The Ducky One 2 Mini single-handedly catapulted 60-percent mechanical keyboards into the mainstream. Earlier than it discovered its method onto the desks of main streamers and eSports athletes, the ultra-compact type issue was reserved near-exclusively for keyboard lovers. Quick ahead to right now, and main manufacturers like Razer, Corsair, and Steelseries have all launched their very own spin on the structure, full with gaming-grade expertise and options, stealing at the least one spot on our checklist of the Greatest Gaming Keyboards.
Final yr, Ducky leveled up and launched the One 3 Mini. The Mini introduced with it a collection of enhancements jovially known as QUACK Mechanics. It included a renewed deal with sound and really feel, guaranteeing doubleshot keycaps and sound dampening supplies within the case to offer its greatest typing expertise but. It succeeded in one-upping itself and delivered what was and is a good line of gaming keyboards.
The brand new, Ducky One 3 Mini Aura Version contains the entire identical enhancements introduced with the One 3 Mini and places them in a frosted translucent case, topped with translucent switches, and capped off with side-lit translucent keycaps. It’s not a lot a reinvention as it’s a makeover, however is definitely the flashiest product Ducky has ever launched. The unique One 3 Mini was an excellent keyboard, however if you happen to can’t stay with out vivid RGB and a keyboard that may develop into essentially the most eye-catching factor in your desk, the Aura Version is the way in which to go.
Ducky One 3 Mini Aura Version Specs
| Switches | Cherry, Kailh, or Gateron |
| Lighting | Per-key RGB |
| Onboard Storage | 6 profiles |
| Media Keys | Secondary capabilities |
| Connectivity | USB Sort-C to Sort-A |
| Cable | 6 ft, braided |
| Extra Ports | None |
| Keycaps | Doubleshot Polycarbonate |
| Software program | None |
| Dimensions (LxWxH) | 12.2 x 4.2 x 1.6 inches |
| Weight | 1.3 kilos |
Design of the Ducky One 3 Mini Aura Version
Mini is true: the One 3 Mini Aura’s Version’s tiny type issue seems to be completely tiny on a desk. Its 60-percent type issue is about as streamlined as keyboards come with out delving into the area of interest world of area of interest keyboards just like the ErgoDox or Planck EZ. It contains solely essentially the most essential keys and trims off every thing else: no operate row, no quantity pad, no arrow keys or navigation buttons, and positively no media keys. What’s left is a keyboard that takes up the naked minimal of area whereas nonetheless having all your normal numbers, letters, and punctuation.
That doesn’t imply you’re shedding that performance, nonetheless. Except for the quantity pad, each lacking button is accessible as a secondary command by holding the Fn button and urgent a key mixture. In truth, the Ducky One 3 Mini manages to offer further performance in comparison with even full-size keyboards, which I’ll go over on the backside of this part.
Earlier than we get there, it’s value looking at simply how Ducky has shaken issues up with this launch. This new model includes a recent case and keycap design aimed toward highlighting its vivid RGB backlighting (and consider me, it’s very vivid). Accessible in white or black, the case is fabricated from frosted plastic and lights up with the per-key lighting, albeit principally beneath the keys.
The keycaps are additionally frosted, so as an alternative of getting the legends mild up, the complete facet of the important thing does. Oddly, the tops are utterly opaque. One of many core tenets of the One 3’s QUACK mechanics is that the keycaps be doubleshot. That second shot makes use of white plastic, making every button look a bit like an ice dice.
With backlighting off, it seems to be good, however as soon as these RGB LEDs start to shine, the keyboard involves life. It’s genuinely one of many brightest keyboards I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen fairly a number of that go for the same aesthetic. It’s a formidable show of backlighting, or godawful if RGB isn’t your factor, however if you happen to’re contemplating this keyboard, it’s most likely protected to say you’re inclined towards the dazzling backlighting.
The translucent case offers you a sneak peak into the inner design of the keyboard too. There’s a vivid yellow layer of silicone between the plate and PCB to dampen keystrokes and one other layer of white foam within the backside of the case. It additionally confirms that there are not any down firing LEDs on the underside of the PCB; a missed alternative to even out the lighting all through the case and go all-in on RGB.
