Expert Test
Goodness
- Quick changes to lighting
- Intelligent layout and function layer
- Solid parts
- Almost all options are available without software
evil
- Expensive
- Noise reduction does not help
Our Decision
For gamers who want an interactive, wired keyboard that’s fast, the K65 Mini Pro is the best around. It’s cheap and the foam inside doesn’t do much, but the solid hardware and good looks (with or without iCue) push it above the competition.
Have you checked out the market for mini gaming keyboards lately? You might think it’s a pretty niche, but it’s crowded with competitors from manufacturers big and small. So to make its latest keyboard, the K65 Pro Mini, stand out, Corsair did…
But looks can be deceiving. Whereas the K65 Pro Mini doesn’t wow you with flashy gimmicks or dubious accessories like an OLED screen, it nails the basics and includes some features that players will love. Optical switches and high-end devices produce only sound.
I’d say it’s probably not enough to justify the $130 price tag, especially for a small board…except that the competition is around the same price. If you’re willing to splurge and want a solid, straightforward design that doesn’t need much, the K65 Mini Pro is a great option.
Also read: Check out our collection of the best gaming keyboards learning about competing products.
What sets the Corsair K65 Pro Mini apart?
The K65 Pro Mini sets itself apart from other mini gaming keyboards with its minimalist design. It comes with PBT keycaps, and these are staying put more and more, this is a very well-designed set with a great visual effect that is very “effective” during the game. The board has a damp foam interior, and perhaps best of all, it comes with Corsair’s fast and stable OPX switches.
The K65’s OPX optical switches are very unique to the game, but they cannot be removed or replaced.
Michael Crider / Foundry
For the uninitiated, visual switches interrupt the light to turn on the printer instead of waiting for a power connection. Combined with the smooth linear behavior, it makes the switches very fast and light with no scratches or bumps through the print. Corsair says that this keyboard has two layers of noise reduction inside, which is confirmed by the blown shape. But if it’s quieter than other boards in the line, I don’t hear it.
Visually, line changes are probably the best changes in the game, especially technically, even without the need to doubt. analog switch of the most expensive wood. But the sleek design means this board does without hot switches for customization beyond the lighting and keycaps. For these shows, look elsewhere in the Corsair series, if The most expensive K70 Pro line.
Features of the Corsair K65 Pro Mini
But the K65 has other charms. These include the aforementioned PBT keycaps (standard), an impressive 8,000Hz frequency response (for those of you with a superhuman mind), an aluminum chassis that’s durable while keeping the body light on the go, and a USB-C connector. cable, is a smart feature that is best displayed with all keycaps and method of analysis. Between that and forgiving 65 percent layout with arrow keys, it can be a small keyboard with less time to change.
The smartest way to use it is that the function panel lights up when you press the Fn key.
Let me show you what I mean. Notice how the default position of the Delete key is next to the key, just a few millimeters from where it is in the default setting? This leaves the less frequently used Front Page and Page Footer to be edited. And the media and volume keys are all stacked on the bottom right, so they’re easy to control with one hand. The Print Screen key is equivalent to Fn+P, an obvious choice that smaller keyboards don’t make. It’s good stuff. And all this is clearly visible on the default system.
Michael Crider / Foundry
But the most amazing thing about the application is that the function panel lights up when you press the Fn key, showing you the keys that do it, and leaving the unused keys black. It’s a small way to give you an instant refresh on the process even in the dark.
Who needs software?
As for lighting, the K65 can do the usual bells and whistles, and then some, via Corsair’s iCue software. iCue is a bit simple, but once you get the look and feel you want, there’s no going back. Since it’s a wired board, there’s no need to turn off the lights or the fancy 8,000Hz rating.
Michael Crider / Foundry
But here again, Corsair presents the most intelligent functions on the keyboard, since many important functions can be found. without iCue is always installed. Custom macros can be programmed and deleted from the keys themselves. Up to fifty (FIFTY!) color profiles can be stored in the keyboard’s memory, cycled by Fn+Z at random. You can store up to 20 lights on the board, selectable and configurable via hardware only, if that’s your jam. Fn + Win for 5 seconds will switch the keyboard to PlayStation mode for PS4 or PS5.
Michael Crider / Foundry
The only thing you can’t do, with or without the iCue app…is move the Fn button. That was a big deal breaker for me on the same K70, but it’s not a problem here because of the extra keys, so you don’t have to learn to control the arrows again. However, I long for the day when this is as easy on a mainboard as it is on boutique builds and VIA.
Should you buy the Corsair K65 Pro Mini?
As for other gripes, they are few and far between. I wish that the feet of the keyboard were made twice so that they were a little higher, and maybe a hand rest was included in the price. Which brings us to the price discussion: At $130, it’s a bargain, despite everything the K65 does well. You can get visual switches with many functions from small brands like Epomaker for about half the price, and if light isn’t important, G.Skill KM250 It remains a board game to conquer.
Michael Crider / Foundry
But if you’re considering a Corsair board, chances are you’re looking for a popular gaming model. This puts the K65 Pro Mini up against Razer Huntsman Mini (optical switches), at the same price but with a smaller display, and ma Rocket Vulcan Mini IIwhich swaps out the PBT keycaps for a brighter display with its “floating” design.
Assuming a high-end setup is what you want, and you don’t care about Hunstman’s analog upgrade, I’d go with the K65 Pro Mini for its high-end features and smart choices. The fact that you can access many functions without using the iCue app is a plus.
Assuming the fastest setup is what you want…I’d go with the K65 Pro Mini because of the better specs.
I wish it was cheaper…but you can say the same about almost any gaming keyboard these days, and it fits the competition. This is a new model that goes on sale today, so if you feel like you don’t care, just wait for the sale. If you are not, go ahead and buy with confidence.