Ducky One 3 Classic Fullsize RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard Review

Peter Donnell / 2 years ago

Performance

This keyboard has a lot going for it already. However, let’s get some basics covered, even if they are flipping obvious. This is the full-size version, so you get the full numberpad. However, a TKL, 65% and even a 65% version is available should you need something more compact.

It’s a standard key spacing, Cherry MX switches, and PBT caps, so right away, the core experience is what you would expect from a premium mechanical keyboard. However, the internal metal plate mounting, and noise and vibration-absorbing layers result in an even nicer typing experience. It just feels and sounds better. Each switch feels tight and responsive, with no unwanted vibration or rattles anywhere on the keyboard.

All the basic switches are here, but you may notice a complete lack of bonus features you can access by the Fn-Shift button? Well, more on that in a moment.

There are some dedicated volume keys though, which is great, but no media keys, at least… not that you can see.

Plug the keyboard in and WOW it lights up with some of the best colours I’ve ever seen on a keyboard. Admittedly, the off-white caps and the gloss white PCB really help with the vibrancy too, but who cares how it’s done, it just looks brilliant; photos don’t do the near neon-colour quality of the Ducky One 3’s lighting.

There are some indicator lights above the number pad; they’re the usual Num Lock, Caps Lock, etc.

The keyboard is littered with all the effects and customisation you would expect. Allowing for rainbow, rain, fades, transitions and all the usual jazz. it’s a flagship mechanical RGB keyboard, and it delivers everything you would expect in that regard.

When it comes to work or gaming, it’s faultless, it’s accurate, it’s sturdy, and a bunch of other superlatives. It’s can go head to head with the best from any brand and it’ll hold its own, that’s for sure. Plus, it has a Tiger, and that makes it even better… obviously.

But it’s those missing features that threw me. It’s rare I look at the manual for a keyboard, but this one… you flipping need to study the manual over a cup of tea or two, it’s all here, you just can’t see it. As the saying goes (potentially NSFW link) “RTFM“.

RTFM

There are pages upon pages of functions, commands and macros to unleash. Hold this for x-seconds, press this for that, etc. Here’s how you change the colour modes, change transitions, and speed, turn it off, or just the level of individual colours. There’s even a colour palette mode that lights up the whole keyboard, then you simply tap the colour you want.

…and then you can tinker with custom zones, allowing unique colour combinations and cycles which can be recorded and applied.

This one is neat, it’s simply a store display mode. It’ll light up, but disables all keys, so the kids can tap away without typing garbage into the computer; a handy parental lock mode really.

Did you even want to remap the control, windows keys, alt keys and more and move them around… I didn’t either, but I’ll be damned you can do that too.

Right, so then we can take a deep breath and look into the multimedia controls, launchers, and mouse controls… yup, it seems there isn’t a key on this keyboard that doesn’t have at least two functions thanks to the Fn+Win layer.

Or did I mean three or four functions? As with FN+Shift you can also set profiles, and other lighting modes. Honestly, I’m going to stop there, it keeps on going on, if you can think of it, there’s a shortcut for it, if you can’t think of it, it’s likely there. I’m still looking for the one that’ll make me a cup of tea, but it’s likely something bonkers like Fn-Shift for 4 seconds, tap the space bar 5 times, and spinning around 3 times.

but yeah, why don’t you just Read the manual here.

Overall though, most of the advanced features you’re unlikely to use, but for every user, there are likely a couple of features you’ll want, and I’m happy to say, you’ll find them. For me, Windows Lock, N-Key, a couple of work-related macros, and a pair of lighting profiles for day/night are all I need, and after reading through the manual, the keyboard was set up after ten minutes and required no further tinkering since.