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  1. Table of Contents
  2. Top
  3. Main Differences
  4. Design
    1. Dimensions
    2. Build Quality
    3. Ergonomics
    4. Hardware Customizability
    5. Backlight Features
    6. Backlight Clarity
    7. Cable & Connector
    8. Wireless Versatility
    9. Macro Keys And Programming
    10. Extra Features
    11. In The Box
  5. Typing Experience
    1. Typing Quality
    2. Typing Noise
    3. Switches
    4. Keystrokes
    5. Latency
  6. Performance
    1. Single-Key Latency
    2. Multi-Key Latency
    3. Data Transmission
    4. Chord Split
  7. Software and Operating System
    1. Configuration Software
    2. Computer Compatibility
    3. Wireless Mobile Compatibility
  8. Comments

Ducky One 3 vs Keychron Q4

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Ducky One 3
Keychron Q4

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Mar 19, 2025 03:57 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated Sep 23, 2022 06:05 PM

Amazon.com
Ducky One 3 Picture
Keychron Q4 Picture
  1. Recommended in 1 article:
  2. Ducky

Variants

  • One 3 (Aura)
  • One 3 (Black)
  • One 3 Mini (Black)
  • One 3 SF (Black)
  • One 3 TKL (Black)
  • One 3 RGB (Black)
  • One 3 RGB TKL (Black)
  • One 3 (DayBreak)
  • One 3 SF (Daybreak)
  • One 3 TKL (Daybreak)
  • One 3 (Fuji)
  • One 3 (Matcha)
  • One 3 (Pure White)
  • One 3 RGB (Pure White)
  • One 3 RGB TKL (Pure White)
  • One 3 Mini (White)
  • One 3 SF (White)
  • One 3 TKL (White)
  • One 3 (Yellow)
  • One 3 Mini (Yellow)
  • One 3 SF (Yellow)
  • One 3 TKL (Yellow)
  • Q4 (Carbon Black)
  • Q4 (Navy Blue)
  • Q4 (Silver Grey)

Our Verdict

Ducky One 3

Keychron Q4

The Ducky One 3 and the Keychron Q4 are both customizable mechanical keyboards. However, the Keychron only comes in a compact (60%) form factor, while the Ducky comes in a variety of sizes. The Ducky is better suited for gaming as it has lower latency, while the Keychron is better suited for just typing and general use. The Keychron also has a better build quality thanks to its all-aluminum chassis.

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Black
One 3 RGB TKL
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Daybreak
One 3 SF
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Daybreak
One 3 TKL
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Pure White
One 3
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Pure White
One 3 RGB
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Pure White
One 3 RGB TKL
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White
One 3 Mini
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Yellow
One 3 Mini
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Yellow
One 3 TKL
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Main Differences for
Gaming

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

8.3
8.6

Pre-Travel 
 

2.1 mm
2.7 mm

Single-Key Latency 
 

9.0
7.3

Backlight Features 
 

8.5
9.9

Configuration Software 
 

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

Ducky One 3 Top Picture
Keychron Q4 Top Picture

Size 
 

Full-size (100%)
Compact (60%)

Height 
 

1.5" (3.8 cm)
1.7" (4.4 cm)

Width  

17.9" (45.5 cm)
12.0" (30.4 cm)

Depth 
 

5.4" (13.8 cm)
4.8" (12.1 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

N/A
N/A

Weight 
 

2.86 lbs (1.296 kg)
3.40 lbs (1.543 kg)
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

8.5
9.0

Build Quality Close Up  

Ducky One 3 Build Quality Close Up
Keychron Q4 Build Quality Close Up

Keycap Material  

PBT
PBT
Show Text 

Ergonomics 
 

6.0
6.0

Side Picture  

Ducky One 3 Side Picture
Keychron Q4 Side Picture

Curved/Angled 
 

No
Straight

Split Keyboard 
 

No

Key Alignment 
 

Staggered

Minimum Incline 
 

6.5°

Medium Incline 
 

N/A

Maximum Incline 
 

12.5°
N/A

Home Row Height 
 

29.1 mm (1.1")

Wrist Rest  

No
Show Text 

Hardware Customizability 
 

8.9

Customizability Overview  

Ducky One 3 Customizability Overview

Replaceable Cherry Stabilizers 
 

Yes

Stabilizer Fixation 
 

Plate-Mounted

Spacebar Stabilizer Size 
 

6.25u

Size Of Right Mod Keys 
 

1.25u

Hot-Swappable Switches 
 

Yes

Switch Stem Shape 
 

Cherry MX Style

Switch PCB Socket 
 

5-pin Cherry

North-Facing Cherry MX Interference 
 

Yes

Backlight Features 
 

8.5
9.9

Backlighting Picture  

Ducky One 3 Backlighting Picture
Keychron Q4 Backlighting Picture

Brightness Max  

Ducky One 3 Brightness Max
Keychron Q4 Brightness Max

Backlighting  

Yes
Yes

Brightness Min  

Ducky One 3 Brightness Min
Keychron Q4 Brightness Min

White Shot 
 

Ducky One 3 White Shot
Keychron Q4 White Shot

RGB 
 

Yes

Per-Key Backlighting 
 

Yes
Yes

Effects 
 

Yes
Yes

Software Controllable 
 

No
Yes

Color 
 

RGB

Color Mixing 
 

Good
Show Text 

Backlight Clarity 
 

4.0

White Shot  

Ducky One 3 White Shot
Keychron Q4 White Shot
Show Text 

Cable & Connector  

Connectivity  

Wired
Wired

Detachable 
 

Yes (Wired Only Keyboard)
Yes (Wired Only Keyboard)

