Ducky makes enthusiast-level mechanical keyboards that outclass most big-name rivals in build quality and typing feel. But choosing the best Ducky keyboard can get tricky, primarily if you’re unfamiliar with the company’s offerings. That’s where our list comes into the picture.

From the company’s latest offerings to some older favorites from its past, our list of the best Ducky keyboards should help you find the perfect Ducky mechanical keyboard for your needs. Let’s get going.

Our Favorite Ducky Keyboards

Note that our top two picks essentially encompass all keyboard sizes available: full-size, TKL, 65%, and 60%. The keyboards within the One 3 and One 2 ranges are more similar than different, and we opted to bundle them to minimize repetition. You’ll find links to the various form factors within our write-ups for both keyboard ranges.

1. Ducky One 3 (Full / TKL / 65% / 60%)

Ducky’s One 3 keyboards are the brand’s latest and greatest offerings, available in full-size, TKL, 65%, and 60% form factors. They bring the brand’s already-solid typing experience into the 21st century with hot-swap sockets and bonus features like pre-modded stabilizers and silencing foam.

The Ducky One 3 keyboards look mundane on the surface, but their conventional layouts and unremarkable plastic cases hide some bonafide enthusiast features. First up: pre-modded stabilizers. While these aren’t necessarily worth raving about, it’s always great to see a big-name company moving with the times, shipping lubed and clipped stabilizers as standard.

Ducky also ships its One 3 keyboards with a layer of sound-absorbing EVA foam between the PCB and bottom case. The foam will help keep the noise down, absorbing much of your switches’ bottom-out clack and spring noise. Combine this silence with the One 3’s smooth, rattle-free typing experience and you get one of the best mainstream mechanical keyboards money can buy.

Ducky’s One 3 keyboards also excel in input latency. RTINGS measured 4.5 ms of input latency, which is great for a keyboard using conventional mechanical switches. They can’t compete with the ultra-low latency of the best Razer keyboards, but 4.5 ms is low enough that they’ll make excellent gaming keyboards.

The versions we’re recommending here come with shine-through double-shot keycaps to show off their per-key RGB lighting. Unfortunately, while the RGB is great, Ducky opted against offering RGB software for the One 3 RGB keyboards. This means that you’re stuck dealing with a convoluted on-keyboard RGB customization process many will likely find to be more effort than it’s worth.

Thankfully, you get 10 built-in backlight modes, so you likely won’t have to dive into creating a custom backlight mode unless you really want to. But it’s still a pain either way. Macro recording is also an on-board affair, but it’s at least straightforward. Hold down Fn + Alt + Tab until the Caps Lock LED flashes, then type in your macro.

Sadly, remapping is severely limited on the One 3 (as it is on all Ducky keyboards). You only have a small handful of programmable keys: Fn, Alt, Ctrl, Windows, and Caps Lock. You can only swap the bottom row keys around and switch Caps Lock to either Fn or left Control. It’s adequate but nowhere near as good as most modern mechanical keyboards. Here’s hoping Ducky fully embraces software remapping with its eventual One 4 keyboards.

Ducky’s One 3 keyboards aren’t perfect, but they nail the core aspects of a modern mechanical keyboard. They’re great daily driver keyboards, and the hot-swap sockets make it easy to switch your typing experience up if you ever get bored. We’d love to see proper software for remapping and RGB customization, but the overall experience means that any of these should be the best Ducky keyboard for most users.

Ducky makes several versions of its One 3 boards, including the eye-catching “Aura Clear” models that boast pudding keycaps and transparent black cases. But the RGB versions can get a bit pricey, so those on a budget can opt for non-RGB boards such as the full-size One 3 Fuji or TKL One 3 Matcha, which are around $40 cheaper than their RGB counterparts.

2. Ducky One 2 (Full / TKL / 65% / 60%)

Ducky’s One 2 may have been superseded by the new Ducky One 3 models, but that doesn’t mean they’re completely irrelevant. You lose out on hot-swap sockets, but Ducky’s core strengths—great typing feel and solid build quality—are present and as appealing as ever.

Like the Ducky One 3, Ducky’s One 2 keyboards come in full-size, TKL, 65%, and 60% versions. They share the same fundamentals, with thick double-shot PBT keycaps mounted on various Cherry MX and Kailh Box switches. The switch variety is easily the One 2’s biggest advantage over the One 3, although the latter’s hot-swap sockets render it mostly irrelevant.

