Redragon S101 vs Redragon K552 KUMARA
I remember the time when I first built my gaming PC like it was yesterday. Since I was just a student back then, I had little money to spare for my gaming peripherals. The most logically sound thing to do was to cheap out on my gaming peripherals and pour more money into the gaming PC in exchange for more performance. I would rather upgrade my gaming peripherals down the line rather than upgrading the PC since it will cost more money. Perhaps, you are in the same situation right now. If not, I know you need a gaming keyboard. Having a mouse or other peripherals is a plus.
Nowadays, gaming peripherals are now getting cheaper since the market is saturated by multiple market players. One of the companies that play in the lower-end and budget market is Redragon. Redragon is known for its cheap gaming peripherals. In this article, we are going to look at two of their gaming peripherals – the Redragon S101 and K552 KUMARA. Both are priced at the same price point. However, one is a combination of gaming peripherals while the other is just a gaming mechanical keyboard. Let’s dig deeper and determine which of them is the better deal by comparing their similarities and differences.
| Name | Redragon S101 | Redragon K552 KUMARA |
| Image |  |
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| Available Colors | Black and White | Black and White |
| Build & Materials | Plastic | Metal + ABS Plastic |
| Keyboard Size | Full-sized Keyboard (114 keys) | TKL Keyboard (87 keys) |
| Keyboard Layout | ANSI Layout | ANSI Layout |
| Keyboard Switches | Rubber Dome Switches | Red Mechanical Switches |
| Available Switches | Not Applicable | Outemu Switches |
| Low-Profile Switches | Yes | No |
| RGB Lighting | Yes | Yes, Static Rainbow RGB |
| Anti-Ghosting Keys | 25 Keys with N-key Rollover | 100% Anti-Ghosting |
| Multimedia Keys | Yes | Yes |
| Mouse DPI | 3200 DPI | Not Applicable |
| Mouse Backlight | Red | Not Applicable |
| What’s Included | Redragon S101 Gaming Keyboard, M601 Gaming Mouse, Gaming Mouse Pad, H101 Gaming Headset, and user manual | Redragon K552 KUMARA |
| Price | Check Price on Amazon | Check Price on Amazon |
Redragon S101 vs Redragon K552 KUMARA – Similarities
Keyboard Layout
The keyboards included both Redragon S101 and K552 KUMARA have the same ANSI layout. One easy way to spot a keyboard with an ANSI layout is by looking at the ‘Enter’ key. If the ‘enter’ key spans two rows, it is a keyboard with an ISO layout. Otherwise, it is a keyboard with an ANSI layout. ANSI layout is generally preferred by keyboard layout since there is an abundance of available keycaps for ANSI layout. Moreover, the ‘enter’ key and the left shift key is easily more accessible.
Build and Materials
Build and materials are nothing impressive with these Redragon peripherals since both are inexpensive options. Both are made out of heavy-duty plastic. However, the Redragon K552 KUMARA has a slightly better build since the keycaps and casing are made out of ABS plastic and reinforced by a metal plate. Other than that, sturdiness is identical between the two.
Available Colors
You will be happy to know that both the Redragon S101 and K552 have two color options – black and white. For those who do not have a specific theme for their setup, the black variant of these keyboards will do just fine. Otherwise, if you are going for an all-white setup, choose the white variant instead.
Redragon S101 vs Redragon K552 KUMARA – Differences
RGB Lighting
One of the characteristics of gaming peripherals is the inclusion of RGB lighting. Luckily, both keyboards have this RGB lighting.
Redragon S101
The Redragon S101 has an RGB backlight with 7 different modes and effects so you can adjust the colors according to your preference. This backlight has 4 different brightness levels. If you are in a well-lit environment, you can crank the brightness to the highest level. Otherwise, you can dial it back to the lowest brightness setting or turn it completely off. The mouse that comes with the Redragon S101 only has static red LED lighting.
Redragon K552 KUMARA
Although the Redragon K552 KUMARA supposedly has RGB backlighting, it is just static RGB lighting. Thus, you cannot change the color of the lighting per key. Each row of keys has a single color of LED lighting. With that said, the K552 still has 19 different lighting effects and game modes, and 6 different brightness levels.
The Winner Is- Redragon S101
Keyboard Switches
Keyboard switches are the most important part of a keyboard. It dictates the overall experience you can get in terms of typing and gaming.
Redragon S101
Unfortunately, the keyboard from the S101 combo is only equipped with rubber dome switches. These switches are considered a thing of the past at this point. Almost all gamers know that mechanical keyboards are more superior. Rubber dome switches have a mushier feel compared to mechanical switches. Considering how inexpensive the Redragon S101, it comes as no surprise that the keyboard does not have mechanical switches.
Redragon K552 KUMARA
On the other hand, the Redragon K552 KUMARA has a legit Outemu switch. In this case, it has the red switches which have linear actuation. It is not an even comparison when comparing mechanical switches to rubber dome switches. Mechanical keyboards are certainly more superior by multiple folds. Without any hesitation, the K552 KUMARA has an obvious edge over the S101.
The Winner Is- Redragon K552 KUMARA
Included Gaming Peripherals
One of these products is a gaming peripheral combo that includes a keyboard, a mouse, a headset, and a mousepad. If you are just starting to get into the world of gaming, this peripheral combo is a great choice.
Redragon S101
When you open up the Redragon S101’s package, you will find a keyboard, a mouse, a headset, and a mousepad. You get 4 solid items with its low-price tag. As said above, this is a great choice if you are just starting. Since gaming peripherals are easy to replace, you can do so down the line. The value you get with this combo is superb. The mouse (Redragon Centrophorus) that comes with the box has weight adjustment, so you can change its weight depending on the game you play. Moreover, it has software so you can customize the button and DPI settings. The headset and the mousepad are nothing spectacular and will do their jobs just fine.
Redragon K552 KUMARA
On the other hand, the Redragon K552 KUMARA only includes the keyboard itself and nothing else. Although this is the case, the keyboard is miles ahead of its competition since it has real mechanical switches. However, if you are strapped for cash and need the complete gaming peripherals, you can go ahead and buy the Redragon S101.
The Winner Is- Redragon S101
Pros and Cons
Redragon S101
Pros:
- The Redragon S101 gives you a lot of value for your money since it includes a keyboard, mouse, headset, and mousepad.
- If you care about RGB lighting, the S101 will give you better RGB lighting.
- The mouse has a weight adjustment feature that you can only find in a higher-end mouse.
- It includes mouse software to configure your mouse’s button assignment and DPI settings.
Cons:
- Peripheral combos are generally great if you need all peripherals. However, the items included are oftentimes not great individually.
- Key dome switches are hands down the worse keyboard switches.
Redragon K552 KUMARA
Pros:
- The clear advantage of choosing the K552 KUMARA over the S101 is its true mechanical switches that give a better overall typing and gaming experience.
- The build and materials are better since the K552 KUMARA is made out of metal backplate and ABS plastic.
- It has an N-key rollover feature for 100% of its keys which prevents ghosting.
- If you are just in need of a keyboard, the K552 is the way to go.
Cons:
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- Although it has an ‘RGB’ lighting feature, it is not a real addressable RGB one might think of.
Final Verdict
If I went back in time when I was building my first gaming PC, I would probably go for the Redragon S101 since it has all the gaming peripherals I need. And perhaps, down the line, I would upgrade the keyboard to a real mechanical keyboard after saving up for more money. However, this is only cost-effective in the beginning and it will become costly in the long run. If you already have a decent mouse and a set of speakers, I recommend the K552 KUMARA since the mechanical switch will give you the best experience.