Photo by Bonus Action
Keyboards come in many shapes and sizes, and everyone has a specific feature they refuse to go without. For me, it’s all about heft, acoustics, and accuracy. I love keyboards that sound great, don’t drop keystrokes, and can hold up to my monster-level Diablo IV obsession. Unfortunately, I have struggled throughout the years with some of Razer‘s flagship keyboards. They are extremely accurate and come in stunning colors with bright RGB, but the sound when typing has a bit of an echo that I really struggle with. That is why I was so excited to try the Razer Reclusa Mini 65% Wireless Enthusiast Gaming Keyboard. It takes everything Razer does so well and adds additional features that I really love in a compact, beautifully colored package.
The Reclusa Mini 65% is the fancier, more robust version of the Reclusa Mini X. It offers a wide variety of features, from on-board memory that saves profiles to fully hotswappable keycaps and magnetic switches. This level of customization is a requirement for me, as I love to get down into the board when cleaning and customizing. While there are a few odd bits about the design, it is a solid leap into the enthusiast-level boards for Razer.
Key Features
- Developer: Razer
- Style: Wireless, Bluetooth and Razer Hyperspeed Wireless Gen-2
- Connection: USB-C
- Size: 65% (No tenkey)
- Polling: 8000Hz
- Price: $129.99
- Sample Received for Review: Yes
Hefty, Sturdy, & Solid
My first impression of the Razer Reclusa Mini right out of the box was that it has excellent weight. Unlike standard 65% gaming keyboards, enthusiast versions typically have good weight, and the Reclusa Mini hits this on the head. That weight is important because it comes from the layered levels that make up the base of the device.
The Reclusa Mini has a silicone case dampener, an EXPE Foam Sheet, and a Silicone Plate Dampener below the PPS Plate. These dampeners soften the sound of keystrokes, changing the hollow clack of a switch actuation to a soft, delightful plunk. The layers also add a good deal of weight to the overall design, giving the keyboard a decent amount of heft. This weight prevents the keyboard from scooting or moving, as well as making it feel more substantial when picked up.
In addition to the layered build, the Reclusa Mini comes out of the box with Razer’s iconic Hall Effect Magnetic Switches, which are highly accurate and offer customizable actuation that can be set between .1 to 4.0 mm. I tested the keyboard at its default settings and found every input to be accurate, wicked fast, and precise. This, alongside the lubrication and dampening for excellent acoustics, makes it wonderful to type on.
ABS Keycaps & A Lack of Adjustable Feet
While the overall typing and gaming experience on the Reclusa Mini is a dream, there are a few things that I think could make this keyboard a bit more competitive. The first is the ABS Keycaps. ABS plastic isn’t as durable as PBT, and it often feels a bit slippery right out of the box. While the Reclusa does feature universally customizable sockets on its switches, this is a bummer for anyone who likes the unique color of the base keycap set. While ABS caps aren’t surprising at the $129.99 price bracket, I think it would have been an excellent additional touch to make the keycaps PBT, or offer the option of an upgrade in the same color.
Unfortunately, my biggest frustration with the Reclusa Mini is one that I was surprised to find missing on an enthusiast board. This keyboard doesn’t have feet to adjust the angle of the keyboard. I typically keep my keyboards at the highest incline, as my wrists do not appreciate a flat angle.
While the Reclusa Mini does have a slight incline naturally built into the board, it isn’t quite enough, and I found myself wanting to purposefully prop the keyboard up to get the correct angle. I would have loved even just two short little feet to give the keyboard a few more options for ergonomics.
A Multifunction Dial For All Your Needs
Hats off to Razer for the inclusion of the multi-function dial. These little dials have become a must-have for me over the years, as I use them to control my music, shift the brightness of my keyboard RGB, scroll through music, and so much more.
What I really love about the Reclusa Mini dial is that it has a raised profile, lifting it well above the keys surrounding it. This prevents you from accidentally tapping buttons while flipping through presets, and also just makes the keyboard look sleek. I am personally grateful there aren’t any little OLED screens or other displays on the keyboard, as I have found they drain the wireless battery life and are generally too bright when typing.
This plus the triple-threat connectivity for wireless and wired connections make the Reclusa Mini versitile, ensure they can play nicely on your home desk or on a table at a convention miles from home. I have used the keyboard in Bluetooth mode almost exclusively, and found no issues with connection and no negative impacts on response time or functionality.
Final Score – 8/10
For the price, the Razer Reclusa Mini 65% is a stunning gaming keyboard. It is hefty, sounds incredible, and offers all the accuracy and performance that Razer is known for. While there are a few areas where I would love to see some changes or additional customization options in future enthusiast iterations, the Reclusa is still a solid option for a gaming level-up.
The portability and additional functionality of the Reclusa Mini 65% make it highly competitive against other enthusiast keyboards in this price range, and the coloration of the keycaps makes it stand out without looking garish. It is an excellent keyboard, and one that will serve both home and traveling gamers in both functionality and style.
**Bonus Action was provided with a sample of the Razer Reclusa Mini 65% Wireless Enthusiast Gaming Keyboard for the purpose of this review**
Still here? Good.
That means the article did its job! If you’d like to see more of them (and get first crack at what’s next) our Patreon’s the place.
About the Author
Discover more from Bonus Action
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
