Redragon K585 Diti Elite Wireless Review One handed Gaming Keypad

Anyone who games on both PC and console will tell you that it's much harder transitioning over from console gaming to PC than the other way around. Playing with a gamepad controller is just that much more convenient and, on top of that you get more Triple-A games to choose and, you don't have to upgrade hardware, which is a huge plus, especially with the current GPU shortages due to cryptocurrency mining. If the skyrocketing prices of GPUs weren't bad enough, PC user now have to contend with LHR (low hashrate) GPUs, which basically limit the full potential of GPUs.

With all that said, anyone trying to transition from console gaming to PC gaming can make their life easier by using a gaming keypad such as the Redragon K585 Wireless Diti Elite to help the transition from gamepad/analog stick gaming to keyboard/mouse gaming. The biggest obstacle in the transition from console to gaming is getting used to the WASD keys for movement. The K585 Diti Elite makes it easier because of the clenched fist shape, which is designed for one handed use. This makes the K585 Diti Elite mechanical keypad a very compact keyboard alternative, much more so than even a 60% keyboard like the Royal Kludge RK61. 

The K585 Diti Elite can be used plugged into a computer (via cable) or wireless via the included 2.4Ghz USB receiver. The Redragon K585 Diti Elite uses Outemu switches, which you can get in blue or brown when buying the keypad. The keypad pictured uses Outemu blue switch, same as the K630W keyboard and Draconic K530 60% keyboard.

Being Outemu, the K585 Diti Elite switches are hot swappable. This means, you can remove the switches from the keypad and replace them with different ones, although they have to be Outemu because the switch sockets are designed to only fit Outemu switches. Some hot swap able keyboards are designed to accept different switch manufacturers, making these type of keyboards more versatile. The K585 Diti Elite also has a spacebar, which is short and designed to be used with your left thumb. Due to the unusual shape of the spacebar and the M keys (M1-M4), you aren't likely to find aftermarket keycaps for them. The stock keycaps are standard ABS.

Being a wireless keypad, there is a battery built-in (3000 mAh), which supports up to 20 hours of runtime with RGB backlight on. It's a good job the battery life is long lasting because charging the unit takes around 10 hours, which is very slow due to the cap on the input (5V/180mA). The charging port is located next to the on/off switch, both of which are hidden inside a small cutout on the front left of the keypad.

The Redragon K585 comes with a detachable wrist pad, which is entirely made of plastic and connects to the keyboard magnetically, allowing you to easily remove it and detach it. While there is no foam padding on top to cushion the wrist, the wrist pad helps elevate the wrist and thumb so, they sit in a more natural position, preventing the wrist fro bending, pressing on nerves, which is what causes carpal tunnel.

spare Outemu blue switches included

The wrist pad has an unorthodox shape so, it isn't square or rectangular in shape like most wrist pads. The wrist pad measures 10cm wide (top to bottom) and 14cm long (side to side). Total length of the K585 Diti Elite, (from top to bottom), including the wrist pad it's 26cm. Without the wristpad, the K585 Diti Elite keypad measures 19cm long (top to bottom). The height of the K585 Diti Elite (including the keys), it's 3cm.

Both the keypad and wrist pad have rubber strips on the bottom. There aren't any kickstand risers for elevation, although the K585 keybed does have a sloping design with each row of keys progressively lower than the previous row. The wristpad weighs 87 grams, while the keypad weighs 542 grams. Total weight is 630 grams. The included cable measures 1.5 meters long and weighs 44 grams.

As far as lighting, there are seven backlighting effects, as well as four preset lighting modes, which are activated via keys M1, M2, M3 and M4 keys. You can also record up to seven macros, which are stored on keys G1, G2, G3, G4, G5, ~ and T ; hence you cannot use any of these seven keys when recording macros. Instructions on how to record macros can be found in the included user guide. The macros sequence recording is easy to follow, although it requires having to input a preset light mode (M1-M4) into the sequence for the macro to work. The K585 Diti Elite is compatible with XP, Vista, Win 7, Win 8 and Win 10. There's software too available for this keyboard.

The K585 Diti Elite has 42 keys in total with full n key rollover and RGB leds, although the spacebar led does not light up in wired more. Typing on it at first feels weird because of the one handed use, although the learning curve is well worth it because you literary have everything at your fingertips, making it such a game changer (at least for MMOs). If you plan to buy the K585 Diti Elite Wireless, the ideal setup is to use it with a multi button mouse (e.g. M913 Impact Elite) that has extra buttons  (not counting the dpi button, mouse clicks and scroll button). In some games, it's useful to set the mouse buttons to modifier keys such as ALT, CTRL for button combinations.