Assessment: Ducky One 3 TKL Aura wired gaming keyboard with Cherry MX Crimson switches | TechVerse Hub

Introduction

Similar to gaming mice, gaming keyboards are a scorching subject, however in contrast to the mice which see their benefits most notably in gaming, a high-performance keyboard sees its advantages with just about each interplay with a pc. For instance, you do not want a 1000Hz mouse for desktop use, many individuals won’t ever inform the distinction between one and a regular 125Hz mouse, however on a keyboard, the best way the keys press, the noise suggestions, the load of the board, the important thing cap dimension and format… All these features matter and might improve or restrict productiveness and efficiency in something you do on a pc.

Seeing folks discuss Ducky keyboards through the years had at all times intrigued me as I would dabbled with Corsair RGB gaming boards with Cherry MX Crimson/Brown switches or a time, however they weren’t fairly as silent as I would appreciated, and the mounted cable was annoying when it got here to cleansing at occasions, so I went again to Logitech wi-fi fashions for the lengthy haul.

Ducky’s launch of the One 3 Aura vary covers the preferred type elements, and in at present’s overview, I might be speaking in regards to the TKL model, despatched in by our pals over at Overclockers UK.

Here’s a take a look at how the opposite fashions within the One 3 Aura vary differ in dimension/format:

Specs

First impressions

Taking the TKL Aura out of the field you get a really feel for the heft of the keyboard. It appears like will probably be light-weight, given the deceiving dimension, nevertheless it actually is not. The ABS plastic building can be frosted-translucent, which provides to the aesthetic.

There aren’t any different entrance going through areas with the branding on show, and even the brand proven above, situated on the again of the TKL, is tough to see until the sunshine hits it excellent. Ducky are counting on model status right here in addition to the bespoke keycap types included to permit folks to recognise that that is actually, a Ducky.

Included within the field are a set of further keycaps, do you have to with to tailor the styling a bit, it is good to see totally different keycaps included like this.

To get the keycaps out, Ducky included a branded keycap puller, in addition to a swap puller for those who ever want to exchange or change any of the Cherry MX switches. Utilizing both software was a simple expertise and no actual ability or brute pressure is required to get the keys or switches out. It will make cleansing the keyboard a lot simpler as properly.

Comparisons

My major keyboard is the Logitech MX Keys, a board I’ve grown keen on since launch as a result of its productiveness options and typing consolation. Positioned subsequent to the Ducky TKL Aura, the scale distinction is dramatic. While the MX Keys follows a contemporary development in ultra-low profile designs with low profile keys, the One 3 is considerably the other, with a excessive profile and full dimension keycaps. The peak solely will increase as you utilize one of many two top riser positions on the underside.

The One 3 is not wi-fi both, so having a cable connected, nonetheless small, may additionally add additional inconvenience for many who like to maneuver their keyboards round relying on what they’re doing.

Having mentioned that, this being a TKL signifies that further desk house is freed up for the mouse to maneuver round extra freely, particularly helpful for these with smaller desks. Excellent for avid gamers who like to regulate sensitivity on a per-game foundation which may end in a necessity for extra mouse journey.

Options & Customisation

The underside of the One 3 homes a financial institution of dip switches that may be toggled. I would by no means seen these earlier than on a keyboard so needed to do some digging to search out out what they’re for. These enable customisation of the way you need to configure and use the keyboard. The variety of variations are fairly huge, equivalent to the usage of the perform keys and lighting, and a full breakdown could be discovered within the official One 3 user manual which covers that is extra in-depth element.

The new-swap means of the switches can be carried out very properly. It is simple to work with and the instruments included are good high quality, too. I had no bother taking out a number of keys and switches in just some seconds. Previous keyboards required some brute pressure to tug a stiff keycap out, no such downside right here.

Likewise, customising the keycaps with a bundled keycap vary can be very welcome. Every of major keycaps seem like double layered (excluding the house bar), a translucent layer sits on high, with the printing and base layer seen beneath.

