Corsair K70 Pro Mini Wireless Review

See full bio

Abdul Hannan

At HI Digital I test and write about different hardware configurations to show other PC users what they can expect from their build. My end goal is to educate the masses to make the right decision when they are looking for new PC parts to buy

See full bio

Customization is a major point of differentiation for mechanical keyboards, and this is where the K70 Pro Mini Wireless comes. You can customize a keyboard to precisely meet your requirements by modifying, switching out, or customizing its parts, assuming you purchase an appropriate keyboard. There’s certainly no harm in using a keyboard in its factory-setup state, but tinkering with its defaults can be a lot of fun.

The K70 Pro Mini Wireless from Corsair is fascinating because of that. Its bold gamer typeface and RGB lighting give it a first impression that is similar to mechanical keyboards for gaming made by Corsair for a while. However, it’s the first keyboard that the company has ever manufactured with hot-swappable switches.

What this means is that it provides a powerful combination of the customizable enthusiast board capabilities with the gaming-focused features offered by Corsair, such as reduced input latency. The price tag of $179.99 is a little steep, and not everyone will like the 60 percent setup. Still, if you’re prepared to pay the price, it checks a lot of boxes.

Key Takeaways

• The Corsair K70 Pro Mini Wireless keyboard offers a powerful combination of enthusiast-level customization and gaming-focused features.
• The thing I liked about the Corsair K70 Pro Mini Wireless is its hot-swappable switches, which allow for easy customization without soldering.
• The thing I didn’t like about the Corsair K70 Pro Mini Wireless is its high price tag as compared to other competitors.
• The Corsair K70 Pro Mini Wireless keyboard is a perfect fit for competitive gamers who require precise and responsive keystrokes for competitive gaming and will benefit from minimal input latency and high polling rates.

Here are the specifications:

Box Contents

1. K70 Pro Mini Wireless 60% RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
2. Slipstream Wireless Adapter
3. Braided USB Type-C Cable
4. Radiant Spacebar Keycap
5. Corsair Logo ESC

Design

Since it is a 60% compact form factor,  the Corsair K70 Pro Mini Wireless won’t take up much space on your desk. As a result, it doesn’t include any extra features like a function row, numeric keypad, or arrow keys. The end result is an ergonomic keyboard that works well on small workstations or on huge desks when you need plenty of room for your mouse to easily move around in a game.

Look into the Corsair K65 Pro Mini if you’re in the market for a little bigger, easier-to-carry keyboard with arrow keys that are yours to use.
You can tell it’s a Corsair product just by looking at it. It has a bold all-caps typeface on each key and is mostly black with some dazzling RGB lights.

Located on top of the keyboard is a tiny dock that contains its 2.4GHz USB dongle, a physical power button, and one USB-C connector for charging and connecting to other devices. There aren’t any Mac-exclusive keycaps or legends, and there isn’t a button to convert to macOS layout mode. Given Corsair’s emphasis on gaming, it’s hardly surprising that this keyboard is Windows-centric.

Build Quality

Impressive craftsmanship goes into making the Corsair K70 Pro Mini Wireless. The keyboard has almost no flex since its base is solid metal and the chassis is high-quality plastic. As far as board stability goes, the rubber feet on the underside are more than enough.

When it comes to ergonomics, the Corsair K70 Pro Mini Wireless is up to the mark. To make it easier on the wrists, it includes one tilt adjustment. In any case, it’s a little board, so it could take some time to adjust if you’re not accustomed to its size. You may want to use a wrist rest because of its somewhat high profile. But you’ll need to buy one on your own.

Connectivity

There are three different ways to connect to the wireless Corsair K70 Pro Mini. Included with it is a detachable, braided USB-A to USB-C cable of adequate quality, and you can use it wired or with the Slipstream USB receiver. The keyboard is capable of scanning for keystrokes natively at 4,000Hz and transmitting those to your PC at 8,000Hz when making use of a wired connection.

However, while using its 2.4GHz dongle, it is capable of reporting at 2,000Hz. Whatever your connection type may be, the Corsair K70 Pro Mini Wireless will always have outstanding latency. Corsair remains silent on the details of the keyboard’s Bluetooth polling rate. Although minimal latency isn’t exactly a characteristic of the Bluetooth wireless standard.

