Small enough to be portable, but not smaller than 60%.
Programmable, so I can easily adjust to that size.
Wireless, because wires are for the past.
Preferably on the cheap side.
And of course, mechanical, with switches that are tactile but quiet.
The Redragon K530 is not that keyboard, but it’s on the way.
Even so, it’s a good value for beginners.
Haven’t I Seen This Before?
That’s applied to both its price and more or less everything else about it.
The power and Bluetooth controls have dedicated buttons beneath the USB-C port.
The keyboard uses a standard 60% layout and ABS plastic for almost everything.
That includes the case and the “plate,” the bit between the keycaps and the circuit board.
The battery is HUGE, two to three times the size of ones in similar wireless keyboards.
That’s as it should be, but it’s worthy of praise in a budget keyboard.
If you plug the keyboard in you get a direct hyper-fast connection and access to the programming tool.
But that’s okay because of that second distinguishing feature: modular hot-swap switches.
Unfortunately, the K530 doesn’t make it so easy as it appears.
This isn’t a problem on boards with smaller SMD LEDs or a spacing bracket—no dice here.
The case comes with the usual swing-out feet if you’d like something a little more high profile.
Typing could be better.
Why wouldn’t you use the Backspace key for that?
But not so fast.
They won’t change for love nor money.
The program itself is also, well, kinda junky.
I used it often.
But I fully admit, that’s a criticism that’s fairly specific to me.
But there are some serious drawbacks.
