The Corsair K70 PRO MINI WIRELESS is Corsair's first hot-swappable keyboard. It's also the first compact (60%) and the first wireless unit in the K70 lineup. Like the other keyboards in this lineup, this one has a higher-than-average maximum polling rate of 8000Hz for its wired connection and 2000Hz when used with its USB receiver. As it's designed for gaming specifically, it has several gaming-oriented extra features and compatibility with Playstation devices.
Our Verdict
The Corsair K70 PRO MINI WIRELESS is a remarkable gaming keyboard. It offers great in-game performance thanks to its remarkably low latency and high polling rate options. The PBT keycaps feel great to use and have a rough texture that adds some grip, which is great if you're prone to sweat. It comes with your choice of Cherry MX linear Red or Speed switches, both of which are great for gaming. However, it has a hot-swappable circuit board, so if you want a different switch, you can swap these stock switches out for several other options without having to solder. It's compatible with the iCUE software, which you can use to program macros, adjust the polling rate, enable some gaming modes, and customize the RGB backlighting. Unfortunately, its ergonomics are only mediocre as it's a compact, high-profile board that doesn't include a wrist rest.
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Hot-swappable printed circuit board (PCB).
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Full RGB backlighting.
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8000Hz maximum polling rate with a wired connection.
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Remarkably low latency.
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No included wrist rest for extra support.
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Keys don't feel very stable.
The Corsair K70 PRO MINI WIRELESS is a decent keyboard for office use. It feels well-built and pretty satisfying to type on with the linear Cherry MX Red switches installed. These switches don't produce a lot of noise overall, so you don't have to worry about disturbing others around you in an open office setting. The companion software allows for a ton of customization, and it's available on both Windows and macOS, meaning you can make changes regardless of the operating system. Plus, you can connect the keyboard wirelessly in a few different connection styles, or use it wired, if you prefer. Unfortunately, the ergonomics are only mediocre as it's a compact board that doesn't include a wrist rest.
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Hot-swappable printed circuit board (PCB).
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Connects wirelessly with Bluetooth or USB receiver.
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No included wrist rest for extra support.
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Keys don't feel very stable.
The Corsair K70 PRO MINI WIRELESS is a good keyboard for use with mobile devices. It's fairly lightweight, and its compact size means it's easier to slip into a backpack to carry around. It has a relatively high profile, so you'll need a bit of clearance in the bag to fit it in without damaging the keys. You can connect it with up to three devices at once using Bluetooth, and all default buttons work as intended on most operating systems, while only a few hotkeys don't work on iOS and iPadOS. It offers a good typing experience overall, though many of its larger keys and some of the alphanumeric keys are noticeably wobbly during use.
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Hot-swappable printed circuit board (PCB).
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Connects wirelessly with Bluetooth or USB receiver.
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Compact size makes it easy to carry around.
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No included wrist rest for extra support.
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Keys don't feel very stable.
The Corsair K70 PRO MINI WIRELESS is a very good keyboard for programming. Overall, it feels well-built and satisfying to use, and you can connect the keyboard wirelessly with up to 3 devices using Bluetooth or using its USB receiver. It uses the iCUE companion software for customizing the RGB backlighting, programming macros, or making other settings adjustments. While the keyboard works as intended with every operating system, the software is only available for Windows and macOS. Unfortunately, as this is a compact keyboard with a high profile and no included wrist rest, its ergonomics are only mediocre, and it takes some getting used to at first.
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Hot-swappable printed circuit board (PCB).
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Full RGB backlighting.
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Connects wirelessly with Bluetooth or USB receiver.
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No included wrist rest for extra support.
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Keys don't feel very stable.
The Corsair K70 PRO MINI WIRELESS is a decent keyboard to use with a home theater PC setup. It's a wireless unit that connects using a USB receiver or with up to three devices using Bluetooth, so it's no problem to sit on the couch with this board connected to your PC. However, it doesn't have a dedicated trackpad for navigation. Instead, it has mouse cursor hotkeys that work on home theater PCs and Smart TVs when you connect the keyboard to the TV over Bluetooth. These hotkeys aren't exactly the most efficient way of navigating on screen, but the option is there. Otherwise, the full RGB backlighting makes the keys easy to read in the dark, and it's overall a solid unit.
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Hot-swappable printed circuit board (PCB).
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Full RGB backlighting.
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No dedicated trackpad for on-screen navigation.
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Keys don't feel very stable.
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Hot-swappable printed circuit board (PCB).
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Keys don't feel very stable.
