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  1. Home
  2. Keyboard
  3. Compare
  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
  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

Keychron K3 (Version 2) vs Ducky One 3

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Keychron K3 (Version 2)
Ducky One 3

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Nov 27, 2023 05:20 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Mar 19, 2025 03:57 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Keychron K3 (Version 2) Picture
Ducky One 3 Picture
ConnectivityWireless
Size
Compact (75%)
Switch Type
Optical
N-Key Rollover (NKRO)
Yes
Hot-Swappable Switches
No
ConnectivityWired
Size
Full-size (100%)
Switch Type
Mechanical
N-Key Rollover (NKRO)
Yes
Hot-Swappable Switches
Yes
  1. Recommended in 1 article:
  2. Mac
  1. Recommended in 1 article:
  2. Ducky

Variants

  • K5 (100%)
  • K3 (Version 2) (75%)
  • 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)

Review

See Keychron K3 (Version 2) review

See Ducky One 3 review

0
0

Our Verdict

Keychron K3 (Version 2)

Ducky One 3

The Ducky One 3 and the Keychron K3 (Version 2) are both hot-swappable mechanical keyboards. However, they're intended for different uses and have very different features. The Ducky is a full-size, wired-only board with a much higher build quality thanks to its PBT keycaps. It's designed for gaming use, so its latency is significantly better, and all of its keys are macro-programmable. On the other hand, the Keychron is a low-profile compact board better suited to office use and productivity tasks. It offers better ergonomics, and it's wireless, so you can pair it with up to three devices.

0

Check Price

100%
K5
Searching
Finding store
Aura
One 3
Searching
Finding store
75%
K3 (Version 2)
Searching
Finding store
Black
One 3
Searching
Finding store
 
Black
One 3 Mini
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Black
One 3 SF
Searching
Finding store
 
Black
One 3 TKL
Searching
Finding store
 
Black
One 3 RGB
Searching
Finding store
 
Black
One 3 RGB TKL
Searching
Finding store
 
DayBreak
One 3
Searching
Finding store
 
Daybreak
One 3 SF
Searching
Finding store
 
Daybreak
One 3 TKL
Searching
Finding store
 
Fuji
One 3
Searching
Finding store
 
Matcha
One 3
Searching
Finding store
 
Pure White
One 3
Searching
Finding store
 
Pure White
One 3 RGB
Searching
Finding store
 
Pure White
One 3 RGB TKL
Searching
Finding store
 
White
One 3 Mini
Searching
Finding store
 
White
One 3 SF
Searching
Finding store
 
White
One 3 TKL
Searching
Finding store
 
Yellow
One 3
Searching
Finding store
 
Yellow
One 3 Mini
Searching
Finding store
 
Yellow
One 3 SF
Searching
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Yellow
One 3 TKL
Searching
Finding store

Main Differences for

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

7.8
8.3

Single-Key Latency 
 

7.1
9.0

Backlight Clarity 
 

8.0
4.0

Multi-Key Latency 
 

7.3
8.5

Chord Split 
 

9.4
7.9

Data Transmission 
 

6.9
8.7

Typing Quality 
 

7.0
9.0

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

Keychron K3 (Version 2) Top Picture
Ducky One 3 Top Picture

Size 
 

Compact (75%)
Full-size (100%)

Height 
 

0.9" (2.2 cm)
1.5" (3.8 cm)

Width  

12.0" (30.5 cm)
17.9" (45.5 cm)

Depth 
 

4.6" (11.6 cm)
5.4" (13.8 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

N/A
N/A

Weight 
 

1.06 lbs (0.480 kg)
2.86 lbs (1.296 kg)

Show text

Build Quality 
 

8.0
8.5

Build Quality Close Up  

Keychron K3 (Version 2) Build Quality Close Up
Ducky One 3 Build Quality Close Up

Keycap Material  

ABS
PBT

Show text

Ergonomics 
 

7.0
6.0

Side Picture  

Keychron K3 (Version 2) Side Picture
Ducky One 3 Side Picture

Curved/Angled 
 

No
No

Split Keyboard 
 

No
No

Key Alignment 
 

Staggered
Staggered

Minimum Incline 
 

2.5°
5°

Medium Incline 
 

4°
9°

Maximum Incline 
 

6.5°
12.5°

Home Row Height 
 

20.0 mm (0.8")
29.1 mm (1.1")

Show text

Hardware Customizability 
 

4.9
8.9

Customizability Overview  

Keychron K3 (Version 2) Customizability Overview
Ducky One 3 Customizability Overview

Replaceable Cherry Stabilizers 
 

Mixed
Yes

Stabilizer Fixation 
 

Plate-Mounted
Plate-Mounted

Spacebar Stabilizer Size 
 

6.25u
6.25u

Size Of Right Mod Keys 
 

Non-Standard
1.25u

Hot-Swappable Switches 
 

No
Yes

Switch Stem Shape 
 

Low Profile Cherry MX Style
Cherry MX Style

Switch PCB Socket 
 

Soldered
5-pin Cherry

North-Facing Cherry MX Interference 
 

No
Yes

Show text

Backlight Features 
 

8.5
8.5

Backlighting Picture  

Keychron K3 (Version 2) Backlighting Picture
Ducky One 3 Backlighting Picture

Brightness Max  

Keychron K3 (Version 2) Brightness Max
Ducky One 3 Brightness Max

Backlighting  

Yes
Yes

Brightness Min  

Keychron K3 (Version 2) Brightness Min
Ducky One 3 Brightness Min

RGB 
 

Yes
Yes

Per-Key Backlighting 
 

Yes
Yes

Effects 
 

Yes
Yes

Software Controllable 
 

No
No

Show text

Backlight Clarity 
 

8.0
4.0

White Shot  

Keychron K3 (Version 2) White Shot
Ducky One 3 White Shot

Show text

Cable & Connector  

Connectivity  

Wireless
Wired

Detachable 
 

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

Length  

4.0 ft (1.2 m)
5.8 ft (1.8 m)

