Redragon K585 DITI One-Handed RGB Mechanical Keyboard - 42 Keys, Blue Switch for Gaming

The Redragon K585 DITI is an entry level mechanical keyboard that punches above its weight. That doesn't make it perfect for everyone, however.Look, it's pretty clear just by looking at this keyboard that it isn't a full keyboard. That intrinsically limits its target audience. For someone with ample desk space, this might not make the most sense as a purchase. But, on the flip side of that, for those with LESS space than usual, this can accomplish a very crucial goal of getting you back some of that valuable desk real-estate for your mouse, or other peripherals.For instance, in my case, I needed more room for gaming. One of the problems I kept running into with my existing setup was that during an intense firefight, I would sometimes slap my mouse on the side of my keyboard, resulting in, almost always, poor results. And after trying for many months to get used to playing with my full-sized keyboard tilted at a 45 degree angle, it just became worth the $35 dollars or so to get rid of the hand-pain that induced and solve the mouse conundrum in a combo meal.On the other hand, I could also see this being fairly useful for something like Asesprite, GIMP, or other design-oriented programs and tools. While I'm sure that there are people that could easily use the full spread of a full-sized keyboard with macros and still need more room, I'm not one of them, and I think it's fair to say that someone reading a review about this keyboard for that reason probably isn't either.So, what sets this keyboard apart from the competition? The biggest thing for me has been the remappable buttons. With 5 dedicated macro-keys and two other keys that you have the *option* to remap (tilde and T), you've got 7 total keys to customize. There are severe limitations to this that can ultimately hamper that usability, but we'll come back to that later.If you're someone that's into RGB, the keyboard lets you choose from 5 arrangements of color patterns that can range from what you'd expect from a typical RGB rainbow-vomit experience, to more subdued patterns that only appear when a key is pressed. To Redragons credit, the depth and color coverage is absolutely outstanding. It absolutely cannot be understated, in comparison to my Corsair RGB keyboard, the colors are just better on the K585.There's even some hidden gems as far as features go, too. While you can change the color mode using the four dedicated mode-buttons atop the keyboard, this *also* serves as a convenient and quick way to swap between different macro bindings on those 7 macro keys. But, if someone were to decide that they wanted to change the color mode but not lose their bindings, they could just as easily use the function key and space key to cycle between the modes of their own volition.Additionally, the keyboard has a detachable Type-C cable, so in the off chance that your cable got ruined, you would no longer be in the market for a whole keyboard, but just a cable. It also features an extra USB slot on the back that you could use for presumably anything a normal USB Type 2 slot could be used for, like a full keyboard if you needed that extra range, a wireless headset adapter, or just a convenient place to charge your phone.So now we've covered the good, but what about the bad? Are there any "gotchas" to this product? That's a question with some complicated answers that mostly come down to your use case. For me, one of the biggest issues with the device was the limitations behind the macro recording. As you can only record buttons that are available on the device itself, it makes rebinding almost mandatory for some games. In Destiny 2, as an example, I have my social tab bound to my O key normally, but as the K585 doesn’t have an O key, it makes opening that menu kind of a chore. My options at that point were to either change which keyboard I was pressing keys on for only specific keys, or just rebind these actions. Luckily, Destiny 2 has two binding settings for each action, so I was able to set most of these crucial actions to be the F1 through F4 keys as their fallback binding, in the off chance that I wanted to use a full-sized keyboard for any reason.*But*, even this has consequences. If you’re playing a game that doesn’t have multiple binding options, or rebinding at all, you’re just going to be out of luck. On top of that, if you’re someone that uses the alt-key for whatever reason, you could potentially run into issues with either accidentally or unintentionally using ALT+F4 to close your game or program of choice. Ideally, passing a keyboard through the K585 would allow it to register these macros as any press, like how a lot of keyboard or mouse macro software works already. Of course, the K585 doesn’t have any software to speak of, so it may just be a limitation of the hardware they use to power these macro keys.Another binding issue that I’ve run into is the problem of *un*-binding keys. While you *can* unbind them, it appears to only have a group unbind option. For my use case, I’ve somehow managed to lose the T binding entirely. If I change modes it’s fine, or if I were to reset *the entire binding setup* I could fix it, but I can’t just rebind my T key to T, as it.. Isn’t T anymore. I also can’t just reset *that particular* binding, but this is again, probably a limitation of whatever they use to power the macros.Thankfully, that covers the