Corsair’s K65 Series Keyboards have always been about high performance in a compact size. For the original K65, Corsair took a full-sized 104-key gaming keyboard, tossed out the 10-key pad, and then chopped off as much of the case as possible. Gamers are now screaming for even more compact options, and Corsair is answering the call with a new keyboard option - the K65 Plus Wireless 75% Keyboard. A marriage of gaming aesthetics and custom keyboard features, the K65 Plus Wireless may just be the perfect choice for the gamer on the go. It works pretty darn well for living-room gaming, too.
Specifications
- Current Price: $159.99 (Corsair)
- Form Factor: 75%
- Dimensions: 320 x 136 x 35mm
- Weight: .918kg
- Colorway: Black with gray accents
- Keycaps: Dye-sub PBT single shot
- Backlighting: Individually LED lit with per-key programming
- Switches: Corsair MLX Red Linear mechanical switches, 45g actuation force
- Switch Life: 70 million keystrokes
- Polling Rate: 1000Hz
- On-Board Profiles: 4
- Connectivity: 2.4GHz w/dongle, Bluetooth, USB 3.0 Type-A
- Battery: Polymer Li-ion
- Battery Life: 266 hours with RGB off
- Warranty: 2 years
Corsair K65 Plus Wireless - What Is It?
As I already mentioned, the original K65 keyboard was Corsair’s take on a tenkeyless board. Corsair followed that up with the K65 Mini, a super-compact 60% keyboard. The K65 Plus Wireless fills the gap in the compact K65 lineup and features a 75% layout.
For those unfamiliar with the 75% layout, it is basically a keyboard minus all of those extra keys that you rarely use on the right side of a regular keyboard. Unlike a 60% mini layout that completely cuts out all of the fluff, a 75% keyboard retains a complete function key row and some of the navigation keys; the right side Shift key is shortened to fit the arrow keys at the bottom right of the keyboard, with the Home, PgUp, and PgDn keys positioned vertically to the right of the Enter key.
The layout takes a little getting used to if you’re coming from a larger layout, but the smaller form factor actually puts the most used navigation keys in closer to your natural hand positions. To maintain the functionality of a full-sized keyboard, a 75% board assigns the missing keys as secondary functions on many of the keys found on a full-sized keyboard.
For the K65 Pro Wireless, holding the Fn key activates the second layer of key functions. The function keys do double duty as multimedia keys, screen brightness, and a few Windows navigation keys, while other primary keys function as the other missing navigation keys, including Ins and End, as well as less-used keys like PrintScreen and Scroll Lock. And as an added touch, Corsair was able to fit in a multi-function rotary dial on the top right of the board which can be programmed through Corsair’s iCUE software.
Corsair K65 Plus Wireless - Gaming Aesthetics and Functionality
Corsair is deeply ingrained in the gaming peripheral market, so it shouldn’t be surprising that the K65 Pro Wireless features the full gamut of gaming aesthetics. The all-black case is accented by gunmetal-tinted PBT dye-sublimated keycaps. Further accents include a custom Corsair branded Escape key and a spacebar with a geometric gradient.
The K65 also sports per-key RGB backlighting. Basic lighting functionality is carried out through secondary key functions and includes some of the more popular lighting schemes, like rainbow and color pulse. More lighting functionality is unlocked through Corsair’s iCUE software, which allows you to design lighting scenes that flow across all of your Corsair peripherals and hardware. Any lighting scheme you create through iCUE can be downloaded to the keyboard, allowing it to be used even when the software is not running. Finally, with space on the top of the keyboard at a premium, an RGB on/off button is located on the left side of the case.
Corsair’s iCUE software is also used to assign key functionality. Individual keys can be remapped to other keypresses or functions. Gamers will also be happy to know that macro recording and activation are also handled within iCUE or through built-in functionality on the K65 Plus.
Corsair K65 Plus Wireless - Custom Keyboard Quality
The K65 Plus Wireless may look similar to a mass-produced gaming keyboard, but it packs in a ton of custom keyboard quality-of-life upgrades under the hood. The Corsair MLX Red Linear switches come pre-lubed, saving me the time of having to lube them up myself. I’m a fan of linear switches, and the lube really makes this set slide effortlessly from top to bottom. And if linear switches aren’t your thing, the included set can be hot-swapped out with any Cherry 3 or 5-pin switch. And speaking of switching, the only thing I would change on the K65 Plus are the keycaps. I am surprised that Corsair went with a dye-sublimated keycap over a better-quality double-shot set of caps.
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Going deeper into the case, Corsair uses two layers of sound-dampening foam to great effect in the K65 Plus Wireless. There isn’t a hint of tinniness to the keypress, with each key giving off a consistent, deep sound. Even the larger keys, like the space bar and shift keys, have a deep sound, something that many keyboards have difficulty in achieving.
Corsair K65 Plus Wireless - Connectivity
Since the K65 Plus is the perfect size to be used while traveling - or just sitting on the couch playing PC games on your big-screen TV - it is packed with connectivity options. Along with a wired USB connection, the K65 Plus offers 2.4GHz wireless through a USB dongle. 2.4GHz wireless is perfect for gaming and provides a 1000Hz polling rate to ensure your key inputs translate to in-game actions just as quickly as a wired connection.
2.4GHz wireless does tax your battery, so the K65 Plus also comes with Bluetooth. Up to three devices can be paired and swapped between with a single keystroke.
The K65 Plus Wireless is compatible with a wide array of devices. A toggle switch on the back of the case lets you switch between PC and Mac, with wired, 2.4GHz, and Bluetooth functionality controlled through another 3-way switch that is also located on the back of the case. Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One compatibility are also supported out of the box, and Playstation 4 & 5 mode via wired or USB is activated by shortcut keys. And practically any smartphone, tablet, or other device supporting Bluetooth 4.0+ can be connected to one of the three Bluetooth channels on the K65 Plus Wireless.
Final Thoughts
Choosing a keyboard layout is a very personal decision. I sported a full-sized 104-key keyboard for the majority of my gaming life. It wasn’t until a few years ago that I replaced my Corsair Strafe Mk. II with the smaller K70 RGB TKL. I have reviewed a couple of smaller keyboards lately, and the Corsair K65 Plus Wireless is the first one that I felt truly comfortable using.
Most of that comfort is just my familiarity with Corsair’s gaming aesthetics. It has taken a while to get used to the layout of a 75% keyboard, but I believe that the mass-market gaming style of the K65 Plus Wireless has more to do with my comfort while typing than anything else. Most custom boards I’ve used go with a bigger, bulkier case, and the compact case of the K65 Plus is just more similar to my daily-use keyboard. Given time, I am sure I could adapt to a more custom case, but now I don’t need to. That is important to me since a compact keyboard will be a secondary device that is only used during travel or couch gaming, not one I’d use on my main rig.
I have also been very pleased with the actual typing and sound of the K65 Plus Wireless. Corsair is spot on with its choices of switches, foam, and all the other customizeables of a DIY keyboard. The pre-lubed MXL Red Linear switches are super smooth, although I’d trade out the stock keycaps for a set with shine-through legends. Every keypress feels solid, with my only complaint being a little horizontal wiggle when the keys are in an unpressed state. And the deep, solid sound of the keys bottoming out is void of any tinnyness and is so, so satisfying. Now all I have to do is figure out how to keep my cat from joining me on the couch when game time comes around.
The product described in this article was provided by the manufacturer for evaluation purposes.
