At a look

Expert’s Rating

Pros

• Fast optical switches
• Intelligent structure and performance layer
• Solid parts
• Almost all choices obtainable with out software program

Cons

• Expensive
• Sound dampening is ineffective

Our Verdict

For avid gamers who need a compact, wired board that’s all about velocity, the K65 Mini Pro is the very best round. It’s a bit dear and the inner foam isn’t doing a lot, however strong {hardware} and a very good structure (with or with out iCue) push it above the competitors.

Price When Reviewed

$129.99

Best Prices Today: Corsair K65 Pro Mini keyboard

$129.99

Have you checked out the marketplace for mechanical mini gaming keyboards currently? You would possibly assume that’s a fairly small area of interest, however it’s completely swarming with opponents from producers each large and small. So to make its newest itty-bitty keyboard, the K65 Pro Mini, stand out, Corsair did…properly, not quite a bit, at the least at first look. 

But seems to be might be deceiving. While the K65 Pro Mini doesn’t wow you with flashy gimmicks or questionably helpful add-ons like an OLED screen, it nails the fundamentals and contains some options that avid gamers will love. Optical switches and high-quality supplies make an announcement all on their very own. 

I’d say that in all probability isn’t sufficient to justify a hefty $130 price ticket, particularly for such a small board…besides that the competitors is about the identical value. If you’re prepared to splurge and also you need a strong, simple optical design shorn of pointless extras, the K65 Mini Pro is an effective possibility.

Further studying: See our roundup of the best gaming keyboards to find out about competing merchandise.

What units the Corsair K65 Pro Mini aside?

The K65 Pro Mini differentiates itself from different mini gaming keyboards with a couple of particular options. It comes with PBT keycaps commonplace, and although that’s changing into more and more common, this can be a notably well-made set with a pleasant tough texture that’s very “grippy” throughout gaming periods. The board has foam dampening contained in the physique, and maybe most significantly, comes with Corsair’s speedy and semi-proprietary OPX linear optical switches.  

Michael Crider/Foundry

For the uninitiated, optical switches interrupt a beam of sunshine to actuate a key press as a substitute of ready for a bodily connection on {an electrical} contact. Combined with a easy linear motion, it makes the switches extraordinarily quick and light-weight with no scratches or bumps by the press. Corsair says this keyboard has two layers of inside sound dampening, confirmed by the exploded view. But if it’s considerably quieter than different linear boards, I can’t hear it. 

Optical, linear switches are in all probability the very best switches for gaming, at the least in purely technical phrases, even with out the questionably vital analog actuation of a few of the most costly boards. But the optical construct does imply this board does with out the hot-swap sockets for true customization past lighting and keycaps. For that characteristic, look elsewhere in Corsair’s lineup, just like the much more expensive K70 Pro line. 

Corsair K65 Pro Mini’s different options

But the K65 has different charms. These embrace the aforementioned PBT keycaps (commonplace), a powerful 8,000Hz polling fee (for these of you with actually superhuman reflexes), an aluminum high deck that’s pleasantly strong whereas conserving a light-weight most important physique for touring, a braided, removable USB-C cable, and an clever structure that’s helpfully illustrated by each the keycaps and the lighting system. Between that and the forgiving 65 p.c structure with arrow keys, it may be the mini keyboard with the least quantity of adjustment time. 

Let me present you what I imply. See how the default place of the Delete key’s proper subsequent to the key, only some millimeters away from the place it’s on a regular structure? That leaves the far less-used Page Up and Page Down to be bodily shifted. And media and quantity keys are all clustered within the bottom-right nook, in order that they’re straightforward to control with one hand. The Print Screen key’s matched to Fn+P, an apparent selection {that a} surprising variety of smaller keyboards merely don’t make. It’s good things. And all that is clearly seen on the default keycaps. 

Michael Crider/Foundry

But the neatest tweak for usability is that the perform layer lights up if you press the Fn key, immediately exhibiting you which ones keys do what, and leaving the unused keys darkish. It’s an important little approach to provide you with an instantaneous refresh on features even in the dead of night. 

Who wants software program?

Speaking of lighting, the K65 can do all the same old bells and whistles, after which some, by Corsair’s iCue software program. iCue is frankly slightly clunky, however when you’ve assigned any customized structure and impact you need, there’s no motive to return. Since this can be a wired board, there’s no motive to show down the lights or that fancy 8,000Hz polling. 

Michael Crider/Foundry

But right here once more, Corsair is exhibiting some very clever work on the keyboard, as many of the essential features might be accessed with out iCue put in in any respect. Custom macros might be programmed and cleared from the keys alone. Up to fifty (FIFTY!) customized profiles might be saved on the keyboard’s native reminiscence, cycled by with Fn+Z by default. You may even save as much as 20 on-board lighting results, selectable and adjustable by way of {hardware} solely, if that’s your jam. Fn+Win for five seconds will change the keyboard into PlayStation mode for the PS4 or PS5. 

Michael Crider/Foundry

The solely factor you’ll be able to’t do, with or with out the iCue software program…is transfer the Fn button. That was a giant detraction for me on the similar-sized K70, however it’s much less of a difficulty right here because of the additional keys, so that you don’t should re-learn arrow controls. But nonetheless, I lengthy for the day that is as straightforward on a mainstream board as it’s on boutique builds with VIA compatibility. 

Should you purchase the Corsair K65 Pro Mini?

As for different gripes, they’re few and much between. I want the keyboard toes have been double-staged for a barely increased profile, and perhaps {that a} wrist relaxation was included for the worth. Which brings us to the worth dialogue: At $130, it’s pretty up there, even for all that the K65 does proper. You can get optical switches and extra performance from smaller manufacturers like Epomaker for about half the worth, and if optical isn’t essential, the G.Skill KM250 stays the price range board to beat.

Michael Crider/Foundry

But in the event you’re contemplating a Corsair board, odds are you need a mainstream gaming model. That pits the K65 Pro Mini in opposition to the Razer Huntsman Mini (commonplace optical switches), on the similar value however with a way more cramped structure, and the Roccat Vulcan Mini II, which swaps the PBT keycaps for a a lot brighter gentle present with its “floating” keycap design. 

Assuming a super-fast optical setup is what you need, and also you don’t care concerning the costly analog improve on the Hunstman, I’d go along with the K65 Pro Mini for its superior typing really feel and clever structure decisions. The reality you could entry so many features with out having to contain the iCue software program is a giant plus. 

I want it was cheaper…however you can say the identical about virtually any gaming keyboard nowadays, and it’s in keeping with the competitors. This is a brand-new design hitting retail at this time, so in the event you’re feeling frugal, simply anticipate a sale. If you’re not, go forward and purchase it with confidence.