Your browser is not supported or outdated so some features of the site might not be available.
- Table of Contents
- Top
- Main Differences
- Design
- Typing Experience
- Performance
- Software and Operating System
- Comments
Ducky One 3 vs Keychron S Series
Side-by-Side Comparison
Products
Ducky One 3
Keychron S Series
Tested using Methodology v1.3.1
Updated Mar 19, 2025 03:57 PM
SEE PRICE
Amazon.comTested using Methodology v1.2
Updated Jun 23, 2023 01:10 PM
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
ConnectivityWired
SizeFull-size (100%)
Switch TypeMechanical
N-Key Rollover (NKRO)Yes
Hot-Swappable SwitchesYes
ConnectivityWired
SizeCompact (75%)
Switch TypeMechanical
Hot-Swappable SwitchesYes
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)
- S1 brown (75%)
Our Verdict
Ducky One 3
Keychron S Series
The Ducky One 3 and the Keychron S Series are wired mechanical keyboards with hot-swappable PCBs. The Ducky has significantly lower latency, making it a better option for gaming. Its hot-swappable PCB is also compatible with a much wider range of switches. On the other hand, the Keychrons are low-profile keyboards that have a robust software option for customization. Their hot-swappable variants are only compatible with other Gateron Low Profile mechanical switches.
Check Price
Aura
One 3
Searching
Finding store75%
S1 brown
SEE PRICE
Amazon.comBlack
One 3
Searching
Finding store75%
S1 brown
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.comBlack
One 3 Mini
Searching
Finding store75%
S1 brown
SEE PRICE
Walmart.comBlack
One 3 SF
Searching
Finding store75%
S1 brown
SEARCH
B&HBlack
One 3 TKL
Searching
Finding storeBlack
One 3 RGB
Searching
Finding storeBlack
One 3 RGB TKL
Searching
Finding storeDayBreak
One 3
Searching
Finding storeDaybreak
One 3 SF
Searching
Finding storeDaybreak
One 3 TKL
Searching
Finding storeFuji
One 3
Searching
Finding storeMatcha
One 3
Searching
Finding storePure White
One 3
Searching
Finding storePure White
One 3 RGB
Searching
Finding storePure White
One 3 RGB TKL
Searching
Finding storeWhite
One 3 Mini
Searching
Finding storeWhite
One 3 SF
Searching
Finding storeWhite
One 3 TKL
Searching
Finding storeYellow
One 3
Searching
Finding storeYellow
One 3 Mini
Searching
Finding storeYellow
One 3 SF
Searching
Finding storeYellow
One 3 TKL
Searching
Finding storeNotice: Two or more of the products selected have been tested with different test methodologies, so some of the results below aren't directly comparable. Learn how our test benches and scoring system work, and read more about the latest changes to our keyboards test methodology.
Main Differences for
Threshold
Gaming
8.3
8.8
Pre-Travel
2.1 mm
1.7 mm
Backlight Features
8.5
10
Macro Keys And Programming
1.5
4.0
Full Comparison
Design
Dimensions
Top Picture
Size
Full-size (100%)
Compact (75%)
Height
1.5" (3.8 cm)
0.9" (2.3 cm)
Width
17.9" (45.5 cm)
12.2" (31.0 cm)
Depth
5.4" (13.8 cm)
4.7" (11.9 cm)
Depth With Wrist Rest
N/A
N/A
Weight
2.86 lbs (1.296 kg)
2.05 lbs (0.930 kg)
Build Quality
8.5
9.0
Build Quality Close Up
Keycap Material
PBT
PBT
Ergonomics
6.0
7.0
Side Picture
Curved/Angled
No
No
Split Keyboard
No
No
Key Alignment
Staggered
Staggered
Minimum Incline
5°
3°
Medium Incline
9°
N/A
Maximum Incline
12.5°
6°
Home Row Height
29.1 mm (1.1")
21.5 mm (0.8")
Hardware Customizability
8.9
7.5
Customizability Overview
Replaceable Cherry Stabilizers
Yes
Mixed
Stabilizer Fixation
Plate-Mounted
Plate-Mounted
Spacebar Stabilizer Size
6.25u
6.25u
Size Of Right Mod Keys
1.25u
1u
Hot-Swappable Switches
Yes
Yes
Switch Stem Shape
Cherry MX Style
Low Profile Cherry MX Style
Switch PCB Socket
5-pin Cherry
Non-Cherry Pinout
North-Facing Cherry MX Interference
