HyperX x Ducky One 2 Mini Overview
The HyperX x Ducky One 2 Mini is based off Ducky’s One 2 Mini, which is a 60% keyboard. 60% is smaller than tenkeyless, but still offers quite a lot of functionality. I feel like 60% is the smallest you can go before really losing functionality on your keyboard. The colorway on this version of the HyperX x Ducky One 2 Mini is black. So we have a black chassis with black keycaps with the Enter and Esc keycaps being grey.
A 60% keyboard means that you are going to lose some keys. The most apparent would be the function row and dedicated arrow keys. These are made up with alternative functions. There are legends on front edge of many of the keys giving you alternative functions. All you have to do is hold down the Fn key and then press one of those keys to use the alternate function. Some of these include a full function row, arrow keys, multimedia keys, and more.
When it comes to most gaming keyboards you see these days they have ABS keycaps. While ABS keycaps get the job done they don’t feel as good or solid as PBT keycaps. ABS keycaps are more prone to shine as well, you won’t see that on PBT keycaps. This keyboard features PBT keycaps, which is great to see.
Under those keycaps are HyperX’s own red linear mechanical key switches. These are of course meant to be very similar to Cherry MX reds, although they have a shorter travel distance and actuation point as well as a linger lifespan. The HyperX red switches have an operating force of 45g, actuation point of 1.8 mm, travel distance of 3.8 mm, and a lifespan of 80 million keystrokes. With a few of the keycaps removed we can see a white top-plate, which will help the RGB lighting really illuminate the keyboard.
At the top-edge of the keyboard you’ll find a single USB Type-C connection. On the opposite side of the top-edge there are HyperX and Ducky logos.
By default the HyperX x Ducky One 2 Mini sits at an angle with the first three key rows angled down, while the last two are angled up. There are pop-out feet on the bottom which allow for two more height adjustments for a more extreme angle.
Flipping the keyboard over to the back we can see that the bottom of the chassis has a glossy finish, which will definitely be a fingerprint magnet. The keyboard chassis (made by Ducky) is plastic, but it feels extremely solid. In the center of the keyboard each of the HyperX x Ducky One 2 Mini’s are individually numbered. We have 3598 and out 6500. There are four rubber feet on the bottom of the chassis, which will keep it in place.
You’ll also notice four dip-switches on the bottom of the keyboard. The first is Windows Lock, the second switches between N-Key and 6-key rollover, the third allows you to use the Ducky vendor ID, and the final one switches between standard mode and display mode. Each time you flip one of the dip-switches you’ll need to disconnect the keyboard and reconnect it for the setting to change.
