Driver

There is no dedicated software driver support for the Ducky One 2 keyboard, with all functionality being hardware based. As such, I have chosen to combine the Driver and Performance pages into one. Note that Ducky has provided an executable file to manually update the keyboard's firmware, which can be found on this page and adds the ability to change the brightness of the indicator LEDs in seven steps—something not usually seen as an available option.

Performance

There is full N-key rollover USB here out of the box, as Aqua's test confirms. If you needed 6KRO for some reason, say to debug a few things in your system or run a kernel-based virtual system, then toggle the fourth dip switch on the back from OFF (default position) to ON. Similarly, no key chatter was detected on all the keys using Switch Hitter.


Onboard functionality is quite strong here, and the dip switches add to the customization available. Seen above is how the four dip switches affect the keyboard's behavior—be it switching from NKRO to 6KRO or changing the bottom-row functions if you so desire. Indeed, Ducky even states in the manual that it is recommended to unplug the keyboard for at least 15 seconds after changing functionality via a dip switch before connecting it to the computer. You can also change the USB repeat acceleration in Function mode by using a combination of the Fn key and others outlined in the manual (middle image above). There is also a fourth indicator LED on the keyboard, and it is used to indicate whether the Numpad is in "Mouse function". This indicator LED, marked as M, will light up in said mode, which can be activated by using Fn + Num Lock on this full-size version, and it works better than it has any right to—don't dismiss this as a gimmick. In fact, the TKL versions also have a mouse function as outlined in the manual, but I dare say the full-size version works better here.


There are also multiple profiles saved onboard, but these are really used to access macro functionality, which also includes key assignment. The default profile is locked down, which is probably for the best too, but you can go free with the other five that can be accessed via Fn + a number key (alphanumeric section), which then shows up via the indicator LEDs blinking a number of times based on which number key/profile was picked. The manual does a good job of going through the process, be it selecting a key to assign the macro to, recording said macro, or doing the actual macro playback. For what is onboard functionality, things could have gone complicated and confusing in a real hurry, and in some ways they still do, but this is possibly the best such implementation I have used thus far. Some macro functions are already pre-programmed, and these end up providing multimedia and specific program task controls as listed in the penultimate image above. That one dedicated key for the calculator can thus be reassigned to something you feel is more useful, for example, and you can use one of the provided replacement keycaps instead of the stock one as well. The final image also quickly shows what keys can be reassigned/assigned to a macro, and which keys can't be, so be aware of this. Overall, these are things a software driver would simplify, but also note that onboard/driverless controls are still preferred by many, so this remains a thing to be aware of, though it is not necessarily a pro or con by itself.


As always, the sound of a keyboard is based on more than just the switch type. So when comparing sound clips, consider the keyboard as a whole. In this case, I have provided above an example sound clip of me typing on the Ducky One 2 Skyline sample at ~105 WPM. For context, you can find sound clips from other keyboards here, including those with tactile switches. I did bottom out given the relatively lightweight switches used, and chances are you will too. The thick PBT plastic keycaps feel great to type on, and the plastic case helps dampen noise as well compared to, say, a metal frame keyboard with floating keycaps. The Cherry MX Brown switches were once among the most popular for mechanical keyboards, but have been overtaken by the MX Red and MX Blue lately. Personally, I also find there to be switches that offer a better tactile feedback and travel alike, but this remains a matter of opinion and is subjective. What is not subjective, however, is Cherry's consistent quality, as well as Ducky's quality control to where twenty random switches on the review sample all came within an average standard deviation of 1.6% off the rated actuation force of 45 cN and peak/operation force of 55 cN.