CORSAIR - CLIPPER PRO MINI 60 Hall Effect Gaming Keyboard - Black

This keyboard may be small and seem simple coming with basically just a cable and nothing else, but it functions just like the bigger keyboards and better in many ways, especially, if not obviously, for gamers. I think that my be the most surprising thing about this keyboard, which is just how well thought out it is in giving you all the options to use the keys that are basically missing from essentially chopping off 40% of a standard keyboard. Between the multi-function keys and remapping features, the only thing this little keyboard can't make up for is a 10-key number pad, but if you're only gaming with it that's not an issue. And if you do plan on using this keyboard for more than gaming and need one, you can always buy a stand-alone 10-key numpad separately (which is what I got). Customizing this keyboard is easy too and surprisingly doesn't even require you to download an app as it's all done through a web hub via your browser. You just have to give permission to let it find devices on your computer and voila, it shows up right away. The interface is easy enough to figure out and use too. Another thing I like about it is that I can easily change a key or a function, and if I don't like it, easily change it back. Like for example the feature that lets you lock the 'w' key so that you don't have to keep it pressed when you're just continuously walking. A feature that my daughter was excited to try out on Roblox but wasn't quite getting used to it so we just easily turned it off in a matter of seconds. I also found that I like to just keep the web hub up while I'm starting a new game, so that as I'm playing and learning the controls, if there's something I don't like or something I think would be easier if mapped differently, I just pause the game, switch to the web hub, and make whatever changes I want to try. The number of customizable options you get is honestly almost over-whelming. The fact that you can set functions to only pressing a key half-way down, or upon releasing a key, or even releasing only half-way up is kind of crazy to think about. Truthfully, I've used a clicky style keyboard for so long that only half-pressing keys is something I need to get used to, although I haven't really came across a game I play where that would be useful yet, for me at least. I'm sure that'll change though as I get more and more used to the hall effect style keys, which shouldn't take too long as I've been enjoying this keyboard so much it is now my dedicated gaming keyboard. Additionally, you can record macros, assign mouse functions to keys, even text phrases. The possibilities truly are almost endless. The lighting of the keyboard looks really good too and again, you have options for the lighting effects. I also like how when you hold the FN key to use the secondary key functions, it lights up only the keys that have a default secondary function like the arrow keys or F keys. The one thing I wish they did was make the secondary functions on the keys light up as well, because as it is, they are REALLY hard to see, which is honestly the only negative thing I've found with this keyboard so far. The build quality is excellent too. It feels very sturdy and solid. The keys feel good, and sound good. I have no doubt this keyboard will be able to withstand a lot of gaming abuse for a long time. Not only is this now my dedicated gaming keyboard, it's also now my daughter's dedicated keyboard. We rarely game at the same time so we just swap it back and forth. So I want to share her thoughts on this keyboard as well, being that she probably spends more time playing Roblox than I should probably be letting her. Before I got this Clipper Pro, she's just been using a full-size mechanical keyboard that came with her gaming desktop PC. After using this keyboard, let's just say if we did game at the same time, she'd probably rip it away from me, which she practically did the first time I took it to use and didn't connect it back to her PC. She now refuses to use any other keyboard. If that's not a testament to how awesome this keyboard is then I don't know what is. So if you're looking to get a 60% mini keyboard, I'd most definitely recommend going with the Corsair Clipper Pro.