That said, if you’re dead-set on Kailh switches, you may as well get a Kailh-equipped One 2 SF or One 2 Mini instead of a One 3. It’ll save you the cost (and hassle) of buying and installing replacement Kailh switches in your Ducky One 3.

As with all of Ducky’s keyboards, the One 2 boards are great to type on. The stabilizers may not be quite as good as those on the One 3, but they still operate smoothly and without extraneous rattles and squeaks. They were great for 2019 (when these keyboards came out) and are still great now.

Of course, no mention of a Ducky keyboard would be complete without discussing the on-keyboard customization. We appreciate that Ducky doesn’t require you to install obtrusive bloatware to customize its boards. However, we’re not entirely sure that an awkward series of key chords and inputs to change RGB lighting is all that much better.

Thankfully, the 11 included backlight modes should be enough for most users, sparing them from the hassle of trying to set up lighting purely using keyboard commands. Or you could get a non-RGB One 2 (like the One 2 Tuxedo TKL) and not have to worry about the RGB altogether. Of course, you’ll still have to deal with limited key remapping—you only get to move and swap the modifier keys (and Caps Lock) around—and on-keyboard macro recording.

Overall, the Ducky One 2 keyboards are still great keyboards to type on, even if they’re missing the hot-swap feature that many of us take for granted now. If you’re happy with standard Cherry MX or Kailh Box switches and want to save a few bucks, the Ducky One 2 keyboards are well worth checking out.

3. Ducky Shine 7

With its wide switch selection, double-shot PBT keycaps, zinc top plate, and software-based RGB customization, the Ducky Shine 7 is a compelling option if you want something a bit different than Ducky’s other offerings. It’s not the newest kid on the block, but it still has a lot to offer.

The Shine 7’s standout feature has to be its zinc alloy top plate, which adds a feeling of quality and heft that other Ducky keyboards don’t quite have. While it’s not an all-metal keyboard—the bottom case is still plastic—the zinc sets the Shine 7 apart from its stablemates. The zinc also gives the Shine 7 a great typing feel that’s solid without being overly stiff.

It won’t feel as cushiony as a gasket-mount keyboard, but the Shine 7 finds a nice balance between soft and stiff that should appeal to a wide range of typists and gamers. The switch options also cater to both use cases, with the usual assortment of tactile, linear, and clicky Cherry MX switches. Of note is the Nature White switch, a rarely-seen 55-gram linear switch with transparent housings designed to let as much light through as possible.

Unlike all of Ducky’s other keyboards, the Shine 7 has dedicated software. It’s only for the RGB backlighting, mind you, but it’s better than nothing. You’ll still have to use Ducky’s on-keyboard macro recording and limited DIP-switch-based remapping to use macros or move keys around. The latter is also more limited than on Ducky’s newer boards, too, only letting you move the Fn key across the bottom row.

The Shine 7 has been around since 2019, so it’s missing one key feature: hot-swap. While you get nice double-shot PBT keycaps and a detachable USB Type-C connection, you’re stuck with old-school soldered switches here. Not an issue if you’re happy with any of the default switch options, but it’s a bit of a bummer if you’re the type that likes experimenting with switches.

Despite that obvious weakness, the Shine 7 still has much to offer. It’s a great keyboard to type on, and we think the zinc alloy plate gives it a classier look than Ducky’s typical plastic cases. Software-based RGB customization is also handy, freeing you from the hotkey carnage of other Ducky RGB boards. Whether those perks make up for soldered switches is entirely up to you.

If you like it darker, MechanicalKeyboards.com has an exclusive Shine 7 Blackout, which boasts a black zinc alloy top plate.

4. Ducky Mecha Mini v2 RGB

Ducky’s Mecha Mini v2 is an outlier in the company’s range, being the brand’s only aluminum-framed mechanical keyboard. It’s based on the older Ducky One 2 boards, so you lose out on features such as hot-swap, but it’s still an excellent compact keyboard with Ducky’s signature solid build quality and typing feel.

Ducky keyboards have always felt great to type on, but their cases often leave something to be desired. Plastic is fine, but it can’t compare to metal. And that’s where the Mecha Mini v2 excels. The aluminum case makes the Mecha Mini v2 feel much more premium than other Ducky offerings, and the extra weight helps it feel much more solid than its stablemates.