Length  

5.8 ft (1.8 m)
5.9 ft (1.8 m)

Connector (Keyboard side) 
 

USB type-C
USB type-C
Show Text 

Wireless Versatility 
 

0.0
0.0

Bluetooth 
 

No
No

Bluetooth Multi-Device Pairing 
 

No
No

Proprietary Receiver 
 

No
No

Battery Type 
 

No Batteries
No Batteries
Show Text 

Macro Keys And Programming 
 

1.5

Dedicated Macro Keys Count  

0

Onboard Macro Programming 
 

Yes

Macro Programming With Software 
 

No

Extra Features 
 

Extra Features  

Ducky One 3 Extra Features
Keychron Q4 Extra Features

Media Keys 
 

Non-Dedicated
Hot Keys

Trackpad / Trackball  

No
No

Scroll Wheel 
 

No
No

Control Knob 
 

No

USB Passthrough 
 

No
No

Numpad  

Yes
No

Windows Key Lock 
 

Yes
No

Lock Indicator  

Caps, Scroll & Num lock
Caps Lock

Macro Programmable Keys 
 

All
Show Text 

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

Ducky One 3 Bundle Picture
Keychron Q4 Bundle Picture
Show Text 
Typing Experience

Typing Quality 
 

9.0
8.5

Key Spacing 
 

19.0 mm (0.748")
Show Text 

Typing Noise 
 

7.2
10

Typing Sample  

Average Loudness 
 

53.4 dBA

High Pitch Clicks 
 

No

Noise 
 

Very Quiet
Show Text 

Switches 
 

Wobble Video  

Switch Name 
 

Cherry MX Brown
Gateron G Pro Brown

Switch Type 
 

Mechanical

Feel 
 

Tactile
Tactile

Analog 
 

No

Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Key Switches 
 

Cherry MX Brown
Gateron G Pro Brown

Mechanical 
 

Yes

Feel 
 

Tactile
Tactile

Operating Force 
 

54 gf
52 gf

Actuation Force 
 

43 gf
38 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

2.1 mm
2.7 mm

Total Travel 
 

4.1 mm
4.1 mm
Show Text 

Latency 
 

9.0
7.3

Latency Video  

Latency Wired 
 

3.7 ms
11.3 ms

Latency Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A
Show Text 
Performance

Single-Key Latency 
 

9.0
7.3

Single-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool

Best Connection 
 

3.7 ms

Best Connection Std Dev  

±0.9 ms

Wired 
 

3.7 ms
11.3 ms

Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A

PCB (Estimated) 
 

1.7 ms
Show Text 

Multi-Key Latency 
 

8.5

Latency Video  

Multi-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool

Connection Evaluated  

Wired

Key Press 
 

3.9 ms

Key Release 
 

17.7 ms

Data Transmission 
 

8.7

Multi-Key Raw USB  

Ducky One 3 Multi-Key Raw USB

Connection Evaluated  

Wired

USB Polling Rate 
 

1,000 Hz

Effective Update Rate 
 

1,000 Hz

N-Key Rollover (NKRO) 
 

Yes

Multiple Keys Per USB Report 
 

Yes

Chord Split 
 

7.9

Chord Split Graph  

See details on graph tool

4 Chord Split Delay 
 

5.2 ms

8 Chord Split Delay 
 

16.7 ms
Software and Operating System

Configuration Software 
 

Software Picture  

Keychron Q4 Software Picture

Software Tour  

Software Name  

No Software
VIA

Software Windows Compatible 
 

No
Yes

Software macOS Compatible 
 

No
Yes

Onboard Memory 
 

Yes
Yes

Profiles 
 

6+
6+

Account Required 
 

No

Cloud Sync 
 

No

Macro Programming 
 

Software

Ease Of Use 
 

Easy
Show Text 

Computer Compatibility 
 

10
8.2

Windows 
 

Fully Compatible
Full

macOS 
 

Fully Compatible
Full

Linux (Ubuntu 22) 
 

Fully Compatible
Full

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Windows, MacOS & Linux

Android  

Not Compatible
No

iOS  

Not Compatible
No

iPadOS  

Not Compatible
No
Show Text 

Wireless Mobile Compatibility 
 

0.0

Android 
 

Not Compatible
No

iOS 
 

Not Compatible
No

iPadOS 
 

Not Compatible
No

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Not Compatible
Show Text 

Check Price

 
 
 
Black
One 3 RGB TKL
Searching
Finding store
 
 
Daybreak
One 3 SF
Searching
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Daybreak
One 3 TKL
Searching
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Pure White
One 3
Searching
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Pure White
One 3 RGB
Searching
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Pure White
One 3 RGB TKL
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White
One 3 Mini
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Yellow
One 3 Mini
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Yellow
One 3 TKL
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Ducky One 3

Keychron Q4

Comments

  1. Comparison

Ducky One 3 vs Keychron Q4: Main Discussion

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