Introduction

Redragon has been showing why it merits strong recommendations for its keyboards as it offers generally good value but also interesting form factors, such as the feature-rich K596 Vishnu TKL, K585 Diti gamepad, and K530 Draconic 60% keyboard. The naming scheme is a weird mix of numbers, and some Hindu gods at times as well, but things have generally stayed competitive with the likes of Aukey and Monoprice. Looks like Redragon thought that was enough playing around and has sent us probably the least expensive RGB-backlit keyboard I have had my hands on to date. Thanks again to the brand for sending TechPowerUp a review sample!


Perhaps now is the time to let you know that there have been two K552 keyboards from Redragon: a single-color red LED backlit model and the newer K552-R that since replaced it to where it is simply referred to as the Redragon K552 more often than not. The -R in the name is for the RGB backlighting, which is quite misleading too since there is only multi-color (1 color per row) lighting support. I will subsequently refer to the keyboard as the K552, also as everyone else seems to be doing the same. As with the K596 Vishnu we last saw from Redragon, the K552 Kumara is a TKL form factor keyboard, but there are more differences than commonalities between the two, especially as this unit occupies far less space; no media keys or volume wheel and extra macro keys, and gone is the software support and side-lighting customization. Not only is there no wireless connectivity, but it appears the wire is fixed in place, too. Does the absence of these features hurt the odds of the K552? Join us in this review to find out, and we begin by taking a look at the product specifications in the table below.

Specifications

Packaging and Accessories

Packaging for the Redragon K552 is quite similar to the other Redragon keyboards we have seen. The cardboard box has a black wrap with the company logo and product name on front, along with a large illustration of the keyboard all lit up and the salient marketing features. We also see that the keyboard comes with "Dust-Proof Red" switches, but more on that later. On the back are more features and specifications in multiple languages, which go with more images of the keyboard, as well as a seal and a double flap on the side to keep the contents inside in place during transit.


Opening the box, we immediately see the keyboard inside a bubble wrap for further protection, along with the cardboard surround. The Redragon K552 is clearly a budget-minded keyboard without much going on in terms of accessories. There is a sticker of the logo and a useful booklet of operating instructions common to both models of the Redragon K552. It goes over the various pre-programmed functions in many different languages and is well worth going through. That having been said, there are really only three pages of useful information in each language, and these pretty much describe everything you can do for customization because functionality is completely onboard. The final accessory is a plastic ring-style keycap puller, and as with the K596 Vishnu, I would have liked the better metal-wire puller Redragon included with the K530 Draconic instead since ring pullers can scratch the sides of keycaps.