selection alone. Razer offers more options for both hard and soft mousepads, and their RGB feature is probably the best in the category, especially if you have other Razer hardware and you can sync the RGB across all of them.
I don’t want to make any mouse pad suggestions, mostly because a lot of it relies on personal preference in terms of size and soft vs hard materials. Either way though, you’re probably better of getting a Razer mousepad. Alternatively, check out what we think are the best gaming mousepads out there and perhaps skip both Corsair and Razer.
Winner: Razer 🏆
Corsair vs. Razer Headsets
This is another situation where both Corsair and Razer are at roughly the same level, mostly because other brands tend to have better headsets. Also, the truth is that great gaming headsets are very person-specific, meaning each user will have a different experience.
That being said, Corsair and Razer each have some good entries. For Corsair, I’d probably suggest the Corsair Void Pro and for Razer, I’d say the Razer Nari Ultimate is a good choice. Which one you go for is mostly going to be personal preference, and whether you prefer a soft or hard headband.
Winner: Tie 🏳️
Corsair vs. Razer Cases
For this, Corsair beats out Razer any day of the weak, and that’s mostly due to one thing: Razer only has one case for sale. Actually, the case that Razer offers isn’t even sold by them, it’s just designed by them. Of course, the Lian Li PC-O11DW isn’t a bad case at all, but considering that variety is the spice of life, Razer is missing out by not having more options.
Corsair, on the other hand, offers over 80 different cases in a variety of sizes. Everything from super-sized to small form factor to fit those Mini-ITX builds you’ve been dying to do. Again, I won’t give you a specific recommendation since it depends on what build you’re looking to make, but whichever Corsair case you go for, you’ll be in good hands.
Winner: Corsair 🏆
Corsair vs. Razer Pre-Built PCs
Sigh . . . I know this may sound snobbish or elitist, but I really, really dislike pre-built PCs. They’re generally overpriced, the hardware choice can vary wildly from ok to terrible and the cable management is often not the best it can be. Not only that, but it encourages people to not take an interest in hardware they’ll be spending thousands of dollars on.
All that being said though, I understand that not everybody has the time to learn how to put a PC together, although I certainly suggest you give it shot, it can really be a lot of fun!
No, in terms of Corsair vs Razer in this category, I’d say they’re both roughly the same. Corsair has a good compact offering in the Corsair One i160, whereas Razer only has the Cyberpower P400, another thing that is only designed by them, and not built or sold by them. In our other article, we talk some more about great pre-built PCs for gaming although I still recommend purchasing the hardware separately.
Winner: Tie 🏳️
Corsair vs. Razer Other Hardware
Aside from the categories above, both Corsair and Razer have hardware offerings where they don’t compete on. For Corsair, they have power supplies designed for gaming, gaming chairs and outstanding gaming RAM (the thing they originally started out producing). As for Razer, they have some interesting hardware for broadcasters such as stand-alone microphones and webcams.
I won’t be mentioning or comparing those, because there isn’t any comparison to have, I just wanted to let you know that they both have a lot of other stuff you should check out.
Winner: Tie 🏳️
Final Words: Corsair vs. Razer
Both Corsair and Razer have some really great hardware, and a lot of the times it’s hard to pick which has better items. As you’d expect, each has its own product categories that they excel at, which sort of muddies up which brand you should be loyal to.
In truth, you’re better off buying the best gear in each category, rather than focusing on a specific brand. I myself have a high-quality Logitech mouse, a Corsair keyboard, a SteelSeries mouse pad, a Benq monitor and a HyperX headset, all chosen based on the quality and value they offer without even a thought to the brand.
Sources:
- PC Case FAQ, Corsair
- Custom vs. Prebuilt PC, Razer Forums