Ducky keycaps

Ducky keyboards ship with high-quality PBT doubleshot keycaps as standard across most of their product lineup. The One 3 series features thick, high-density PBT doubleshot caps with seamless legends and textured surfaces that resist shine and wear. Premium models like the One 3 Pro use triple-shot PBT keycaps—a three-layer molding process that produces exceptionally crisp legends and superior durability.

The default keycap profile is OEM, providing a familiar sculpted typing surface at a medium height (~11.5-11.9mm). OEM's moderate sculpting and universal compatibility make it comfortable for both typing and gaming without requiring adaptation time. All stock keycaps use standard MX stems and fit any Cherry MX-compatible switch.

Profile and Material Variations

While OEM is the standard profile on Ducky keyboards themselves, the brand sells a wide range of aftermarket keycap sets in multiple profiles:

• Cherry profile (dye-sublimated PBT sets in various themed colorways)
• OEM profile (doubleshot PBT and ABS options, including pudding-style shine-through sets)
• MDA profile (select sets like the Boba colorway)

Manufacturing methods include both doubleshot (for backlit compatibility and vibrant multi-color designs) and dye-sublimation (for intricate graphics and themed sets). Ducky's dye-sub sets are particularly notable—collaborations like the Bethesda DOOM and Fallout editions feature detailed artwork printed directly onto PBT keycaps.

RGB Backlighting Compatibility

Many Ducky keyboards feature per-key RGB backlighting, and the brand offers dedicated shine-through keycap sets with translucent legends. These "pudding" style keycaps combine opaque tops with translucent sides and legends, maximizing RGB glow while maintaining sharp legend visibility. Both PBT and ABS shine-through options are available, typically in OEM profile.

Replacement and Upgrade Options

Ducky sells keycap sets separately through authorized retailers in sets ranging from 31-key accent packs to 132-key full coverage sets. The 132-key sets are designed to support full-size, TKL, 65%, and 60% layouts with additional keys for non-standard bottom rows and layout variations. Popular replacement sets include:

• White and black blank PBT sets (Cherry profile)
• Themed dye-sub sets (Mico, Bon Voyage, various licensed collaborations)
• Specialty backlit sets in multiple color combinations
• Limited edition Zodiac and collaboration sets (when available)

All Ducky keyboards use standard ANSI layouts with a conventional 6.25u spacebar and 1.25u modifiers, ensuring compatibility with virtually any aftermarket MX keycap set. ISO layout variants are also available for European markets, requiring the standard ISO Enter key, 1.25u left shift, and extra key beside left shift.

Hot-Swap Consideration

The entire One 3 series features hot-swappable switch sockets (Kailh Yellow), allowing users to change switches without soldering. This makes trying different keycap and switch combinations exceptionally easy—simply pull the keycaps, swap switches, and install new caps. The hot-swap design uses a south-facing LED configuration, eliminating the Cherry-profile interference issues common with north-facing LEDs.

Ducky's journey began in Taiwan in 2008, though the company's roots trace back to 1998 as a peripheral distributor. The decision to create their own mechanical keyboard brand stemmed from a commitment to deliver keyboards that prioritized build quality and user experience over cost-cutting—a philosophy that would define the brand for the next two decades.

The early years established Ducky's reputation through solid engineering and attention to detail. Unlike many manufacturers chasing RGB trends and gamer aesthetics, Ducky focused on fundamentals: thick PBT keycaps when competitors used cheap ABS, Cherry MX switches as standard when membrane keyboards dominated, and thoughtful case design when plastic shells were the norm. This quality-first approach resonated with enthusiasts, and Ducky keyboards became recommended fixtures on mechanical keyboard forums.

The Zodiac Editions Phenomenon

Starting in 2009, Ducky launched what would become their signature product line: the Chinese Zodiac limited editions. Each year, Ducky collaborates with artists—tattoo masters, painters, metalworkers—to create keyboards celebrating that year's zodiac animal. Crucially, each edition is limited to units matching the year (2,018 units for 2018's Year of the Dog, for example), and every keyboard is individually numbered.

The Year of the Dog (2018) collaboration with tattoo artist Michael Chan exemplified the series' artistic ambition. Chan's intricate shading and ukiyo-e influenced linework covered the keyboard, with gothic fonts and mythological imagery creating a collector's piece that sold out immediately and now commands premium prices on the secondary market. The Year of the Rabbit featured an all-white design, while the Year of the Snake introduced aggressive two-tone black and silver aesthetics. These limited editions transcended their function as keyboards, becoming sought-after art pieces that regularly resell for $500-800.

The One Series and Modern Innovation

Ducky's mainstream success came through the One series, which launched as pre-built keyboards that competed with custom builds on acoustics and feel. The One 2 generation introduced "Seamless" doubleshot legends and established Ducky's signature thick PBT keycaps as a differentiator. When other brands shipped thin ABS caps that developed shine within months, Ducky's textured PBT remained pristine.

The One 3 series, launched around 2021, represented a generational leap. Every One 3 keyboard is hot-swappable (using Kailh Yellow sockets), features dual-layer PCB construction, includes both silicone and EVA foam dampening, and ships with improved V2 stabilizers. Ducky branded this comprehensive approach "QUACK Mechanics"—a design philosophy that delivers custom-keyboard acoustics in a pre-built package. The One 3 Mini (60%), SF (65%), TKL (80%), and full-size variants gave users choice across layouts while maintaining consistent quality.

Collaborations and Cultural Impact

Beyond Zodiac editions, Ducky has embraced gaming culture through high-profile collaborations. The Bethesda partnerships produced DOOM and Fallout themed keyboards and keycap sets, complete with detailed dye-sublimated artwork celebrating these iconic franchises. These collaborations demonstrated Ducky's dye-sub printing capabilities and expanded their appeal beyond the mechanical keyboard enthusiast niche into gaming culture.

Ducky's distribution expanded to over 50 countries by the mid-2020s, establishing the brand as a global presence while maintaining Taiwan-based manufacturing. This geographic focus allowed Ducky to maintain strict quality control while keeping production close to design teams—a strategic choice that differentiated them from competitors outsourcing to lower-cost facilities.

Current Standing and Future Direction

Today, Ducky occupies a unique position: premium enough to command enthusiast respect, yet accessible enough for newcomers seeking quality pre-builts. The One 3 Pro series, featuring 8K polling rates and triple-shot PBT keycaps, pushes into competitive gaming territory, while special editions and limited colorways maintain collector appeal. Ducky's refusal to develop proprietary software—instead relying on on-board programming—reflects their design philosophy prioritizing hardware quality over ecosystem lock-in.

The brand continues expanding keycap offerings, selling standalone sets in Cherry, OEM, and MDA profiles through retailers. These aftermarket sets, combined with hot-swap One 3 keyboards, position Ducky as both destination and starting point—keyboards good enough to keep stock, yet flexible enough to customize. For a brand that started as a Taiwanese distributor in 1998, Ducky's evolution into a global keyboard icon represents careful, quality-focused execution sustained over two decades.