- 8.8 Gaming
- 7.6 Office
- 8.3 Mobile/Tablet
- 7.8 Programming
- 6.3 Entertainment / HTPC
- 9.2 Raw Performance
- Updated Feb 14, 2024: We've added a link to the newly-reviewed Corsair K70 CORE to the Dimensions section of this review.
- Updated Nov 29, 2023: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.3.1, which adds a new estimated PCB latency test to the Single-Key Latency section and a new Analog test to the Switches section of this review. You can see the full changelog here.
- Updated Nov 15, 2023: We've found that latency results are impacted by the placement of the testing solenoid, so we retested this keyboard for consistency with other reviews. This review has been updated, and you can find more information regarding this retest here.
- Updated Oct 27, 2023: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.3, which overhauls how key input is evaluated. We've added new tests for Single Key Latency, Multi Key Latency, Data Transmission, and Chord Split. We've also introduced a new Raw Performance usage and adjusted how the Gaming and Office usage scores are calculated. You can see the full changelog here.
- Updated Sep 21, 2023: We've added a link to the newly-reviewed Corsair K65 PRO MINI to the Dimensions section of this review.
- Updated Jun 15, 2023: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.2. This update introduces new Backlight Features and Backlight Clarity test boxes. We've also added a new Switches test box, added additional test comparisons to our Hardware Customizability test box that we introduced with our last Test Bench. For an in-depth look at our changes, you can see our full changelog here.
- Updated May 19, 2023: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.1. This update adds several new tests addressing Hardware Customization, Macro Keys And Programming, and Wireless Mobile Compatibility. We've also added new objective evaluations to the Typing Noise test, and we've simplified several tests and removed several others that were no longer relevant. For an in-depth look at all our changes, you can see our full changelog here.
- Updated Aug 19, 2022: Review published.
- Updated Aug 15, 2022: Early access published.
- Updated Aug 08, 2022: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Aug 04, 2022: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated Jul 24, 2022: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Corsair K70 PRO MINI WIRELESS only comes in a black colorway. There are two options for switches at checkout: Cherry MX Red or Cherry MX Speed. We bought and tested the version with Cherry MX Red switches installed; you can see the label of our unit here.
Compared To Other Keyboards
The Corsair K70 PRO MINI WIRELESS is the only compact (60%) keyboard in the K70 lineup. Like the others in this lineup, it has full RGB backlighting, with extra RGB zones built into the frame and higher-than-average polling rate options. The higher polling rate shaves a few milliseconds off the latency, which is already incredibly low. However, maxing out the polling rate can be taxing on systems, so you'll need a high-performing PC to take full advantage of this feature. A major difference is that this is Corsair's first hot-swappable keyboard, meaning you can replace the stock switches with most 3-pin switches of your choosing without having to solder. You don't usually find this feature on gaming keyboards; however, it's becoming increasingly popular as a hot-swappable circuit board gives you better control over your typing experience and better control over the maintenance of your keyboard. Overall, it's a solid keyboard, but it's not worth the steep price point unless you're looking for a gaming keyboard for a high-end gaming system or with your PS4 or PS5.
If you're interested in other options, check out our recommendations for the best gaming keyboards and the best wireless keyboards. Or, if you're interested in other Corsair options, check out our picks for the best Corsair keyboards.
The Corsair K70 PRO MINI WIRELESS and the Corsair K65 PLUS MINI are both wireless mechanical gaming keyboards. The K70 has a smaller 60% form factor and has better raw performance with a higher maximum polling rate of 8000Hz (4000Hz effective polling rate). It also has shine-through keycaps, so you can read legends in darker rooms. On the other hand, the K65 PLUS WIRELESS has a larger 75% form factor and better overall build quality, as its keys don't wobble quite as much. It also has a control knob that allows you to zoom in/out or scroll through content and adjust settings such as backlighting brightness or media volume.
The Corsair K65 RGB MINI and the Corsair K70 PRO MINI WIRELESS are both compact (60%) gaming keyboards. The major difference between the two is that the K65 RGB MINI is wired-only, while the K70 PRO MINI has wireless connection options. Another feature of the K70 PRO MINI is that it's hot-swappable, so you can change out the stock switches for most 3-pin switches of your choosing without soldering. Otherwise, the two offer very similar in-game performance.
The Corsair K65 PRO MINI and the Corsair K70 PRO MINI WIRELESS are mechanical gaming keyboards. The K65 PRO MINI is a wired-only model that uses Corsair's linear OPX optical switches. It's also slightly larger with a compact (65%) form factor, so it has dedicated arrow keys and several navigation keys, which the K70 PRO MINI WIRELESS lacks. On the other hand, the K70 PRO MINI WIRELESS is a wireless model with a compact (60%) form factor and is available with Cherry MX or Cherry MX Speed mechanical switches.
