CORSAIR VANGUARD 96 vs VANGUARD PRO 96 vs VANGUARD AIR 99: Which Should You Get?

Within our considerably broad range of keyboards here at CORSAIR, there are a few that share the VANGUARD moniker. So, today we’re going to go over the differences between the CORSAIR VANGUARD 96, the VANGUARD PRO 96, and the VANGUARD AIR 99.

Does that mean one VANGUARD 96 is more professional? Is the other an amateur? And why does the last one have AIR 99 at the end? Let’s get into it.

Firstly, here’s a specs matrix for all three keyboards, so if you already know what you’re looking for in a keyboard, you can spot any dealbreakers or indeed dealmakers at a glance.

Okay, that's the specs, and you might be able to tell already that the AIR 99 is a totally different product, whereas the two VANGUARD 96 keyboards differ in only a couple of ways. Now let’s get into a little more detail about what makes these keyboards special, and how they differ in terms of specific features and applications.

The reason for the PRO suffix and the increased price is that the VANGUARD PRO 96 comes with our MGX HYPERDRIVE key switches, whereas the regular VANGUARD 96 and VANGUARD 96 WIRELESS come with your choice of MLX Fusion, MLX Plasma, MLX Pulse, or MLX Quantum (more on these later).

MGX HYPERDRIVE switches allow for three features that are impossible with traditional switches: Rapid Trigger, custom actuation points, and dual actuation points.

Rapid Trigger allows for the switch to be actuated again as soon as it starts moving back up after the previous actuation. A traditional key switch must travel back up to a fixed point before you can push it down and actuate it again.

MGX HYPERDRIVE switches do not have this limitation, meaning that you can repeat a keystroke again the moment you begin to release the key after the first keystroke. We have a detailed explanation in our Rapid Trigger article if you want more information, for now though let’s move on to custom actuation, the second feature from the MGX switches.

We mentioned earlier that traditional switches have a fixed actuation point. With the VANGUARD PRO 96, you can choose, on a per-key basis, where this actuation point is. So you can make the key register the keystroke after pressing it down just 0.1mm for near-instant actuation, or anywhere up to 4.0mm, which would mean you’d have to press the key all the way down before it would actuate.

So, if you can make the key register the keystroke at any point throughout the key press, why not make it register twice? Dual actuation points allow you to do this. Simply put, you could press the key partially down for one input, and then further down for another. The best example here is that you could press it halfway down to walk, and then when you pressed it all the way down, you’d sprint, this way you wouldn’t have to hold down Shift or any other modifier.

It’s worth mentioning here that the VANGUARD PRO 96 is not the only keyboard we make with these switches. The MGX HYPERDRIVE switches are also available on the K70 PRO TKL, which has a more compact form factor but lacks the customizable screen of the VANGUARD keyboards.

So, the VANGUARD PRO 96 has MGX switches and all the features unique to them that make them advantageous for gaming. However, that doesn’t make it automatically the superior pick.

Those who value the feeling and tactile sensation of a mechanical keyboard might prefer the VANGUARD 96 (non-PRO), as you can get it with four distinct switch types. And, unlike the VANGUARD PRO 96, it’s hot-swappable, so you can install basically any 3 or 5-pin switch after purchase. Here’s a comparison table that breaks down the characteristics of the different MLX switches. (Note that at the time of writing, the MLX QUANTUM switches are only available with the dual-tone VANGUARD 96).

Despite sharing the VANGUARD name, the VANGUARD AIR 99 is an almost entirely distinct product compared to the VANGUARD 96s. There are only two shared traits: SD keys that allow functionality with the Stream Deck app, and a customizable 1.9-inch screen.

Other than these, the VANGUARD AIR 99 occupies a different place in the CORSAIR range of keyboards. It’s a low-profile keyboard, which provides a slimmer, more laptop-adjacent typing feel without sacrificing the mechanical keyboard tactility. It also marks the debut of our OPX Low-profile Optical switches.

These switches, and the overall shape and ergonomics of the AIR 99 make it a very different typing and gaming experience. It’s a lot thinner, uses a slightly different form factor, and is more focused on portability than the VANGUARD 96 keyboards. At the time of writing, it’s also the only one that’s available in a white colorway.

Additionally, those SD keys are an actual column of keys on the left side of the keyboard, whereas, in order to preserve the 96% form factor for the VANGUARD and VANGUARD PRO, the SD keys are smaller buttons on the edge of those two.

The VANGUARD 96, VANGUARD PRO 96, and the VANGUARD AIR 99 WIRELESS each serve a different set of priorities, so:

• If you want the absolute highest-performing keyboard for gaming, with all the advantages of the MGX HYPERDRIVE switches, go with the VANGUARD PRO 96. Just know that you cannot change the switches out.
• If you want the perfect intersection between a gaming keyboard and a custom mechanical keyboard, go with the VANGUARD 96. You won’t get Rapid Trigger or custom and dual actuation, but you’ll have greater control over the typing experience.
• If you want a sleek, low-profile, and more portable keyboard that still packs a great mechanical typing experience, without the heft of a full-on mechanical keyboard, then the VANGUARD AIR 99 is the correct choice.