In our Corsair K65 Plus Wireless Keyboard Review, we will look into the newest mechanical gaming keyboard from Corsair. It is a compact K65 series model that is a 75% keyboard.
The product offers premium elements like hot-swappable mechanical switches with layers of sound-dampening elements. Moreover, the K65 Plus comes with MLX Red linear switches.
This Corsair K65 Plus Wireless Keyboard Review looks into its performance. But other than that, we will also discuss its design, specifications, functions, and features.
Corsair K65 Plus Wireless Keyboard Packaging
Corsair shipped the K65 Plus in a black cardboard box with the company branding. The front shows the product image with its name and a few features, while the other sides have more details.
Aside from the K65 Plus, you will find the following items inside the box:
- USB cable
- USB wireless receiver
- 2-in-1 key switch and keycap puller
- Warranty card
Corsair K65 Plus Wireless Keyboard Review – Design and Functionality
The K65 Plus is a unique keyboard from Corsair. It has a compact 75% layout and offers the best experience for gaming and productivity.
Although smaller than a tenkeyless mechanical keyboard, it retains most utility keys. Corsair achieved this by compressing the arrow keys below. Plus, the page up, page down, and home keys are in a single column on the rightmost portion of the keyboard.
The delete key is on the top row, next to the multi-function knob. Other function keys are secondary commands combined with several keys. You can access them by holding the Fn button.
It sports a black polycarbonate plastic reinforced with a steel internal plate to add weight and durability. The keyboard also has a top-mount plate, and the switches feature PCB-mounted screw-in stabilisers to keep the keys sturdy. To further reduce the sounds when pressing the keys, Corsair added two sound-dampening layers.
Keycaps and Switches
The keycaps of the K65 Plus have a single-shot PBT coating that offers a smooth texture like ABS keycaps. When we tested it for this Corsair K65 Plus Wireless Keyboard Review, we appreciated the pleasant feel of these keys. Although we prefer double-shot PBT coating for more texture and durability, we have no complaints.
The keycaps are grey & black with a painted chrome finish, matching the control knob. However, the latter is machined aluminium. The Esc button features the Corsair logo in black.
Corsair equips the K65 Plus with the MLX Red linear switches, the only available option for this keyboard. These are pre-lubed, and their smooth feel resembles the Cherry MX Red.
Control Dial and Indicator Light
Unlike other Corsair keyboards, the multi-function control dial of the K65 Plus is a knob instead of a roller. You can find this on the upper right corner of the keyboard, and it features knurled sides for easy grabbing.
This knob lets you adjust the volume by default. Its function is programmable via the iCUE, which we will discuss later in this Corsair K65 Plus Wireless Keyboard Review. You can also change its function with the Fn + arrow keys.
Aside from adjusting volume levels, you can set the multi-function button to zoom in/out or change keyboard brightness. You can also use it to change from vertical/horizontal scrolling.
The upper left corner of the K65 Plus is a multi-purpose indicator light next to the silver-painted Esc button. It shows an estimate of the battery life: high is green, medium is amber, and low is red. Aside from that, the indicator light also indicates the connection type and status.
When changing the functions of the dial, the indicator light also shows it. White light is for volume, blue stands for zoom in/out, green means scrolling, and red is for backlight brightness.
Below the indicator light is a button for switching the RGB lighting on or off.
Rear of the Corsair K65 Plus Wireless Keyboard
The rear of the K65 Plus features a USB-C port for wired use and charging. You will find a three-way toggle for changing connectivity mode and a Windows/Macs switch. Next to these is a small slot that houses the wireless dongle when not in use.
This keyboard also has two-level flip-out feet and rubber strips at the bottom to keep it steady on your desk.
Key Features of the Corsair K65 Plus Wireless Keyboard
Corsair gaming keyboards always have impressive features and deliver superior performance. What does this new wireless keyboard offer?
75% Layout
As mentioned in this Corsair K65 Plus Wireless Keyboard Review, this product has a 75% layout. Its compact build saves desk space while retaining the arrows and utility keys for convenient use.
Dial in Flexibly
The multi-function knob works for adjusting volume levels by default. You can program it via iCUE software to change its functions based on your needs.
Aesthetic for Enthusiasts
The midnight grey and silver design with RGBs offers a sleek, refined aesthetic, making it suitable for gaming and working.
