Corsair K65 Plus Wireless review: The new leader for 75% gaming keyboards

Price When Reviewed

Corsair Ok65 Plus Wireless keyboard: $159.99

Corsair Ok65 Plus Wireless keyboard: $159.99

The section of high-end, customizable, 75% mechanical gaming keyboards is about as area of interest because it will get for merchandise from main corporations. It’s additionally, as my grandfather used to say, hotter than a two-dollar pistol. Razer, Alienware, and Asus have all launched rivals inside the final yr, and I do know HP (by the use of subsidiary HyperX) is itching to affix the fray, to say nothing of extra boutique choices from the likes of Glorious and Keychron. Today Corsair is piling on with its latest Ok65 variant.

After the massive enhancements Corsair made to a primary design with the K70 Core, I used to be excited to see what the corporate would carry to a extra premium providing. And the Ok65 Plus Wireless doesn’t disappoint. This little keyboard consists of all the things you need on this class and nothing you don’t. Add to {that a} aggressive value and competent software program, and Corsair immediately makes its means in the direction of the highest of a brief however intensely contested listing.

If you desire a wi-fi, gaming, 75% customized keyboard, that is it. If wi-fi isn’t vital to you…effectively, there’s one different possibility you need to think about.

Further studying: The best wireless gaming keyboards

Corsair Ok65 Plus Wireless design and structure

The Ok65 Plus Wireless (which I’m simply going to name the Ok65 for the rest of this evaluation) will look acquainted to anybody who’s been maintaining with this house. Like the Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75 or the Alienware Pro Wireless, it’s a 75% structure that squeezes a little bit of the underside proper nook as a way to accommodate full-sized arrow keys, however in any other case works with commonplace keycaps. This appears to be the brand new “it” type issue for gaming, slicing into each 60% and TKL designs. As is changing into commonplace, you may select between triple-device Bluetooth, a 2.4GHz wi-fi dongle, or wired operation.

Michael Crider/Foundry

The keyboard has all the same old bells and whistles, eschewing solely unique choices like a mini show or adjustable actuation (as seen in Corsair’s K70 Max). We’re speaking hot-swap swap sockets, full RGB assist, and an aluminum quantity knob. The keycaps, in professionally muted blue-gray hues with a bit of additional trim on the house bar, are high-quality PBT with dye-sublimated legends that can by no means fade. Below the floor you get a heavy metal plate (which oddly contrasts with the plastic physique), inside foam and silicone dampening, and an enormous 4,200mAh battery.

There’s a shocking quantity occurring on the edges of the Ok65, too. On prime you get the same old USB-C charging port, a storage bay for the dongle, a three-way energy/Bluetooth/2.4GHz wi-fi swap, and a devoted Win/Mac structure swap. That’s one thing you don’t typically see on keyboards marketed for gaming, however you’ll observe that the default keycaps even have Mac sub-legends, so why not? On the left aspect you get one thing I haven’t seen on different designs: a devoted lighting button. This will immediately swap your lights on or off (not counting the standing lights), no matter your different settings or programmed lighting patterns. It’s an important little addition.

Michael Crider/Foundry

The backside of the keyboard has the usual double-stage keyboard toes and a fetching Corsair triangular sample. The field features a keycap/swap puller, the dongle, a charging/knowledge cable…and that’s it. Those ellipses had been me on the lookout for a wrist relaxation, however sadly it’s not in there.

In phrases of aesthetics, the Ok65 is sweet, not nice. The plastic case and busy keycap legends lack the understated fashion of Alienware’s dazzling all-white or all-black boards. The fake steel paint of the Corsair-branded escape key’s a little bit of a disappointment, although it does properly stability the radial dial. And the RGB lights, whereas easily animated and providing tons of customization, aren’t anyplace close to as flashy as alternate options just like the Roccat Vulcan collection. This is, in some ways, a button-down design by the requirements of each Corsair and the gaming keyboard market as a complete.

What’s it wish to sort and sport on the Ok65 Plus Wireless?

The Ok65 is utilizing the identical high-quality, pre-lubed Corsair MLX Red switches because the Ok70 Core, and so they’re simply pretty much as good right here. The sound is a little bit louder — I think about that’s due to the thick metal plate between the switches. Underneath is foam between the plate and printed circuit board, and a novel, customized silicone pad between the PCB and the plastic case. Typing is {smooth} and light-weight, if considerably longer than different boards, and a little bit shaky due to an ordinary cross stem with out an outer reinforcement. Stabilizers are strong, not spectacular, with a little bit of rattle within the house bar.

Michael Crider/Foundry

A 75% structure requires a little bit of compromise regardless of the way you slice it, and I don’t assume I’m a fan of the Delete key moved to the highest row when my muscle reminiscence has it to the best of the key. The default operate layer additionally has some odd decisions, like placing Print Screen on the “?” key. These are minor quibbles that may be adjusted with software program, and there are some sensible decisions within the default structure, too. For instance, Fn+the arrow keys will allow you to shortly make the radial dial set to regulate quantity, scrolling, zooming, or keyboard lighting. That’s some spectacular utility with none tweaking from the consumer.

