Corsair K65 PLUS Wireless

Corsair Plus Wireless gaming tastatur Red keyboard MLX 75%-layout mechanical compact switches kompakt K65
Translate from : Corsair K65 PLUS Wireless
In February, Corsair launched a new keyboard with a 75% layout, which provides a keyboard in a small size, but where the necessary keys are still there, including among others the arrow keys. We have been lucky enough to be allowed to take a closer look at the keyboard. We dive in and see how the K65 Plus Wireless from Corsair fares.

We start by taking a closer look at the specifications of the K65 Plus Wireless from Corsair. Since no specifications have appeared on the website, I have found most of them on the box itself.

Specifications of the K65 Plus Wireless

  • Type: Compact
  • Materials: Aluminum and plastic
  • Contacts: Corsair MLX Red (70 million clicks)
  • Backlight: Yes, RGB
  • Connection: Cable (USB-A to USB-C), Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz
  • Battery: Unknown (266 hours battery life without LED)
  • Polling Rate: 1000 Hz
  • Response Rate: -
  • Profile in built-in memory: Yes
  • Media control: Yes through Function Key (FN)
  • Backlight intensity button: Yes again FN keys
  • Windows lock button: Yes
  • Software: iCUE
  • Dimensions: 320 x 136 x 35mm
  • Adjustable height: Yes
  • Weight: 922 grams
  • Compatible Operating Systems: Windows, Mac, Smartphone, Xbox One, X/S, Playstation 4, 5

All about the K65 Plus Wireless

The K65 Plus Wireless is an attempt by Corsair to create a keyboard that brings style and performance together. They have tried to meet the demand for a keyboard that does not take up much space, but where, among other things, the arrow keys were still to be found. It uses Corsair's own MLX Red switches and has a battery life of 266 hours if the LED is off. In addition, it makes use of high-quality materials and comes with wireless connectivity.

keyboard Wireless K65 75% layout Plus keyboard compact switches Red compact MLX Corsair gaming mechanical.JPG

When you open the Corsair K65 Plus Wireless box, you will find the following contents: the keyboard, USB Type-C charging cable, USB wireless adapter, 2-in-1 keycap puller, two switches with æ and ø, and finally some manuals.

MLX Corsair compact keyboard gaming Red switches Plus mechanical keyboard compact K65 Wireless 75% layout.JPG

The Corsair K65 Plus Wireless is a stylish and compact mechanical keyboard with a 75% layout, which means it does not have a numeric keypad. It combines a black and gray color combination, which gives a modern and elegant look. Keycaps are made of PBT material, which is durable against wear. The layout is compact and includes a multi-function dial.

Wireless mechanical switches K65 Red compact gaming keyboard 75% layout keyboard Plus Corsair MLX compact.JPG

If you are not satisfied with the contacts that come with the keyboard, it is easy to switch to others. The keyboard is also equipped with sound-absorbing material to create a comfortable and silent experience.

Corsair keyboard gaming Red Wireless switches MLX Plus keyboard K65 mechanical 75% layout compact compact.JPG

To be able to charge the keyboard, a sleeved cable with USB-A to USB-C is of course included. With the option of using the small adapter, you can have the cable to provide the wireless connection when the keyboard does not need to be charged.

mechanical Red switches compact MLX K65 keyboard Plus Wireless 75% layout gaming compact keyboard Corsair.JPG

On the back, we have coating to keep the keyboard firmly in place, even on slightly smoother surfaces. You can also adjust the height of the keyboard.

Wireless switches Red gaming keyboard K65 keyboard mechanical compact 75% layout Plus compact Corsair MLX.JPG

Even though the keyboard is approaching TKL size, Corsair has still managed to create a product that retains the arrow keys and adds a little extra functionality to the compact size. Although there are no dedicated media controls on the keyboard, they are stored in the FN functions on the keyboard.

switches Red MLX compact K65 compact keyboard mechanical keyboard Plus Wireless 75% layout Corsair gaming.JPG

Software

Before we move on to the test itself, we must have looked at the software that you can use with the K65 Plus Wireless. Corsair uses their own software iCUE.

