Redragon has developed a strong fame for itself within the funds sector of the mechanical gaming keyboard world. Just like the keyboards on our listing of best gaming keyboards, Redragon’s keyboards stability compelling specs and options with a really budget-friendly value.
The brand new Redragon K683WB FIDD is out to supply a low-cost different to the trend-setting Wooting 60HE. This keyboard options quick, programmable magnetic switches with customizable actuation factors and Speedy Set off know-how for aggressive gaming. The keyboard usually retails for $89.99, but it surely’s at the moment obtainable with a 40% off coupon — bringing the value to round $50. It is an reasonably priced possibility, but it surely’s additionally a fairly bare-bones one.
Redragon K683WB FIDD Specs
| Switches | Redragon Magnetic Linear |
| Lighting | Per-key RGB |
| Onboard Storage | One profile |
| Media Keys | No |
| Connectivity | USB Kind-A |
| Cable | 6-feet, non-braided |
| Further Ports | None |
| Keycaps | Doubleshot PBT plastic |
| Software program | Redragon Software program |
| Supplies | Metal plate, plastic backside |
| Dimensions (LxWxH) | 12.6 x 5.51 x 0.18 inches |
| Weight | 1.32 kilos |
Design of the Redragon K683WB FIDD
The Redragon K683WB FIDD is an easy however colourful ultra-compact mechanical gaming keyboard. It doesn’t take any liberties with the structure however embraces a vivid teal and white colour scheme to assist it stand out. However on the subject of its core design, nicely, in the event you’ve seen one 60-percent keyboard, you’ve just about seen all of them.
The K683WB FIDD offers you the entire fundamental keys — letters, numbers, and modifiers — and nothing else. There aren’t any arrows, no media controls, and no quantity curler. As an alternative, most of those capabilities are accessible as secondary instructions by holding the Fn button and tapping every related key.
On this entrance, I’ve to offer kudos to Redragon for utilizing a structure that really makes some sense. The Fn button is on to the correct of the spacebar, so you possibly can press it along with your pinky to entry the secondary layer of keys and restore most of the lacking capabilities. The arrows are mapped to WASD, which is the place your left hand will most likely be anyway, and the navigation keys (House, Finish, Web page Up, and Web page Down) are positioned extra to the correct on the K683WB FIDD than they’re on many compact keyboards. The paging keys on the underside row are nonetheless cramped, so this keyboard doesn’t remedy the issue of finger acrobatics on 60-percent keyboards, but it surely’s not the worst I’ve seen.
Nevertheless, not like among the different 60-percent keyboards in the marketplace, such because the Logitech G Pro X 60 or the SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini, there aren’t any media controls mapped by default. There’s additionally no Print Display screen button for fast screenshots. In order for you both of those capabilities, you’ll must map them your self utilizing the keyboard’s software program.
The K683WB FIDD can also be lacking any form of aspect legends to let what its pre-mapped secondary capabilities are — which makes a steep studying curve considerably steeper. Throughout my check interval, I needed to hold the guide out on my desk till I had it memorized (and I’m very acquainted with miniature gaming keyboards, at this level).
It does look nice, although. Redragon has dropped the same old gunmetal grey, black, and strong white of most gaming keyboards for a mixture of teal and white, which extends to the case as nicely. The metal high plate is painted white whereas the plastic backside is matching teal. The toes on the underside of the keyboard are additionally white, tying every little thing collectively.
The keycaps are additionally fairly good. They’re product of doubleshot PBT plastic and are fairly thick, so they need to be additional sturdy. The density of PBT is greater than its competing keycap materials, ABS, which makes it extra immune to put on and tear over time. The keycaps are tall and cylindrical, much like the OSA keycap profile discovered on many AKKO keyboards. They’re fairly comfy to make use of however their taller peak may additionally improve the training curve — particularly in the event you’re used to typing on a laptop computer or on an Apple Magic Keyboard.