The Corsair Pro Mini 60 is the latest keyboard to come out from Corsair. So what can you expect from this company? First is that this keyboard has one of the smallest form factors for a gaming keyboard. Sized like any mini keyboard found in the market today, this is actually a gaming keyboard. So the first thing that one should test for literally any keyboard would be the spacing of the keys. I find it quite appealing that the spacing does not feel cramped. Most often keyboards this have cramped spacing which makes typing not as smooth. This is may suffice for casual typing but for touch typing especially gaming (This is a gaming keyboard!), this is a big deal. So far the Clipper Pro Mini is a win. There is however one drawback for me here. There are no dedicated arrow keys in this keyboard. But then again a lot of gaming keyboards don’t have them either. There is a a dedicated Fn button which you can use in conjunction with other letters so you can have arrow functions. For me this is a downer but may not be a big issue for others. Like most gaming keyboards, the Clipper Pro Mini is fully customizable. But unlike before where you need to download an app in order to customize the keyboard, Corsair has done away with that and customization can be done through the web. For me this is very convenient as for one you don’t need to install an app to customize the keyboard. But moreso, this truly adds to the portability of this keyboard. You can practically use this keyboard on any computer and customize it without installing any app. There are times that you may use (but not all the time) another person’s computer but you can still use and customize your keyboard to your liking. One thing Corsair touts with this keyboard is its IP57 rating meaning it is to certain degree waterproof. Of course, soda and coffee are things that can be spilled on a keyboard. But unfortunately, I am wary of finding out for myself. But one thing Corsair is really proud of this keyboard is its 8,000Hz hyper-polling meaning it’s input is really superfast. I can’t measure this scientifically, but all I can say that it is super sensitive that a little pressure on the keys may result in a typo. Novice gamers may have to adjust to this sensitivity. Overall, this keyboard has a very specific purpose. And if you are a serious gamer, this is a recommend.

PRODUCT CLIPPER PRO MINI 60 Hall Effect Gaming Keyboard QUICK REVIEW Amazing mini keyboard just feels right. REVIEW The Clipper Pro Mini is designed for ultimate programmability. Each key can support up to 4 actions based on pressure (hall effect). Lights, functions everything are configured by the Corsair software via the web. Yes, you read that correctly. Finally, you don’t have to fight with iCUE software to program your device (ASIDE: Corsair iCue software has kept me from selecting Corsair products for the past few years as it kept crashing my pc’s and nothing short of a full OS rebuild could remove iCue). Once the keyboard is set up it stays resident in the keyboard, so you can take it with you and be ready to go anywhere without any special drivers. I like the small size. It is highly responsive, even in everyday typing. I’m a touch typist and had no issue typing full speed with few errors. This means I can use it for dual purposes, gaming and typing. The keypress is very responsive and has a nice travel. The clicks are just right every time. The keyboard cable is nice and long. The price is just right, and the quality is even better than previous similar keyboards I have used. I’m not a “pro/competitive” game but I really like it overall. RECOMMENDATION I do recommend this keyboard 100%

Great 60% keyboard. Really nice build. Although its made all of plastic, Corsair has finally taken care of many things that I have not liked about their older ones. Mainly, padding inside the case to taper down pinging sounds. Typing feels finally great. The switches are magnetic and they are linear. Their sound I would say they have a clicky sound to them. Using the keyboard was super easy. I love that Corsair has finally moved out of having to use the keyboard with a resident app (like their iCue) on windows. They finally have a web hub, you just open Chrome, go to the Webhub address and you can start customizing it like that, once you are done, you can close it. Everything gets saved on the keyboard. It also has the option of creating a shortcut (they call it an app, but its mostly a browser shortcut to launch web hub right from your desktop). I love that you can also create profiles and switch them on the fly. This is important for magnetic keyboards. I have two main ones, one for typing, relaxed settings and one for gaming (if you don't want this, they also have a "game" mode out of the box). I can set individual actuation points and it has the main features we all love from magnetic keyboards (like their version of snap tap, mod tap, toggle etc). I mainly like the one you can have a key stay on and locked (I used this feature for the shift key, which is mainly the "sprint" key on many games, no need to hold it down all the time to sprint! I can just tap it, stays pressed down, until I tap it again). The RGB lighting is good and shows the legends on top good, however the secondary functions that have legends on the side are not RGB shine through, so its kind of tough to read them, just fyi. Thank god I have a monitor desk light, so I can see them). You can also choose the keyboard's polling rate, up to 8000hz! This will make the keyboard super fast, however its hard to notice, and they warm you it may increase CPU usage. I only toggle that on with the game mode or on my game profile. In all, great small form factor keyboard for the price and finally, just an web hub to customize, no more bloaty software running on the background!

