You’d think it would be hard for a dedicated gaming keyboard maker like Ducky to stand out from the giants like Razer, Corsair, and Logitech, but here we are, and the Ducky One 3 is a sight to behold, especially Fuji TKL. version. It’s built like brick, but its color scheme is as elegant as cherry blossoms in spring and offers excellent value for money.
The best thing about Ducky One 3 is its customization. You can choose from many different sizes, including full stroke, TKL without the numpad, SF (65%), and a Mini 60% model without arrow keys. At the bottom are mechanical shifters ranging from Cherry MX Speed Silver to MX Silent. And there are tons of attractive color options to match your setup.
You can stick with your standard backlit black if you like, but if you don’t mind sacrificing RGB LEDs, there are several models on offer. Daybreak: pretty navy blue with gray and yellow tones Matcha combines pastel green with a creamy hue; and the model we are testing today, Fuji combines pink with navy blue. Of course, lack of light can turn some of them off and it’s nice to have that option, but I’d say anything else would be overkill.
While the HyperX Alloy Origins 60 and Corsair K65 RGB make a conscious effort to use a dedicated space bar to consolidate their setup, the attention to detail on the Ducky One 3 Fuji TKL is next level. The lettering on each double PBT cover complements the color of the key itself, the extra-large two-tone bezel body adds a neo-retro touch, and the default layout is a delight to the eye.
Image Credit: PCGamesN
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If you’re not happy with the color design right out of the box, there’s an additional set of hot pink keys, a dark blue enter key, and a custom rounded Ducky logo key so you can really have it your way. You usually only get these quality keys when you go for a custom set or work as a craftsman, which can easily send the price of your gaming keyboard skyrocketing.
You typically only get this key level of quality in custom or handcrafted variants.
Every inch of this keyboard is designed to really complete the look, including a blue background, a pink USB-C to USB-A cable that can be routed left, right, or center with cable routing, and pink feet. Two levels. adjustable height. I prefer a steep incline and almost always prefer the highest level I can get the keyboard up to, but it’s nice to have the option of a shallower climb.
For a short time after opening the box, I actually mistook the Ducky One 3 TKL for its full-size cousin, partly because I’m used to the diminutive Mountain Everest 60, but mostly because it feels a little crazy. It’s actually 4% lighter than the Ducky One 2 TKL series (908g), but it feels heavy and its protruding bezels give the illusion that it’s larger than it really is. It may not be as heavy as its predecessor, but it won’t slide around the gaming table easily thanks to the sturdy rubber feet that keep it in place.
Image Credit: PCGamesN, and yes, it’s really new.
My biggest gripe with the design is the LED indicators that show when the caps lock and scroll lock keys are active. You might think I’m exaggerating when I say they’re as bright as the sun, but despite the hype, using all caps as your Discord chat button is a huge distraction during firefights in Rainbow Six Siege. It’s like the enemy is signaling me to surrender in Morse code. I might be ambitious in attributing my average aggressive K/D to a couple of LEDs, but they certainly added salt to the wound when looking at a semi-blind killcam.
I’d be lost without the Caps Lock LED, but does it have to be as bright as the sun?
On the one hand, I commend the lack of software that makes this device truly plug-and-play with no bells and whistles, but it also means there’s no way to turn off those lights. Just get used to it and get used to it or you risk ruining the aesthetics with tape. Sure, your mileage can vary with different hotkeys, and you might not care much about it, but Ducky can avoid it altogether if he just types it in a bit.
With no software, you also rely on onboard controls to get the most out of your keyboard. There’s a comeback of six different profiles, five of which are customizable, but you’ll have to learn a bunch of key bindings to shape the macros the way you want. Some default shortcuts don’t even work, like the Windows key lock, whether you follow the instructions or try to use the DIP switch on the back. Actually the DIP switch was just decorative to me, which could be a firmware issue. Unfortunately, the firmware update program didn’t work either. Needless to say, it’s time for Ducky to introduce software that makes this process easy.
Image Credit: PCGamesN
Printing on the Ducky One 3 Fuji TKL is a dream come true. It’s not just the Cherry MX Browns I’ve grown accustomed to from previous models, but the ergonomics, build quality, and thoughtful design elements that make this a perfect keyboard to work on. A new silicone layer between the board and PCB and an EVA foam backing that Ducky calls “quackery mechanics” feels like clicking on a cloud with no unwanted sound, just beautiful clicks. The one exception is the space bar, which is considerably thicker than the other keys and can get in the way of heavy typists or those around the desk.
Hot-swappable switches mean the Ducky One 3 will outlast most other mechanical gaming keyboards.
Another update over the Ducky One 2 series is the inclusion of hot-swappable switches. It might seem a bit awkward at first, but Ducky gives you everything you need, and the more you do it, the easier it gets, as long as you don’t lose your key cap and switches. It’s far from the first keyboard that lets you switch between different switches, but it’s a welcome upgrade that will make the Ducky One 3 TKL last much longer than most keyboards on the market. Break the rod? Temporarily replace it with a one-key switch you don’t use as much while you wait for the new switches to arrive, which is much cheaper than shelling out for a whole new board.
The Ducky One 3 TKL The Fuji TKL packs quite a punch for its $122 / £130 price tag. While the lack of software means it’s not as feature-rich as the SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL, the cost is offset by some great keys with PBT themes that would otherwise take up another big chunk of your bank account and hot-swappable switches. which often cost extra. There are minor design flaws that drag it down, and it could have been more intuitive in its approach to profiles and tags, but when something looks this good for just $100, it’s hard to say it’s a good deal.
Source : PC Gamesn
