At a look
Skilled’s Ranking
Execs
- Quick optical switches
- Clever format and performance layer
- Stable parts
- Nearly all choices obtainable with out software program
Cons
- Costly
- Sound dampening is ineffective
Our Verdict
For players who need a compact, wired board that’s all about pace, the K65 Mini Professional is one of the best round. It’s a bit expensive and the interior foam isn’t doing a lot, however strong {hardware} and a very good format push it above the competitors.
Worth When Reviewed
$129.99
Greatest Costs Right this moment: Corsair K65 Professional Mini keyboard
$129.99
Have you ever checked out the marketplace for mechanical mini gaming keyboards recently? You would possibly assume that’s a reasonably small area of interest, but it surely’s completely swarming with rivals from producers each massive and small. So, to make its newest itty-bitty keyboard, the K65 Professional Mini, stand out, Corsair did…nicely, not so much, a minimum of at first look.
However seems to be will be deceiving. Whereas the K65 Professional Mini doesn’t wow you with flashy gimmicks or an attention-grabbing design, it nails the fundamentals and contains some options that players will love. Optical switches and high-quality supplies make a press release all on their very own.
That most likely isn’t sufficient to justify a hefty price ticket, particularly for such a small board…besides that the competitors is about the identical value. For those who’re prepared to splurge and also you need a strong, simple optical design shorn of pointless extras, the K65 Mini Professional is an effective possibility.
Design & construct
- Spectacular PBT keybcaps
- Quick and exact OPX switches
- Sound dampening might be higher
The K65 Professional Mini differentiates itself from different mini gaming keyboards with a number of particular options. It comes with PBT (polybutylene terephthalate) keycaps as normal, and this can be a significantly well-made set with a pleasant tough texture that’s very grippy throughout gaming classes.
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.
The K65’s OPX optical switches are extremely specialised for gaming, however can’t be eliminated or changed.
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. Mixed with a easy linear motion, it makes the switches extraordinarily quick and lightweight with no scratches or bumps by the press.
Corsair says this keyboard has two layers of inner sound dampening, confirmed by the exploded view. But when it’s considerably quieter than different linear boards, I can’t hear it.
Optical, linear switches are most likely one of the best switches for gaming, a minimum of in purely technical phrases. The optical construct means this board comes with out the hot-swap sockets for true customisation past lighting and keycaps, although. For that characteristic, you’ll want to have a look at one thing just like the K70 RGB ($129.99/£159.99).
The neatest tweak for usability is that the perform layer lights up once you press the Fn key.
However the K65 has different charms. These embody the aforementioned PBT keycaps (normal), a formidable 8,000Hz polling fee (for these of you with actually superhuman reflexes) and a strong aluminium high deck.
It additionally retains a light-weight predominant physique for travelling, alongside a braided, removable USB-C cable and clever format that’s helpfully illustrated by each the keycaps and lighting system. Between that and the forgiving 65% format with arrow keys, it could 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, just a few millimetres away from the place it’s on a regular format? That leaves the far less-used Web page Up and Web page Right down to be bodily shifted.
Media and quantity keys are all clustered within the bottom-right nook, so that they’re straightforward to control with one hand. The Print Display key’s matched to Fn+P, an apparent selection {that a} stunning 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
However the smartest tweak for usability is that the perform layer lights up once you press the Fn key, immediately displaying you which of them keys do what, and leaving the unused keys darkish. It’s a fantastic little method to offer you an on the spot refresh on capabilities, even at the hours of darkness.
Different options
- A lot of options through iCue companion software program
- Customized macros, customized profiles, lighting results, PlayStation mode
- No skill to maneuver Fn button
Talking 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 a bit clunky, however when you’ve assigned any customized format 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
However Corsair has a formidable vary of options on the keyboard itself. Certainly, a lot of the essential capabilities will be accessed with out iCue put in in any respect.
Customized macros will be programmed and cleared from the keys alone. As much as 50 customized profiles will be saved on the keyboard’s native reminiscence, cycled by with Fn+Z by default. You possibly can even save as much as 20 on-board lighting results, all of that are selectable and adjustable through the keyboard {hardware}.
You additionally get PlayStation mode for the PS4 or PS5 – simply press Fn+Win for 5 seconds to allow it.
Michael Crider/Foundry
The one 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, but it surely’s much less of a problem right here because of the additional keys.
So, you gained’t need to re-learn the location of arrow controls, however I nonetheless lengthy for a day when you’ll be able to simply transfer the Fn button on a mainstream keyboard. It’s already simple on specialised variations with VIA compatibility.
As for different gripes, they’re few and much between. I want the keyboard toes had been double-staged for a barely increased profile, and possibly {that a} wrist relaxation was included for the value. However there’s not a lot to dislike right here.
Worth & availability
Speaking of value, the K65 Professional Mini doesn’t come low-cost.
It’ll set you again $129.99/£129 when paying full value, from Corsair and Greatest Purchase within the US or Corsair and Amazon within the UK.
That makes it one of many extra premium keyboards round, but it surely’s not extortionately priced for all the things you’re getting right here.
Michael Crider/Foundry
Verdict
Assuming a super-fast optical setup is what you need, and also you don’t care about some high-end options, the the K65 Professional Mini is a superb compact keyboard.
It gives a wonderful typing really feel and clever format selections. Additionally, the truth that you’ll be able to entry so many capabilities with out the iCue companion software program is a giant plus.
I want it was cheaper, however you might say the identical about virtually any gaming keyboard nowadays. It’s nonetheless in step with the competitors, and prone to be on sale sooner or later sooner or later.
However except you’re feeling frugal, you most likely gained’t remorse shopping for the K65 Professional Mini proper now.