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Corsair K65 LUX RGB Keyboard Review

Tested using Methodology v1.0
Reviewed Dec 01, 2020 at 10:51 am
Latest change: Test bench update Oct 05, 2021 at 02:56 pm
Corsair K65 LUX RGB Picture
9.1
Gaming
3.3
Mobile/Tablet
8.0
Office
7.9
Programming
4.9
Entertainment / HTPC

The Corsair K65 LUX RGB is a good TKL mechanical keyboard for gaming. Its frame feels well-built and has minimal flex, but the ABS plastic keycaps feel a little cheap. It's comfortable to type on and comes with a magnetically-attachable wrist rest. You can set macros to any key and customize the RGB backlighting with the iCUE software. It has great typing quality and the Cherry MX Red switches have a low actuation force, but the high pre-travel distance isn't ideal for gaming.

Our Verdict

9.1 Gaming

The Corsair K65 LUX is good for gaming. This well-built keyboard is comfortable to use and comes with a wrist rest. You can fully customize the RGB backlighting and set macros to any key you want. The Cherry MX Red switches have a low actuation force, but the high pre-travel distance isn't ideal for gaming.

Pros
  • All keys are macro-programmable.
  • Great built quality.
  • Great typing experience.
  • Customizable RGB backlighting.
Cons
  • Wrist rest connectors feel fragile.
  • ABS keycaps feel cheap.
  • High pre-travel distance.
3.3 Mobile/Tablet

The Corsair K65 LUX is wired-only and isn't designed to be used with mobile devices.

8.0 Office

The Corsair K65 LUX is very good for office use. It's comfortable to use and comes with a decently comfortable wrist rest. The typing quality is great, but the slightly wider spacing and the high pre-travel distance may cause some fatigue if you aren't used to it. It feels well-built and it's quiet to type on, so it shouldn't bother those around you.

Pros
  • All keys are macro-programmable.
  • Great built quality.
  • Cherry MX Red switches are quiet.
  • Great typing experience.
Cons
  • Wrist rest connectors feel fragile.
  • ABS keycaps feel cheap.
  • High pre-travel distance.
7.9 Programming

The Corsair K65 LUX is great for programming. It feels well-built and comes with a decently comfortable wrist rest. It has a great typing experience, but the slightly wider spacing and the high pre-travel distance may cause some fatigue if you aren't used to it. Additionally, you can set macros to any key through the iCUE software.

Pros
  • All keys are macro-programmable.
  • Great built quality.
  • Great typing experience.
  • Customizable RGB backlighting.
Cons
  • Wrist rest connectors feel fragile.
  • ABS keycaps feel cheap.
  • High pre-travel distance.
4.9 Entertainment / HTPC

Pros
  • Great built quality.
Cons
  • Wrist rest connectors feel fragile.
  • ABS keycaps feel cheap.
  • High pre-travel distance.
  • 9.1 Gaming
  • 3.3 Mobile/Tablet
  • 8.0 Office
  • 7.9 Programming
  • 4.9 Entertainment / HTPC
  1. Updated Oct 05, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
  2. Updated Dec 01, 2020: Review published.
  3. Updated Nov 18, 2020: Early access published.
  4. Updated Nov 13, 2020: Our testers have started testing this product.
  5. Updated Nov 11, 2020: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  6. Updated Nov 06, 2020: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
  7. Updated Nov 01, 2020: The product has won our suggestion poll, so we'll buy and test it soon.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

The Corsair K65 has no variants and it's only available in Cherry MX Red switches. You can see the label of our unit here.

Compared To Other Keyboards

The Corsair K65 LUX RGB is a good TKL mechanical gaming keyboard and performs very similarly to the Corsair STRAFE RGB MK.2, although it may feel less responsive for gaming due to the high pre-travel distance of the Cherry MX Red switches. Although it doesn't have dedicated macro keys, those looking for a TKL gaming keyboard should be pleased. For other options, see our recommendations for the best gaming keyboards, the best RGB keyboards, and the best mechanical keyboards.

