Review Redragon K621 Horus | Copied but didn’t do the same

It’s been a few years since we tested the famous Logitech G915 TKL here at Oficina da Net. At the time, Augusto complained that the price of the keyboard was too high in Brazil: it cost around BRL 1500. Today, we can find it by BRL 899 in cash. In my opinion, it is still too expensive for a keyboard that is already outdated in some aspects, such as still using a micro-USB cable and having the switches soldered on the PCB.

Perhaps there is a way to get something similar to the G915 for a much lower price: the K621 Horus, a low profile wireless keyboard from Redragon. Visually, it appears to be a blatant copy of the Logitech keyboard, but it costs a lot less.I bought it for BRL 379 on Aliexpress. Can this imitation be as good, or even better, than the original? After using it for about three months, it was time to write the full review.

Why did I buy this keyboard?

I spent a long time waiting for the white version of the K621 to be back in stock and it finally happened. I imported it on Aliexpress, it arrived in about a month and I wasn’t taxed.

THE Redragon K621 Horus it’s a keyboard TKL (means he doesn’t have Numpad), low-profile and completely wireless. I chose the white model for two reasons, aesthetics (I thought it was prettier than the other versions) and the fact that the keys are made of plastic PBT instead of ABS of the other models. I also opted for the version with linear Reds switches, in my opinion it doesn’t make sense to have a tactile bump on a switch with such little travel distance.

External Construction and Design

The first impression I had of the K621 was not a good one: the keyboard is extremely light, as if it were empty inside. I later found out that it’s because of the tiny battery inside it. But despite being light, it is a very rigid keyboard, it does not bend easily. I feel confident carrying it around.

At the top we have five buttons for macros, a volume wheel, four multimedia buttons and a button that toggles the wheel’s function for RGB volume/brightness.

We also have Redragon’s RGB logo on a large display, which I found particularly ugly. It spoils the sober look of the rest of the keyboard and cannot be erased individually.

On the back we have a magnetic slot to store the USB keyboard dongle, two visible screws, two bottom rubber feet and two top rubber feet with only one height adjustment. I liked the quality of the plastic on the bottom, it’s quite dense and good to handle. Rubber feet keep the keyboard steady on the table.

Connections

The K621 can be used in three different ways:

• Wiredthrough the USB-C cable that we use to also charge the keyboard battery;
• bluetoothbeing able to pair and switch between up to three devices at the same time;
• 2.4Ghzthrough the USB dongle that comes with the product.

I was disappointed with the signal strength of the connection through the dongle: the distance is very short and I suffered from signal instability during games. I had to use an extender cable to get the dongle very close to the keyboard. It’s worth mentioning that my computer is right next to the keyboard, and this was the only wireless device connected at the time.

Other than that, switching between connections is very easy and instantaneous: just press the FN + 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 keys.

Keys and Switches

This keyboard is not present in the Brazilian market, so the keys are in the American ANSI standard. We don’t have the “Ç” key and some accents are missing. For me, this is not a problem, since I am used to using keyboards in this pattern. The keys are made of PBT plastic and the printing is double shot. It’s a shame that Redragon used this “gameficated” font. Makes the keyboard less beautiful, in my opinion.

It is a keyboard with low keys (low-profile): the action point is minimal and they soon touch the bottom. The typing experience on a low-profile keyboard is very similar to that of a notebook keyboard, but with a better tactile feel due to the mechanical switches. Since I also planned to use this keyboard at the office, I opted for the Redragon switches. reds linear, which are much quieter than the blues.

This keyboard has hot swap, that is, we can tear off the switches and change them manually without soldering. Redragon ships four extra switches for replacement in a box, should you need them.

Buy the white version! The black version has the keycaps (keys) in ABS plastic, which are easily worn and shiny, much inferior to the PBT keys of the white version.

Cable

The cable is USB-C, rubber and measures 1.50m. Unfortunately, we don’t have an ultra-flexible paracord cable here, but that’s okay since you’ll only be using the cable while charging the keyboard. At the end we have a removable USB-C to USB-A adapter, which gives the keyboard a lot of versatility.

