Redragon Draconic Pro K530 60% Wireless RGB Mechanical Keyboard 2022 REVIEW

The Draconic Pro is a solid, budget-friendly keyboard that is best suited for gaming.

Most of my waking days are spent behind a keyboard. I not only write a lot of content, but I also complete a lot of basic productivity tasks. Several years ago, I shifted from using a standard membrane keyboard to a mechanical one. I’ve found that 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 will 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 rearranged to fit your needs. Mechanical keyboards are most used by PC gamers, but that is not their only purpose.

I’ve used many different mechanical keyboards over the years with the most recent being the Draconic Pro K530 from Redragon. It’s a compact mechanical keyboard that features easy connecting, easy switching, and wireless functionality.

About Draconic Pro K530 Wireless RGB Mechanical Keyboard

The Draconic Pro mechanical keyboard is 100% wireless and features a 60% compact layout. There are 61 keys included in the layout that are fully hot-swappable. Users have the option of connecting to the keyboard in one of three ways — USB-C wired, Bluetooth 3.0/5.0, or using the 2.4 GHz wireless receiver. The wireless connections offer upgraded, no latency connections and it’s easy to toggle between 3 wireless devices via the side switch.

The compact layout is ideal for FPS gamers since you never have to worry about your mouse hitting your keyboard and the keyboard can be oriented straight. In addition to the standard keyboard features, the Draconic Pro also has an RGB Illumination Builder using the pro driver (Windows only).

The keyboard is available in white or black and has three different switch options — Red, Blue, or Brown. The switches used in this keyboard are Outemu, which are lower-cost options to Cherry MX switches. A comparison between the different switch types is included in the table below. I selected the white version with the Red Switches. The keyboard ships with a detachable USB-C cable, a switch puller, a keycap puller, space switches, and a user manual.

Main Features & Specs

• Bluetooth/2.4Ghz/Wired 3-Mode 61 Keys Compact Gaming Keyboard
• 100% Hot-Swap Socket
• 1600mAh Battery
• No drivers are required for RGB lighting control
• Hot-Swappable OUTEMU Box Red Switches
• Free-Mod Plate Mounted PCB
• A converter or adapter is needed to work with NS, XBOX, PS4, and other platforms except for 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
• Backlighting: Yes, 16.8 M per-key RGB lighting
• Dimensions: 291.7 x 101.7 x 36mm (11.48 x 4 x 1.42in)
• Weight: 0.8 kg (1.76 lbs)

Pricing & 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 I am trying out new keyboards — comfort, connectivity, switch 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 daily use is 75% layout.

There are a lot of positive features about this keyboard. It’s very comfortable for typing. The keycap height is a little higher than my daily-use keyboard, but it wasn’t hard to get used to. I found that if I am just typing text, I’m actually much faster with the Draconic Pro keyboard than with other keyboards.

My average words per minute count are 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 did struggle with the lack of standard arrow keys. Having to press FN + W, A, S, or D in order to use the directional keys was foreign to me. For a PC gamer, I’m sure it would be second nature.

It was very easy to connect to. I plugged the 2.4 GHz receiver into my docking station and my computer immediately recognized the keyboard. I tried the cable and Bluetooth connections as well and found those to be easily recognized by my MacBook Air, too. I never had any issues with the keyboard disconnecting on its own.

I want to point out that this is not a keyboard that is designed to be used with a macOS computer. It will work, yes, but there are certain features you miss out on using. For example, there is no CMD key. Only a WIN key. Without any programming or modifications, the ALT key functions as the OPT key, and the WIN key takes the place of the CMD key. Using macOS System Preferences, you can remap/program the keyboard so that the modifier keys are in the same order that you would find on an Apple keyboard.

The Draconic Pro does have software that works with it, but it is for Windows users only. This software allows the user to customize their experience. DIY Macro, backlight, and keybinds are fully supported. Without the software support, the user is confined to the preprogrammed 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’s very sturdy, looks great, and because it’s compact, it doesn’t take up much space. For most tasks, I felt very efficient but did end up missing the directional arrow keys quite a bit. The lighting effects and vibrancy of the colors are some of the best I’ve ever seen in a mechanical keyboard. It’s a very budget-friendly option for a mechanical keyboard. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a solid, compact keyboard for gaming — because that is what it is best suited for.

For more information, visit redragonshop.com, Facebook, and Twitter.