Connector (Keyboard side) 
 

USB type-C
USB type-C

Show text

Wireless Versatility 
 

10
0.0

Bluetooth 
 

Yes
No

Bluetooth Multi-Device Pairing 
 

3
No

Proprietary Receiver 
 

No
No

Battery Type 
 

Rechargeable
No Batteries

Show text

Macro Keys And Programming 
 

0.0
1.5

Dedicated Macro Keys Count  

0
0

Onboard Macro Programming 
 

No
Yes

Macro Programming With Software 
 

No
No

Extra Features 
 

Extra Features  

Keychron K3 (Version 2) Extra Features
Ducky One 3 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  

No
Yes

Windows Key Lock 
 

No
Yes

Lock Indicator  

Caps Lock
Caps, Scroll & Num lock

Show text

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

Keychron K3 (Version 2) Bundle Picture
Ducky One 3 Bundle Picture

Show text

Typing Experience

Typing Quality 
 

7.0
9.0

Key Spacing 
 

19.0 mm (0.748")
19.0 mm (0.748")

Show text

Typing Noise 
 

9.3
7.2

Typing Sample  

Average Loudness 
 

42.0 dBA
53.4 dBA

High Pitch Clicks 
 

No
No

Show text

Switches 
 

Wobble Video  

Switch Name 
 

Keychron Low Profile Optical Brown
Cherry MX Brown

Switch Type 
 

Optical
Mechanical

Feel 
 

Tactile
Tactile

Analog 
 

No
No

Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Operating Force 
 

57 gf
54 gf

Actuation Force 
 

46 gf
43 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

1.1 mm
2.1 mm

Total Travel 
 

2.6 mm
4.1 mm

Show text

Performance

Single-Key Latency 
 

7.1
9.0

Single-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Best Connection 
 

16.4 ms
3.7 ms

Best Connection Std Dev  

±4.9 ms
±0.9 ms

Wired 
 

16.4 ms
3.7 ms

Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth 
 

29.6 ms
N/A

PCB (Estimated) 
 

15.6 ms
1.7 ms

Show text

Multi-Key Latency 
 

7.3
8.5

Latency Video  

Multi-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Connection Evaluated  

Wired
Wired

Key Press 
 

16.2 ms
3.9 ms

Key Release 
 

19.8 ms
17.7 ms

Show text

Data Transmission 
 

6.9
8.7

Multi-Key Raw USB  

Keychron K3 (Version 2) Multi-Key Raw USB
Ducky One 3 Multi-Key Raw USB

Connection Evaluated  

Wired
Wired

USB Polling Rate 
 

1,000 Hz
1,000 Hz

Effective Update Rate 
 

125 Hz
1,000 Hz

N-Key Rollover (NKRO) 
 

Yes
Yes

Multiple Keys Per USB Report 
 

Yes
Yes

Show text

Chord Split 
 

9.4
7.9

Chord Split Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

4 Chord Split Delay 
 

2.0 ms
5.2 ms

8 Chord Split Delay 
 

5.2 ms
16.7 ms

Show text

Software and Operating System

Configuration Software 
 

Software Tour  

Software Name  

No Software
No Software

Software Windows Compatible 
 

No
No

Software macOS Compatible 
 

No
No

Onboard Memory 
 

No
Yes

Profiles 
 

No Profile
6+

Show text

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

Show text

Wireless Mobile Compatibility 
 

10
0.0

Android 
 

Fully Compatible
Not Compatible

iOS 
 

Fully Compatible
Not Compatible

iPadOS 
 

Fully Compatible
Not Compatible

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Android, iPhone & iPad
Not Compatible

Show text

Check Price

100%
K5
Searching
Finding store
Aura
One 3
Searching
Finding store
75%
K3 (Version 2)
Searching
Finding store
Black
One 3
Searching
Finding store
 
Black
One 3 Mini
Searching
Finding store
 
Black
One 3 SF
Searching
Finding store
 
Black
One 3 TKL
Searching
Finding store
 
Black
One 3 RGB
Searching
Finding store
 
Black
One 3 RGB TKL
Searching
Finding store
 
DayBreak
One 3
Searching
Finding store
 
Daybreak
One 3 SF
Searching
Finding store
 
Daybreak
One 3 TKL
Searching
Finding store
 
Fuji
One 3
Searching
Finding store
 
Matcha
One 3
Searching
Finding store
 
Pure White
One 3
Searching
Finding store
 
Pure White
One 3 RGB
Searching
Finding store
 
Pure White
One 3 RGB TKL
Searching
Finding store
 
White
One 3 Mini
Searching
Finding store
 
White
One 3 SF
Searching
Finding store
 
White
One 3 TKL
Searching
Finding store
 
Yellow
One 3
Searching
Finding store
 
Yellow
One 3 Mini
Searching
Finding store
 
Yellow
One 3 SF
Searching
Finding store
 
Yellow
One 3 TKL
Searching
Finding store
Back to Top

Keychron K3 (Version 2)

Ducky One 3

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 1 year ago

Keychron K3 (Version 2) vs Ducky One 3: Main Discussion

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