Drums

As soon as I picked up the K621 Horus for the first time I noticed that it weighs much less than Logitech’s G915. The reason for this is the battery. I couldn’t find exactly how many mAh it has capacity, but it’s certainly not enough. With RGB turned on, the keyboard lasts about 12 to 24 hours of use on a charge, which is ridiculous. It’s difficult to test exactly how long the battery lasts, as the keyboard goes into sleep mode after 50 seconds of inactivity (this time is not configurable and we don’t have the option to turn it off).

With the RGB turned off, the charge lasts much longer: I charge it once every two weeks or so.

Lighting;

I confess that I used the lighting on this keyboard very little, since it consumes a lot of battery and turns off by itself every 55 seconds.

With the FN + INS keys we change the effect and FN + DEL the colors. Effect speed is FN + ARROWS. To control brightness you need to press one of the top buttons – it toggles the wheel between controlling volume or brightness.

The RGB doesn’t have anything special, it’s one of those that we find in cheap keyboards. It works, but don’t expect any color fidelity. The white is pink, the yellow pulls towards green and the RGB of the “Redragon” logo is in a different shade of the key leds.

Software

The software is the generic one we are used to seeing in all Chinese keyboards. We can download it here. Even so, I’ll leave a small gallery for the curious. Here we can change the same pre-programmed RGB effects on the keyboard (it is not possible to configure custom effects). We also cannot remap key functions. Macro recording can be done in the software or manually, through keyboard commands.

Comparison with the Logitech G915 TKL

Visually it resembles Logitech’s G915 a lot, but the similarities end there, in the design. Under the hood, it’s a completely different product.

Redragon’s keyboard is better than Logitech’s in some aspects and worse in others: The main thing is the quality of the keycaps and switches: I prefer a thousand times to play and type on Redragon’s keyboard. The keys are firm – they don’t rattle. The fact that it’s USB-C instead of micro-USB is also a win. But the K621 loses in case quality, battery life and volume wheel quality.

User experience: Reasons to buy

The biggest positive point of this keyboard is, without a doubt, the typing experience. The keys are soft and comfortable to type on, the switches feel great, and the stabilizers work perfectly. This is the part that matters most for my use, since I work typing texts and spend a good part of my free time playing games. The low-profile switches are very quiet, much like a membrane keyboard.

I’d say the K621 is ideal for anyone who is NOT into that “click, clack” of mechanical gaming keyboards but still wants to feel good when typing.

The fact that the keyboard has three different types of connections, bluetooth, USB and 2.4Ghz, makes it very versatile and useful. When using multiple devices, I can, for example, use the keyboard on mobile, notebook and desktop at the same time, switching between connections with simple keyboard shortcuts. This switch between devices works instantly, without crashing.

Usage experience: Reasons NOT to buy

But not everything is positive about this keyboard. Honestly, I even felt like returning it on the first day of use. There are several downsides:

• The volume wheel is extremely cheap and uncomfortable to use;
• The “Redragon” logo lighting is ugly and cannot be turned off individually;
• The software is pretty generic;

But the main reason not to buy it is the fact that the keyboard turns off after 55 seconds of inactivity. This time is not configurable, so you’re there watching a video and the keyboard’s RGB just goes off. Besides being an annoying distraction (the light going off all the time), the volume wheel DOES NOT turn the keyboard back on. That is, if you are watching some content and need to change the volume, you must first press a key to wake up the keyboard from sleep mode. It interferes with my daily use and I still haven’t gotten used to it.

Redragon does not give us the option to configure the sleep mode because the keyboard battery is tiny, it doesn’t last for 12 hours with RGB on medium brightness. So if you’re going to use it wirelessly, it’s better to keep the RGB turned off.

Verdict

The Horus beats the G915 in some respects and loses in others. It can be an interesting option if you plan to use it just wired OR with the RGB turned off. For a few dollars more, we have famous keyboards from brands like keychron, Akko and epomaker. As soon as I have one available, I’ll test it and review it here. At the moment, despite the obstacles, I continue to use the Redragon K621 Horus daily for typing and gaming. Despite the issues, it’s my favorite keyboard so far.