TLDR: Awesome Customization Options & for Gaming, but too small as a daily driver PROS Numerous Key Customizations Smooth Hall Effect Switches 100 Million Keystrokes Reliability 8000Hz Refresh Rate CONS Web Interface not my favorite, but far superior to iCue Wired Only Connectivity 60% Form Factor Doesn't Have Room for Arrow Keys SET-UP & USE Corsair has finally moved passed their iCue software. For good reasons. It was very bloated and was growing long-in-the-tooth. Like other manufacturers, keyboard customization is now accomplished through a web-based GUI. Enter in a specific URL and then allow the browser to connect to the peripheral. It's simple and fairly straightforward but does take a bit of trial and error. Still, it is leaps and bounds better than iCue. What sets this keyboard apart from it competitors is the amount of customization Corsair has baked into their web interface. Corsair has unlocked 4 new customizations that I have yet to experience from my other gaming keyboards. These options include Rapid Trigger, Multi-Action, Tap Lock, and Smart Tap. The real star of the show here is the Multi-Action customization option. All of my other gaming keyboards, even the Hall-Effect keyboards, are limited to dual-action set-ups. Multi-Action takes it a step further and allows you to set commands based on the amount of key depress and release. For example, a half key press can be one action, a full depress another, the start of a release another, and then a full release yet another. It offers a lot of advantages of traditional dual action configurations. Corsair claims .2 to 3.8mm of total actuation travel, with full key travel of 4mm. There is a lot of range of motion in Corsair new switches. Tap Lock is the next big advancement in game playing. Tap Lock allows you to set a command to engage with the press of a key and not disengage until that key is pressed again. Corsair used the example of crouching on their website, so I had to try it. I can attest; some games require a constant key press to keep your player in a crouched position during movement. With Tap Lock, I can program a button to initiate and command, say a crouch, and maintain it without having to hold the key down, thus freeing up fingers for other commands and movements. It's slick. I've grown to really appreciate it. CONS There are too main cons for me. First and foremost is the 60% form factor. While I appreciate the compactness, it is so small that it lacks the dedicated arrow keys for navigation. I can do without a ten keypad, but arrow keys are WAY too important and handy for me. Yes, the Clipper 60 has them, but they are embedded with other keys and require a separate button to activate them. I don't use them often while gaming, but the arrow keys are so intertwined in my daily life, that I couldn't use the Clipper 60 for anything else but gaming. Same goes for the Delete key. It is just too important to do without. Second. As much as I like the Multi-Tap, it is also challenging. Remembering between which buttons are half-press, full-press, half-release, etc. programmed is exhausting. Also, when you are really into a game, how often do you really think about pressing down a key, let alone if you have to only press it half-way? I am constantly pressing too hard or not enough and it actually makes it harder to game in my book. I've tried and tried and tried to get used to the Multi-Action, but in the end, I've switched back to a more traditional dual action set-up. FINAL THOUGHTS If you are a fan of the 60% form factor, the Clipper should be on your shopping list. The hall effect switches feel very smooth and premium. As with all high-end gaming keyboards, RGB lighting is controllable per key or able to be defeated all together. Combine that with a full 8000Hz refresh rate and the Clipper Pro Mini adds up to a great gaming keyboard. However, EVERY single one of my other keyboards perform double duty. They game and I use them for typing on a day-to-day basis. I don't with the Clipper Mini. The lack of dedicated arrow buttons and a delete key make it a non-starter for a dual-purpose set-up. Would I buy the Clipper Pro Mini for myself? No. Would I recommend it to someone looking for a gaming keyboard with this specific form factor? Yes. It is a very good keyboard with premium features and performance. It's just not up my alley. RECOMMENDED