Have you took a look at the marketplace for mechanical mini gaming keyboards lately? You may think that’s a pretty small niche, but it’s absolutely swarming with rivals from producers both huge and small. To make its most current itty-bitty keyboard, the K65 Pro Mini, stand out, Corsair did … well, not a lot, at least at first look.
But looks can be tricking. While the K65 Pro Mini doesn’t wow you with flashy gimmicks or questionably beneficial add-ons like an OLED screen, it nails the fundamentals and consists of some features that players will love. Optical switches and high-quality products make a declaration all on their own.
I ‘d state that probably isn’t enough to validate a significant $130 cost, especially for such a small board … other than that the competition is about the same rate. If you’re ready to splurge and you want a strong, straightforward optical design shorn of unneeded bonus, the K65 Mini Pro is a great option.
More reading: See our roundup of the best gaming keyboards to learn more about competing items.
What sets the Corsair K65 Pro Mini apart?
The K65 Pro Mini separates itself from other mini video gaming keyboards with a couple of specific functions It includes PBT keycaps standard, and though that’s ending up being more and more typical, this is an especially well-crafted set with a great rough texture that’s really “grippy” throughout video gaming sessions. The board has foam dampening inside the body, and maybe most importantly, comes with Corsair’s fast and semi-proprietary OPX linear optical switches.
For the uninitiated, optical switches interrupt a beam of light to activate an essential press rather of waiting for a physical connection on an electrical contact. Corsair states this keyboard has 2 layers of internal sound dampening, shown by the taken off view.
Optical, linear switches are most likely the best switches for gaming, at least in purely technical terms, even without the questionably needed analog actuation of a few of the most pricey boards. The optical construct does indicate this board does without the hot-swap sockets for true personalization beyond lighting and keycaps. For that function, look somewhere else in Corsair’s lineup, like the a lot more pricey K70 Pro line.
Corsair K65 Pro Mini’s other features.
The K65 has other charms. These consist of the abovementioned PBT keycaps (standard), an impressive 8,000 Hz polling rate (for those of you with literally superhuman reflexes), an aluminum top deck that’s pleasantly solid while keeping a lightweight main body for taking a trip, a braided, removable USB-C cable, and a smart design that’s helpfully highlighted by both the keycaps and the lighting system. In between that and the forgiving 65 percent design with arrow secrets, it might be the mini keyboard with the least amount of change time.
The smartest tweak for usability is that the function layer illuminate when you press the Fn key.
Let me reveal you what I indicate. See how the default position of the Delete secret is ideal beside the \ key, just a few millimeters far from where it is on a standard layout? That leaves the far less-used Page Up and Page Down to be physically moved. And media and volume secrets are all clustered in the bottom-right corner, so they’re simple to control with one hand. The Print Screen key is matched to Fn+P, an obvious choice that a shocking number of smaller keyboards merely do not make. It’s excellent stuff. And all this is plainly noticeable on the default keycaps.
The smartest tweak for use is that the function layer lights up when you press the Fn secret, immediately showing you which secrets do what, and leaving the unused keys dark. It’s a fantastic little way to provide you an immediate refresh on functions even in the dark.
Who needs software?
Speaking of lighting, the K65 can do all the normal bells and whistles, and after that some, through Corsair’s iCue software application. iCue is honestly a little cumbersome, but once you’ve appointed any custom-made design and effect you want, there’s no reason to go back. Since this is a wired board, there’s no factor to turn down the lights or that fancy 8,000 Hz ballot.
Here again, Corsair is showing some really smart work on the keyboard, as many of the crucial functions can be accessed without iCue set up at all. Custom macros can be configured and cleared from the keys alone. Approximately fifty (FIFTY!) customized profiles can be minimized the keyboard’s local memory, cycled through with Fn+Z by default. You can even save as much as 20 on-board lighting impacts, selectable and adjustable via hardware only, if that’s your jam. Fn+Win for 5 seconds will change the keyboard into PlayStation mode for the PS4 or PS5.
The only thing you can’t do, with or without the iCue software application … is move the Fn button. That was a huge detraction for me on the similar-sized K70, but it’s less of a concern here thanks to the additional keys, so you don’t have to re-learn arrow controls. Still, I long for the day this is as easy on a mainstream board as it is on store constructs with VIA compatibility.
Should you buy the Corsair K65 Pro Mini?
I want the keyboard feet were double-staged for a slightly higher profile, and possibly that a wrist rest was included for the cost. Which brings us to the value conversation: At $130, it’s relatively up there, even for all that the K65 does.
If you’re considering a Corsair board, odds are you desire a mainstream gaming brand. That pits the K65 Pro Mini against the Razer Huntsman Mini (standard optical switches), at the same cost but with a lot more cramped design, and the Roccat Vulcan Mini II, which swaps the PBT keycaps for a much brighter light program with its “floating” keycap style.
Assuming a super-fast optical setup is what you want, and you don’t care about the pricey analog upgrade on the Hunstman, I ‘d go with the K65 Pro Mini for its superior typing feel and intelligent design choices. The reality that you can access so many functions without needing to include the iCue software is a huge plus.
Presuming a super-fast optical setup is what you want … I ‘d go with the K65 Pro Mini for its exceptional typing feel.
I wish it was more affordable … however you could say the very same about almost any video gaming keyboard these days, and it’s in line with the competitors. This is a new design hitting retail today, so if you’re feeling economical, simply await a sale. If you’re not, proceed and buy it with confidence.
