The Ducky One 2 Mini V1 is an excellent gaming keyboard with a unique style. The variant we tested has Cherry MX Browns, but this keyboard is available with various switches, so you can get your preferred type. There are also different sizes to choose from, as you can get a 60%, 65%, TKL, or full-size variant. It provides one of the best typing experiences we've tested so far, and it offers a lot of features built directly into the board, as it doesn't have an interfaced software. Unfortunately, its latency is a bit high for a wired keyboard and might not be ideal for fast, reaction-based games. On the upside, it allows for a lot of customization thanks to its full RGB backlighting and extra colored keycaps. It's been replaced by the Ducky One 2 Mini V2.
Our Verdict
The Ducky One 2 Mini V1 is an excellent gaming keyboard; however, it has fairly high latency for a wired keyboard and might not be ideal for serious gamers looking for the lowest input lag. On the plus side, the Cherry MX Brown switches on our unit have a short pre-travel distance and are easy to actuate. It's also very well-built and has full RGB backlighting. The board is very customizable, although you have to do everything on the keyboard itself as there's no interface available.
- Outstanding typing quality.
- Great customization options.
- Excellent backlighting.
- Built-in software can be confusing to use.
- High latency.
The Ducky One 2 Mini V1 is very good for office use. While its ergonomics aren't the best, it does have two incline settings, which helps you get a comfortable typing position. Our Cherry MX Brown variant provides one of the best typing experiences we've tested so far, but some people might not like the lack of arrow keys on the Mini version of the keyboard. The Brown switches are also quiet, which is great for a noise-sensitive office environment.
- Outstanding typing quality.
- Great customization options.
- Built-in software can be confusing to use.
- Lack of dedicated arrow keys makes navigating text harder.
The Ducky One 2 Mini V1 isn't designed to be used with mobile devices or tablets.
The Ducky One 2 Mini V1 is a great programming keyboard thanks to its outstanding typing quality, great build quality, and full RGB backlighting. However, the Mini version without arrows might not be the best option if you regularly rely on them to navigate, so you might want to look at a bigger variant. It's fully compatible with Windows, and only the calculator hotkey doesn't work on macOS and Linux.
- Outstanding typing quality.
- Great customization options.
- Excellent backlighting.
- Built-in software can be confusing to use.
- Lack of dedicated arrow keys makes navigating text harder.
The Ducky One 2 Mini V1 is bad for use with a home theater PC. It's a wired-only keyboard, and the included cable might not be long enough to reach your computer from the couch, not to mention that you would have a cable running across the room. Also, it lacks a trackpad and dedicated media controls.
- Outstanding typing quality.
- Great customization options.
- Excellent backlighting.
- Built-in software can be confusing to use.
- Wired-only.
- No trackpad.
- Outstanding typing quality.
- Built-in software can be confusing to use.
Changelog
- Updated Nov 29, 2023: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.3.1, which adds a new estimated PCB latency test to the Single-Key Latency section and a new Analog test to the Switches section of this review. You can see the full changelog here.
- Updated Oct 30, 2023: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.3, which overhauls how key input is evaluated. We've added new tests for Single Key Latency, Multi Key Latency, Data Transmission, and Chord Split. We've also introduced a new Raw Performance usage and adjusted how the Gaming and Office usage scores are calculated. You can see the full changelog here.
- Updated Jun 21, 2023: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.2. This update introduces new Backlight Features and Backlight Clarity test boxes. We've also added a new Switches test box, added additional test comparisons to our Hardware Customizability test box that we introduced with our last Test Bench. For an in-depth look at our changes, you can see our full changelog here.
- Updated May 31, 2023: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.1. This update adds several new tests addressing Hardware Customization, Macro Keys And Programming, and Wireless Mobile Compatibility. We've also added new objective evaluations to the Typing Noise test, and we've simplified several tests and removed several others that were no longer relevant. For an in-depth look at all our changes, you can see our full changelog here.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the Ducky One 2 Mini V1 in Pure White with Cherry MX Brown switches. There's a new version called the Ducky One 2 Mini V2 which is nearly identical except for a firmware update, updated DIP switch functions, and two additional LEDs under the spacebar. Also, there are some variants with different sizes, like the full-sized Ducky One 2, the TenKeyLess Ducky One 2 RGB TKL, and the Ducky One 2 SF, which has a 65% layout with dedicated arrows keys. There's also a limited edition HyperX x Ducky One 2 Mini, which features RGB backlighting and HyperX switches. The Ducky One 2 Mini V1 is available in the following variants:
| Model | Backlighting | Cherry MX Switches | Gateron Switches | Kailh Switches | TTC Switches | HyperX Mechanical switches | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pure White | RGB |
Black |
Brown |
BOX White |
Gold Pink |
- | |
|
Skyline |
White |
Black |
- | - | - | - | |
| Bon Voyage | White |
Black |
- | - | - | - | |
| Good in Blue | White None |
Black |
- | - | - | - | |
| Horizon | White None |
Black |
- | - | - | - | |
| Frozen Llama | RGB | Black Blue Red Brown Silver Silent Red |
- | - | - | - | MK exclusive |
| HyperX x Ducky | RGB | - | - | - | - | Limited edition collaboration with HyperX |
If you have a Ducky One 2 Mini V1 that doesn't correspond to our review, please let us know in the discussions and we'll update it.
Popular Keyboard Comparisons
The Ducky One 2 Mini V1 is one of the most customizable keyboards we've tested to date. You can get it in a variety of switches, and Ducky's lineup includes TKL and full-sized keyboards, so you can get the type of keyboard you prefer the most. Despite its compact size, it offers outstanding typing quality, even better than the Razer BlackWidow Lite, so it's also a good choice for office use. Also see our recommendations for the best mechanical keyboards, the best keyboards for writers, and the best gaming keyboards.
The Razer Huntsman Mini and the Ducky One 2 Mini V1 are very similar keyboards overall. However, the Razer is much better for gaming because it has significantly lower latency, and it has dedicated software, making it easier to reprogram any buttons. The Razer is available with clicky and linear optical switches, while you can get the Ducky in a variety of Cherry MX switches, so you can get the ones that suit your needs.
The Obinslab Anne Pro 2 and the Ducky One 2 Mini V1 are both compact 60% mechanical keyboards. However, the Ducky is wired-only, while the Obinslab can be used wired or wirelessly through Bluetooth. The Obinslab is available with a variety of different switches, including Gateron and Cherry MX, while the Ducky is available with Cherry MX only. On the other hand, the Obinslab has software available, while the Ducky can only be customized by pressing keys on the keyboard itself. For gaming, the Obinslab has lower latency, but only if you use it over a wired connection.
The SteelSeries Apex Pro and the Ducky One 2 Mini V1 are very different. The SteelSeries is a full-size keyboard, while the Ducky has a compact 60% design. The SteelSeries has a better build quality and is more comfortable to type on. It also has more features, like an OLED screen and a USB passthrough. The SteelSeries is better for gaming because it has lower latency, and it lets you customize the pre-travel distance to your liking. That said, the Ducky provides a better typing experience, and you can choose the type of switch that you want.
The Ducky One 2 Mini V1 and the GLORIOUS GMMK are fairly different boards. While we reviewed the full-size format of the GLORIOUS, it's also available in a compact 60% or TKL layout. The GLORIOUS has a hot-swap board, making it a lot more versatile than the Ducky because you can choose and easily swap the switches without soldering. That said, the Ducky is also available in various switch options. The Ducky comes with better PBT keycaps that feel thicker, and it provides a better typing experience overall. Both keyboards have somewhat high latency, though the Ducky is a bit better.
Test Results
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