Introduction

Would you believe it's been over five months since our last CORSAIR keyboard review? The US-based brand has always managed to keep me busy with its product releases and 2024 is shaping up to have multiple CORSAIR keyboards being covered here on TechPowerUp. Expect to see a few kits, some switches, and of course fully pre-built keyboards, as is the case today. I've given CORSAIR a hard time in the past for its confusing keyboard lineup, and it seems the brand has decided to simplify things to an extent. As of today, there are four CORSAIR keyboard series in their own words—K55 (entry level gaming), K65 (small form factor), K70 (performance gaming), and K100 (top-tier innovation and design). Each series may still have different layouts and form factors but at least there's a general idea now. So when I tell you we'll be looking at the K65 Plus Wireless keyboard today, you will know right away to expect a small form factor keyboard.


I hope that context was useful because when I first heard the product name, my first instinct was to expect a 65% form factor keyboard. Instead, this is clearly a 75% keyboard with the dedicated Fn key row as well. CORSAIR is aiming directly at the enthusiast keyboard market with this product given how it has pretty much everything we've been seeing in popular pre-built keyboards coming out of Asia. There's the volume wheel—actually a multi-function dial—in the top right corner, a two-tone keycap set, the expected RGB lighting, hybrid wireless connectivity, hot-swap switch sockets, first-party switches, integrated dampening, and even screw-in pre-lubed stabilizers! If it were not for the CORSAIR branding, this may well have been mistaken for a keyboard from another brand. In a first for CORSAIR, the keycaps appear to be opaque too, so there is definitely a lot to examine here. Let's thank CORSAIR for providing a review sample to TechPowerUp and begin our review with a look at the product specifications in the table below.

Specifications

Packaging and Accessories

Remember when I said CORSAIR had changed quite a few things with the K65 Plus Wireless? Turns out this extended to the product packaging too as I initially thought the front of this box was actually the back. I was expecting to see more of that bright yellow that CORSAIR seemingly loves, but instead we have an all-black box that is fairly busy on all sides. Indeed, on the front is the brand logo and product name along with a render of the keyboard lit up as usual and then we see a lot of features listed right away. The switch type and layout make an appearance here, so you know exactly what to expect inside. On the back are even more renders and features listed to where this has enough information to meet the needs of anyone looking for a new keyboard in a retail store, but not having done prior research online. There are two seals on the side helping keep the contents in place on their way to you. Opening the box, we see the keyboard placed underneath a hard plastic dust cover with the various accessories to the side. A QR code leads you to an online quick-start guide, since CORSAIR has decided to omit a printed version in the box.


We still get some paperwork in the form of warranty information and safety regulations because these can be mandatory in some regions. Of more interest to the end user will be the expected USB Type-A to Type-C cable for connectivity as well as a combination metal wire-style keycap puller and switch remover tool. I've seen this exact accessory used by others and the only difference is the CORSAIR branding in the middle which would be an OEM customization option. This works quite well, so I am happy to see it included compared to the plastic ring-style keycap puller that has the potential to scratch the sides of keycaps in use. I also prefer the longer switch remover tool, as seen here, compared to the shorter ones that are composed to a bent and shaped piece of metal sheet.