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Head to head · Prices checked Nov 7, 2026

Redragon CASTOR K631 vs CASTOR K631 HELinear vs Magnetic 65% Showdown

Choose the K631 HE for its magnetic switches and 8000 Hz polling if gaming speed is your priority, or the standard K631 for its hot-swappable switch compatibility and lighter weight.

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Quick verdict

Which one should you get?

Get the

Redragon CASTOR K631

Linear

Build quality in the bottom 40% of 65% boards under $50.

If you want

  • Hot-swappable PCB accepts 3-pin and 5-pin switches, according to the vendor, enabling easy modding.
  • Weighs only 430g, making it the lighter and more portable option.
  • Comes with Outemu Red linear switches that the vendor describes as quiet and suitable for office and gaming.

Get the

Redragon CASTOR K631 HE

Magnetic 65% Showdown

Build quality in the bottom 5% of 65% boards under $50.

If you want

  • Hall Effect magnetic switches with Rapid Trigger allow actuation point adjustment between 0.1mm and 4.0mm.
  • Native 8000 Hz polling rate delivers up to 0.125ms latency for competitive gaming.
  • 2-in-1 key action function lets you assign two actions to one key based on pressure.

Rules this board out

  • Magnetic switches only. Standard MX switches will not fit.

Bottom line

For competitive gamers who want the fastest possible response, the K631 HE with its Hall Effect switches and 8000 Hz polling is the better buy. If you need a versatile keyboard for typing, modding, or general office use with the potential to swap switches, the standard K631 offers more flexibility at a similar cost. Both are budget-friendly wired 65% boards, but the HE focuses on raw gaming performance while the standard model prioritizes customization.

What actually differs

The differences that matter

Skip the 40-row spec sheet. These are the specs that change how each board feels, sounds, and fits your desk.

Redragon CASTOR K631

Redragon CASTOR K631 HE

  • Hall effect (magnetic)

    No

    Yes

    Adjustable actuation helps in games and not in normal typing

  • Rapid trigger

    No

    Yes

    Faster resets help in games and not in normal typing

  • Hot-swappable

    Yes

    No

    Switch changes without soldering

  • Switch options

    Linear

    Magnetic

  • Weight

    430 g

    638 g

    Heavier boards stay planted and lighter ones travel

KeebFinder scores

How we score
  • Redragon CASTOR K631
  • Redragon CASTOR K631 HE
Performance
72
91
Build quality
57
42
Productivity
55
48
Customizability
61
47
Portability
71
65

What they share

  • Layout size: 65%
  • Connection: Wired
  • Case material: Plastic
See every spec side by side

Best for

What will you mostly use it for?

The K631 HE is the clear winner for gaming, thanks to its Hall Effect switches with Rapid Trigger and 8000 Hz polling that provide speed and precision. The standard K631 takes the lead in office, programming, travel, and modding due to its hot-swappable switch compatibility, lighter weight, and quiet linear switches. For content creation, the two keyboards are essentially tied, sharing the same compact layout and software-controlled RGB capabilities. The HE's advanced features only matter for competitive gaming, while the standard model offers more versatility for typing and customization.

For gaming

Pick the Redragon CASTOR K631 HE

  • Hall Effect magnetic switches with Rapid Trigger for precise actuation adjustment between 0.1mm and 4.0mm.
  • Native 8000 Hz polling rate for up to 0.125ms latency, 8x faster than standard keyboards.
  • 2-in-1 key action function allows two different movements on one key based on actuation pressure.

Full specs

Redragon CASTOR K631 vs CASTOR K631 HE specs

Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.

7 of 19 specs differ

Redragon CASTOR K631

Redragon CASTOR K631 HE

Typing & switches

Switch options

Linear
Magnetic

Hall effect (magnetic)

No
Yes

Rapid trigger

No
Yes

Hot-swappable

Yes
No

Mount style

Bottom Mount
—

Layout

Layout size

65%
65%

Layout standard

ANSI
ANSI

Ergonomics

Standard
Standard

Display

None
None

Connectivity & battery

Connection

Wired
Wired

Max polling rate

—
8,000 Hz

USB-C

Yes
Yes

Build & materials

Case material

Plastic
Plastic

Keycaps

ABS
—

Weight

430 g
638 g

Dimensions

—
33 x 323 x 107 mm

Backlight

RGB
RGB

Firmware & software

N-key rollover

Yes
No

Extras

Released

2023
2026

Where to buy

Compare prices

Live prices from the stores we track, cheapest in-stock offer first.

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Lowest price across stores, Amazon excluded.

FAQ

Redragon CASTOR K631 vs CASTOR K631 HE: your questions

No, the K631 HE uses Hall Effect magnetic switches which are not compatible with standard 3-pin or 5-pin mechanical switches. The standard K631 is the hot-swappable model that accepts almost all switch types on the market.

The Redragon K631 HE has an 8000 Hz polling rate, while the standard K631's polling rate is not stated in the product information. The HE model is explicitly marketed with 8K hyper-polling for lower latency.

No, both the standard K631 and the K631 HE are wired keyboards with USB-C connectivity. The K631 HE package includes a nano receiver, but the vendor lists connectivity as wired only.

The standard K631 comes with Outemu red switches, which are described as linear and quiet by the vendor. The board is hot-swappable, so you can replace them with almost any 3-pin or 5-pin switch.

The standard K631 weighs 430g, while the K631 HE weighs 638g. The standard model is significantly lighter, making it the better choice for travel, though both have a compact 65% layout.

Yes, the K631 HE offers Rapid Trigger technology that allows actuation point adjustment between 0.1mm and 4.0mm with 0.1mm precision, though the vendor notes that 0.1-0.2mm settings may be affected by component tolerances.

Yes, both the standard K631 and the K631 HE have RGB lighting. The standard K631 has up to 20 preset modes and music sync, while the K631 HE offers 16.8M RGB color options.

Yes, the vendor states the standard K631 has pro software support for designing custom RGB modes and macros. The K631 HE offers web-based driver support for settings, including the 2-in-1 key action function.

The standard K631 is better for modding because it has hot-swappable sockets for 3-pin and 5-pin switches and comes with a switch puller. The K631 HE uses non-standard magnetic switches that cannot be swapped with mechanical ones.

The K631 HE package includes the keyboard, a keycap and switch puller, a Redragon sticker, a nano receiver, a portable carrying strap, a USB-C cable, a user manual, and 4 spare switches.

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