largest of my gripes with the keyboard. I’m no mechanical keyboard expert by any means, but it uses blue switches that feel very good to me. If you’re not sure what kind of switches you like, the mechanical keyboards subreddit seems to always recommend buying a switch tester. They run around 17 dollars on Amazon, however, so if you’re looking for a budget option in something like this keyboard, you’ll potentially just be paying for peace of mind. With that said, the switches are audible, but they don’t drive me up the walls by any means.My only other real complaint with this is probably that the F key doesn’t have the nice tactile bump that I’m accustomed to on my full-sized keyboard. That lead to quite a few times where my senses and muscle memory clashed with each other and ultimately caused me to fumble around aimlessly, but that had an easy enough fix. For me, I just put a dab of super glue on the key to give it a little bump, and that’s been more than enough to ease the aforementioned clashing.I will say that when I was browsing Amazon to figure out what exactly I was going to buy, it took me a while to get over the absolutely dreadful looking font that is printed on the keys. To me, it came off as a very edgy and try-hard font, but in person it didn’t really bother me all that much. And, thankfully, most of the time I spend with this keyboard, I’m looking at the screen and not the keyboard, so truthfully it doesn’t bother me anymore.So, is the K585 worth it? In my opinion, absolutely! If you’re looking for a keyboard of this style, there are a ton of positive things to say here. If you like RGB, it’s got it, if you don’t, you can turn it off. If you’re worried about price, it’s inexpensive (especially in comparison to the competition), and if you’re working with limited desk space, this is a natural pick.TLDR: Likely the best sub $50 One Handed Keyboard you'll find; decent wrist rest and good thumb button placement, nice weight and non-sliding feet, nearly entirely reprogrammable and hot swappable (see below), and for those who like to void warranties, easily disassembled. It could use a slightly stronger angle, sound dampening (the thin plastic base is pingy) and more robust software, but for the price, you can't really see those as faults.I own more OHKs than I'd like to admit, but I dislike the spacebar on a standard keyboard while gaming (don't like my thumb curled under my palm). This one isn't comparable to the likes of Razer, but for half the price and more buttons, with some DIY, you'll have yourself the best all-around gaming keyboard for under $100.SETUP/USAGE: Works straight out of the box on most anything. The usb-passthrough is a true hub, so it works with almost any (USB 2.0) device, just don't expect it to charge anything. Great for connecting a mouse when using with a laptop lacking ports or Playstation/Xbox (only tried it with a PS4, works as expected). If you have Windows 10, the software allows you to reprogram all but the profile (M1-M4), Function, and recorder buttons. The software is basic but functional. I didn't have troubles with the included braided cable or any other USB-C cable I had. Connection was firm. The base doesn't slide around, but does have a largish footprint. It has more buttons than high end OHKs; too many for straight FPS, but useful for FP/TP RPGs, Mobas, 4X, or any game that needs 'G' or 'T'. The stock switches are decent, if a bit wobbly, the keycaps are thin ABS, but not terrible.ERGONOMICS: I like the placement of the two thumb buttons, but they might be an issue for small hands. The standard staggered keys should make switching from a standard keyboard easy, even if I prefer ortholinear keys. The wristrest is hard but not uncomfortable, and while some may like padding, I find hard surfaces less irritating and sweaty. The additional Map (M) and N and P keys are nicely placed so that nearly anything you need to do can be done with one hand.SOFTWARE: the software is basic and not exactly self explanatory, but isn't hard to work once you figure it out. It only works on Windows 10, and it doesn't allow extended options (you can program any of the main keys to any key on a standard keyboard, media function, mouse action, or a macro; it has profiles (4) but not layers). The changes are saved to the board, so they'll travel with it. You can't do much with the lighting other than change speed, direction, and color of the built-in effects. Still, it's more versatile than the software (or lack of it) found on other low-cost OHKs.MATERIALS/CONSTRUCTION: The main body is, what I assume is, a single piece of ABS. The bottom is the same, as is the wristrest. The top plate is a non-ferrous metal, the switches are plate mounted (3-pin). The stabilizers are part of the body, so not replaceable and made of the same plastic. The keycaps could be better, but expected at this price. Together, it feels solid, and a good balance of weight for stability and portability (other than the size).DIY: beyond the software, most of the keys are also "hot swappable" (the exception being the G2-G5 keys, which seem to be soldered in). The sockets are *not* Kailh, which makes it harder to get the keyswitch in straight, and it has a rather tall LED; you'll need a switch that had a cutout for SMDs (I swapped mine for Akko Blue Oceans because they're available on Amazon and fit just fine). The stabilizers are built in to the plate, so aren't replaceable and are pretty