TVs have long been the focal point of the living room, but with the response rates and input lag of modern TVs, home theater PCs (HTPCs) are beginning to make themselves comfortable in the heart of home.

Strong; weighty construction; Excellent scissor switches; Lounge-friendly muted design; Plenty of connectivity options

Abysmal joystick; Awkward; too-small trackpad; Irritating key layout; Premium price

The HTPC ecosystem is always growing and evolving. We have smart TVs, streaming boxes, and compact PCs. Controlling these types of devices with a standard remote can be painful. Fortunately, Corsair has a solution in the form of the K83 Wireless Entertainment Keyboard, a 2.4GHz and Bluetooth option...

Lightweight; Plug-and-play; Great battery; Touchpad is excellent

None

I've been looking for a nice wireless keyboard with a touchpad built in for a while now for use with our VR PC in the living room and I thought the K83 from Corsair might be a good choice for that.

HTPC systems may not enjoy the same popularity nowadays as they did in the past but thanks to hardware media players and the somewhat recent arrival of smart TVs with powerful media chipsets (powerful enough to playback even heavy 4k content) many people are still looking for the ideal wireless...

Design / Weight (480g; Circular Touchpad; Analogue Gamepad; 4 Left / Right Buttons; Wired & Wireless Connectivity (2.4GHz / Bluetooth v4.2; Dedicated Media Keys; Battery Life (Up To 40 Hours; 20 Key Rollover (USB; iCUE Software

Single Color LED Backlight; Price (EU; Switch Durability

At first glance, Corsair's K83 Wireless Entertainment Keyboard looks to be the perfect keyboard for home theater PCs (HTPCs). It's sleek, it's slim, and it feels surprisingly good to type on. But the K83 (a.k.a. the "Lounge Wizard," in some of Corsair's marketing materials) aspires to loftier ambitions, too, that alas actually make it to use as an everyday lapboard. By attempting to fly higher than a simple HTPC board, the K83 pulls an Icarus. Both its unique gaming controls, which work well only for certain game types, and its patchy compatibility with living-room devices are a bit undercooked. In the right setup, paired with a Windows-based HTPC to control media and do light browsing, the K83 is slick and pleasing to use. But don't let Corsair convince you that it's time to ditch your universal remote or your gamepad. Keyboard, Meet Couch Potato As a living-room-first keyboard, aesthetics are definitely a priority with the K83. The 77-key layout drops what Corsair deems non-...

The Corsair K83 is a solid living-room keyboard, great for navigating streaming sites and videos, though its ambitions as a keyboard-shaped "universal remote" and gamepad replacement are a reach.

Slim construction; Decent battery life and low latency rating for a wireless keyboard; Sensitive touchpad

Default key mapping changes from device to device; Bluetooth worked inconsistently on our sample; Cannot access iCUE software over Bluetooth

If you've glanced at the Corsair K83 Wireless Keyboard hoping for a slice of portable gaming nirvana, you're well and truly out of luck. This small, stylish device is attractively designed for propping on your lap to manage a media centre, but it doesn't stand on its own as a gaming athlete beyond a...

Bright and attractive design; Fits snuggly in your lap; Keys are responsive and satisfying; Plenty of useful shortcuts for a range of devices

Not suited for most gaming; Lack of custom RGB lighting is a shame

With a strikingly lightweight design, responsive features and ease of usability, the Corsair K83 Wireless Keyboard is a great choice for those who love the sofa

Bright and attractive design; Fits snuggly in your lap; Keys are responsive and satisfying; Plenty of useful shortcuts for a range of devices;

Not suited for most gaming; Lack of custom RGB lighting is a shame;

Corsair are no stranger to the keyboard market, offering a keyboard for almost any budget and use-case; starting at around £50 and going all the way up to £195 for the Platinum K95.

+ Solid build quality; + Works with a range of products; + Low-latency 2.4GHz or Bluetooth; + Looks fantastic; + Good battery life; + Typing was great; + Lightweight

Wireless gaming keyboards can be great for decluttering your desk, and to a certain extent even a passable tool for playing games in the living room – provided you don't mind balancing a hard mouse mat on your knee, that is.

The K83 Wireless is a complete solution with a wonderful keyboard and handy trackpad. Its gaming potential is weak, but for everything else, it's a strong offering.

Ample connectivity options; Excellent key feel; Backlit secondary functions; Sturdy and portable

Small trackpad; Chunky dongle; Features vary by platform; Limited gaming potential