Beneath these keycaps, the keyboard makes use of magnetic Corridor Impact switches which might be each unnamed and undescribed. Not like a standard mechanical key swap, these switches have embedded magnets hidden within the stem. They match with a sensor immediately under that may inform exactly how far they’re being pressed. This know-how permits for some very thrilling options, corresponding to customized actuation factors and Speedy Set off, the place the actuation level and reset level are an identical for improved responsiveness. It additionally permits Redragon to supply options corresponding to Dynamic Key Strokes, the place one motion will be despatched when the important thing hits a sure distance, a second when it hits additional down, and two extra when the important thing travels again up.
Magnetic Corridor Impact keyboards additionally benefit from not having directly-touching electrical elements that introduce interference often called debounce delay. The shortage of delay permits the keyboard to be measurably extra responsive, although that is extra of a advertising and marketing level than something. The distinction is there, but it surely’s so small that solely a machine can reliably inform.
When you’d want to attempt a distinct swap, it’s easy utilizing the included software. Like mechanical keyboards with hot-swap sockets, these can merely be pulled out with out the necessity to desolder. You’ll want one other magnetic swap to interchange it, nonetheless — conventional switches gained’t work, and with Corridor Impact keyboards being so new, there is not any customary but that ensures every little thing is cross-compatible. The one option to actually inform if a magnetic swap will probably be suitable is to learn opinions and/or attempt them out your self. That is one other space through which just a little readability from Redragon would go a good distance.
What’s extra impactful is the keyboard’s 8,000 Hz polling fee. Whereas most gaming keyboards have a polling fee of 1,000 Hz, that means they report back to the PC 1,000 instances per second, the K683WB FIDD communicates at eight instances that fee — or 8,000 instances per second. This lowers enter latency from the usual 1ms to 0.125ms.
There are arguments to be made about whether or not this distinction in enter latency is noticeable (particularly on a keyboard), but it surely’s a shocking function to see on a keyboard at this value level regardless. It was only some years in the past that such a excessive polling fee was reserved for the most expensive and prestigious gaming keyboards out there. Additionally, whereas an 8,000 Hz polling fee will not really profit most avid gamers, it does take away the glass ceiling so you are taking part in with the best report fee at the moment obtainable (and velocity and responsiveness is presumably excessive precedence for avid gamers magnetic swap keyboards).
The keyboard can also be absolutely programmable: you possibly can remap keys, report macros, and regulate the keyboard’s per-key RGB lighting utilizing Redragon’s software program for the keyboard, which is accessible on a mannequin by mannequin foundation on its website. We’ll get into the small print of the software program later, however whereas it is purposeful, it is not almost as polished as I wish to see from an organization that has been round for so long as Redragon has.
Aside from these options, this keyboard may be very “what you see is what you get.” The switches are a thriller; there’s no reverb-dampening foam or attention-grabbing mounting construction. The sound is fairly hole however is in any other case customary for a small gaming keyboard. The stabilizers are pre-lubed however really feel barely mushy attributable to how a lot grease is layered on them. Additionally, the USB Kind-C port is on the left aspect of the keyboard (as an alternative of the again) and the keyboard comes with an L-shaped USB cable to match.
Past the K683WB FIDD’s look and the magnetic switches, it is actually pretty customary, with none additional frills. However you additionally would not essentially count on frills at this value — and the doubleshot PBT keycaps and 8K polling fee are fairly spectacular at this value level. Plus, it is not black, grey, or strong white.
There are some things that trouble me, nonetheless. First, the shortage of readability concerning the switches is felony in 2024 — all we all know is that they are linear and magnetic. There isn’t any details about actuation drive, and that is an important aspect for potential patrons.
One picture calls these switches “Lekker switches,” and they’re completely not Lekker switches. For these of you who do not know, Lekker switches are the customized switches included in Wooting keyboards — Redragon’s direct competitor. They’re one of many issues Wooting followers love most about Wooting keyboards, they usually’re a serious promoting level for Wooting. Once more, I repeat, the switches on the Redragon K683WB FIDD are not Lekker switches. These are Lekker switches and they’re produced by Gateron. The switches right here seem like made by Kailh however are branded as Redragon. I discover this to be intentionally misleading.
