Redragon Draconic Pro K530 60% Wireless RGB Mechanical Keyboard
EXCELLENT
The Draconic Pro wireless mechanical keyboard does a great job for gaming and typing, but because of its super-compact layout, other productivity tasks can be hindered by the lack of separate directional arrow keys. The RGB lighting effects are super bright and the price is very competitive. All in all, it’s a great wireless mechanical keyboard.
-
DESIGN
-
EASY TO USE
-
PRICE
The Draconic Pro is a solid, budget-friendly keyboard best suited for gaming.
I spend most of my waking days behind a keyboard. Not only do I write a lot of content, but I also complete a lot of basic productivity tasks. Several years ago I switched from using a standard membrane keyboard to a mechanical keyboard. I’ve found it makes a big difference, both in the way I type and in how enjoyable it is to use it.
With mechanical keyboards, each key has its own switch. That means there is less wear and tear on the keys and they last longer. The switches also give you a little more control over how the keys feel. And because each key is an independent switch, they can be customized to suit your needs. Mechanical keyboards are most commonly used by PC gamers, but that’s not their only purpose.
I’ve used many different mechanical keyboards over the years, the most recent being Redragon’s Draconic Pro K530. It is a compact mechanical keyboard with easy connection, easy switching and wireless functionality.
About Draconic Pro K530 Wireless RGB Mechanical Keyboard
The Draconic Pro mechanical keyboard is 100% wireless and has a 60% compact layout. There are 61 keys included in the layout that are fully hot-swappable. Users have the option to connect to the keyboard in three ways: wired via USB-C, Bluetooth 3.0/5.0 or via the 2.4 GHz wireless receiver. The wireless connections provide upgraded connections without latency and it is easy to switch between 3 wireless devices via the side switch.
The compact layout is ideal for FPS gamers as you never have to worry about your mouse hitting your keyboard and the keyboard can be oriented straight. In addition to the standard keyboard functions, the Draconic Pro also has an RGB Illumination Builder that uses the pro driver (Windows only).
The keyboard is available in white or black and has three different switches: red, blue or brown. The switches used in this keyboard are Outemu, which is a cheaper option for Cherry MX switches. A comparison between the different switch types is included in the table below. I chose the white version with the red switches. The keyboard comes with a detachable USB-C cable, a switch puller, a keycap puller, room switches and a user manual.
| Outemu Red | Outemu Blue | Outemu Brown | |
| Operation Style: | Linear | clicky | Tactile |
| Operating Force: | 40g | 60g | 55g |
| Control point | 2.0mm | 2.3mm | 2.0mm |
| Total travel distance | 4.0mm | 4.0mm | 4.0mm |
| Lifespan (keystrokes) | 50 million | 50 million | 50 million |
| Noise level | Quiet | clicky | Soft |
| Suitable for | Office/Gaming | Typist | Midway (Office/Gaming) |
Key Features and Specifications:
- Bluetooth/2.4Ghz/Wired 3-Mode 61 Keys Compact Gaming Keyboard
- 100% hot swap socket
- 1600mAh battery
- No drivers are needed for RGB lighting control
- Hot Swap OUTEMU Box Red Switches
- Free-Mod Plate Mount PCB
- A converter or adapter is required to work with NS, XBOX, PS4 and other platforms except PC.
- USB Connector: Detachable Type-C Cable
- Keyboard Connectivity: Wired/Wireless (Bluetooth v5.0)
- Matrix: 61 keys (full rollover)
- Height adjustable: Yes
- Key Switches: Redragon Mechanical Red Switches
- Anti-Ghosting: Full N-Key Rollover
- Media Keys: Available as a layered function
- Cable length: 6 ft/1.8 m
- Backlight: Yes, 16.8M RGB lighting per key
- Dimensions: 291.7 x 101.7 x 36mm (11.48 x 4 x 1.42in)
- Weight: 0.8kg (1.76lbs)
Prices & Availability
The Redragon Draconic keyboard is available through redragonshop.com, Amazon, and other authorized retailers. The list price for the keyboard is $69.99, but redragonshop.com is offering it for $62.99 and amazon.com is offering it for $59.99 (at the time of this article being published.
User experience
There are several factors I look at when trying new keyboards: comfort, connectivity, switching experience, RGB lighting (if applicable), and speed. I’ve been a fan of Redragon keyboards in the past, and while I love the switches in this keyboard, I’m not the biggest fan of the 60% compact layout. I’ve actually found that the smallest keyboard I like for everyday use is a 75% layout.
There are many positive features about this keyboard. It is very comfortable to type. The height of the keycap is slightly higher than my everyday keyboard, but it wasn’t hard to get used to. I found that if I’m just typing text, I’m actually much faster with the Draconic Pro keyboard than with other keyboards.
My average word per minute is around 72 and with the Draconic Pro keyboard I was able to get up to 80 WPM on an online typing test. That said, I struggled with the lack of standard arrow keys. Having to press FN + W, A, S or D to use the directional keys was strange to me. For a PC gamer I’m sure it would be second nature.
It was very easy to connect. I plugged the 2.4GHz receiver into my docking station and my computer recognized the keyboard immediately. I also tried the cable and Bluetooth connections and found those to be easily recognized by my MacBook Air as well. I’ve never had any problems unplugging the keyboard.
I would like to point out that this is not a keyboard designed to be used with a macOS computer. It will work, yes, but there are certain features that you are missing. For example, there is no CMD key. Only a WIN key. Without any programming or modification, the ALT key functions as the OPT key and the WIN key takes the place of the CMD key. With macOS System Preferences, you can remap/program the keyboard so that the modifier keys are in the same order as on an Apple keyboard.
The Draconic Pro does have software that works with it, but it’s only for Windows users. This software allows the user to customize his experience. DIY Macro, Backlighting and Keybinds are fully supported. Without the software support, the user is limited to the pre-programmed lighting effects. There are 18 of them and the RGB lights are very bright and the colors are vibrant.
Conclusion
As far as wireless mechanical keyboards go, the Draconic Pro is a top-notch product. It is very sturdy, looks great and because it is compact it does not take up much space. For most tasks I felt very efficient, but I ended up missing the direction arrow keys quite a bit. The lighting effects and color vibrancy are among the best I’ve ever seen in a mechanical keyboard. It is a very budget-friendly option for a mechanical keyboard. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a solid, compact keyboard for gaming, as that’s what it’s best suited for.
For more information, visit redragonshop.com, Facebook and Twitter.
0 Comments