Corsair K63 Wireless

The Corsair K65 LUX RGB and the Corsair K63 Wireless are similar TKL gaming keyboards. The K65 LUX feels much better built, it has RGB lighting, and it has a USB passthrough. However, the K63 is more versatile thanks to its wireless capabilities, and its Cherry MX Red switches have a slightly lower pre-travel distance than the Cherry MX Red switches on the K65 LUX.

Corsair K60 RGB PRO Low Profile

The Corsair K65 LUX RGB is better than the Corsair K60 RGB PRO Low Profile. The K65 LUX comes with a detachable wrist rest and it has a USB passthrough. Its Cherry MX Red linear switches have a high pre-travel distance that might feel less responsive for gaming; however, they're less sensitive than the K60 PRO's Cherry MX Low Profile RGB Speed switches which may cause more unintended keystrokes. However, if you prefer a full-sized keyboard, the K60 PRO is better.

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL

The SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL is better than the Corsair K65 LUX RGB. The SteelSeries feels better built, and it's fully compatible with macOS. Also, the SteelSeries Brown tactile switches on our unit might feel more responsive for gaming than the Cherry MX Red linear switches thanks to the lower actuation force and pre-travel distance. However, the Corsair has a Windows Key lock and might present better value for some people.

Logitech G PRO Keyboard

The Corsair K65 LUX RGB and the Logitech G Pro Mechanical Gaming Keyboard are both TKL keyboards, but the Logitech is slightly better for gaming. The Corsair comes with a wrist rest, all of its keys are macro-programmable, and it has onboard memory. However, the Logitech has two incline settings, and its Cherry MX Blue switches have a lower pre-travel distance than the Corsair's Cherry MX Red switches.

Corsair STRAFE RGB MK.2

The Corsair STRAFE RGB MK.2 and the Corsair K65 LUX RGB are very similar gaming keyboards, but the STRAFE is better for gaming. Its Cherry MX Red switches have a much lower pre-travel distance than the K65's Cherry MX Red switches, so they should feel more responsive for gaming. However, the K65 is more compact, so there's more space to move around your mouse next to it.

Corsair K95 RGB PLATINUM XT

The Corsair K95 RGB PLATINUM XT is better than the Corsair K65 LUX RGB. The K95 feels better built, has a plushier wrist rest, dedicated macro keys, and a volume control wheel. Also, the K95's Cherry MX Blue switches have a much lower pre-travel distance than our K65 unit's Cherry MX Red switches, so they should feel more responsive. However, the K65 is a TKL size and is perfect if you don't want a Numpad.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Dimensions
Size
TenKeyLess (80%)
Height
1.5" (3.8 cm)
Width 14.0" (35.6 cm)
Depth
6.5" (16.6 cm)
Depth With Wrist Rest
8.3" (21.0 cm)
Weight
2.15 lbs (0.973 kg)

It's a small, TenKeyLess (TKL) keyboard that is slightly smaller than the Corsair K63 Wireless Mechanical Keyboard.

8.0
Design
Build Quality
Keycap Material ABS

The Corsair K65 has great build quality. Its base is made of plastic, and it has a brushed aluminum top plate that feels solid and doesn't flex. However, the edges of the aluminum top plate are quite sharp and it can cut your skin. The ABS plastic keycaps have a nice, smooth finish, and they don't wobble while you type; however, they feel a bit on the cheap side. There are four rubber feet underneath, and another three under the wrist rest, but they aren't very grippy as the keyboard slides around easily. The wrist rest connectors feel fragile and are difficult to attach, but the wrist rest feels sturdy once connected.

7.5
Design
Ergonomics
Board Design
Straight
Minimum Incline
Medium Incline
N/A
Maximum Incline
Wrist Rest Detachable

It has good ergonomics. It has one incline setting and it comes with a wrist rest that is made of soft plastic. Although it isn't as plushy as the Corsair K95 RGB PLATINUM XT's wrist rest, it still helps to reduce fatigue. The incline feet open to the sides, so they shouldn't accidentally retract when pushing the keyboard forwards.

