Almost every keyboard manufacturer now has a mini version in their portfolio. Corsair couldn't ignore this either and hit the same mark with the K70 Pro Mini Wireless. The price for the dwarf is rather high at 200 euros, but Corsair has stuffed a lot of technology into the small case, relies on high-quality Cherry switches, and offers a whole range of customization options.
Mini keyboards somehow seem to be hip and there are quite a few really good representatives, such as the popular Ducky models or the recently released Huntsman Mini by Razer. However, wireless models are more the exception than the rule among the minis, such as the much more expensive Apex Pro Mini Wireless from SteelSeries. The wireless operation is definitely an argument, be it on the go or at home on the living room table.
However, minis, also known as 60 percent keyboards, also have their disadvantages that you have to consciously accept. There is no number pad, no arrow keys, and in this case no row of F-keys either - just 62 keys are crowded together. You just have to deal with it. In return, you get a keyboard that, in the case of the K70 Pro Mini, is extremely compact with an area of 293 x 109 mm. It also fits easily in your backpack if you need a keyboard on the go.
Corsair certainly didn't skimp on the workmanship. The keyboard's robust housing, which is available in black or white, is fitted with an aluminum plate, which increases the weight to around 640 grams. Nothing rattles and nothing wobbles. High-quality and robust PBT keycaps with clean lettering sit on the switches. The detachable Type-C connection and charging cable is of course covered with textile. Even a slot for the USB wireless dongle on the back has been thought of.
The K70 Pro Mini Wireless can be operated either by cable, by slipstream wireless in the 2.4 GHz range, or by BlueTooth 4.2. The latter is of course rather uninteresting for gamers. In the other two operating modes, the AXON Hyper-Processing technology comes into play, which means accelerated query rates. In cable mode, the K70 reaches a full 8,000 Hz, in the wireless mode, it is still 2,000 Hz in contrast to the 1,000 Hz that is otherwise usual with keyboards.
The battery life in wireless mode is also impressive. The manufacturer's specification of 32 hours with RGB lighting is about right, we haven't really tried the 200 hours without lighting.
Corsair doesn't skimp on the switches either. Contrary to the trend towards opto-mechanical switches, the manufacturer relies on classic Cherry MX switches for the K70. The keyboard is available with either the Cherry MX Speed RGB Silver or the Cherry MX Red. Thanks to the hot-swap mechanism, you can also use any other Cherry MX switch. Switch kits with different variants are listed in the Corsair Store but without a price. Normally, however, Cherry MX sets are available for around 40 euros. You don't have to waste a lot of words about the switches - high quality as always.
The key caps can also be exchanged if desired. The keyboard is available in either black or white, but here too there are different kits in green, pink, black, white, blue, and red for around 30 euros each. So if you have too much money, you can mix and match and get your own build-your-own custom keyboard. In addition, there are the usual configuration options via the quite convenient, but tendentially overloaded iCUE software.
CONCLUSION
Huge configurable keyboard gnome
One can argue about the usefulness of mini keyboards. Although I have a tenkeyless keyboard in front of the computer at home for reasons of space alone, then doing without the arrow and F keys is too harsh for me, especially for work. Of course, minis also have their good sides - they are small, compact, and actually the ideal companion for on the go or at home on the TV table.
If you want something like this, you will now find a whole range of models. Corsair is in the upper league in terms of price and can be paid handsomely for wireless operation, Cherry switches, and configurability. There is nothing wrong with the keyboard itself. The processing is top, the configurability with the interchangeable switches and keycaps as well and the technology used has it all.
So it's hard to find counterpoints and the price remains a questionable aspect of whether you really want to buy the Corsair K70 Pro Mini Wireless, especially given the fact that it has wired models such as the Ducky keyboards, which are also very good for about half the price.
Pros
- extremely compact
- good battery life
- Wireless+Bluetooth
- Interchangeable switches and keycaps
- high polling rate
- high quality
- very good switches
Cons
- very expensive
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