The Razer Huntsman Mini and the Corsair K70 PRO MINI WIRELESS are compact gaming keyboards that offer an excellent gaming experience, but they have some significant differences. The Corsair is a wireless unit that's also hot-swappable, meaning you can change out the stock Cherry MX switches easily. On the other hand, the Razer is a wired-only unit that only uses Razer's proprietary Optical switches. While these switches are optimized for gaming, your switch choices at checkout are fairly limited, and you can't easily replace them as the circuit board isn't hot-swappable.
The Corsair K70 PRO MINI WIRELESS is the compact (60%) wireless upgrade of the K70 RGB TKL. The K70 PRO MINI WIRELESS is wireless, while the K70 RGB TKL is wired-only. The K70 PRO MINI WIRELESS also has a hot-swappable printed circuit board, so you can change the stock switches without having to solder. As a result of the downsizing, however, the K70 PRO MINI WIRELESS lacks the extra hardware features, like dedicated media keys and the volume wheel found on the K70 RGB TKL.
The Corsair K70 PRO MINI WIRELESS is the compact (60%) wireless version of the Corsair K70 RGB PRO. The original K70 RGB PRO is a full-size, wired-only unit with an included wrist rest and extra features such as dedicated media keys and a volume control wheel. On the other hand, the K70 PRO MINI WIRELESS has a hot-swappable circuit board, meaning you can replace your stock switches with most 3-pin switches of your choosing.
The Corsair K70 PRO MINI WIRELESS and the Corsair K70 CORE are mechanical gaming keyboards in Corsair's K70 lineup. They offer roughly the same high-end gaming performance, but the K70 PRO MINI is a wireless model with a much smaller 60% compact form factor. On the other hand, the K70 CORE is a much larger, standard full-sized model. Its switches come pre-lubed from the factory and feel a bit smoother. It also has some sound-dampening material inside the case and spacebar, so it's a bit quieter to type on as well.
The ASUS ROG Falchion and the Corsair K70 PRO MINI WIRELESS are compact, wireless gaming keyboards that offer an excellent in-game experience. They have a few notable differences. Firstly, the Corsair is Bluetooth compatible, while you can only use the ASUS with its USB receiver. Secondly, the Corsair is hot-swappable, meaning you can change out the stock switches easily. The ASUS is only available with a few Cherry MX switch options at checkout, and you won't be able to change these out without soldering.
The HyperX Alloy Origins 60 and the Corsair K70 PRO MINI WIRELESS are compact gaming keyboards with incredible performance. The Corsair is a wireless unit with a hot-swappable circuit board so you can change out the stock Cherry MX switches easily while the HyperX is a wired-only unit that comes with a limited selection of switch types. While the Corsair keyboard offers much better latency, the HyperX has a much better build quality and a more wallet-friendly price point.
The Razer Huntsman Mini Analog and the Corsair K70 PRO MINI WIRELESS are compact gaming keyboards with some major differences between them. The Razer uses specialized switches that allow you to set the pre-travel distance on a per-key basis. There's also an Analog Mode on this keyboard, so your keypresses emulate joystick controls. The Corsair lacks both of these features and instead offers wireless connectivity options and the ability to customize your switch choices thanks to its hot-swappable PCB.
Test Results
The Corsair K70 PRO MINI WIRELESS is a compact (60%) model that frees up a lot of space on your desk for more dynamic mouse movements while gaming. If you want a slightly larger compact keyboard with dedicated arrow keys, check out the Corsair K65 PRO MINI.
Alternatively, if you're looking for a similar full-size option in the same lineup and don't mind a wired-only model, check out the Corsair K70 CORE.
The Corsair K70 PRO MINI WIRELESS has a very good build quality. The chassis is a good quality plastic, while the baseplate is solid metal, so the keyboard has very little flex overall. The double-shot PBT keycaps feel nice on the fingertips, and the tops have a slight texture for added grip. The keys themselves, however, have a fair bit of wobble to them that's noticeable during use. This wobble is especially noticeable on the larger modifier keys as the stabilizers in these keys are quite loose and unstable themselves. The rubber feet on the bottom do a decent job of keeping the board in place.
You can see an image of the Corsair K70 PRO MINI WIRELESS without keycaps and switches here. Also, the panel along the top is modular, so you can purchase a colorful one from Corsair's website for an additional cost if you want to add some color to the frame. However, this panel isn't easy to remove, and it faces away from the viewer.
