This results in a lightweight build, which is a blessing with a wireless board that needs a battery and some extra parts. That includes the case and the “plate,” the bit between the keycaps and the circuit board. The keyboard uses a standard 60% layout and ABS plastic for almost everything. The power and Bluetooth controls have dedicated buttons beneath the USB-C port. But “cheap” isn’t synonymous with bad, and Redragon does a lot with what it has here. That’s applied to both its price and more or less everything else about it. The K530 (Redragon also calls it the “Draconic,” but I’m not going to, because this is a keyboard review and not a LARP session ) is, well, cheap.

Even so, it’s a good value for beginners. I’d have preferred a better programming tool because its limitations are keeping me from using my favorite layout, and as it turns out, the modular switches are almost totally incompatible with others. And for sixty-five bucks, with extra features like Bluetooth, RGB lighting, and modular hot-swapping switches, its shortcomings are forgivable.

The Redragon K530 is not that keyboard, but it’s on the way. And of course, mechanical, with switches that are tactile but quiet. Wireless, because wires are for the past. Programmable, so I can easily adjust to that size. Small enough to be portable, but not smaller than 60%.

I’ve been searching for a Holy Grail mobile keyboard for some time.

Software lag switch review