Does the aluminum case significantly improve the typing feel? Not necessarily. But there’s a noticeable improvement in overall feel and sound that you generally only get with metal cases. If you’ve used one, you’ll know what we’re talking about. If not, well, it’s probably time to try one out and see.

Beyond the aluminum case, the Mecha Mini v2 is a normal Ducky keyboard. It’s great to type on, with a decent selection of Cherry MX switches if you’re buying one now. Sadly, the Kailh Box switch versions are all out of stock, with no information on when (or if) they’re coming back. The lack of variety is a bummer, and makes the lack of hot-swap sockets a bit harder to overlook.

The minor issues don’t stop there. As with all RGB-equipped Ducky boards (except the Shine 7), the Mecha Mini v2 RGB has a complex on-keyboard RGB customization method. You don’t have to use it, as you get 10 built-in backlight modes by default, but it’s a shame that it’s so hard to put your own aesthetic spin on a keyboard. Remapping is as limited as ever, only letting you swap the Fn, Alt, Ctrl, Windows, and Caps Lock keys around. Since you can’t fully reprogram the Mecha Mini v2, you’ll also have to live with the default location of the arrow keys on I, J, K, and L.

But these are minor issues in the grand scheme of things, and they don’t affect the Mecha Mini v2’s strong typing fundamentals. And that’s really what this keyboard is all about. Sure, there are more user-friendly keyboards with dedicated customization software, but the Mecha Mini v2 excels as a mid-priced, high-quality aluminum 60% board that looks and feels great to type on.

Why Ducky? Pros and Cons

With so many mechanical keyboard brands vying for your attention, what sets Ducky’s keyboards apart from its rivals? Why go for Ducky over more well-known gaming brands such as Razer, Cooler Master, or Corsair? And, for that matter, why may you want to avoid Ducky?

Pros

Ducky’s keyboards have always offered some of the best build quality of mainstream pre-built keyboards. They feel more expensive than they are, with robust, zero-flex construction despite using ostensibly cheaper case materials like ABS plastic.

The typing experience is also top-notch, with smooth, rattle-free stabilizers and a great typing feel. Ducky’s PBT keycaps are also some of the best in the business, with thick walls, crisp legends, and vibrant colorways that stick out from the pack.

Ducky keyboards are also quite readily available in the US, despite being a more enthusiast-focused East Asian brand. MechanicalKeyboards.com carries a wide range of Ducky keyboards, and you can also find some older models (like the Ducky One 2 Mini Pure White) on Amazon.

If you want a great typing keyboard at a mid-range price, then Ducky keyboards are an excellent choice. They may not have as many keyboard features (or gimmicks) as the gaming-focused competition, but the typing feel and overall build quality have them beat.

Cons

While I’m a long-time admirer of Ducky keyboards, I’m not going to pretend that they’re perfect. The main issue with almost all of Ducky’s keyboards is the company’s insistence on software-less operation. While that has benefits, the downside is that it makes customizing RGB a huge pain.

For example, here are the key combos you’ll need to memorize to adjust the RGB on any RGB-equipped Ducky One 3 keyboard:

Yes, you’ll need to adjust the red, green, and blue levels independently for each key to get your desired color. Compare that to a simple hex code or color wheel in most keyboard customization software, and I think you’ll agree that this is one area where Ducky mechanical keyboards lag behind the competition.

I’d also love to see full remapping come to Ducky keyboards. As it is, you can only move the bottom row modifiers around and change Caps Lock to either Fn or left Control. Admittedly, this isn’t too difficult to work around with a program like AutoHotkey. But having native remapping and onboard memory would be great.

Neither of these issues are deal-breakers for me, but they’ll definitely be bigger issues for those who like customizing RGB or remapping their keyboards. These areas are where Ducky could stand to improve if it wants to better compete in the modern mechanical keyboard market.

Closing Thoughts

Ducky may not have the name-brand recognition of brands like Razer and Corsair, but the best Ducky keyboards are some of the best pre-builts you can get for between $100 and $150. They’re pleasing to the eye, especially some of the more vibrant colorways, and are great to type on.

There are a bunch of old and new Ducky keyboards on the market, but Ducky One 3 keyboards, like the One 3 TKL or One 3 Mini, are the ones to go for in our book. They’re the most widely available and hot-swap sockets make them perfect base keyboards to customize to your liking in the future.

Interested in getting different switches alongside your new Ducky One 3? Check out our list of the best places to buy keyboard switches for some guidance.