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CORSAIR K65 PLUS WIRELESS vs K65 PRO MINI vs K65 RGB MINI: What’s the difference?

The CORSAIR K65 PLUS WIRELESS is our very first 75% gaming keyboard. This, along with some other features make it a unique product. Unfortunately however, it’s shares the “K65” prefix with some other products, which can cause some understandable confusion.

So, today we’re going to break down all the differences between the K65 PLUS, K65 PRO MINI, and K65 RGB MINI. By the end of this page, you’ll know which K65 is which, and which K65 suits you the best. First up, a visual aid to help at a glance:

So, yes, they look slightly different, but basically everything else is different, too. So, let’s explain the differences that have the strongest impact on which you should buy in descending order.

Size

The most important aspect of a keyboard is its overall size, also known as form factor. This decides the number of keys, and sometimes the relative positioning of them on the board itself. Here’s the differences between the K65s. You can go back to the images above to get some additional reference for what we’re talking about

  • K65 PLUS: 75% form factor. Arrow keys and full row of function keys.
  • K65 PRO MINI: 65% form factor. Arrow keys, but no function key row.
  • K65 RGB MINI: 60% form factor. No arrow keys and no function row.
K65_PLUS_WIRELESS_14
K65_RGB_MINI_46

Switches

It’s important to note here that not all keyboards are available with every kind of key switch, and this is the case with the K65s, too. However, the K65 PLUS has a Hot-swappable PCB, meaning that while it only ships with one switch option, you can replace them with any switch you like.

  • K65 PLUS: Ships with CORSAIR MLX linear switches but they can be replaced with any 3-pin or 5-pin switch.
  • K65 PRO MINI: Ships with CORSAIR OPX optical linear switches only. These are not replaceable.
  • K65 RGB MINI: Ships with your choice of Cherry MX Blue, Brown, Red, Silent, or Speed. These are not replaceable, and the availability differs depending on the white or black versions of the K65 RGB MINI.
K65_PLUS_WIRELESS_11
K65_PRO_Mini_PBT_08
K65_RGB_MINI_34
K65_PLUS_WIRELESS_11 K65_PRO_Mini_PBT_08 K65_RGB_MINI_34

Connectivity

Switches can be a slightly esoteric preference. Connectivity, however, matters to everyone and the K65s differ here.

  • K65 PLUS: USB Type-C, Bluetooth, 4.2GHz Wireless
  • K65 PRO MINI: USB Type-C
  • K65 RGB MINI: USB Type-C

As you can see, those who value wireless connectivity options should go with the K65 PLUS. If you’re unconcerned with going wireless, then the other characteristics are more relevant for you.

CORSAIR K65 PLUS vs K65 PRO MINI vs K65 RGB MINI: Which is best?

This question isn’t really possible to answer. However, your priorities and preferences will end up making the decision for you.

We’ve already covered the main points, but to be fully comprehensive, the table below lists everything to make it easy to directly compare the K65 PLUS, K65 PRO MINI, and K65 RGB MINI.

  K65 PLUS WIRELESS K65 PRO MINI K65 RGB MINI
Form factor 75% 65% 60%
Switches CORSAIR MLX Red (4 and 5-pin Hotswap) CORSAIR OPX Cherry MX Blue, Brown, Red, Silent, or Speed.
Connectivity USB Type-C, Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz USB Type-C USB Type-C
Polling rate 1,000Hz 8,000Hz 8,000Hz
Lighting Per-key RGB (Customizable in iCUE) Per-key RGB (Customizable in iCUE) Per-key RGB (Customizable in iCUE)
Cable 1.8m/6ft, USB Type-C to Type-A, detachable 1.82m/6ft, USB Type-C to Type-A, detachable 1.82m/6ft, USB Type-C to Type-A, detachable
Console compatibility Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5 Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5 Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5

By now, you’ll know how all these K65s differ, and which one is the correct option for you. Check out all three, plus all our other keyboards over at our main website.

Additionally, we’d like to close out this article with an apology for having some pretty confusing naming conventions for our products. We're working on it.

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