There aren’t any further ports constructed into the keyboard, however the backside does reveal a set of DIP switches that can be utilized to customise among the options of the keyboard. Toggling any of the 4 switches modifications a primary operate. Ticking the primary change allows a operate row toggle, for instance, so a key mixture can lock your numbers to behave a F1-F12 natively. Ticking the second activates N-Key rollover, whereas the final change swaps the proper Home windows key between Home windows and Menu capabilities.
The keyboard additionally includes a pair of two-stage tilt ft that can assist you discover a comfy typing angle. With the shorter ft flipped up, I didn’t have to make use of my palm relaxation, which has develop into a staple in my opinions.
Keycaps are an vital a part of any keyboard, however that goes double for the Aura Version. They’re thicker than common pudding keycaps and are fabricated from polycarbonate plastic, which feels and sounds higher to sort on. They’ve each high and facet legends so you possibly can establish its plenty of secondary capabilities.
The facet legends are mild inexperienced, however the high legends are white-on-white, which makes them laborious to learn. The translucent plastic additionally permits you to see white spurs across the facet of the keycaps the place the 2 layers are bonded collectively. It doesn’t look dangerous, precisely, but it surely’s a bit unusual to see strains across the edges of the keycaps. Turning on the backlighting makes the highest legends virtually not possible to learn, which is an issue if you happen to’re not a contact typist.
Beneath the keycaps, the keyboard comes along with your alternative of a wide range of Cherry MX, Kailh, or Gateron switches. Our pattern was despatched with Kailh Jellyfish switches, that are a light-weight linear change that comes pre-lubed from the manufacturing unit. However most significantly, it makes use of a totally clear-top housing to let the RGB shine brightly via the keycaps and into the case. The switches are additionally scorching swappable, so that you received’t must solder if you happen to determine to strive new switches sooner or later.
As with all 60-percent keyboard, there’s a big studying curve for anybody trying the structure for the primary time. At the same time as a veteran, I discovered myself often checking the facet legends to verify I used to be urgent the proper button, even days into my testing cycle. The superior programmability it gives helps with this, however anybody planning on choosing up the One 3 Mini from a full-size or tenkeyless keyboard ought to plan on spending a number of days memorizing the structure till its key combos develop into second nature.
With that in thoughts, the Ducky One 3 Mini actually lacks nothing in precise performance. All the capabilities of a regular tenkeyless keyboard are current right here, together with much less used buttons like Pause and Scroll Lock. There are secondary keys for arrows and navigation and enhancing buttons. There’s a full suite of media buttons for playback and quantity management. Ducky has even built-in mouse controls, so you possibly can management your pointer even with out a bodily mouse current.
The chances don’t finish there, both. The keyboard gives wealthy programming skills for each lighting and macros, all of which could be saved throughout 5 profiles. There isn’t any software program, which might be useful for dashing up among the programming course of, however not needing software program is without doubt one of the advantages many individuals like about Ducky’s Mini line-up.
With that in thoughts, let’s take a more in-depth take a look at the programming potentialities it gives.
One of many highlights of the Ducky One 3 Mini was its superior, software-free programmability. It’s no exaggeration to say that it gives among the deepest onboard programming amongst any keyboard obtainable right now. That begins with its wealthy lighting controls.
Most mechanical keyboards include a choice of built-in lighting presets, and the Aura Version isn’t any exception. Utilizing a Fn command, you possibly can cycle between ten presets that embrace the same old rainbow wave, respiration, and reactive typing modes. There are additionally choices for growing the brightness of results, which can be fairly commonplace.
It doesn’t take lengthy earlier than the One 3 Mini units itself aside, nonetheless, as customizing the colour of the presets is finished via a built-in RGB coloration mixer. Holding the lighting key mixture causes Z, X, and C to mild up Purple, Inexperienced, and Blue and every could be tapped to dial in your precise hue. If you happen to’d reasonably choose and select, you possibly can faucet the Spacebar and the complete keyboard lights up in a coloration palette that you would be able to merely faucet to pick out the hue you want greatest.
