I have to start with a little shame, but just a little bit, because I’ve tried a lot of keyboards over the years, but I’ve never really put my finger on a Ducky board, and I’m a little ashamed of that. But late, sinner will wake up, and when two keyboards from the iconic manufacturer showed up, I snatched them up. It feels like Taiwan Duck has been around a long time, but they’ve just turned 16, but have quickly established themselves as a manufacturer with a focus on quality and selection from day one. Today, they’re available in more than 30 countries, and every gamer I’ve ever talked to knows what a keyboard with a duck in it is. What really sets Ducky apart is their absolutely huge product lineup and the ability to customize your keyboard exactly how you want it, so it will be extra fun to test these two boards out and see what they really do.
There are two models in their One 3 series, and the focus is on their stabilizers to evenly distribute weight across the chassis from front to back, as well as what they call Doubleshot PBT keycaps, which feature anti-smudge protection on the keys thanks to their matte finish.
They’ve also reduced the volume of the keys with damping in the chassis beneath the switches to eliminate unwanted resonant sounds and achieve more comfortable sound levels. Both tables are from their Aura offshoot and have a slightly different design/color combination than the other tables in the One 3 range, coming in either black or white, with four different form factors to choose from, from mini to full sizes and are available in seven different switches. Two are the Aura Black TKL with Wallaby switches and the other is the Aura White Mini with Box Jellyfish Switch Y switches.
First up is the small desk Aura Mini, which is very small as it lacks the numeric keys, arrow keys and F keys. This means it takes some practice to remember which combinations to press to get certain commands, but it’s perfect if you want a neat little keyboard on your desk. I think the design is absolutely gorgeous, the transparent buttons resemble white ice cubes when backlit, and it’s the brightest shiny keyboard I’ve ever seen. With full intensity lighting, it has no problem being dazzled by it, but luckily it can be adjusted downwards. The build quality feels solid and I like the clever solution of having two different height adjustments on the back of the desk.
As I’ve written before, the Aura Mini’s keys have a matte surface that’s very comfortable under your fingertips, as it feels like you have a little extra grip on the buttons. The switches come from Kailh, China and are called the Box Jellyfish Switch Y, which is a lightweight switch with a completely transparent top that provides extra light to the case. The switch is also easy to replace thanks to the quick connect, as is the key itself, which you can easily replace using the included tools. There’s no software on the Aura Mini, but you can manage all the functions of the keyboard itself, especially the RGB lighting to change color, brightness, and schedule, as well as record macros.
This was the first time I laid my fingertips on the Box Jellyfish Switch Y, and the first thing that struck me was the light touch required to press the keys. But once you get used to it, it’s quite nice and has a lovely feel to it while playing. I also like the balance of the keys and the Ducky’s rattle mechanism, which has extra damping, making it one of the quieter keyboards I’ve tried.
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The Aura Black TKL being the second board, as the name suggests, is a ten-keyless keyboard where the numeric keys disappear, just like the Aura Mini has what they call Quack Mechanics. That is, a more balanced, stable and damped chassis with clear Doubleshot PBT keys that have the same matte finish as the Mini model. There’s nothing special about the design, it’s matte black except for the cool Ducky logo on the escape button which I really like. It feels very sturdy and well made and like the other desk it has a two step adjustable height control on the back which I must say is really smart as I sometimes find most keyboards have one or the other , so it’s hard to find the perfect angle.
It comes with Chinese Gateron’s Baby Kangaroo switches, which are a slightly softer switch type but have an incredibly sharp tactile feel. It also focuses on reducing volume and since they are lubricated with oil straight from the factory, I must say, there is a slightly dull tone to the click that I really like. The Aura TKL feels very solidly built, has good chassis stiffness, and is quite heavy, which means it’s glued to the table. The lighting is really good as the almost completely transparent keys seem to float a bit as the top of the case is darker in tone and breaks off in a nice way. Unfortunately, there’s no separate software for adjusting lighting and other features, which is a shame because finding the right button combinations to set the right colors and light loops can get a little confusing.
Playing the Aura TKL with the Baby Kangaroo switches has been an absolute joy, I even have to admit that I’ve fallen a little in love with this board and I’m leaning toward replacing my Cherry MX Red ones with the Kangaroo ones because I love how they fit under my fingertips a feeling of. It feels like a perfect combination of membrane table and mechanical table. For example, with the Cherry MX Red, it feels a bit like typing on a typewriter compared to Apple’s low-membrane watches I used, the keys are softer and shorter in length, but still have a nice sharp touch when the switch reaches the click point. feel. It’s very comfortable to play with for hours, and I also like the nice balance the Quack Mechanics add, plus they’re quieter than most keyboards I’ve tried. Many thanks to the switch itself, but also to the dampened chassis which reduces click volume.
The Aura White Mini and Aura Black TKL are two great keyboards from Ducky’s One 3 series. Their Quack Mechanics are awesome, with matte PBT keys that offer good protection against smudges, while the keys’ low noise and damped, stable chassis give a genuine impression of quality. Both keyboards feel well-designed and well-made, and the clever height adjustment is the icing on the cake. It’s a bit of a shame that there’s no separate software to adjust the lighting, but that’s made up for by all the different options in terms of colour, size and the seven different switches you can choose from. I tip my hat to Ducky and agree with the praise I’ve heard from my gamer friends, as it was a very enjoyable experience.
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