The Corsair K70 PRO MINI WIRELESS has acceptable ergonomics. It has one incline setting to help alleviate wrist strain. Otherwise, it's a compact board that can take a little bit to get used to if you're not used to the size. It has a fairly high profile, so you could benefit from using a wrist rest. However, you'll have to purchase one separately.
The Corsair K70 PRO MINI WIRELESS has full RGB backlighting with individually-lit keys. You can customize the backlighting using the iCUE software.
This keyboard has impressive backlight clarity, and the keycap legends are clearly legible. Unfortunately, the color mixing on this keyboard is poor, as the white backlighting has a slightly green hue that isn't caused by interference from the switch housing or stems.
The Corsair K70 PRO MINI WIRELESS comes with a detachable USB-A to USB-C braided cable. The cable is of decent quality but retains kinks from the packaging.
The Corsair K70 PRO MINI WIRELESS has three different connection types. You can use it wired with its included cable for a higher maximum polling rate, or you can use it with its included Slipstream USB receiver. Corsair advertises a battery life of up to 32 hours with the RGB backlighting on and up to 200 hours with the backlighting off.
The Corsair K70 PRO MINI WIRELESS has a whole host of extra features. Notably, it has a hot-swappable printed circuit board (PCB), meaning you can change out the stock switches with others without soldering. The circuit board only accepts 3-pin switches, which limits your choices. Pretty much every button doubles up as a hotkey with such functions as mouse cursor buttons to move the cursor and L/R mouse click buttons. You can use the software to set the CPI on this cursor control without it impacting the CPI set to your actual mouse. There's a "PlayStation Mode" that allows you to use the keyboard seamlessly with a PS4 or PS5 unit.
- Corsair K70 PRO MINI WIRELESS
- USB-A to USB-C cable
- USB-A receiver
- Keycap puller
- Switch puller
- 1x ABS Corsair-branded keycap
- 1x ABS spacebar
- User documentation
The Corsair K70 PRO MINI WIRELESS offers a good typing experience. The best part of the typing experience is the PBT keycaps. They feel great on the fingertips with a nice rough texture that provides a good amount of grip. With the linear Cherry MX Red switches inside the board, typing feels light and smooth without any tactile resistance from the switch. Since the keyboard has a hot-swappable PCB, you can put in any 3-pin switch you want to get the typing experience that feels the most satisfying to you. Otherwise, the wobble in the keys, especially the larger modifier keys is slightly distracting during use. As it's a compact keyboard, it could feel a bit cramped to type on at first, especially if you're coming from a full-size board. Pretty much every key doubles up as a hotkey, so it takes a bit of time to memorize the layout of various functions. Finally, this keyboard doesn't include a wrist rest, which would improve the comfort during long sessions.
The Corsair K70 PRO MINI WIRELESS with linear Cherry MX Red switches is pretty quiet to type on and shouldn't disturb others around you during use.
The linear Cherry MX Red switches in the Corsair K70 PRO MINI WIRELESS offer a light, smooth keypress feel with no tactile feedback. The pre-travel distance is a bit higher than some other linear switches, like Cherry MX Speed switches, but it's short enough to feel responsive while gaming. Also, this keyboard has a hot-swappable PCB, meaning you can change the stock switches for most 3-pin switches of your choice.
The Corsair K70 PRO MINI WIRELESS has exceptional latency no matter your connection type. During testing, we use the highest possible polling rate. For a wired connection, the maximum polling rate is 8000Hz, while the maximum polling rate for a wireless connection using the USB receiver is 2000Hz.
The multi-key performance of this keyboard is superb. Both the Key Press and Key Release latency results are very low and consistent, making this keyboard a great choice for playing any game that requires additional keystrokes while multiple keys are pressed and maintained.
The Corsair K70 PRO MINI WIRELESS uses Corsair's iCUE software. You can use this software to remap keys, set macros, and customize the RGB backlighting. You can also adjust the Windows lock function. The software also includes tutorials you can watch to learn how to customize and make the most out of your keyboard. Also, you can save your profile settings straight to the keyboard's 8MB of onboard memory.
The Corsair K70 PRO MINI WIRELESS is fully compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux.
On Android devices, all keys work as intended, including the mouse functions. On iPadOS and iOS, most of the keys work as intended except the Pause/Break, Print Screen, Insert, and Scroll Lock keys. However, the mouse cursor hotkeys to move the cursor don't work, though the L/R click hotkeys do.