Corsair K65 Plus Review - Walking the Line

Looks great! The only problem that I have with gaming keyboards is their proprietary software. I'd much rather stick to editing QMK with VIA.

I agree with you. I got v1 max because it's pretty much the same keyboard(feature wise). Rtings also tested the v1 max latency to be good enough for gaming like 4ms or something.

I am one of those people that is both a gamer and and custom keyboard enthusiast. I have keebs in which I don´t use RGB lights, mainly those with south facing LEDs and on my north facing LED keebs I do like to use shine through keycaps. I just use switches with longer stems to avoid the ¨interference problem¨. All of my keebs are either 65% or 96%. I don´t have any 75% ones yet. Maybe I´ll get this one, mod it and put a nice set of shine through keycaps on it. Great review as always!

I really like the song you used today, is that a new tune for your videos? I feel like I should branch out from the Keychron videos I do on my other channel but they just have so many boards to work through I think I'll be busy for years. Thanks for the constant stream of great content!!!!

Great review... just hard to justify this vs similar. I maintain 5 gaming PCs for my sons and I, all of which are Corsair cases, fas, AiOs etc... we always have iCue running. For many years we all used Corsair keyboards as well. However after getting into this hobby a couple of years ago we are all running custom boards now. This nice but for the price? It's plastic. You can get a Cidoo V75 for less and it's about the same as a Monsgeek M1 or M7 you just reviewed if you want to build. The Rainy is coming soon as is the LemoKey (Keychron) P1 (looks to basically be a Q1 Max and half the price) both around $100 and full AL.

I do like the direction from Corsair, just hope to see a little more from them in the next year or so. As they own Drop now I've read some collaboration isn't out of the question. As their CSTM line can use their software or VIA perhaps a dual bios iCue/VIA could be an option as well!

Definitely sounds better with your mods!

Yeah you pretty much said what I was thinking at the end of your video. The V1 max exist and as a direct competitor(all plastic keyboard build) it is just a much better offering then what you get from Corsair for the price, especially considering you get QMK/VIA. I just can't justify the price Corsair is charging for this.

Since I finally discovered using lube. I highly prefer the sound of filling the switches with lube. LOL It cuts back on a lot of the sound and clackyness of plastic on plastic. I even did the low profiles and I really like the low profile browns with extra real lube added in them. These "pre-lubed" switches just have a thin liquidy lube on the stem. That's it. The best sounding ones I've got that I haven't lubed are the Milky Yellows. They sound no lubed like some of the others sound after lube. Though I'm probably going to lube those soon too and see what happens.

I knew this board was already pretty shameful, but not even having on-board memory... when $20 full-RGB prebuilt mechanicals have it with 2-layered remapping, is INSANE. For 160 bucks?!?!?! This would barely be viable at even $50, and they want more than triple... They couldn't even get the name right, this should clearly be called "K75". These big corporations have become so comfortable, lazy, and completely full of themselves that everything they've built their name on out back rotting in the dumpster and they don't even realize it.

i liked the stock sound more xD

$160 for this is just TDH (too dang high)

Yeah customization on that is useless changing back and forth

Yup. Sounds like an average, mass-produced "custom" keyboard. Trash keycaps with botched font and shit color, all plastic case, stupid buttons and lights all over that makes it look like it came out of 1998, steel plate that sucks because it's in a PLASTIC case which is going to hurt acoustics and feel with most switches and will create ping for literally no reason, trash stock switches and a silicone dildo filling the base. Overpriced and doesn't even have Hardware Profile capabilities. Be honest. They can't even be bothered to give us south-facing LED's even when they ship it with normal PBT keycaps. Nope, can't be bothered. They literally OWN Drop and they still release trash. Just like the last board that was "custom" but only came with Optical trash switches which render the entire board useless.

Things i've learned in watching several reviews from this keyboard: custom keyboard enthusiasts actually hate this keyboard. Other reviewers, who aren't as much in the custom keyboard community like that seem to actually like it (or they're paid off, which is probably the case). This board seems so unnecessarily controversial... lol

👇 PromoSM

Great review! Could it be possible to link the see through keep caps you used?

So, when you have it plugged in is the battery light indicator or the left always green or can that also be turned off

Great video,but I have a question can I use rgb lights if im not running icue?

Nice review, I am a Mac user and love it, there is lots of boards out there from companies from Asia who said they have Mac support , but still lacking, no proper keycaps and software that’s only available in Windows. This is 2024 and the Mac with the Apple Silicon is a beast.
I am looking to mod mine, any suggestions about a good set of good sine through keycaps with Mac labelling and a good tactile switch for moderate gaming and productivity.
Keep up the good reviews.

@Corsair make a K55 no page up/dn home, r/ctrl and align the arrows with Enter for a boxy type

You’re the first person I’ve seen mention the K65 Plus does not have hardware assignments or lighting, like my K100 does

Good to know, it’s on sale for Black Friday right now for $120, i may just pick it up for collection and simple wireless use. But im still considering it