Yes
No
Backlight Features
8.5
10
Backlighting Picture
Brightness Max
Backlighting
Yes
Yes
Brightness Min
RGB
Yes
Yes
Per-Key Backlighting
Yes
Yes
Effects
Yes
Yes
Software Controllable
No
Yes
Backlight Clarity
4.0
4.0
White Shot
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
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
Macro Keys And Programming
1.5
4.0
Dedicated Macro Keys Count
0
0
Onboard Macro Programming
Yes
No
Macro Programming With Software
No
Yes
Extra Features
Extra Features
Media Keys
Non-Dedicated
Non-Dedicated
Trackpad / Trackball
No
No
Scroll Wheel
No
No
Control Knob
No
No
USB Passthrough
No
No
Numpad
Yes
No
Windows Key Lock
Yes
No
Lock Indicator
Caps, Scroll & Num lock
Caps Lock
In The Box
Bundle Picture
Typing Experience
Typing Quality
9.0
8.0
Key Spacing
19.0 mm (0.748")
Typing Noise
7.2
7.8
Typing Sample
Average Loudness
53.4 dBA
51.2 dBA
High Pitch Clicks
No
No
Switches
Wobble Video
Switch Name
Cherry MX Brown
Gateron Low Profile Brown
Switch Type
Mechanical
Mechanical
Feel
Tactile
Tactile
Analog
No
Keystrokes
Key Switch Actuation Graph
Operating Force
54 gf
55 gf
Actuation Force
43 gf
50 gf
Pre-Travel
2.1 mm
1.7 mm
Total Travel
4.1 mm
2.7 mm
Latency
9.0
8.6
Latency Video
Latency Wired
3.7 ms
6.6 ms
Latency Receiver
N/A
N/A
Latency Bluetooth
N/A
N/A
Performance
Single-Key Latency
9.0
8.6
Single-Key Latency Graph
Best Connection
3.7 ms
Best Connection Std Dev
±0.9 ms
Wired
3.7 ms
6.6 ms
Receiver
N/A
N/A
Bluetooth
N/A
N/A
PCB (Estimated)
1.7 ms
Multi-Key Latency
8.5
Latency Video
Multi-Key Latency Graph
Connection Evaluated
Wired
Key Press
3.9 ms
Key Release
17.7 ms
Data Transmission
8.7
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
4 Chord Split Delay
5.2 ms
8 Chord Split Delay
16.7 ms
Software and Operating System
Configuration Software
Software Tour
Software Name
No Software
VIA
Software Windows Compatible
No
Yes
Software macOS Compatible
No
Yes
Onboard Memory
Yes
Yes
Profiles
6+
6+
Computer Compatibility
10
10
Windows
Fully Compatible
Fully Compatible
macOS
Fully Compatible
Fully Compatible
Linux (Ubuntu 22)
Fully Compatible
Fully Compatible
Media Key Compatibility
Windows, MacOS & Linux
Windows, MacOS & Linux
Wireless Mobile Compatibility
0.0
0.0
Android
Not Compatible
Not Compatible
iOS
Not Compatible
Not Compatible
iPadOS
Not Compatible
Not Compatible
Media Key Compatibility
Not Compatible
Not Compatible
Check Price
Aura
One 3
Searching
Finding store75%
S1 brown
SEE PRICE
Amazon.comBlack
One 3
Searching
Finding store75%
S1 brown
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.comBlack
One 3 Mini
Searching
Finding store75%
S1 brown
SEE PRICE
Walmart.comBlack
One 3 SF
Searching
Finding store75%
S1 brown
SEARCH
B&HBlack
One 3 TKL
Searching
Finding storeBlack
One 3 RGB
Searching
Finding storeBlack
One 3 RGB TKL
Searching
Finding storeDayBreak
One 3
Searching
Finding storeDaybreak
One 3 SF
Searching
Finding storeDaybreak
One 3 TKL
Searching
Finding storeFuji
One 3
Searching
Finding storeMatcha
One 3
Searching
Finding storePure White
One 3
Searching
Finding storePure White
One 3 RGB
Searching
Finding storePure White
One 3 RGB TKL
Searching
Finding storeWhite
One 3 Mini
Searching
Finding storeWhite
One 3 SF
Searching
Finding storeWhite
One 3 TKL
Searching
Finding storeYellow
One 3
Searching
Finding storeYellow
One 3 Mini
Searching
Finding storeYellow
One 3 SF
Searching
Finding storeYellow
One 3 TKL
Searching
Finding store
You have 10/10 free reviews left
To access
and
Become an Insider
unlimited full product reviews,
product prices
other exclusive site features
Ducky One 3
Keychron S Series
Comments
Ducky One 3 vs Keychron S Series: 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.