For a while now, Corsair has been at the top of the PC gaming peripheral market with a strong suite of keyboards, headsets, and mice. Its line of devices caters to a wide variety of needs and tastes, but even so many years later there are still more ways that the company can expand and improve. With the Corsair K65 RBG Mini, the company is entering the 60% keyboard market and bringing all its usual bells and whistles along.
60% keyboards are focused on delivering a no-frills experience. Everything is compacted into a small rectangle with no space between the keys and no 10-key Numpad on the side or Function keys on the top row. Most PC gamers opt for the 60% keyboard because they don’t take up a lot of desk real estate and are portable. The focus is put on the central keys necessary for gaming, and anything else, while still accessible, is put in the periphery.
The Corsair K65 RBG Mini retail package includes the keyboard, a removable USB-C to USB-A cable, a tool for removing keys, a replacement ESC keycap with the Corsair logo on it, and a space bar with a more elaborate design. It retails for $109.99.
The Corsair K65 RBG Mini features either Cherry or Speed Silver MX switches for smooth key presses and leverages Corsair’s proprietary AXON technology to deliver 8,000Hz hyper-polling. In laymen’s terms, that means the keyboard has a satisfying click to each key and it never misses a press. There is a satisfying feedback on each of the keys that has just enough of a click to it, but not enough to require any noticeable effort. It's not quiet, but it's not obnoxiously loud either. Mechanical keyboards are not going to be for everyone, but those that prefer their more tactile nature, the Corsair K65 RBG Mini is no doubt a great offering.
Keyboards of this type can oftentimes feel cheap or plastic-y, but the Corsair K65 RGB Mini is well made and designed. That’s not to say that the company is reinventing the wheel when it comes to 60% keyboards, but clearly, they have watched what the competition is doing and cherry-picked the most popular design elements. A detachable USB cable, for example, is a small detail but one that helps allow gamers to pack up the keyboard whenever they need to. But the most important detail is always the feel of the keyboard, and once again Corsair delivers an exceptional device.
There is a nice bounce to each key but not enough that there was ever any concern about a double press or inaccuracy when typing. Rolling through WASD during a game session was always extremely accurate and precise, and that compact nature helps keep from putting too much strain on the fingers or wrist. The keyboard has enough weight to it that it won’t shift around during intense gaming sessions, but its small footprint encourages taking it on the go or changing its orientation. Corsair has dialed in the angle of the keyboard to make sure its ergonomics aren't uncomfortable during long play sessions. This style of keyboards is mostly targeted at gamers, but even for basic word processing, it’s still a great option.
60% keyboards might not be as enticing to some users because of lost features, but Corsair makes up for that with a function toggle. Every key has a secondary function that can be accessed by holding down the function key [FN] first. So, actions like Delete, F1-F12, or even pausing music are still accessible with the smaller form factor. Users can also program a wide variety of macros for MMO or more advanced gaming needs. Press a button combo and the keyboard will record a series of presses, which can then be replicated at will. It takes some getting used to, but the more complex options of a keyboard are there if need be.
The Corsair K65 RBG Mini also has full support for Corsair’s iCUE technology, which customizes the RGB on the keyboard. There are some simple toggles that can be accessed right from the keyboard using the Function key, but users can also dive deeper into iCUE and create any look that they want. iCUE is very simple to use and doesn’t take more than a few minutes to setup. For gamers who like to have all of their peripherals matching a color scheme or a theme, iCUE is essential and the Corsair K65 RBG Mini fully supports it.
Corsair might be a recognizable brand across PCs and PC gaming, so there’s no question that the company knows keyboards. Whether it’s the more fully-featured Platinum and Pro line or this new Corsair K65 RBG Mini, each has delivered exactly what they set out to without any compromises. For this new 60% model, that commitment to quality is once again on display.
Something like a detachable USB-C cable might seem inconsequential, but it helps with the portability of the peripheral and is such a nice touch. But strictly talking about the feel and the feature-set, the Corsair K65 RBG Mini ticks all the boxes. The keys have a satisfying bounce and click to them that’s not too loud or intrusive. There is no concern about misclicks and the function key ensures users won’t miss out on any essential keyboard options. Corsair typically enters a space when it knows that it has a thoughtful offering that can compete with the best. The Corsair K65 RBG Mini is exactly that.
Corsair's K65 RGB Mini Keyboard is available now for $109.99. Game Rant was provided a review unit for this coverage.