Moreover, in the event you dig into the product opinions for the K683WB FIDD on Amazon web page, you’ll quickly discover customers praising an entirely different keyboard. This happens when there are a number of product variations on a single itemizing (not the case right here) or when the vendor has swapped in a brand new product for an outdated itemizing in an effort to retain the optimistic star ranking. That is additionally misleading — it is a trick that basically makes use of faux endorsements from unsuspecting clients to advertise a totally totally different product.
The fact is that this: Redragon does not inform us a lot about this keyboard. That does not imply it is a unhealthy keyboard, per se, however it’s a unhealthy observe when opponents readily share particulars on switches and specs. You are pressured to belief the model, which is troublesome to do when additionally they seem like utilizing intentionally misleading advertising and marketing methods.
Typing Expertise on the Redragon K683WB FIDD
The K683WB FIDD gives an honest expertise for regular typing, but it surely does not do a lot to make it stand out from the various different 60-percent gaming keyboards. As a result of its switches lack bodily contacts with electrical elements, they’re pure very easy and seem to have a light-weight coating of lubricant to reinforce the expertise. The keyboard’s sound signature is vivid, however the thick doubleshot PBT keycaps add a deepness to the sound that you simply will not discover in most keyboards round this value level. The case lacks any form of foam for sound dampening or acoustic tuning, nonetheless, so it nonetheless sounds comparatively hole.
I discovered the tall keycaps to be fairly comfy, however I assumed the typing angle was too shallow. The keyboard is sort of completely flat by default, and its small tilt toes solely present a minor quantity of additional leverage. It isn’t a keyboard you may need to use with a palm relaxation.
The switches, regardless of being unknown, are fairly good. Their smoothness is an ideal match for his or her linearity. They are not switches that instantly stand out in any explicit manner, however their efficiency is sweet for the value they usually did not depart me wanting. The stabilizers are pre-lubed — a bit too generously; they do not rattle, however they really feel just a little mushy.
I used the K683WB FIDD for a few weeks, alternating with my predominant keyboard. As configured, this keyboard wouldn’t be my first alternative for typing. Nevertheless, it turns into far more succesful with some customizations. The default key mappings are higher than many 60-percent keyboards however they’re troublesome to memorize with out aspect legends, which makes the keyboard difficult to make use of for productiveness.
By way of sheer typing velocity, the K683WB FIDD didn’t gradual me down in any respect. My common typing velocity is round 110 wpm and I averaged 108 wpm throughout a number of typing exams on MonkeyType whereas utilizing the K683WB FIDD. When you’re used to decrease profile keycaps, it’s doubtless that your typing velocity and accuracy will take a success as you regulate to higher-profile keycaps.
The keyboard’s customizable actuation level is a really helpful function for typing. I are typically a heavy-handed typist that bottoms out as a rule, and decreasing my actuation level outdoors of video games almost eradicated typos. I selected to shift the actuation level of all switches from the usual 2mm to three.2mm and I noticed a noticeable enchancment with the quantity of errors in my writing.
You possibly can create your personal structure on the K683WB FIDD that works to your stream utilizing the keyboard’s companion software program. You can even change any keys that could be lacking from the inventory structure, corresponding to Print Display screen and various media controls, and alter the place of the Fn button.
When you customise the keyboard, it is far more helpful for day-to-day writing and typing. When you’re not keen to spend a half hour or so to customise the structure, you may most likely be higher off with a bigger keyboard or a 60-percent board with aspect legends.
Gaming Expertise of the Redragon K683WB FIDD
The Redragon K683WB FIDD gives gaming expertise, particularly for the value. Its small type issue won’t be good for productiveness, but it surely’s nice for avid gamers who need additional area for his or her mouse hand. When you’re the form of gamer who angles your keyboard to maximise desk area, a 60-percent structure is ideal. It is a stellar alternative for shooters that profit from high-DPI, low-sensitivity mouse settings, as a result of it is a lot simpler to perform massive mouse sweeps with this keyboard.
