The Ducky One 2 Mini is likely to be remembered as one of the most influential keyboards of the decade, popularizing the 60-percent form consider a means nothing else keyboard or brand had formerly had the ability to do. Keeping that sort of criterion behind it, any kind of follower would certainly have a lot to measure up to.
Well, that successor is finally right here with the Ducky One 3 line-up. This time, Ducky has introduced a total amount of 4 formats side-by-side, including full-size, TKL, SF (65-percent), as well as Mini (60-percent) with the only distinctions being color as well as layout. The new version puts acoustics and inputting experience at the center, pressing Ducky ever closer to the personalized keyboard market whose offerings have actually become significantly more obtainable over the in 2015. Complete with hot-swappable switches, sound wetting silicone, effective onboard programs tools, as well as Cherry MX switches that currently consist of Cherry MX Clear, is it worth updating for?
Specs.
Current Price: $129 (Mechanical Keyboards). Item Number: DKON2167ST.
Structure: Mechanical structure. Trigger button: Cherry MX mechanical switches. LED: RGB. Connection user interface: USB 2.0. Key cap material: PBT. Output key number: USB N-Key Rollover. Printing technology: Double-shot. Dimensions: 335x110x40 mm. Weight: 627g.
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Ducky One 3 SF — Phony Mechanics.
The Ducky One 3 SF is a worthy follower to the Ducky One 2 line. It restores fan-favorite attributes like thick double shot PBT key caps and also bright RGB backlighting and improves them. The highlighted upgrades this time around can be found in the form of what Ducky calls Quack Mechanics.
Prior to damaging those down, allows have a look at the keyboard much more broadly. The One 3 line-up includes full-size, TKL, 65-percent, as well as 60-percent versions at launch. The SF is the 65-percent version, indicating that it is just 65-percent the dimension of a full-size keyboard. The compactness comes from the lack of a Feature Row, Jumped, as well as the center navigating as well as editing cluster. Unlike a 60-percent, the SF includes dedicated arrowhead secrets as well as an abridged column of navigation buttons, that consist of Web page Up, Page Down, and Erase. The missing out on tricks are nearly all found on the second and third layer, available with the Feature button.
The One 3 SF is a small keyboard however it's a highly practical one. Unlike many competing key-boards, Ducky has actually absolutely spruced up the additional features and also programmability of the keyboard, without any software program. While it would certainly be excellent to have optional software, especially for light remapping, it's feasible to record macros, remap tricks, create customized lighting plans, and develop to 5 custom-made profiles to change in between for various games as well as applications. The format itself is likewise a lot more useful for work and PC gaming thanks to this arrowhead and also nav tricks.
Every one of this is true of the original Ducky One 2 keyboards, which is where the new Phony Auto mechanics come in. The One 3 is a lot more concentrated on providing a custom-like keying experience, right down to the audio qualities of typing on the keyboard. It achieves this is a few manner ins which each raise the use experience.
The initial is that the keyboard now supports hot-swappable switches-- and accompanies the enhancement of Cherry MX Clear switches to the line-up. Much more on that later. Hot-swappable switches are a godsend in this day and also age as brand-new switches release at all times and can entirely change (and boost) your typing experience. I drew the supply switches out of the keyboard and also changed them with lubed Patron Yellows. Next week, I could transform them once again to Novellas Silks. There's no soldering needed, just the easy act of connecting as well as unplugging the switches.
The following high point is that Ducky has decked the keyboard out with a personalized silicone pad underneath plate, sandwiched between it as well as the PCB. This adds a muting effect to the switches, wetting out typing sounds and also minimizing several of the high-pitched button sound that fed on the Ducky One 2 SF. Beneath the PCB is another layer of EVA foam to load up the instance as well as eliminate and also hollowness the may resound in its plastic instance.
The stabilizers have also been enhanced. They're plate install, like last time, yet these are better with much less sound as well as rattle out of the box. They're additionally moldable many thanks to the hot-swap switches, so I took my own out and added a little of extra lube to tune them to my taste. Ducky has actually likewise chosen claw-less stabilizers, silencing out the bottoms outs a little more.
Like various other Ducky keyboards, the key caps are exceptional. They're double shot PBT, so the legends will never fade. There's a small texture to their surface area that additionally really feels wonderful under the finger. The update here is that the key caps are no more backlit, permitting the key caps too much better match the shade plan of the instance.