Ducky market this as a long life/distinctive styling function, and I can actually see this being the case. The caps really feel prime quality and I can see them retaining their textured matte end for a few years as a result of this. Reminiscences come flooding again of keycaps that go shiny after 6-12 months of heavy use as a result of solely having a skinny single-layer end.

Efficiency

Typing on the One 3 TKL is a pleasure. The Cherry MX Crimson switches typically have very good really feel, however the addition of the acoustic layers contained in the keyboard add further dampening for extra refined suggestions. Take a pay attention on the video beneath on how loud the keystrokes are:

Keystrokes are tactile while nonetheless having a full mechanical motion and suggestions, it is nearly like a mixture of the subtleness of a premium membrane keyboard such because the MX Keys, however with the motion and really feel of a mechanical setup. As I’ve used Cherry MX Black and Brown switches earlier than in different keyboards and really feel the MX Reds on this implementation is completely fitted to each gaming and long-session desktop utilization.

The responsiveness and rollover efficiency had been additionally wonderful. I discovered no points with the USB connection both, whether or not plugged instantly into the monitor’s USB hub through a brief cable (not included), or utilizing the Ducky braided cable related to the again of the PC.

The peak of the keyboard in its flattest place felt nearly proper, while the raised positions add further palm/finger assist. From an ergonomics perspective, all appears to be wonderful.

Points

I did nonetheless come throughout a couple of issues that made me swap off the RGB lighting in nearly all ambient room lighting circumstances. The way in which the translucent keys are designed signifies that gentle leaks across the sides of the keycaps when utilizing most RGB settings, leaving not sufficient gentle to move by way of the highest of the keycaps in addition to the keyboard plastic itself. This leads to the printed characters on the keys being exhausting to see in low room lighting, which is sort of annoying when working at nighttime.

Above is an instance of the RGB lighting arrange for an all-red illumination with just a few pure gentle coming into the room from the facet.

If I shut the blinds, this all modifications and the keycap tops are more durable to learn, I modified the RGB to white/blue for the beneath picture, so the digital camera has a better time capturing the problem, the identical applies to all different color variations of the LEDs to the bare eye.

As you may see, the characters are a lot more durable to see, and this is applicable to any brightness degree. I discovered it simpler to learn the characters of every key with the RGB off totally and simply counting on the monitor’s ambient glow to see which secret is which!

On high of that, the scroll lock, caps lock and num lock LED indicators are additionally very vibrant, which causes a distraction in dim room lighting conditions.

These RGB lighting points seem like an oversight above all else. The identical issues most certainly do not apply to the opposite variations of the One 3 vary that do not have the translucent plastic, it will be fascinating to listen to from our readers on this one, do you have got a kind of different variations of the One 3? Tell us within the feedback in your expertise with RGB lighting.

Cool Issue

There is not any doubt that Ducky is a cool model with a loyal following. The engineering high quality behind the One 3 TKL seems to be excellent, and the inclusion of options that different boards do not have can be welcome, you may even do whacky (even when a bit gimmicky) stuff with the RGB lighting…

… However it’s a little bit of a disgrace that not all features supply as premium an expertise, such because the exhausting to learn keys when RGB lighting is enabled.

Conclusion

One factor I actually like about Ducky is that no software program must be put in to customize something. All features are adjusted instantly on the keyboard utilizing key mixtures. The dip switches enable core useful modifications to be made on the fly, in addition to saving a number of profiles if desired. You might have a configuration for gaming, and one other for desktop working, or one for low gentle conditions, and one other for vibrant circumstances. These are properly thought out options that deserve some reward.

I wish to have seen two cable lengths included within the field, most displays nowadays have USB hubs constructed into them, and having a brief cable neatly plugged in as proven above is tidy and handy. Given the already excessive value, these kinds of inclusions could be an expectation to see within the field.

It is also a disgrace that there aren’t any multi-device profiles obtainable, solely utilization situation profile. Nowadays many people work on a number of units on the desktop, equivalent to a piece laptop computer when working from dwelling, a pill as a secondary display and so forth.

With the ability to swap between a number of units with a key press would have been wonderful, and naturally this implies including connectivity equivalent to Bluetooth, which in flip would improve the value.

Having the choice, although, would have been good.