Michael Crider/Foundry

Gaming is even higher. While the keyboard lacks any of the loopy velocity of some more moderen fashions (it tops out at 1,000Hz polling in each wired and dongle wi-fi modes), that’s greater than sufficient for those who’re a mere mortal. The keycaps are comfortable with a strong however not grainy texture, and the 45 grams of resistance is the candy spot for all kinds of sport sorts. While they’re superb, I’m not fairly as enamored with Razer’s customized MLX switches as Dell’s customized Red switches on the Alienware Pro Wireless or Razer’s Gen 3 switches with their gigantic, super-stable stems. But like all of the keyboards on this class, you’re greater than welcome to swap them out for one thing extra premium. And on that observe…

Customization and software program on the Ok65 Plus Wireless

The Ok65 invitations customization for its switches and keycaps, the latter solely diverging from an ordinary TKL structure with a shortened proper Shift key and modifiers. This is straightforward to regulate for, and loads of kits include further caps particularly for this structure. It has an an identical variety of keys to the BlackWidow V4 75% and the Keychron Q1, for instance. Switches are commonplace two-pin Cherry MX-compatible, although oddly those on this case don’t include stabilizer pegs. Don’t fear, the PCB has holes to accommodate them, so it may well deal with no matter unique switches you care to throw at it. Corsair would counsel the Holy Panda X from its new subsidiary Drop…however at greater than $1 every, I’d go for one thing rather less spendy.

Michael Crider/Foundry

What about different mods? The Ok65’s plastic case doesn’t precisely invite you inside like Keychron boards do with their instruments within the field. But with nothing however an ordinary Philips head and a little bit endurance, and perhaps an organizer for the various screws, you may get the factor aside and entry the center. (Take explicit observe of that large, customized silicone pad, good!) More superior modifications, like upgrading the stabilizers or the favored “tape mod,” are straightforward sufficient for anybody with a little bit of know-how. The solely actual hazard is in breaking the usual battery wire.

Like Razer with its BlackWidow V4 75%, Corsair’s guarantee doesn’t cowl consumer modifications of any type, and even disassembly is a no-no. Unlike Razer, Corsair doesn’t really promote the Ok65 with any point out of this sort of customization. And so far as I can see, there are not any telltale stickers or seals that can get you an automated guarantee denial only for looking inside. That’s a small win for Corsair, if just for a barely extra trustworthy advertising and marketing method.

Michael Crider/Foundry

Corsair’s iCue software program stays one of many higher gaming driver packages, although I stress that this isn’t a excessive bar to clear. Assigning customized keystrokes and macros is easy, and navigating the assorted choices for lighting and efficiency is pure with none pointless flash. I really like the flexibility to set a customized wi-fi timeout to optimize battery saving or instant-on comfort, and Corsair stays the one firm I’ve seen with a devoted “PlayStation Mode” toggle for console players. Very considerate.

Corsair

The devoted part for the radial dial is a pleasant selection, although it’s a bit restricted. You can’t, for instance, set a proper flip to A and a left flip to D. In equity, I can’t think about why you’d wish to — the default choices cowl each sensible use. Strangely, setting the totally different management modes flashes the standing LED, all the best way over on the left aspect of the keyboard, to point its mode. A lightweight below or across the knob could be far more intuitive right here.

How does the Ok65 Plus Wireless evaluate to the competitors?

Here’s the place Corsair earns large factors versus the competitors on this class. Let’s evaluate the Ok65 with the Alienware Pro Wireless and the Razer BlackWidow V4 75%. (The Asus ROG Azoth is simply too costly, and its terrible software program knocks it off the shortlist.) Comparing apples to apples, the Ok65 has the identical wi-fi powers because the Alienware, minus its beautiful curvy physique however plus a quantity dial. Call it a wash on the {hardware}…however at $160, the Corsair board is $40 cheaper, and iCue is leagues higher than AlienFX. The Ok65 wins fingers down.

Pitting Corsair towards its rival Razer is a bit more complicated. Razer consists of a superb comfortable wrist relaxation with the BlackWidow, one thing I’ve to respect. I additionally assume its dial + media buttons management setup has an edge in usability, and I like its all-black aesthetics over the combination of colours and supplies on the Ok65. Razer additionally wins with higher customized switches and “thockier” typing, although not by a lot, and higher software program, once more, not by a lot. Razer nonetheless makes use of ABS plastic on its BlackWidow boards, making you pay for an upgrade. Boo, hiss, et cetera.

Michael Crider/Foundry

I’d say that the BlackWidow is a greater all-around package deal, if it weren’t for the truth that Razer dropped wi-fi choices when it went from the V3 to the V4 collection. Between that, and the $30 value distinction, the Corsair Ok65’s higher functionality and worth give it the win by a nostril. Razer may nonetheless be a greater name for those who worth that oh-so-smooth typing really feel out of the field. But for my desk, I’d purchase the Ok65 and a wrist relaxation (this one, specifically!) and pocket the distinction, then look out for some enjoyable keycaps and switches down the highway.

The Ok65 Plus Wireless is in an extremely powerful class. But with Corsair’s much-improved keyboard and design, some considerate touches for the structure, and wi-fi functionality at a greater value than the alternate options, it comes out forward. It’s the very best all-around gaming keyboard in the marketplace in early 2024.