cheap. Lubing helped a bit. Deconstruction means removing the bottom screws (two are under the rubber feet, but as long as your careful, they stick back on just fine),, and then a set of screws to remove the plate/pcb from the base. No foam or gasket, but, again for the price, this isn't surprising. Removing the plate from the PCB means removing all the keyswitches, but with 4 soldered into the sockets this is close to impossible, and then popping some pressure clips. I don't recommend. Since the top and sides are all one piece, I found it easy to paint (in the picture, it's a matte white spray with masked stripes and a clear coat finish). The keycaps are replaceable, but the non-standard "T" and "G" can make finding a set difficult. It worked with several cables I tried from various manufacturers.Overall, this is a great little piece of gaming tech. While not high-end, the ease of use, good button count, and versatility through software and hardware modifications, make this a great choice for an inspiring gamer/builder looking for something to play on and also tinker with, without breaking the bank.The biggest feature this is missing is a way to stop macros. Unplugging will get the job done, but I wanted it to be faster, so I added a small usb hub with individual switches. Redragon should add a power or reset button to do the same thing. If I could have another hardware change in addition to a reset button, it'd be a small set of buttons with all numbers 0 to 9.The software isn't great either. Editing existing macros could be easier, and it would really help if the window could be resized to see more of the macro at a time. It gets the job done, it's just more tedious than it has to be. The window also minimizes whenever the keypad is disconnected, which has to be done whenever a long macro needs to be stopped. That's annoying when creating and editing long macros since the keypad has to be disconnected or switched off many times. The program doesn't exit, which is good, and the window should stay open as well. Fixing those two things would make macro creation & editing far less annoying. If I could have one more software change, it'd be a master setting to slow down macros, which would help with finding errors in new macros.Aside from those, this works pretty well. It does a lot for its price. I think the changes above would make it perfect, and I'd definitely buy that revised keypad.The W key became faulty after 5 months of use, Amazon did not care after 30 days so attempting to contact seller direct.This raises major concerns for me regarding quality of product and Amazons lack of responsibility for their resellers.be careful peopleRedragon have addressed the issues from their past model the k50. The k585 is now modular with a removable USB type C connection (type A on the other end) and with the brown switches sound is dampened compared to blue clicky switches whilst maintaining the tactile feel of the keys. The software works well ad the keys are very responsive and comfortable to press without applying too much pressure, without being overly sensitive. The palm rest is now plastic rather than rubber which is really good. It feels nice on the palm. On the last model (k50) my palm left a permanent imprint on the palm rest because of the silicone material used. You can easily remove the palm rest if need be. The palm rest uses two strong magnets to attach to the keyboard and stays firmly in place.The RGB lighting is great with a variety of modes to choose from. I personally like the slow multi colour wave left to right. You can adjust the brightness level on the keys. But overall when gaming I don't notice the lighting.One of the best features of the keyboard is that through the software you can program the keys to any keys on a standard keyboard so that you're not limited to key bindings of this keyboard alone. In the last model k50 this wasn't possible and you had to program keg combos from the limited keys on the keyboard itself.I've now fully replaced my Logitech g pro keyboard with this and I'm thoroughly pleased. It's a little pricey but it's perfect for fps shooters. The removable palm rest and cable are great since I can easily unplug and pack this keyboard aside for when I'm not gaming. The space bar can take some getting used to, however I've found that it's a more nature position for the thumb than a standard keyboard.As a serious FPS gamer, I have to say, this keyboard is brilliant. I would have liked to see the price more around £30-35 like other full/ 60% gaming mechanical keyboards but I'll take it for the brown switch model and overall build quality.Wollte mein bisheriges Single-Handed-Keyboard ersetzen, vorallem weil diesem die Zeile unter ASD fehlt. Zusätzlich hätte ich gehofft, dass die G1 und Leertaste mit dem Daumen bedienbar ist (Springen, Ducken). Ist sie leider nicht, die G1 Taste müsste dafür UNTER der Leertaste liegen.Das wäre noch verschmerzbar, aber was das Gerät für mich unbrauchbar macht sind die mangelnden Einstellungen der Tastenbeleuchtung. Es gibt nur 5 Voreinstellungen die zwar alle ein nettes Gimick sind, aber unbrauchbar. Ich will die Tastenbeleuchtung haben, damit ich im dunkeln die Tasten deutlich sehen kann. Dazu kann ich keine Regenbogenanimationen und Flackereffekte brauchen. Wenn ich einen epileptischen Anfall haben will, gucke ich in ein Stroboskop!Einfach nur eine fixe Farbe als Beleuchtung scheint nicht einstellbar zu sein. Gar die