Get insider access
Preferred store
Your browser is not supported or outdated so some features of the site might not be available.
  1. Table of Contents
  2. Top
  3. Main Differences
  4. Design
    1. Dimensions
    2. Build Quality
    3. Ergonomics
    4. Backlighting
    5. Cable & Connector
    6. Wireless Versatility
    7. Extra Features
    8. In The Box
  5. Typing Experience
    1. Keystrokes
    2. Typing Quality
    3. Typing Noise
    4. Latency
  6. Software and Operating System
    1. Software & Programming
    2. Keyboard Compatibility
  7. Comments

Ducky One 2 SF vs Keychron K3

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Ducky One 2 SF
Keychron K3

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated Nov 19, 2024 01:56 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated Nov 16, 2023 08:59 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Ducky One 2 SF Picture
Keychron K3 Picture

Variants

  • One 2 SF (Black)
  • One 2 SF (White)
  • K3 (K3B3 - Black)

Our Verdict

Ducky One 2 SF

Keychron K3

The Ducky One 2 SF and the Keychron K3 are quite different. The Ducky is a wired-only 60% keyboard, while the Keychron is a low-profile wireless keyboard with a 75% layout. The Keychron is more versatile because it can be used with a wider variety of devices or even in a home theater PC setup. Also, it has full compatibility with macOS and Android, whereas the Ducky is only fully compatible with Windows. However, the Keychron doesn't have any macro-programmable keys like the Ducky. The two keyboards are available in a wide variety of switch options. Unfortunately, they both have relatively high latency, so neither of them is ideal for fast-paced gaming.

0

Check Price

K3B3 - Black
K3
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
K3B3 - Black
K3
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
 
K3B3 - Black
K3
B&H
 
K3B3 - Black
K3
BestBuy.com

Main Differences for

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

8.2
8.0

Operating Force 
 

68 gf
51 gf

Macro Programmable Keys 
 

All
No

Software & Programming 
 

6.1
0.0

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

Ducky One 2 SF Top Picture
Keychron K3 Top Picture

Size 
 

Compact (65%)
Compact (75%)

Height 
 

1.5" (3.8 cm)
1.1" (2.7 cm)

Width  

12.8" (32.6 cm)
12.0" (30.5 cm)

Depth 
 

4.2" (10.7 cm)
4.6" (11.6 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

N/A
N/A

Weight 
 

1.37 lbs (0.623 kg)
0.88 lbs (0.397 kg)

Show text

Build Quality 
 

8.5
8.0

Build Quality Close Up  

Ducky One 2 SF Build Quality Close Up
Keychron K3 Build Quality Close Up

Keycap Material  

PBT
ABS

Show text

Ergonomics 
 

6.5
7.0

Side Picture  

Ducky One 2 SF Side Picture
Keychron K3 Side Picture

Board Design 
 

Straight
Straight

Minimum Incline 
 

Medium Incline 
 

N/A

Maximum Incline 
 

13.5°
N/A

Wrist Rest  

No
No

Show text

Backlighting 
 

9.1
9.3

Backlighting Picture  

Ducky One 2 SF Backlighting Picture
Keychron K3 Backlighting Picture

White Shot 
 

Ducky One 2 SF White Shot
Keychron K3 White Shot

Brightness Max 
 

Ducky One 2 SF Brightness Max
Keychron K3 Brightness Max

Brightness Min 
 

Ducky One 2 SF Brightness Min
Keychron K3 Brightness Min

Backlighting  

Yes
Yes

Color 
 

RGB
RGB

Individually Backlit Keys 
 

Yes
Yes

Color Mixing 
 

Poor
Ok

Effects 
 

Yes
Yes

Programmable 
 

No
No

Show text

Cable & Connector  

Connectivity  

Wired
Wireless

Detachable 
 

Yes (Wired Only Keyboard)
Yes (Wired Mode and Charge)

Length  

5.9 ft (1.8 m)
4.0 ft (1.2 m)

Connector (Keyboard side) 
 

USB type-C
USB type-C

Show text

Wireless Versatility 
 

0.0
10

Bluetooth 
 

No
Yes

Bluetooth Multi-Device Pairing 
 

No
3

Proprietary Receiver 
 

No
No

Battery Type 
 

No Batteries
Rechargeable

Show text

Extra Features 
 

Extra Features  

Ducky One 2 SF Extra Features
Keychron K3 Extra Features

Media Keys 
 

Hot Keys
Hot Keys

Macro Programmable Keys 
 

All
No

Trackpad / Trackball  

No
No

Wheel  

No
No

USB Passthrough 
 

No
No

Numpad  

No
No

Windows Key Lock 
 

Yes
No

Lock Indicator  

Caps Lock
Caps Lock

Show text

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

Ducky One 2 SF Bundle Picture
Keychron K3 Bundle Picture

Show text

Typing Experience

Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Key Switches 
 

Cherry MX Blue
Gateron Low Profile Brown

Mechanical 
 

Yes
Yes

Feel 
 

Clicky
Tactile

Operating Force 
 

68 gf
51 gf

Actuation Force 
 

51 gf
48 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

2.0 mm
1.7 mm

Total Travel 
 

3.8 mm
2.7 mm

Show text

Typing Quality 
 

9.0
7.5

Show text

Typing Noise 
 

Typing Sample  

Noise 
 

Loud
Quiet

Show text

Latency 
 

7.0
7.0

Latency Video  

Latency Wired 
 

14.4 ms
14.6 ms

Latency Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency Bluetooth 
 

N/A
22.1 ms

Show text

Software and Operating System

Software & Programming 
 

6.1
0.0

Software Picture  

Ducky One 2 SF Software Picture
Keychron K3 Software Picture

Software Name  

No Software
No Software

Account Required 
 

No Software
No Software

Profiles 
 

6+
No Profile

Onboard Memory 
 

Yes
No

Cloud Sync 
 

No
No

Macro Programming 
 

Onboard
No

Ease Of Use 
 

No Software
No Software

Software Windows Compatible 
 

No
No

Software macOS Compatible 
 

No
No

Show text

Keyboard Compatibility 
 

7.2
9.2

Windows  

Full
Full

macOS  

Partial
Full

Linux  

Partial
Partial

Android  

No
Full

iOS  

No
Partial

iPadOS  

No
Partial

Show text

Check Price

K3B3 - Black
K3
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
K3B3 - Black
K3
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
 
K3B3 - Black
K3
B&H
 
K3B3 - Black
K3
BestBuy.com

Ducky One 2 SF

Keychron K3

Comments

  1. Comparison

Ducky One 2 SF vs Keychron K3: Main Discussion

What do you think of these products? Let us know below.


Looking for a personalized buying advice from the RTINGS.com experts? Insiders have direct access to buying advice on our insider forum.

PreviewBack to editorFormat guide
No comments yet, refresh to see new ones