One of many predominant causes to go for a magnetic keyboard is the Speedy Set off function. Whereas a standard swap wants to come back a lot of the manner again up earlier than it may be pressed once more, magnetic switches assist you to dial in each a customized actuation level and a customized relaxation level — and these can exist on the identical spot alongside the important thing’s journey. What this implies is that the moment the important thing begins shifting up it may be pressed once more, and this makes each key Speedy Set off is utilized to really feel extra responsive. Mixed with the K683WB FIDD’s 8,000 Hz polling fee, and you have a keyboard that feels exceptionally alive throughout intense matches.
Whereas the most effective use-case for a function like this can be a sport corresponding to Osu, I’ve began having fun with it in Battlefield 2042 and Name of Responsibility. It is good to have the ability to peek from cowl in fast flutters once I know there could also be an enemy simply across the nook. It is also helpful for altering positions shortly — dropping into inclined (and again once more), much like what you are able to do with a customized gaming controller.
Dynamic Key Strokes, or DKS, is a magnetic swap function that allows you to tie as much as 4 totally different instructions to totally different factors alongside the swap’s journey. Whereas I did not discover many makes use of for this function outdoors of shifting from operating to sprinting, there is definitely potential right here.
The programmability of the keyboard can also be an asset, but it surely’s hindered by the truth that it solely helps one onboard profile. You possibly can remap keys and assign macros, in addition to Home windows shortcuts, media controls, lighting settings, and program launches, on each the “high” layer (your bodily keys) and a secondary layer (accessed with Fn). However the challenge right here is that Redragon locks the entire keys with default instructions, even when these instructions are remapped elsewhere — that means many keys aren’t remappable.
Total, the keyboard supplies an honest, if restricted, gaming expertise.
Software program for the Redragon K683WB FIDD
The Redragon software program for the K683WB FIDD is purposeful however unpolished, and it is a bit tedious to interact with. You should utilize it to remap keys, assign macros and shortcuts, and program the keyboard’s RGB lighting and regulate the Corridor Impact-specific settings. However it’s positively unrefined.
For instance: whenever you load up the software program, a wholly totally different keyboard mannequin is listed on the high (and known as a “keyabord”). There’s extra damaged English and sparse descriptions all through. If you wish to assign DKS settings to a key, you may discover the setting hidden below a tab labeled “Senior Keys” — and it is not clear what it is alleged to do till you click on via and piece it collectively by way of graphics and trial and error.
I additionally bumped into a problem the place my settings wouldn’t all the time save to the keyboard — even after clicking the Obtain button to save lots of them to the keyboard. The one dependable manner I discovered to make sure they saved was to save lots of the bottom and Fn layers individually.
Programming Speedy Set off and actuation level settings is extra easy — fortunately — however must you ever must calibrate the keys (generally needed in the event you journey with the keyboard), change switches, or in the event you simply occur to have a key that is not completely aligned out of the field, good luck. I’ve run into these points on a number of keyboards, and the most effective often present an choice to calibrate all keys without delay. With this keyboard, nonetheless, you may must click on via every key, begin calibration, and wait round 10 seconds for it to finish — over, and over, and over once more.
So, whereas the software program does work, and permits you to accomplish roughly the identical degree of programming as most different magnetic swap keyboards, it’s extremely tough and, frankly, a ache to make use of.
Backside Line
The Redragon K683WB FIDD is a reasonably easy 60-percent gaming keyboard with magnetic switches. It stands out largely for its value, which is sweet to start with and is great on sale. Nevertheless, it is also very clear that you simply get what you pay for — the trade-offs are evident each time you utilize it. You may by no means not really feel such as you’re utilizing a funds keyboard.
When you’re in a position to spend just a little extra, there are many good choices in the marketplace — particularly in the event you want a barely bigger structure. The Redragon K701, in reality, prices much less and gives nearly an identical options in a 65-percent structure. Drunkdeer additionally has a number of good choices, together with the A75 — which is barely bigger however significantly better constructed, and makes use of a web-based configurator as an alternative of devoted software program.The Gamakay TK75 is one other good possibility with a higher-quality typing expertise for simply $10 extra.
When you’re on a good funds and you will need to have magnetic switches, the K683WB FIDD will get the job executed. None of its issues are game-breaking, however contemplating it does have a number of points, I would advocate saving up just a little extra for a keyboard that will not require you to compromise as a lot.
MORE: Best Gaming Keyboards