Introduction

I was just about to write this review when I came across a pretty hilarious Reddit thread where the poster had submitted his take on what a CORSAIR 60% keyboard would look like. This hypothetical keyboard was based on the company's recently released flagship K100 keyboard, and I had to chuckle knowing that there actually was a 60% keyboard from CORSAIR that was going to be announced less than a week later that was nowhere near as extravagant as that mock-up. CORSAIR tells me that this keyboard has been in the works for a couple of years now, and the stars have finally aligned today as we take a look at their first ever 60% keyboard.


Oh gosh, my complaints about the CORSAIR keyboard naming scheme just got another point. The CORSAIR K65 was and still is a TKL form factor keyboard. So was the K63, for that matter. Going one step lower in the numbering scheme gets you into the membrane keyboard range as long as you forget about the K83. So with the K65 RGB MINI, you are inviting unnecessary questions. It's a good thing then that there is nothing else in the CORSAIR portfolio like it. This is the company's first small form factor keyboard to date. PBT doubleshot keycaps, standard bottom-row spacing, and now a 60% keyboard. Here, CORSAIR seems to be gunning for the enthusiast keyboard market just as much as their bread-and-butter gaming peripheral market. To kick off this review, let's see what the K65 RGB MINI brings to the table with a look at the specifications below, and thanks again to CORSAIR for sending TechPowerUp a review sample!

[Update: March 16] Three review samples!

Specifications

Packaging and Accessories

CORSAIR operates a web shop in the USA. However, this sample came from a marketing hub, so we begin with a look at the product packaging. A plastic wrap covers the packaging, which I maintain is not very practical, and removing it shows off the product box in more detail. The radioactive yellow color scheme is present again unfortunately, but otherwise, the packaging design is similar to recent CORSAIR gaming products from the last couple of years. On the front is a textured pattern in yellow with the company logo and product name, as well as a large render of the keyboard all lit up. We also see more specific information of the keyboard SKU inside, including the language and region, which continues on the side. Marketing features and technical specifications in multiple languages adorn the other sides, and the back has more renders and information on the used switch for the keyboard inside. Two seals help keep the contents inside in place during transit.


Opening the box, we see the keyboard underneath a protective plastic cover that is molded to fit the design, which adds protection during transit and also functions as a handy dust cover for when the keyboard is on your desk but not in use. The accessories are underneath in a separate cardboard layer, where we have the associated paperwork consisting of a user manual that can be found online, a warranty guide, and the generic safety information on usage and disposal that is mandated by law in some regions. No wrist rest to be found here, but that isn't surprising given the minimalist design of the keyboard with a focus on taking up less space on your desk. Instead, and this is another first for CORSAIR, we have a detachable cable! The cable also uses Type-C connectivity on the keyboard, which is nice to finally see from CORSAIR—it is a braided black cable with the standard full-size USB Type-A connector on the other end. Finally, we have some replacement keycaps as well as a plastic ring-style keycap puller, which has the potential of scratching the sides of the keycaps when used. I would like a metal wire-style puller instead, which does cost more.


Included are only two replacement keycaps as opposed to their typical FPS/MOBA keycap sets that come in a textured surface finish. The first is a CORSAIR "Sails" logo 1u R1 keycap intended to replace the stock Esc keycap. It is made of thinner ABS plastic (wall thickness 0.92 mm) and has the logo laser etched into the plastic, as opposed to the thicker PBT doubleshot space bar keycap that will last longer. As seen above, both are backlighting-compatible to work with CORSAIR's RGB implementation that is important enough to be a part of the product name.