9.7
Design
Backlighting
Backlighting Yes
Color
RGB
Individually Backlit Keys
Yes
Color Mixing
Ok
Effects
Yes
Programmable
Yes

The Corsair K65 LUX RGB has full RGB backlighting with individually-lit keys. You can customize the colors and effects through the iCUE software, and you can also control the brightness level directly from the keyboard.

Design
Cable & Connector
Connectivity Wired
Detachable
No
Length 6.2 ft (1.9 m)
Connector (Keyboard side)
Not Detachable

The cable is thick and braided, and sadly it retains kinks from the packaging. It has two USB plugs at the end, one for the USB passthrough and the other for the keyboard.

0
Design
Wireless Versatility
Bluetooth
No
Bluetooth Multi-Device Pairing
No
Proprietary Receiver
No
Battery Type
No Batteries

This is a wired keyboard that can't be used wirelessly.

Design
Extra Features
Media Keys
Hot Keys
Macro Programmable Keys
All
Trackpad / Trackball No
Wheel No
USB Passthrough
Yes
Numpad No
Windows Key Lock
Yes
Lock Indicator Caps & Scroll Lock

There are a few extra features on the Corsair K65 LUX RGB. Although most of the media keys are hotkeys, the volume control and mute buttons are dedicated. There's a Windows Key lock button at the top right to prevent you from accidentally minimizing your game.

Design
In The Box

  • Corsair K65 LUX RGB Compact Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
  • Wrist rest
  • Extra keys (2x W, 2x D, A, S, E, R, Q, F)
  • Keycap puller
  • User manual

Typing Experience
Typing Experience
Keystrokes
Mechanical
Yes
Key Switches
Cherry MX Red
Feel
Linear
Operating Force
47 gf
Actuation Force
50 gf
Pre-Travel
2.3 mm
Total Travel
4.0 mm

The Corsair K65 RGB uses Cherry MX Red switches. They require a bit of force to actuate, and they have a high pre-travel distance. This can result in a better typing accuracy, but it can also feel less responsive, especially for gaming. The pre-travel distance is higher than the advertised 2.0mm, but this may be due to manufacturing tolerances. Since the switches are linear, they don't provide any tactile feedback, so it may be hard to know when a keypress is registered. If you're interested in a similar TKL gaming keyboard that's available with tactile switches, check out the ROCCAT Vulcan TKL.

8.0
Typing Experience
Typing Quality

The Corsair K65 LUX RGB we tested has great typing quality. The ABS plastic keycaps are smooth and a little slippery, and sadly they feel a little cheap. On the plus side, they feel stable and don't wobble while typing. The key placement is slightly more spaced out than standard spacing, and while this shouldn't cause more typos, it may cause a bit of fatigue in the fingers since you may need to extend them more than usual. Nevertheless, you shouldn't feel much fatigue while typing on this keyboard, especially when used with the wrist rest.

Typing Experience
Typing Noise
Noise
Quiet

The linear Cherry MX Red switches are quiet and shouldn't bother those around you in an open office environment.

10
Typing Experience
Latency
Latency Wired
0.4 ms
Latency Receiver
N/A
Latency Bluetooth
N/A
Software and Operating System
9.6
Software and Operating System
Software & Programming
Software Name iCUE
Account Required
No
Profiles
6+
Onboard Memory
Yes
Cloud Sync
No
Macro Programming
Software
Ease Of Use
Easy
Software Windows Compatible
Yes
Software macOS Compatible
Yes

The iCUE companion software is fantastic. You can set macros or presets to any key you want, as well as customize the RGB backlight on each key. Sadly, the software isn't very intuitive or user-friendly for new users.

7.2
Software and Operating System
Keyboard Compatibility
Windows Full
macOS Partial
Linux Partial
Android No
iOS No
iPadOS No

The Corsair K65 is fully compatible with Windows, and only the Pause Break and Scroll Lock don't work on macOS. Since the software isn't compatible with Linux, you can't customize the settings, but all of the keys should still work properly.