Issues don’t cease there both. Selectable coloration is one factor, however only a few mechanical keyboards can help you customise your individual static lighting scheme with out software program, however the Ducky One 3 Mini does precisely that. With one other key mixture you possibly can faucet the keys you want to illuminated and alter the hue for each.
All of that is very, very cool and exhibits that it’s potential to supply these sorts of options with out demanding software program be put in. However as a lot as I prefer it, I actually want there have been a software program possibility as effectively to hurry up the method. There are additionally some quirks, like the dearth of a easy brightness possibility (it’s a must to modify the degrees within the palette). The rainbow preset, which is essentially the most showy of the bunch, can be utterly non-adjustable, which is baffling.
One other wonderful little bit of programming magic comes with macros and keymaps. The keyboard helps on-the-fly macro recording. Utilizing a key mixture, you enter Macro Recording mode, select the important thing you wish to map, after which ship your textual content string. One other fast mixture exits recording. This identical process is used to swap the placement of keys.
The One 3 Mini Aura Version ups the ante by additionally permitting you to remap secondary capabilities. Most keyboards “lock” these keys within the absence of software program. Right here, you comply with the identical process as remapping keys, however as an alternative of tapping a letter you wish to change, you faucet the important thing mixture for the secondary command. This implies you possibly can utterly change the inventory structure of each layer after which save every to the keyboard’s on-board reminiscence throughout six profiles.
This additionally applies to the operate button itself, which is inconveniently positioned within the backside proper by default. One other key combo permits you to reorganize your modifier keys, which incorporates the Fn button. Inside only a few seconds, I used to be capable of place it on the left facet of the keyboard, which is rather more handy for accessing the oodles of instructions beneath your proper hand.
The programmability of the One 3 Mini is top-tier amongst pre-built keyboards, however similar to studying the shape issue, you’ll must climb a big studying curve to wrap your head round all of it. As highly effective as it’s, performing all of those remaps isn’t intuitive, and I saved the person handbook shut at hand the complete time. You are able to do loads, however there are a number of steps that every should be mastered, which takes time {that a} software program possibility might save.
The typing expertise on the Ducky One 3 Mini Aura Version is the very best of any Ducky keyboard I’ve examined so far. With the mixture of its QUACK mechanics (dampening pad, doubleshot keycaps, and pre-lubed stabilizers) and new change choices, the texture of typing is smoother, softer, and sounds higher than final era’s One 2 Mini.
My pattern was despatched with Kailh BOX Jellyfish switches, that are linear and light-weight with an actuation power of solely 50 grams. They arrive pre-lubed with a light-weight coating of oil, so keystrokes have a constant glide with none scratchiness or spring ping. Their mild weight makes them simple to backside out, which brings out the higher-pitched sound of the doubleshot keycaps.
Utilizing such a small keyboard isn’t for everybody, and there’s a big studying curve if you happen to’ve by no means tried one earlier than. The structure pushes every thing however the primary keyset onto a secondary layer. You don’t lose performance (actually, you acquire options), however you’ll must dedicate time to memorizing the placement of every secondary operate.
In comparison with different 60-percent keyboards, I discovered the One 3 Mini Aura Version simpler to make use of, however I needed to customise it to get there. Accessing secondary capabilities equivalent to Residence and Finish is finished by holding the Fn button. Like most compact keyboards, this button is on the underside proper, proper according to the buttons these keys are assigned to. It results in some uncomfortable finger acrobatics that often leaves me reaching for a 65-percent or bigger keyboard.
The One 3 Mini Aura’s Key Change characteristic remedied this by permitting me to remap the place of the Fn key, a capability most different keyboards don’t provide with out software program. I used to be capable of transfer the Fn key to the left facet of the board, changing Caps Lock, which made accessing these secondary capabilities and arrows a lot simpler. There’s nonetheless a studying curve in memorizing all of their areas, however with out the finger crunch, the largest ache level (actually) is eliminated.
