This review for the REDRAGON GALATIN PRO K719 gaming keyboard is going to come with a LOT of back and forth. REDRAGON has always been known to me as the budget gaming brand that looked flashy but felt cheap. However, I got a look at the GALATIN PRO K719 and loved the light, cute aesthetic, so I thought, “Why not?” I am really glad I judged a book by its adorable cover, because the GALATIN is not only really cute, but it has staked its claim as my new home-office (and gaming PC) keyboard, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t without its flaws.
The REDRAGON GALATIN PRO K719 is a 95-key keyboard, giving me everything I want in a smaller size. I can’t tell you how excited I was to get a smaller form-factor but keep my numpad. It was like Christmas. It actually took a lot less adjusting than I thought it would to transition to fewer typos, and now that I have, I don’t want to go back to a full-sized, bulky keyboard. The GALATIN comes in two colourways, Ember Queen ($89.99) and Jade Cloud ($79.99), the version tested. Both are unique, but the Jade Cloud was the perfect aesthetic for me.
There is a small TFT screen, REDRAGON calls a “Smart Info-Island Screen.” This will let you display the time and keyboard details, adjust the colour profiles, brightness and more. There is even a way to program the screen to be a GIF, though in testing, I could not get this to work. I kept getting to the upload portion, and it would say “only the wired mode,” but my keyboard was wired.
That being said, I loved the knob to control volume, but truly could have done without the display since the app works well for changing colour profiles, etc., too. There are also onboard key commands that are easy to use if you have the manual on hand, cause I can’t remember them.
“The REDRAGON GALATIN PRO K719 is a 95-key keyboard, giving me everything I want in a smaller size.”
The sound of the keys on the REDRAGON GALATIN PRO K719 gaming keyboard makes me melt. I am a sucker for those ASMR keyboard videos, and the GALATIN would be perfect for one. The sound is low but still clicky. I think it would be referred to as “creamy” if that didn’t give me the ick. The device features OEM Profile PBT keycaps with 3.6mm total travel and Mint Mambo linear switches. It feels so good to type on. It is also compatible with most 3-pin and 5-pin switches if you prefer to swap them out.
The build is plastic, but it feels sturdy and durable with some weight behind it. It definitely doesn’t feel like the cheap devices I originally associated REDRAGON with—my apologies to them. It features a 5-layer noise reduction system. Basically, paired with the switches, this is what makes the keyboard feel so good while typing. Here is a look at those layers:
- 3.5mm PORON foam
- IXPE switch foam
- PET sound pad
- Bottom socket foam
- Silicone bottom pad + gasket
A gaming keyboard needs RGBs, and the GALATIN PRO K719 has full, per-key RGB customization. You can use the REDRAGON app to choose between probably the most extensive pre-made light settings if you want, or customize your own. My issue lies with how dull the lights are, even at full brightness. Because the keys are opaque, no light travels through, so you just end up with a faint glow behind them.
The app itself is pretty simple to use. You can create macros, adjust lighting, customize buttons and more. I do, however, wish there were a faster way to select multiple keys for lighting, like a drag motion, and I couldn’t figure out the screen section, even with tutorials online.
The REDRAGON GALATIN PRO K719 gaming keyboard can be connected via USB-C, Bluetooth or 2.4GHz wireless. This is where it all fell apart for me and is mainly why the keyboard is not earning our Editor’s Choice award. The 2.4 GHz is perfect, no notes. It is the only mode I use now. However, for wired connection, the location of the USB-C charge port is on the left of the keyboard. It should absolutely be at the back to push the cable to the back of your desk. Instead, it is sticking out across my desk.
Even worse is the Bluetooth mode. It took a while to find the keyboard and sort out how to pair it (FN+1, 2 or 3). Once paired, I thought everything was fine…until I let my PC go to sleep. When the PC sleeps, so does the keyboard. When the keyboard sleeps, it terminates the Bluetooth connection. Every time I woke my PC, it wouldn’t recognize that I had a keyboard connected via Bluetooth—and I have plenty of Bluetooth. To log into my PC, I need a keyboard, so I would have to plug it in or insert the dongle, making Bluetooth utterly useless on the GALATIN PRO K719.
Another issue lies in the battery. Though I understand RGBs are rough on the battery, the GALATIN lasted under four hours with the lights on, and it is painfully slow to charge. If I want to use the dim-lit RGBs, I have to keep the device plugged in, and we know how I feel about that now. Sadly, I have had to resort to an RGB-free world, so it’s a good thing that the Jade Cloud colourway is so cute!
With all of that under our belts, it is important to keep in mind that the GALATIN PRO is only $79.99 USD. It certainly fits the budget keyboard price, but it definitely comes with budget keyboard issues. Personally, I love the form-factor, style, feel and sound of the keys, so the REDRAGON GALATIN PRO K719 gaming keyboard is a win in my books.
- Smart Info-Island Screen – 1.41 in info center TFT screen, gathering keyboard info, connection mode, battery level, typing status, unveiling everything you want to know, enjoy gif meme customized fun for the present mood.
- GASKET Design – The body structure differs from traditional screw fixing by using precision-locked covers with gaskets to assist with noise reduction and flexibility. It provides even feedback while the vertical cushioning reduces rigid noise, delivering a crisp, clean and softer typing feel.