Overall, it offers a wide variety of connection choices, including a USB dongle, the capacity to store up to three separate Bluetooth connections, and reliable wired connectivity. A relief is that the Corsair K70 Pro Mini Wireless works flawlessly with all three major connectivities. For actual usage, I made sure to utilize the maximum polling rate throughout testing.

Keycaps

Changing the keycaps on the K70 Pro Mini Wireless is also an obvious option. You won’t need to change them anytime soon since the included keycaps are sturdy double-shot PBT and emphasize the RGB lighting of the keyboard. Not only that, but there are a plethora of additional legends written on the keycaps due to the fact that most of these keystrokes have a dual purpose.

If you change the keycaps, you may find it difficult to recall the shortcuts. Lastly, certain Cherry-profile keycaps may not work with this keyboard since the switches are oriented to face north. The tops of the double-shot PBT keycaps are slightly textured for extra grip, and they feel great on the fingers. In addition, the top panel is removable and replaceable, so if you want to add a little flair to the frame, you can do so by purchasing a colorful unit from Corsair’s website. 

RGB Lighting

Each key on the wireless Corsair K70 Pro Mini illuminates by its own color LED, making it a truly RGB keyboard. Using the iCUE software, you have the ability to customize the backlighting. The lighting clarity of this keyboard is very remarkable, and the keycap inscriptions are easy to see.

Battery Life

Unfortunately, the battery life is negatively impacted by all those lights. Turning off all of the RGB lights extends the keyboard’s life to 200 hours, but with them all lighted up, it only lasts about 32 hours. When the time comes to power up your K70 RGB Pro Mini Wireless, you’ll use the braided USB-C that came with it.

Features

The majority of the buttons also serve as hotkeys for additional tasks, such as dragging the cursor or clicking the left or right mouse button. The program allows you to adjust the CPI of this cursor control independently of the mouse’s own settings. In “PlayStation Mode,” you can pair the keyboard with a PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5 system without any problems.

Switches

This personalization goes even further with hot-swappable keyboard switches, instead of needing to get out a soldering iron every time you want to swap out the switches for a key. All it takes to remove hot-swappable switches is a pulling tool. Because of this, changing them is as simple as swapping out a keycap. Though it’s becoming more prevalent on enthusiast boards, you won’t often see this functionality on keyboards from gaming or mainstream companies.

Currently, the K70 Pro Mini Wireless is available from Corsair only with two switch options: the gaming-focused linear Cherry MX Speed Silver and the more traditional linear Cherry MX Red. The review sample I received contained the former. But if you’re open to purchasing switches independently, the fact that it’s hot-swappable opens up a world of possibilities.

You have the option to replace the Cherry switches with other ones, such as clicky blues or tactile browns. In addition to the keyboard, Corsair also provides the necessary switch puller in the packaging. The switches can also be removed using a keycap remover, and I found it rather easy to replace a few of them. The one catch is that the keyboard’s circuit board only accommodates three-pin switches, sometimes called plate-mount switches.

To make room for five-pin switches, also called PCB-mount switches, you’ll need to remove their plastic legs. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it does mean you’ll need to be selective when purchasing new switches or be ready to perform some tweaking. The convenience of hot-swap is its selling point. However, this isn’t ideal.

Typing Experience

One can type comfortably on the Corsair K70 Pro Mini Wireless. The PBT keycaps are the most enjoyable aspect of using the keyboard. Their pleasant, rough texture offers a decent amount of grip, and they feel wonderful on the fingers. Typing is a breeze with the built-in linear Cherry MX Speed switches. There’s no tactile resistance whatsoever.

The keyboard’s hot-swappable printed circuit board (PCB) allows you to customize the typing experience to your liking by inserting any 3-pin switch. While the original Cherry switches used by Corsair are long-lasting and sturdy. The keyboard’s design causes them to sound inferior and plasticky and doesn’t provide a satisfying tactile experience.

The stabilizers of bigger keys make a clinky, metallic noise, which makes the situation worse. Coming from a full-size keyboard, you may find the tiny one a little restricted at first. It takes some practice to master the arrangement of the different functions since almost every key serves as a hotkey.

