Ducky One 3 SF Keyboard

[VSG]

Ducky introduces QUACK mechanics with its new One 3 series of mechanical keyboards! Today, we review the 65% form factor One 3 SF, which comes in various color schemes and switch options, and adds several useful improvements and new features over the previous generation to make for an attractive package at a reasonable price.

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[Garrus]

I wish more of these kinds of keyboards came with wrist wrests...

 

[VSG]

I wish more of these kinds of keyboards came with wrist wrests...

Foam wrist rests can be had for $5 from the likes of eBay these days, so it's not a deal breaker in my opinion.

 

[MarsM4N]

I wish more of these kinds of keyboards came with wrist wrests...

I got myself the Wooting Wrist Rest TKL. It's made out of silicone, super comfy & ultra durable.
It's kinda expensive, but it will last to the grave. Best purchase ever.

 

[VSG]

I got myself the Wooting Wrist Rest TKL. It's made out of silicone, super comfy & ultra durable.
It's kinda expensive, but it will last to the grave. Best purchase ever.

It's a bit too large for this 65% keyboard, but I agree that it's a fantastic wrist rest. I have it here to go with an upcoming Wooting keyboard review itself, it's been pending for a while now.

 

[Gmr_Chick]

This color option on this keyboard is gorgeous!

 

[MarsM4N]

It's a bit too large for this 65% keyboard, but I agree that it's a fantastic wrist rest. I have it here to go with an upcoming Wooting keyboard review itself, it's been pending for a while now.

Upcomming keyboard review? Are you talking about the Wooting 60HE with the new Lekker (magnetic) switches? Super interrested to see how they perform IRL.

Have been following their channel for a while and it's just great how much insight they give into development & production. Awesome guys.

 

[Flydommo]

I'v owned and used a Ducky One 2SF for more than two years. Generally I'm very happy with this keyboard, its quality and feature set. I only use it for gaming these days since I recently built a Mode 65 used primarily for typing. The main advantages of the One 2SF in my eyes are the phenomenal backlighting, the relatively flat front side for a mechanical keyboard and the high-quality translucent keycaps. I'm wondering why Ducky hasn't kept those features on the One 3SF as I assume the LEDs on the One 3SF are less bright than on the predecessor. Is that correct? The review is somewhat unspecific on this feature as well as on the height of the case's front side as far as I can see, yet these are important aspects a lot of users potentially would want to know more about. Otherwise, there is a lot to like about the One 3SF in my eyes.

 

[VSG]

Upcomming keyboard review? Are you talking about the Wooting 60HE with the new Lekker (magnetic) switches? Super interrested to see how they perform IRL.

Have been following their channel for a while and it's just great how much insight they give into development & production. Awesome guys.

Wooting two HE with the new Lekker switches, and yes they are quite good with the community outreach.

I'v owned and used a Ducky One 2SF for more than two years. Generally I'm very happy with this keyboard, its quality and feature set. I only use it for gaming these days since I recently built a Mode 65 used primarily for typing. The main advantages of the One 2SF in my eyes are the phenomenal backlighting, the relatively flat front side for a mechanical keyboard and the high-quality translucent keycaps. I'm wondering why Ducky hasn't kept those features on the One 3SF as I assume the LEDs on the One 3SF are less bright than on the predecessor. Is that correct? The review is somewhat unspecific on this feature as well as on the height of the case's front side as far as I can see, yet these are important aspects a lot of users potentially would want to know more about. Otherwise, there is a lot to like about the One 3SF in my eyes.

Ducky has moved away from keycaps that are backlighting compatible even with the One 2 series, or at least the Mecha SF special editions (https://www.techpowerup.com/review/ducky-mecha-sf-radiant-emerald/). I had asked them about it, and Ducky said it was a design choice on purpose which would be their way going forward. As it turns out, it was the case with the new One 3 series as well, and I mentioned that multiple times in the review already. Nothing to do with the actual LEDs, they are the same SMD5050 RGB LEDs everyone uses.

What about the height do you want to know? It's tall enough to be a potential issue for comfortable typing without a wrist rest, but ideally you would practice typing with hands hovering above the keys.

 

[Chomiq]

Not really diggin' Ducky's color options for the One 3 series.

 

[Flydommo]

What about the height do you want to know? It's tall enough to be a potential issue for comfortable typing without a wrist rest, but ideally you would practice typing with hands hovering above the keys.

Thanks for answering so quickly and informing about Ducky's design decision to walk away from translucent keycaps. I would be interested in a height comparison between the One 2F and One 3SF pertaining to the actual height of where your finger tips meet the top face of the keycaps on the front row. For me the One 2SF is just flat enough to be used without a wrist rest. I hate wrist rests... Greetings!

 

[VSG]

Thanks for answering so quickly and informing about Ducky's design decision to walk away from translucent keycaps. I would be interested in a height comparison between the One 2F and One 3SF pertaining to the actual height of where your finger tips meet the top face of the keycaps on the front row. For me the One 2SF is just flat enough to be used without a wrist rest. I hate wrist rests... Greetings!

The One 3 SF is ~3-4 mm shorter from a quick estimation done, here's a better look at both (slightly different framing and angle, so keep that in mind):

If the One 2 SF was okay for you, this should be too.

 

[Flydommo]

Thanks again @VSG! Do you know how the One 2SF and One 3SF compare in terns of height in row 4 where the space bar is located?

 

[VSG]

Thanks again @VSG! Do you know how the One 2SF and One 3SF compare in terns of height in row 4 where the space bar is located?

It's the same keycap profile, so no different from the case itself. I don't have the One 2 SF here anymore so I can't do a direct comparison.

 

[phanbuey]

would be interesting to see some sort of latency testing - even if subjective reaction time. A bunch of the hot swappable PCBs are noticeably slower than generic gaming keyboards even with optical switches...

 

[AndreiD]

would be interesting to see some sort of latency testing - even if subjective reaction time. A bunch of the hot swappable PCBs are noticeably slower than generic gaming keyboards even with optical switches...

That's more down to the slow MCUs a lot of hotswap boards use.
Ducky didn't really seem to cheap out on the MCU and according to rtings' latency tests it should be 4.5ms based on the full size One 3: https://www.rtings.com/keyboard/reviews/ducky/one-3