Corsair has a habit of not only putting out reasonably reliable products, but is often willing to price itself competitively below its direct competitors. We’ve witnessed this aggressive strategy multiple times, which makes it easier for us reviewers to recommend Corsair over a lot of other stuff because, for example, the “tax” you find on most of Razer’s devices doesn’t actually exist.
Now they’re doing it again. Their new K65 Plus Wireless, a 75% keyboard with hot-swappable switches, is rich in detail and supports Windows and Mac via 2.4GHz or Bluetooth, priced at $159.99.
The frame itself is made of plastic, yes, heavy plastic, but plastic nonetheless, which is a bit disappointing as the Keychron has particularly managed to get value for money, but Corsair has chosen to focus on the aspects they know users care about. First off, the keyboard switches are Corsair’s own MLX Red, and they’re lubricated at the factory, or “pre-lubricated,” which both eliminates nearly all noise with each keystroke and makes the whole thing smoother and more dynamic. I have to say, this is very satisfying.
While the keyboard’s covers aren’t two-tone, so it’s hard to tell whether the wear and tear of years of use will eventually erase the letters and symbols, but Corsair promises that the covers are PBT “dye-sublimated,” so the symbols aren’t painted on the outside, but underneath a layer .
As I said, it’s 75%, so it saves space by not needing a numpad, but the arrow keys are in a separate location. They also made room for a well-designed wheel with a small metal rim that can of course be programmed via iCUE to do whatever you want.
There’s a switch on the back to select Mac or Windows, and you can connect 2.4GHz via the included dongle, or just regular Bluetooth. Either way, you get AES encryption and, according to Corsair, up to 266 hours of battery life if you turn off RGB. Because yes, there’s per-key RGB, which means you don’t have to sacrifice wild effects just because you’re saving a little.
There’s actually a lot to like here, as Corsair has opted for an aggressive price point without sacrificing too much real-world functionality. Sure, the RGB doesn’t shine through the symbols, and the frame itself lacks weight, but those are small things compared to a satisfying switch that offers such a wide range of connectivity options.
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