The Corsair K70 Pro Mini Wireless, like many 60% gaming keyboards, is something of a conundrum. It's a perfectly fine device, offering excellent keyswitches and refined in-game performance. It is also a very niche device, causing unparalleled inconvenience to touch typists and charging a premium price for the privilege.

On its own merits, the K70 Pro Mini Wireless certainly has a lot to like; Corsair's best-in-class Cherry MX key switches are still a major selling point, and wireless mechanical gaming keyboards from major manufacturers are always worthy of praise. Both hardware and software allow you to customize your machine to your heart's content.

On the other hand, the 60% design is simply a hard sell for many gaming genres and does not fit most productivity programs or everyday online tasks. Also, the $180 price tag is higher than most full-size wired gaming keyboards, not to mention wired mini keyboards.

The K70 Pro Mini Wireless is not for everyone, but if you're already 60% convinced by the design, it might be right for you; read our review of the Corsair K70 Pro Mini Wireless.

As the name of the Corsair K70 Pro Mini Wireless suggests, it is a fairly small device. At less than 12 inches across and less than 5 inches wide, it is hard to imagine a desk without room for this device, and since it is wireless, both via USB dongle and Bluetooth, it can be placed anywhere. The device's USB wireless connectivity is also suitable for PlayStation and Xbox consoles.

If you've used 60% mini keyboards before, the K70 Pro Mini won't surprise you. But if not, you should be aware of the keys you'll be giving up: the 60% Mini is one of the smallest keyboards you can buy before entering "keypad" territory. There is no number pad, no arrow keys, no function keys, no navigation keys, not even a separate "Delete" key. If you want to use these functions, you must use a 2-key shortcut instead.

Having reviewed numerous mini-keyboards, I can tell you that this is a nightmare for experienced touch typists. But if you want a gaming keyboard first and foremost, you (probably) won't lose much of anything important. [The K70 Pro Mini Wireless at least looks good. It has tall keycaps and a wide space between the white switches and the black casing, where beautiful RGB lighting shines through.

The keyboard can be supported by two extendable feet or laid flat. On the back are a power button and a USB-C charging port; Corsair generally makes beautiful keyboards, and the K70 Pro Mini Wireless is no exception.

What sets most Corsair keyboards apart from the competition is that the company uses real Cherry MX switches rather than cheap knockoffs. (You can't tell the difference. See our guide to mechanical keyboard switches.) The Corsair K70 Pro Mini Wireless comes with either Cherry MX Red or Cherry MX Speed switches, and it doesn't matter which you choose. Our review model comes with MX Speed switches, which feature shorter actuation distances and key travel. However, both Red and Speed switches are linear, comfortable, and quiet.

The only downside is that the 60% design cuts out keys that gamers and typists take for granted. At first, one might think that the letter and number keys would be sufficient for both gaming and productivity. However, function keys play an important role in massively multiplayer online (MMO) games, arrow keys are essential for document navigation, the Delete key is useful for both web browsing and typing messages in in-game chats, and the keyboard shortcuts are useful in many games. Eventually, we can train ourselves to adopt shortcuts, but doing so will not feel seamless.

Where the Corsair Pro Mini Wireless excels is in its customizability: with the Corsair Utility Engine (iCUE) software, you can reprogram keys, change shortcuts, adjust RGB lighting, and create individual game and profiles for apps; RGB lighting deserves special mention here, as Corsair has some of the most powerful and nuanced lighting options of any gaming brand. Layers of effects can be layered, and while the learning curve is fairly steep, it allows for gorgeous patterns that are rarely supported by other devices.

Even if you forego the iCUE software, the K70 Pro Mini Wireless has many ways to make it your own personal keyboard. Hardwired keyboard shortcuts allow you to record macros, adjust lighting, switch functions, mimic mouse operations, and even pair with multiple Bluetooth devices. the K70 Pro Mini Wireless may not have many keys, but it If you are willing to learn how, you can replicate most of the missing functions.

Beyond that, this keyboard connects well via Bluetooth or USB wireless, has a range of about 30 feet and a fairly reliable pairing process. Battery life is also in the "good enough" to "generous" range, depending on connection and lighting options; with the USB wireless and RGB options fully operational, Corsair advertises a 32-hour battery life. When we tested the keyboard in this fashion, the usage time was in line with Corsair's expectations. On the other hand, if all lighting is turned off and Bluetooth is used, the keyboard could theoretically be used for up to 200 hours. In any case, the keyboard can be used while charging.

While the Corsair K70 Pro Mini Wireless is not suitable for most productive tasks, its abbreviated design suits certain game genres admirably: "Age of Empires IV," "Doom Eternal," "Cyberpunk 2077" and "Final Fantasy XIV," and found that some games were noticeably more enjoyable to play than others.

Not surprisingly, the K70 Pro Mini Wireless worked well with Doom Eternal. The keyboard's small design allowed me to focus on running and gunning, switching weapons quickly as I played. On the other hand, the MMO Final Fantasy XIV could have used a few more buttons. Especially since typing messages in chat is a big part of the experience. [Whether the K70 Pro Mini Wireless is better or worse than a full-size keyboard depends largely on whether you concentrate on a few keys during gameplay or spread the functionality across 104 keys. I missed the function keys, arrow keys, and media keys the most, but there was no genre I could not play.

As with all high-end mini mechanical keyboards, I have two thoughts about the Corsair K70 Pro Mini Wireless. The device offers high-end keyswitches and plenty of customization options, and its features are excellent. However, it is a tough product for many players and typists; the 60% design seems restrictive to begin with, and the high price of the keyboard does not lend itself to product familiarity.

If you are not completely sold on the 60% layout, we recommend the wired Corsair K65 RGB Mini instead. Similarly, if the Mini format doesn't fit, end up buying the Corsair K70 RGB Pro, which is $10 cheaper than the K70 Pro Mini but a far superior keyboard for the majority of users, including gamers and typists alike.