At a look 
Knowledgeable’s Score
Professionals
- Quick optical switches
- Clever structure and performance layer
- Strong elements
- Virtually all choices accessible with out software program
Cons
- Costly
- Sound dampening is ineffective
Our Verdict
For avid gamers who need a compact, wired board that’s all about pace, the K65 Mini Professional is the perfect round. It’s a bit dear and the interior foam isn’t doing a lot, however strong {hardware} and a very good structure (with or with out iCue) push it above the competitors.
Greatest Costs At the moment: Corsair K65 Professional Mini keyboard
$129.99
Have you ever checked out the marketplace for mechanical mini gaming keyboards recently? You may assume that’s a fairly small area of interest, nevertheless it’s completely swarming with opponents from producers each massive and small. So to make its newest itty-bitty keyboard, the K65 Professional Mini, stand out, Corsair did…effectively, not rather a lot, not less than at first look.
However appears to be like could be deceiving. Whereas the K65 Professional Mini doesn’t wow you with flashy gimmicks or questionably helpful add-ons like an OLED display, it nails the fundamentals and consists of 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. When you’re prepared to splurge and also you need a strong, easy optical design shorn of pointless extras, the K65 Mini Professional is an effective choice.
Additional studying: See our roundup of the perfect gaming keyboards to find out about competing merchandise.
What units the Corsair K65 Professional Mini aside?
The K65 Professional Mini differentiates itself from different mini gaming keyboards with just a few particular options. It comes with PBT keycaps normal, and although that’s changing into increasingly frequent, it is 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.
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 way of 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 in all probability the perfect switches for gaming, not less than in purely technical phrases, even with out the questionably needed analog actuation of among the costliest boards. However 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 way more costly K70 Professional line.
Corsair K65 Professional Mini’s different options
However the K65 has different charms. These embody the aforementioned PBT keycaps (normal), a formidable 8,000Hz polling charge (for these of you with actually superhuman reflexes), an aluminum high deck that’s pleasantly strong whereas maintaining a light-weight primary 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 % structure with arrow keys, it may be the mini keyboard with the least quantity of adjustment time.
The neatest tweak for usability is that the perform layer lights up if you press the Fn key.
Let me present you what I imply. See how the default place of the Delete secret’s proper subsequent to the key, just a few millimeters away from the place it’s on a typical structure? That leaves the far less-used Web page Up and Web page All the way down to be bodily shifted. And 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 secret’s matched to Fn+P, an apparent selection {that a} surprising variety of smaller keyboards merely don’t make. It’s great 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 if you press the Fn key, immediately exhibiting you which ones keys do what, and leaving the unused keys darkish. It’s an incredible little solution to provide you with an on the spot refresh on capabilities even at the hours of darkness.
Who wants software program?
Talking of lighting, the K65 can do all the standard bells and whistles, after which some, by way of Corsair’s iCue software program. iCue is frankly somewhat clunky, however when you’ve assigned any customized structure and impact you need, there’s no cause to return. Since it is a wired board, there’s no cause to show down the lights or that fancy 8,000Hz polling.
Michael Crider/Foundry
However right here once more, Corsair is exhibiting some very clever work on the keyboard, as a lot of the necessary capabilities could be accessed with out iCue put in in any respect. Customized macros could be programmed and cleared from the keys alone. As much as fifty (FIFTY!) customized profiles could be saved on the keyboard’s native reminiscence, cycled by way of with Fn+Z by default. You may even save as much as 20 on-board lighting results, selectable and adjustable through {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 one factor you possibly can’t do, with or with out the iCue software program…is transfer the Fn button. That was an enormous detraction for me on the similar-sized K70, nevertheless it’s much less of a problem right here because of the additional keys, so that you don’t need to re-learn arrow controls. However nonetheless, I lengthy for the day that is as straightforward on a mainstream board as it’s on boutique builds with VIA compatibility.
Must you purchase the Corsair K65 Professional Mini?
As for different gripes, they’re few and much between. I want the keyboard ft had been double-staged for a barely increased profile, and possibly {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 may get optical switches and extra performance from smaller manufacturers like Epomaker for about half the worth, and if optical isn’t necessary, the G.Talent KM250 stays the finances board to beat.
Michael Crider/Foundry
However for those who’re contemplating a Corsair board, odds are you need a mainstream gaming model. That pits the K65 Professional Mini towards the Razer Huntsman Mini (normal optical switches), on the identical 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 in regards to the costly analog improve on the Hunstman, I’d go along with the K65 Professional Mini for its superior typing really feel and clever structure decisions. The truth that you possibly can entry so many capabilities with out having to contain the iCue software program is an enormous plus.
Assuming a super-fast optical setup is what you need…I’d go along with the K65 Professional Mini for its superior typing really feel.
I want it was cheaper…however you may say the identical about virtually any gaming keyboard lately, and it’s in step with the competitors. This can be a brand-new design hitting retail at present, so for those who’re feeling frugal, simply look forward to a sale. When you’re not, go forward and purchase it with confidence.
