Ducky One 3 vs Keychron V1Gasket Mount vs Plate Mount
Choose the Keychron V1 for superior firmware customizability and a modern gasket-mounted build, or the Ducky One 3 for a simpler, more traditional pre-built experience.
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4.8 (63)4.8 · 63 reviews
from$44at Keychron
Which one should you get?
Get the
Ducky One 3
Gasket Mount
Build quality in the bottom 40% of 80% boards under $100.
- Includes silicone plate dampener and EVA foam case dampener for a muted sound out of the box.
- Uses exclusive Kailh yellow hotswap sockets and Ducky V2 stabilizers.
- Comes with thick double-shot PBT keycaps in OEM profile.
- North-facing LEDs. Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the switch housing.
- No ISO layout. ISO-DE, UK, and other ISO variants are not offered.
- No numpad.
Get the
Keychron V1
Plate Mount
Build quality in the top 5% of 75% boards under $50.
- Offers extensive firmware customization with native QMK and VIA support.
- Features a gasket and tray mount design for a potentially more flexible typing feel.
- Includes screw-in PCB stabilizers for better stability and modding.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- No numpad.
For most users, the Keychron V1 is the recommended choice due to its superior customizability via QMK/VIA, modern gasket mount design, and broader layout support. Choose the Ducky One 3 if you want a lighter keyboard with proven, pre-installed sound dampening and prefer a simpler setup without firmware tinkering. Your decision should center on how much you value deep programmability versus a ready-to-use acoustic profile.
The differences that matter
Skip the 40-row spec sheet. These are the specs that change how each board feels, sounds, and fits your desk.
Ducky One 3
Keychron V1
Layout size
80%
75%
Switch options
Clicky, Linear, Silent, Tactile
Clicky, Linear, Tactile
Mount style
Plate Mount
Gasket Mount, Plate Mount, Tray Mount
Knob
No
Yes
QMK
No
Yes
The deep option when you want to remap every key
- Ducky One 3
- Keychron V1
- Performance
- 7591
- Build quality
- 5789
- Productivity
- 7798
- Customizability
- 7998
- Portability
- 5864
- Connection: Wired
- Hot-swappable
- Case material: ABS, Plastic
- Sound dampening
- Keycaps: ABS, PBT
What will you mostly use it for?
The Keychron V1 is the more versatile choice, winning in gaming, programming, modding, and content creation due to its high polling rate, QMK support, flexible mount, and optional knob. The Ducky One 3 is better for travel due to its lighter weight, while both are competent for office use. The V1's strengths lie in customization, while the Ducky offers a more curated, pre-built experience.
Pick the Keychron V1
- The Keychron V1 has a specified 1000 Hz polling rate for potentially lower latency.
- Its 75% layout saves desk space for larger mouse movements.
- South-facing RGB LEDs avoid interference with Cherry-profile keycaps, a common choice for gamers.
Ducky One 3 vs Keychron V1 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
11 of 26 specs differ
Ducky One 3
Keychron V1
Switch options
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Sound dampening
Screw-in stabilizers
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Knob
Display
Media keys
Connection
Max polling rate
USB-C
Case material
Plate material
Keycaps
Weight
Dimensions
Typing angle
Backlight
QMK
VIA
N-key rollover
Mac & Windows
Released
ISO layouts by store
Which stores sell ISO-DE, UK, and the other regional layouts.
Ducky One 3
No ISO layout at the stores we track.
Keychron V1
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW
In stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-FR, ISO-ES
In stockDoes not ship to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW
In stockDoes not ship to you
Compare prices
Live prices from the stores we track, cheapest in-stock offer first.
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Lowest price across stores, Amazon excluded.
Ducky One 3 vs Keychron V1: your questions
The Keychron V1 is significantly better for customization. It has native support for both QMK and VIA firmware, allowing for extensive key remapping, layer creation, and macro programming directly through a web app. The Ducky One 3 does not support QMK or VIA.
The Keychron V1 is available in a version with a programmable aluminum rotary knob. The Ducky One 3, based on the provided specifications and descriptions, does not offer a knob option.
No, neither keyboard has shine-through keycaps. The Keychron V1 product description specifies its double-shot PBT keycaps are 'not shine-through'. The Ducky One 3 uses north-facing RGB LEDs but also comes with non-shine-through PBT keycaps.
Both keyboards officially support Mac and Windows systems. The Keychron V1 includes an additional set of keycaps for macOS and has a system toggle switch, allowing you to save separate layouts for each OS.
The mounting style is a key differentiator. The Keychron V1 uses a gasket and tray mount design, which can offer a more flexible typing feel. The Ducky One 3 uses a traditional plate mount system, which is typically more rigid.
Yes, both the Ducky One 3 and Keychron V1 are hot-swappable. You can change switches without soldering. The V1 supports both 3-pin and 5-pin MX switches, while the Ducky One 3 uses Kailh yellow sockets.
Based on the manufacturer's description, the Ducky One 3 is designed to be quieter stock. It includes a silicone plate dampener and an EVA foam case dampener specifically to improve acoustics. The Keychron V1 includes an acoustic silicone pad but its sound profile may differ.
Yes, the Keychron V1 is sold in a 'Barebone' kit version, which does not include keycaps or switches. This is ideal for users who want to install their own preferred components from the start.
No. Both the Ducky One 3 and the Keychron V1 are wired-only keyboards, connecting via a detachable USB-C cable.
The Ducky One 3 has north-facing LEDs (on the top side of the switch), which can cause interference with the crossbars of Cherry-profile keycaps. The Keychron V1 has south-facing LEDs (on the bottom side), which avoids this interference and is generally preferred for aftermarket keycap compatibility.
The Keychron V1 offers far more layout options. It is available in ANSI, ISO, JIS, and many specific European ISO layouts (DE, ES, FR, Nordic, SW, UK). The Ducky One 3 appears to be primarily available in ANSI layout.
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