The first menu is lighting effects. Here it is possible to use the preconfigured suggestions, or make your own custom light.

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The next is key assignments, which give the possibility to make more functions in the keys.

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Next we have the control dial. It is the button in the right corner of the keyboard that can be set to have several functions, such as controlling the volume, brightness, scrolling or zoom.

compact gaming compact mechanical Corsair K65 Wireless Red keyboard 75% layout MLX Plus keyboard switches.png

The last is performance, which has some different functions, among other things which color should be displayed when the FN switch is in, or if the Windows button should be disabled.

K65 75% layout Red keyboard MLX Corsair mechanical gaming Wireless switches Plus keyboard compact kompakt.png

The test – Use and comfort

The time has come for the test of the K65 Plus Wireless from Corsair. As always, the keyboard is switched around and we have to go through different things so that I can get an overall picture of my experience with the K65 Plus Wireless. We now need to get it through a bit of regular PC use, along with some gaming, and as something new I'm using a website that can provide some information on ms per key press and an estimated scan rate.

Remember, this is not professional equipment, but compared to keyboards in the future, it can still give an indication of the actual response of the keyboard.

If we start by looking at the numbers, I spammed the keyboard on the website, which ended up yielding some numbers: shortest keystrokes of 6 ms and an estimated scan rate of 166.6667 Hz on a wireless connection. I also ended up testing it with cable, and here it came down to 1 ms and an estimated scan rate of 1000 Hz, which is incredibly nice.

K65 compact Plus Corsair Red compact switches 75% layout gaming keyboard mechanical MLX Wireless keyboard.JPG

Next, we'll take a look at the experience when I use the keyboard to type. The combination of the MLX Red switches and Corsair's extra effort to dampen the sound of the keys means that the switches say very little. They are almost on the verge of being silent. It provides an incredibly comfortable experience to type on, and the keyboard reacts quickly, which allows you to type at a fast pace.

The experience naturally carries over to the gaming part, where the switches are also incredibly fast and give a good response. Even if the switch is not pressed all the way down, it reacts shortly before, creating an extra quick response.

Price

I was able to find the Corsair K65 Plus Wireless at a price of DKK 1251. As it stands among many other wireless keyboards when we talk high-end.

Red keyboard keyboard switches Wireless Corsair K65 compact mechanical MLX compact Plus gaming 75%-layout.png

If you want to find more information about the K65 Plus Wireless from Corsair, you can click on the banner above.

Conclusion

Although I have switched to optical keyboard as it has given me the best experience in terms of response and noise, I almost have to bow in the dust for Corsair. With the K65 Plus Wireless keyboard, they have managed to deliver a comfortable and silent typing experience thanks to the MLX Red switches and the sound-absorbing materials. The keyboard reacts quickly, both in normal use and gaming, which is also seen in the test, where with a cable it drops to 1 ms, and without a cable stays at 6 ms.

The keyboard's compact design and the possibility of both wireless and wired connection add to its flexibility, while the solid construction and beautiful RGB lighting contribute to a positive experience.

The price is reasonable, placing it in the middle of the price range for high-end gaming keyboards. This means that the user gets a lot for the money and has a keyboard that is not bound by an overly compact design.

However, there are some disadvantages, such as the keys not being double-shot, which can cause more wear on the switches over a longer period of time. As well as a personal opinion about the lack of wrist support, which could have improved comfort further.

Overall, for the features and performance that the K65 Plus Wireless offers, it makes for a good product in its price range, especially for those who want a balance between gaming and productivity. Therefore, I end the test by giving the K65 Plus Wireless a score of 9 out of 10, along with the "Great Product" Award.

Advantage

  • Possibility of wireless and wired solution
  • Compact design
  • Corsair MLX switches
  • Great RGB lighting
  • Solid materials
  • Price
  • Arrow keys

Disadvantages

  • The keys are not double-shot
  • Lacks wrist support

Score: 9 + Great Product

Corsair Plus Wireless gaming keyboard Red keyboard MLX 75% layout mechanical compact switches compact K65.JPG


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