I wouldn't say I'm a pure fan of Corsair's products, despite what my PC would tell you about me. My components are wrapped in Corsair's various offerings, from RAM, to the case, to the PSU, and more, but peripherals are always where I've been wary. Perhaps it's online murmurings, or just generally finding better keyboards from other brands, but my experience with Corsair's mice and keyboards is strictly limited to minor experiences.
However, I can happily say that the Corsair K65 Plus Wireless keyboard may be one of my favourite mechanical keyboards, and easily one of the best gaming keyboards I've used in recent memory. It strikes a balance of function, style, and substance, with only a few caveats. But, off the bat, Corsair's latest keyboard is one to watch out for, even if it's not perfect just yet.
Like many pf the other major competitors that Corsair is fighting against, such as ASUS or Razer, the latest K65 Plus is a 75% form factor keyboard, dropping features like media controls and the numpad that are nice but certainly aren't necessary. However, strangely, the Delete key has been moved to the Function key row, with a physical knob stealing its rightful place - a change that most keyboard users won't be happy with.
This knob is the Control Dial, which at basic value can be used to mute/unmute or change the volume of your device, but can be adjusted using the Corsair iCUE software. However, it requires inputting a shortcut to change on the fly, giving me very little reason to use it often as anything but a volume control. There's a fairly steep learning curve to learning the various shortcuts and commands, something I imagine will be useful after spending time with the device.
This isn't limited to Corsair's latest offering, but I've found that TKL and 75% keyboards strike a great balance between gaming and productivity, making it remarkably difficult to see my desk space taken up by a full-sized keyboard in the near future. However, compared to the Ducky x DOOM keyboard I recently reviewed, Corsair's linear switches feel incredible to type and game with, as opposed to tactile switches.
Of course, the killer feature that the Corsair K65 Plus Wireless offers compared to other 75% keyboards in the same vein is in the title - wireless connectivity. The option to have your cable management be slightly easier by using a wireless keyboard is great. However, Corsair suggests the keyboard can see up to 266 hours of battery life with RGB off, thanks to the 4200mAh battery, but with RGB, it usually needs a charge once a week. Thankfully, it uses a USB-C port for charging, and you can always connect it to your PC like a standard wired peripheral.
The keys on the keyboard are PBT, giving it a lot of durability for hundreds of hours of use. Unfortunately, the dye-sublimated legends are a little disappointing compared to having transparent legends that would let the RGB glow through, but I appreciate something a little different. Fortunately, without messing too much with iCUE, the RGB colourways are subtle and keep things more stylistic rather than the rainbow vomit that many RGB keyboards offer.
However, I do love the key's general design over many other keyboards, the navy blues and light greys found throughout the Corsair K65 Plus feel sophisticated, alongside the subtle RGB, making it less eye-wateringly bright on an all-black desk setup. I wish there was a similarly subtle design in white, but hopefully that will come in the future.
Speaking of the keys, this is easily one of the quietest mechanical keyboards I've used in recent memory. The high-density foam and silicon pad does wonders to keep the click of the keyboard quiet, whilst also giving you that nice feedback that any enthusiast would love to hear. It feels extremely easy to type on, with my fingers gliding mostly to the right spot with some learning. However, I'm still not used to the Delete key being rehomed at the top, causing me to press home a fair few times during writing.
Corsair's MLX Red linear switches, the company's very own switches, arguably feel much better than the similarly named Cherry MX Red switches. They're swappable, meaning you can replace them if they get worn out with the included tool, but Corsair tells us that they're rated for 70 million keystrokes, which is very impressive.
It may not be up to scratch compared to some enthusiast-focused mechanical keyboards, but Corsair has done an excellent job at making it great for those looking for a new keyboard that is great for games and for productivity. In fact, this is likely a great entry keyboard into enthusiast peripherals, giving you a great balance between form and function.
In terms of connectivity, the wireless keyboard can be connected with Bluetooth or 2.4GHz wireless via a small dongle, as well as being usable as a wired peripheral. Unfortunately, my PC setup doesn't have Bluetooth, but both wired and wireless via the dongle had similar feedback, so it doesn't matter which you prefer. Whether it's the freedom of wireless, or the consistent usage with wired, you'll find a great keyboard here.
Like many other companies, Corsair offers a lot of customisation via the Corsair iCUE software. It doesn't vary much from other brands, but I love the functionality of being able to assign certain shortcuts or remap keys. This is where you can also check out the Control Dial's functions, or switch out your RGB. It's fine, there's nothing to really write home about here, but it's obviously great for those wanting to absolutely perfect their keyboard's customisation.
All of this being said, the Corsair K65 Plus Wireless is one of the first times a keyboard has really wowed me. I've used keyboards from Ducky to SteelSeries, and while I've been impressed before, the K65 feels like a true daily driver for me. There are some problems with the strange layout, a potentially steep learning curve that may put off some buyers, and it may not impress the most die-hard enthusiasts, but the Corsair K65 is a truly magnificent keyboard, and at a great price too.
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