Moreover, a wrist rest would make this keyboard more comfortable to use for extended periods of time. Last but not least, the linear Cherry MX Speed switches on the Corsair K70 Pro Mini Wireless make it a relatively silent keyboard, so you won’t have to worry about disturbing anybody around.

Gaming Experience

Gaming is where the K70 Pro Mini Wireless really shines, thanks to its minimal input latency and the fact that you won’t even notice the absence of additional keys. Still, I don’t think the majority of people will see an improvement at polling rates exceeding 1,000 Hz. Using Gigabyte M27Q-P to play Valorant, I tried the K70 Pro Mini Wireless in both wired 8,000Hz and wireless 2,000Hz polling rates.

I couldn’t tell the difference between them and a regular 1,000Hz polling rate keyboard. The fact that there doesn’t seem to be any input latency while using the wireless keyboard is comforting, but don’t anticipate a major improvement. This keyboard has great multi-key performance. Any game that demands more keystrokes while maintaining multiple keys pressed and maintained will benefit greatly from this keyboard due to its consistently low Key Pressing and Key Releasing latency values.

Compact Yet Powerful!

Productivity Experience

A little model like this might be really useful for gamers who sometimes have a lack of mouse space due to a large keyboard. While some may find the K70 Pro Mini Wireless’s cramped design perfect, I had a hard time getting it to function properly for the last couple of weeks. The “missing” keys can all be accessed by pressing a function key at the bottom right side of the keyboard.

However, it’s annoying to have to press two keys to access the arrow keys, and the problem becomes worse as you add additional modifiers. It was very inefficient since I often had to push four keys at once while working. This keyboard is not suitable for use in a professional setting.

iCUE

This Corsair K70 Pro Mini Wireless is compatible with Corsair’s iCUE software. Notably, keymapping, macros, and RGB lighting customization are all possible with this program. The Windows lock feature can also be customized. Fortunately, you can learn how to personalize and maximize your keyboard’s potential with the help of the software’s included instructions.

With this user-friendly program, you can monitor your computer’s temperature, wireless connections, CPU, and GPU. Moreover, you can utilize the iCue app’s proprietary RGB lighting integrations with certain games, but it’s only compatible with wired mode. Lastly, with the 8 MB of onboard memory, you can also store your profile settings directly on the keyboard.

Should You Buy the K70 Pro Mini Wireless or Not?

Buy it if: 

✅You appreciate compact design: If you desire a powerful gaming keyboard that doesn’t take up much desk space, the K70 Pro Mini’s 60% compact form factor offers a sleek and ergonomic solution, ideal for both small workstations and spacious setups.

✅You prioritize gaming performance: With features like minimal input latency, high polling rates, and reliable multi-key performance, the K70 Pro Mini Wireless excels in gaming scenarios where precision and responsiveness are crucial.

Don’t Buy it if:

❌You have a limited budget: With a price tag of $179.99, the K70 Pro Mini Wireless may be on the higher end of the spectrum for some buyers, making it less accessible for those with budget constraints.

❌You require dedicated media and volume controls: For users who rely heavily on quick access to media controls, the absence of dedicated buttons on the K70 Pro Mini Wireless may be a drawback.

Final Verdict

I am quite impressed by the Corsair K70 Pro Mini Wireless Keyboard. It has gorgeous RGB backlighting with an attractive diffusing ring to cast light over your desk, excellent responsiveness, and excellent functionality. It also has hot-swappable switches, which we hope will be a common feature in future Corsair keyboards. Also, it’s one of the priciest keyboards sold by Corsair, costing around $180.

Although 60% keyboards may not be everyone’s cup of tea, you have to admit that this little board packs a serious punch. It is not surprising that the pricing is exorbitant considering the compact size, given the feature set. But whether you’re an esports pro, a casual gamer, or an enthusiast seeking a lightweight, aesthetically pleasing peripheral, this is the keyboard for you.

Abdul Hannan

[How-To Guides Expert]

Laiba, our tech guru at HI Digital, simplifies and crafts How-To Guides with a Google IT Support Certificate. Beyond tech, she captures the city’s aesthetics through her lens. Join her journey where tech meets creativity!

Get In Touch: Laiba@hidgt.com