Customarily, Ducky is providing this keyboard with authentic Cherry MX vital switches. Readily available choices include Cherry MX Black, Brown, Blue, and Red. For an added $5, you can select Silver, Quiet, or the new enhancement, Cherry MX Clear. Clears are an interesting switch: they're tactile like Cherry MX Browns, but are much heavier, taking 65g of actuation force versus the Brown's 55g. I likewise located them to be fairly ping like various other Cherry switches but profited from lubing.
For this testimonial, I was sent the Sunrise variation. This variation mixes blue, dark purple, as well as neon yellow-green. The case includes a blue top, gray base, as well as neon yellow-green sides. It looks terrific, though truly limits the potential for aftermarket key caps that match.
Given that the included caps are so good, there's really no factor to upgrade. The wiser choice is to simply acquire the color plan you such as most to start. In enhancement to Sunrise, the One 3 is offered in 3 various other color patterns: Match, Yellow, and Fuji. Of these, Fuji would be the most convenient to color match aftermarket sets with.
Generally, the Ducky One 3 SF is a well-rounded solid upgrade that really brings Ducky up with the times. This truly emerges in the keying experience, however.
Ducky One 3 SF — Performance.
Where the Ducky One 3 SF really shines is in the typing and also gaming experience. The key feel this time around about is much better than the One 2 line-up. The silicone dampener and also foam under the PCB do a great task of moistening button noises and removing any cruelty from bottom-outs. I was also amazed to discover that the deck has a good amount of flex as well. It's not at the degree of a completely gasket-mounted keyboard, yet It's still quite great.
The acoustics are likewise much quieter as well as rounded off. With Patron yellows, you can be forgiven for believing you were making use of a quiet keyboard. It really is that impactful. The pre-lubed stabilizers are also largely rattle-free (but I would certainly still suggest modding for yourself). Contrasted to the last generation Ducky One 2 SF, it's a large renovation that's obvious immediately.
I desire that Ducky had actually supplied some non-Cherry options. The ping of a non-lubed Cherry switch really functions against the business's acoustic purposes. The Cherry MX Gets rid of truthfully didn't bring out the best in the keyboard. If you appreciate linear switches, I highly recommend combining this keyboard with Cherry Reds or Blacks. Also, without, you'll still find this keyboard to use a large audio enhancement versus the One 2 SF.
Programs and also lighting are definitely peaks of this keyboard, as they were in the One 2. The ability to map an macro on the fly as well as begin utilizing the immediately, sans software, is great. Still, if your food craving the ease of software program programmability, you're still going to be out luck this round. With any luck, Ducky releases a software application bundle for those players who prefer to load the software program and also make the procedure a bit faster.
Still, there are lots of options. You can map Windows shortcuts, remap keys, swap vital placements (like Caps Lock as well as Feature to maintain your hands on Residence Row when accessing secondary layers). The illumination is also incredibly adjustable. There abound preset alternatives, a lot of which are color personalized with an integrated RGB mixer linked to the Z, X, and C tricks. If you prefer to pick from a scheme, pushing Feature and also Space bar transforms the keyboard into a rainbow, enabling you to merely tap the shade you would like. It's ingenious and works well.
The key caps, on the various other hand, could be a little extra disruptive. They're of incredible top quality. They're thick and also both feel and also appear great to type on, to state absolutely nothing of their boosted durability. Since they're not backlit, however, the illumination isn't able to beam through the legends. I don't mind this, but also for users who like to game at night, it can be a bargain breaker. It's a worthy compromise for the improved shade matching in my point of view, yet that's bound to be a personal call.
Final Thoughts.
The Ducky One 3 SF is a solid advancement of the Ducky One 2. The marketplace has actually developed since that keyboard released, nevertheless, and the features right here aren't most likely to transform the keyboard sector in the very same way. Still, this is a solid board with lots of features, great acoustics, a soft and also adaptable typing experience, and an all new (to Ducky) responsive Cherry switch to attempt. If you have actually been considering selecting up a Ducky, the One 3 line-up is definitely the one to get.
The product explained in this write-up was provided by the manufacturer for examination purposes..
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