Two Sound-dampening Layers
The K65 Plus has two layers of integrated sound-dampening to minimise echoes and pings. It also subdues typing acoustics.
Screw-in Stabs
The stabilisers of the K65 Plus are screw-in and PCB-mounted for less vibrations. This design also keeps long keys like the space bar secure.
Hot-swappable Switches
Although Corsair ships the K65 Plus with MLX Red equipped, you can change these to your preferred switches. It allows convenient customisation for the best gaming and typing experience.
Premium Feel and Acoustics
The MLX Red are pre-lubed, offering smooth, responsive keystrokes. These offer softened keypresses since the keyboard has two sound-dampening layers.
Top-mount Plate
The top-mount plate offers airy acoustics and a consistent typing feel.
No Wires – Enjoy Convenience and Long Gaming Hours
The K65 Plus lasts for 266 hours without 2.4GHz and RGB activated. You can play wirelessly without worrying about running out of battery life.
Customise and Program Your Keyboard with iCUE
Aside from the multi-function knob, you can customise the RGB lighting and macros of the K65 Plus. You can do all these configurations via iCUE, the centralised and intuitive software that conveniently unites your setup.
Always Winning
The 2.4 GHz wireless technology offers seamless wire-free connectivity with no lags. It gives superior gaming performance and allows quick switching between multiple devices via Bluetooth.
Specifications
- Keyboard Report Rate: 1000Hz
- Onboard Profiles: 4
- Keyboard Warranty: 2 years
- Keyboard Layout: NA (North America)
- Key Switches: CORSAIR MLX Red
- Key Rollover: Full Key (NKRO) with 100% Anti-Ghosting
- Keyboard Cable Material: Braided
- Wired Connectivity: USB 3.0 or 3.1 Type-A
- Headphone Wireless Range: Up to 10m
- Battery Life: Max of up to 266 hours (LEDs off)
- Keyboard Battery Type: Rechargeable Lithium-Ion
- Battery Charging: USB to Computer
Hands-on with the Corsair K65 Plus Wireless Keyboard
We tested the keyboard for gaming and typing to see if it delivers what Corsair promises. Before we discuss our user experience, our Corsair K65 Plus Wireless Keyboard Review will focus on iCUE software.
iCUE Software
iCUE is the centralised software where you can program the K65 Plus and other iCUE-compatible devices. It makes changing the controls of the K65 Plus more convenient by eliminating the need to remember many combos.
The press materials show the key combos used on the K65 Plus for PC and Mac. These take up almost three pages, so we recommend installing the iCUE software for convenient configuration.
iCUE offers granular control for customising the keyboard lighting, macros, keyboard shortcuts, and multi-function dial. We loved the improvements Corsair applied to the latest version of the firmware. Its interface is more intuitive and user-friendly.
Performance of the Corsair K65 Plus Wireless Keyboard
We used the product for gaming and typing to share our experience in this Corsair K65 Plus Wireless Keyboard Review. As expected of Corsair keyboards, the K65 Plus impressively performed when we played PC games. It was highly responsive and smooth, allowing us to evade and defeat opponents swiftly.
Each keystroke offered a premium feel and made pressing key combos effortless. We also enjoyed using this keyboard for work since its smooth switches allowed faster typing. Each keypress was seamless and light but solid due to the screw-in stabilisers that kept the keys secure.
Aside from the pleasant feel of the keystrokes, we appreciated the reduced sound, thanks to the MLX Red linear switches. The sound-dampening layers also effectively reduced the noise from our keypresses, making it quieter than other gaming keyboards.
Corsair K65 Plus Wireless Keyboard Review Summary
The K65 Plus is an excellent gaming and working keyboard. Its linear switches perform excellently for gaming, and its sound-dampening layers minimise noise and echo. These switches are also hot-swappable, so you can change them if you prefer other switches.
The best thing about this keyboard is its compact design that retains the function keys to make working more convenient. It also allows programming macro for a better gaming experience. We enjoyed customising all these features when we tested the product for this Corsair K65 Plus Wireless Keyboard Review.
We highly recommend this keyboard to any user who wants a high-quality keyboard that saves desk space without compromising functions. Like other Corsair keyboards, it is a top-notch product that offers an excellent typing and gaming experience.
Visit the official product page of Corsair for more information about the Corsair K65 Plus Wireless Keyboard.