When you’re up and operating, the typing expertise is sweet. The silicone pads beneath the keys and behind the PCB do an excellent job of dampening keystrokes, so backside outs are remoted and have a constant sound throughout the board. It doesn’t use a gasket mount for flexy or bouncing typing expertise, but it surely’s not inflexible both. The keycaps really feel good due to their slight texturing and acquainted Cherry profile.
Aside from being small, the spacing, contouring, and structure of the keys is all very conventional. For pure typing, I averaged 108 phrases per minute on MonkeyType, which is about my common. In actual world writing duties, I think this may be a bit much less as soon as these secondary capabilities and key combos are factored in.
Despite the fact that Ducky has accomplished a fantastic job of including again the entire lacking keys as secondary capabilities (in addition to some extras), this nonetheless wouldn’t be a keyboard I might select for productiveness. Downtime improves as you memorize the structure, however having to carry Fn for navigation and enhancing is much less environment friendly for typing and information entry. If you happen to don’t do these items typically, it might not be an enormous deal, however for college kids and typists, an even bigger type issue continues to be the higher alternative.
Likewise, the white model is admittedly solely an excellent match for contact typists. The white legends on a white background are troublesome to learn. This solely turns into extra true when the brilliant RGB backlighting is turned on. Given how a lot of an RGB showcase the keyboard is, it’s shocking that it doesn’t characteristic backlit legends to unravel this drawback.
The Ducky One 3 Mini Aura Version isn’t a gaming keyboard, however the firm’s Mini line-up has lengthy been a preferred alternative for gaming. Its small type issue and on-board programming make it a sensible choice for avid gamers that want further mousing area and might’t use software program (equivalent to throughout a event).
The 60-percent type issue seems to be downright tiny in comparison with a full-size keyboard or perhaps a TKL, and that works to your profit in first-person shooters. Turning down your sensitivity is a time-tested method to enhance your accuracy, and the dearth of a quantity pad or perhaps a navigation and cluster offers you extra room to comb your mouse. This isn’t a playstyle I’ve ever been superb at, however merely with the ability to preserve my palms nearer collectively made for extra comfy play over longer stretches.
The on-board macro recording can be very good. It’s not as intuitive as software program recording (I needed to have the handbook open on my telephone the primary few occasions I attempted utilizing it), however as soon as you recognize the routine, it’s potential to report in-game macros in lower than 30 seconds. If you recognize you’re going to be utilizing a talent rotation loads within the subsequent match, you possibly can set a macro within the pre-game foyer while not having to Alt+Tab into one other window.
This performance additionally permits you to remap keys and create customized layouts for particular person video games. The keyboard helps 5 profiles (six if you happen to embrace the un-modifiable base layer), so you possibly can prepare distinctive layouts for various video games and apps. The extent of on-board programmability is spectacular, to say the least, however I want there have been a software program possibility to hurry up the method. Remapping one or two keys this manner isn’t any large deal, however if you’re creating an entire structure of customized keymaps, you’re going to be there some time.
Responsiveness is top-notch. The keyboard makes use of a 1,000 Hz polling fee which scans for key presses a thousand occasions per second. Despite the fact that many gaming keyboards are starting to boast about 2,000 Hz, 4,000 Hz, and even 8,000 Hz polling charges, the One 3 Mini felt simply as responsive throughout my return to Battlefield 2042 and lacked nothing within the really feel and bounceback of its switches.
Backside Line
The Ducky One 3 Mini Aura Version is a glowed up model of an already good keyboard. There aren’t many new options outdoors of its frosted case and keycaps, but it surely stays a fantastic alternative for gaming and typists who worth desk area over devoted keys.
Its 60-percent type issue isn’t going to be for everybody, nonetheless. If you happen to crave devoted arrow keys and navigation buttons, the Ducky One 3 SF (opens in new tab) is a stable different for less than $20 extra. If you happen to crave one thing much less showy however much more programmable with highly effective software program, the Steelseries Apex Professional Mini delivers all that and extra, like high-speed wi-fi, however you’ll pay for it.
If you may get on with its tiny form and might’t stay with out RGB, the Aura Version is certainly value contemplating. Ducky is aware of its stuff and has been making wonderful keyboards for years. This newest launch isn’t any exception, it’s just a bit — okay, loads — extra showy.
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