Corsair K100 RGB VS Elgato Stream Deck MK.2
Verdict DROP IT BUY IT
The Reality iCUE's real-world reliability record undercuts the 'seamless' framing. On Corsair's own community forum, users report iCUE's automatic updater repeatedly failing and, in some cases, uninstalling the software entirely rather than updating it. Independent outlet PC Gamer has criticized iCUE more broadly, with staff describing it as 'at best, an okay piece of software, and actively annoying at worst,' citing stability problems including the application consuming as much as 19GB of RAM during continuous multi-day use. Corsair's own response was to build a separate website letting users authorize browser-based firmware updates specifically so they could bypass iCUE for that task. Independent reviews consistently back up the reliability framing. GamesRadar+ and PCWorld both describe it as a near-must-have for streamers, citing its sturdy plastic body and Elgato's characteristic build-quality finish. Reviewers specifically credit the software's maturity and broad plugin compatibility -- rather than just the hardware -- as what makes it dependable in daily use across streaming, podcasting, video editing, and general productivity workflows, without a documented pattern of the kind of recurring software or hardware failures found in some competing creator hardware.
SHORT ANSWER
Corsair K100 RGB: Corsair markets the K100's iCUE software as seamless, but users on Corsair's own forum report the updater regularly failing or uninstalling itself, prompting Corsair to build a separate browser-based tool just to update firmware without iCUE.
Elgato Stream Deck MK.2: Elgato's claim that the Stream Deck MK.2 is a reliable, dependable control surface for creators is consistently backed up by independent reviews across multiple outlets, citing sturdy build quality and mature, broadly compatible software.