Gaming Keyboards – Size Matters, But is Bigger Better?

Corsair K70 PRO MINI WIRELESS RGB 60%

Now, much like the HyperX Alloy Origins 60, the Corsair K70 PRO MINI WIRELESS RGB 60% is effectively the same size. However, the key difference here is that this one is just as compact, but also wireless. Plus, while I love the HyperX Alloy Origins 60, and it’s packed with features, it’s not quite as packed as the Corsair K7O PRO MINI WIRELESS 60% RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard. As Corsair themselves say, this is “big on both performance and customization”. So let’s dive in and see what extra freedoms the tiny size and wireless provides.

Features

• Make it Yours: A high-performance wireless gaming keyboard in a compact 60% form-factor that’s big on customization, with swappable MX switches and a 360° RGB
  LightEdge.
• Three Ways to Connect: Connect with your choice of hyper-fast, sub-1ms SLIPSTREAM
  WIRELESS or low-latency Bluetooth”, both with AES 128-bit encryption, or USB wired with
  CORSAIR AXON 8,000Hz hyper-polling.
• Customize with Swappable CHERRY MX SPEED or MX Red Keyswitches: Equipped with
  fast 100-million-keystroke CHERRY MX SPEED or MX Red keyswitches with a modular
  design, easily replaceable with any combination of MX-compatible 3-pin switches to fine-
  tune your keyswitch layout and play your way.
• 60% Form-Factor and Aluminum Frame: A compact mini form-factor easily fits into even
  the tightest spaces at home or on the go, in a durable aluminium frame.
• Long Battery Life with Per-Key RGB and 360° LightEdge: Enjoy up to 32 hours of
  wireless battery life with bright RGB backlighting and a radiant 360° LightEdge, or go the distance with up to 200 hours with backlighting off.
  distance with up to 200 hours with backlighting off.
• PBT DOUBLE-SHOT PRO Keycaps: Extremely durable 1.5mm-thick precision-molded PBT
  keycaps resist wear, fading, and shine.
• CORSAIR AXON Hyper-Processing Technology: Process and transmit keystrokes up to
  8x faster than conventional gaming keyboards, while seamlessly driving up to 20 layers of
  hardware lighting effects.
• Expansive Onboard Shortcuts: Deliver full-size keyboard commands and convenient
  control shortcuts in a small frame.
• Mini Size, Big Personality: Express your style through the optional included
  polycarbonate radiant space bar, CORSAIR logo key, or your own custom keycap set such
  as CORSAIR PBT DOUBLE-SHOT PRO multicoloured keycaps (sold separately).
• Detachable Braided USB Type-C Cable: Connect to your PC or Mac for USB wired mode
  and charging.
• Unite Your Setup: Powerful CORSAIR iCUE software, compatible with both Windows and
  macOS enables dynamic RGB lighting control, key remaps, macro programming, and
  exclusive integrations with select games that turn your system’s lighting into an extension of the action (wired mode only).
  of the action (wired mode only)

Performance

Corsair may have the same size as the HyperX keyboard, but there are a few interesting differences right away. Firstly, there’s still no wasted space here, every bit of the keyboard top is crammed full of keycaps. However, I just noticed that you still get a UK-style enter key on this one, and the right shift key is large, while the left is significantly smaller.

Also, the symbol key configuration is different, as the enter key takes two rows, this uses 2 keys to the right of P, three to the right of L, and two to the right of M, that’s a 232 configuration, while the HyperX uses a 323 configuration.

Of course, other things remain the same or similar, such as the deletion of the F-keys and the escape key moving a row down too.

The PBT DOUBLE-SHOT PRO keycaps and aluminium frame certainly give it that premium appeal. Plus, Corsair leads the market when it comes to advanced RGB technology, so you’ll find endless customisation on this.

It comes equipped with either Cherry MX SPEED or MX Red mechanical keyswitches. However, they feature a hot-swappable design. Pull the switch out, and you can drop in any MX-compatible switches to suit your taste.

Corsair does have one major ergonomic benefit though, and that’s its connectivity. While you can run it from USB, it features the class-leading SLIPSTREAM WIRELESS technology, which promises sub-1ms response times, so really, cutting the cable is not the compromise it used to be. Plus, it also has Bluetooth too, so you can connect it to such a wide range of devices quickly and easily. No cable means moving it around your desktop as you see fit isn’t going to snag up any cables. Plus, you’ll get over 30 hours of usage even with the RGB running, which is awesome.

Furthermore, with CORSAIR AXON Hyper-Processing Technology you can take advantage of the 8000 Hz polling rate in USB mode. transmits keystrokes up to 8x faster over USB wired mode. Making this less of a tool for gaming, and more a distinct weaponised advantage!

It may be compact, but it features all the functions of a full-size keyboard in its design, everything is here on 2nd level functions, and beyond that, it even has some functions such as keyboard mouse pointer control, which you likely won’t find on full-size models. Its compact design frees up a lot of desktop space, and the wireless design gives it a little more freedom too.

Price and Availability

The Corsair K70 Pro Mini Wireless RGB keyboard is available with Cherry MX Red mechanical switch and an MSRP of around £170. It’s by far the most expensive keyboard here, but in many ways, it’s also one of the most technically advanced keyboards too, so you certainly get what you pay for.