I have purchased the Portronics Hydra 10 keyboard almost 5 months ago, and out of all the keyboards I have bought for around 3000 rupees, this one has turned out to be the best overall. It has some basic features that you're probably aware of, such as the option for three different connection modes. The RGB effects are quite impressive, and it comes with Jixian red switches. Additionally, considering its price, the build quality is one of the best.
The white color of this keyboard is very sharp and bright. You can compare it to the RK68 keyboard, which has a slightly off-white, yellowish hue. On the other hand, the Hydra 10 has a whiter appearance, which personally, I find quite appealing. When you touch or hold it, you get a premium, high-quality keyboard feel. In terms of the plastic quality, I didn't notice much of a difference compared to the RK68; both felt almost the same.
The Hydra 10 features red Jixian switches, which are similar to Gateron Yellow switches. Pressing the keys requires the same effort in both keyboards, and the Jixian switches are very smooth. In comparison, I purchased the RK68 with Gateron Red switches from the Genesis PC website for around 4900 rupees. When comparing its red Gateron switches to the Jixian red switches, the Gateron Red switches are the best due to their smoothness and lightness. I have tried various switches like Kailh, Gateron, and Otemu, but for gaming, Gateron Red remains my favorite.
For typing, Gateron Yellow and Jixian switches might be slightly better because they require a bit more effort compared to Gateron Red, which can help reduce typing errors.
In short, for gaming, Gateron Red is the best choice, while for typing and gaming, Gateron Yellow or Jixian Red can be used.
Unfortunately, the Hydra 10 does not have media keys or software support, which can be a drawback. However, I personally added media functions to my mouse buttons, so it wasn't an issue for me. But if you need volume control, it can be problematic. On the other hand, the RK68 comes with media and shortcut keys, and I was able to set volume controls to the blue keys using software, which felt quite satisfying.
The RGB lighting is similar in both keyboards, with the same effects, but the Hydra 10 doesn't have per-key RGB lighting.
Currently, I'm not using the Portronics Hydra 10; I'm using the RK68, which costs around 5000 rupees and is perfect for me. In the under 3000 rupees price range, the Hydra 10 is the best keyboard. There is currently no competition for it.
For example, the ANRT Esport MK4500 feels cheap in terms of quality. The Redragon Fizz Pro initially impressed me, but the arrow keys (W, A, S, D) were so irritating that it became unbearable. The Zeb MZX Ninja has a similar build quality to the Portronics Hydra 10 and offers hot-swappable keys and comfortable arrow keys, but it is slightly more expensive and doesn't have red switches.
Overall, if you consider the Portronics Hydra 10 as a good keyboard, I'll gladly make a video about it because currently, there isn't a better option available.
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