When you say “gaming keyboard”, people usually think of flashy designs, over-active lighting effects, and sci-fi fonts on their keycaps. As mechanical keyboards become more mainstream, some gamers also look for less flashy products that can double as work keyboards. The Corsair K65 Plus Wireless is a top choice for such a keyboard.
Quick specs
- 75% mechanical gaming keyboard
- Corsair red switches (linear, 45g)
- PBT keycaps, RGB backlighting
- USB-C, 2.4GHz, Bluetooth connectivity
The Corsair K65 Plus Wireless is a 75% keyboard, so you get a layout similar to a laptop keyboard. The flip-out feet at the base can be set to two different levels. However, even at its highest, the back doesn't get elevated much. This works fine for me personally, but those who prefer a steeper keyboard incline may need to prop it up further. Connectivity-wise, it comes with the full suite, and I love seeing this in keyboards. It gives gamers the option to use wireless 2.4GHz or USB-C for lower latency, and Bluetooth for pairing with a laptop or mobile device. A three-way switch at the back lets you toggle between the modes.
Corsair uses its own red mechanical switches on the K65 Plus Wireless. Like Cherry Reds, these switches are linear, and require a low actuation force. This, of course, makes perfect sense for gamers. I use a Cherry Red regularly on my Iqunix L80 keyboard, and find these Corsair switches to be very similar. However, the typing experience on the K65 is superior to the L80 thanks to the former's sound dampening layers. This results in a great typing sound that also won't upset those sitting around you. Finally, you can hot swap the switches if you don't like them. With dye-sub PBT keycaps that are printed with “normal” fonts, the K65 doesn't exude the gamer vibe. But it still leaves room for a bit of style with a gold-colored Esc key and dial, combination of light and dark grey keys, and a tastefully designed patterned spacebar.
I really like that the bottom row of keycaps have both Windows and Mac legends printed them. This works in tandem with the Win/Mac switch on the back, so you can move between Windows and macOS with ease. The gold dial on the top right corner controls the volume by default. This can be changed to perform other tasks like scrolling or zooming into pages. No gamer keyboard is complete without lighting, and the K65 Plus Wireless doesn't disappoint with RGB lighting in 10 different modes. Another thing I really appreciate is the dedicated button on the left side of the keyboard to quickly turn on or off backlighting.
Battery life is rated by Corsair at 266 hours. In my two weeks of daily use, it hasn't dropped below 50%. Those looking for a fuss-free work and gaming keyboard, compatible with Windows and Mac computers will be very happy with the Corsair K65 Plus Wireless. At around S$200 from Shopee and Lazada, it may not be the cheapest option for a 75% keyboard with a plastic chassis, but it's still reasonably priced.
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