Beleuchtungsfarbe einzelner Tasten einzustellen (wie bei meinem bisherigen, deutlich älterem und günstigerem Keyboard), daran ist gar nicht erst zu denken. Mit einem Softwareupdate wäre das bestimmt zu erledigen, aber wer weiß ob das jemals kommt. Prinzipiell kann die Tastatur das ja alles.Schade, ansonten wäre das Produkt zu dem Preis gar nicht schlecht.Achja, das beiliegende USB-Kabel ist zu kurz.Updating my review as of June 2020 with a fresh Windows 10 installation. My issues may have been my own fault!June 2020:Alright so after some back and forth with the customer service rep (wild how these people actually care about their customers, I wasn't expecting it at all), I gave as much feedback and potential software clashing issues that I could find with this product. After an upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10 and 6 months down the line, the thing works as advertised.Download the software from the Redragon website, update the firmware as instructed with the updater that comes in the .zip folder, install the software and boom. You're good to go. Every profile works independently, all of the light settings work fine, even the macro record function works!Was I a little disappointed when I first got it? Yes.Am I disappointed any more? No.There might still be an issue of software clashing if you're trying to run a Logitech Mouse, a Fnatic Keyboard and a Redragon keypad all at the same time like I am, but I guess that's to be expected of having so many things fighting for peripheral control. So.Pros:- Macro record function- EVERY KEY IS PROGRAMMABLE. Hoo boy. This was the one big thing that I wanted from a keypad. Not half a keyboard, but a set of buttons that I could press to do whatever was needed. And IT FINALLY WORKS.- Light effects are nice with options to change colours and patterns with a few fun presets.- SO MANY BUTTONS. This is why I didn't go with a Razer Orbweaver or Tartarus. Is 24 buttons enough? For you maybe. But not for me. The more buttons the better. That's why I used to have a G502s with 18 macro keys and a G602 with 6 thumb buttons and programmable buttons on top of the mouse too. You can never have enough buttons.- Easy to set up and use.- Nice placement of the G keys and the space bar button.Cons:- Still quite chunky for what it is. The keys are slightly bigger than your average keyboard so there is some stretching involved to get to everything that you want to use, but who cares? Just remap the things you need closer to the centre of your hand :^)- Wrist rest is just plastic. Is it terrible? No. Does it feel cheap? A little. Would I like a soft padding on it? Yes.- Random map key instead of F6 (but now I can reprogram that to be F6 so is this even really a con?)So there you have it. For £50 I don't think you're going to find anything else out there that does what this thing does. I don't know whether it was the fact that I updated to Windows 10 and got rid of all the bugs in my PC or if they did some jiggery pokery with the software to make it functional but either way, I'm happy.January 2020:Pros: Has all of the keys I need for my left hand plus additional macro buttons and F1-F5 keys which a lot of keypads on the market do not include.Switches feel responsive and have solid actuation on them.Its surprisingly comfortable with the wrist rest even though it's plastic.Cons: The keys are a little chunkier than I was expecting so the whole thing is bigger than I really wanted. Reaching all of the keys is... Iffy and I think I have a pretty decent handspan.Random Map key instead of F6?The software is absolute garbage and the macro record function doesn't work. Even with the firmware update and the additional other software that I installed. Only one profile works and you can only assign either macro strings or single-button presses to the Macro keys. Also updating the firmware killed my ability to customise the lights but at least it doesn't reset all of my keybinds anymore.All in all it does what I need it to so I'm happy enough but it doesn't do everything that it is supposed to. I would take a moment to consider if you need all of the features that are promised and if you have big hands and then consider spending more money for a better product.But if you are looking for absolute budget that feels nice and does a fancy RGB slow fade across the keys and don't care much about macros beyond single buttons then absolutely do go for this.First thing first, this product did not work properly out of the box. Some keys didn't register correctly, USB Type-A port didn't work and it wouldn't save key bindings.I feared I would have to send it back. However, on my PC I browsed to the Redragon web site, Download section and found the K585 software.I downloaded this and unpacked the file. Inside was a system tray app and a self-executing firmware update.IMPORTANT! With the gaming pad plugged in, run the self-executing firmware update _first_ then install the system tray app (otherwise the app still won't work).Having done that I can say the gaming pad works perfectly, feels surprisingly heavy duty for its price point and is comfy to use for both adult male and female hands (both have used this product so far).Note that, as far as I can tell, you cannot turn off the RGB backlight. Nor can you set it to display a single, continuous colour. So it's always some pattern of Christmas tree effect. Perhaps Redragon will introduce these features in another software update?