Back in May, we took a look at the Ducky One 2 Mini, the 60% keyboard that made the gaming world pay attention to 60% keyboards. Before the holiday, we received a surprise package from Ducky with the Mecha Mini. It features a full, CNC-milled aluminum case, as well as a few other changes. At $119, is it worth picking up over the One 2 Mini?
Specifications
- Current Price: $119
- Type: Mechanical Keyboard
- Switch: Cherry MX mechanical switches
- Interface: USB 2.0
- Keycap material: ABS or PBT
- Simultaneous key input: USB N-Key Rollover (NKRO)
- Polling Rate: 1000 Hz
- Illumination: Full RGB
- Programmability: Complete macro, remapping, layout, and lighting without required software
- Legend printing: Double-Shot or Laser Engraved
- Dimensions: 302 x 108 x 40 mm
- Weight: 825g
- Made In Taiwan
)
This is going to be a different kind of review for us because, in essence, it's very similar to the One 2 Mini. The biggest difference comes in the new, excellent aluminum case as well as a few other small changes. So, I’ll get right to it: if you were considering picking up a Ducky One 2 Mini, get this instead. It’s everything the that keyboard was and better.
With that out of the way, if you missed our review of the One 2 Mini, I would highly recommend that you go back and give it a look. Almost everything I say there will apply here as well. The lighting is the same, the programmability is the same, the high-quality PBT keycaps and why they matter is the same. Underneath that umbrella, there are a few cool features that set the Mecha Mini apart.
)
The first is, of course, the “Mecha” in the name. You’re on this site and that means you thought of robots when you read that. Like a robot, the Mecha Mini is all metal, baby - well, the case at least. Not only does this make the keyboard feel way more premium, it also addresses one of the few concerns critics raised about the One 2 Mini. It had some flex. Well, the Mecha Mini has none. In fact, I’d say it’s so heavy duty that it might damage your floor if you drop it.
The metal case also makes a difference in how it feels to type and game on. One of the reasons I remain fascinated by mechanical keyboards is that no two are alike, even if they have the same switches. How a keyboard feels to use depends on so many factors: how the keycaps are made, their shape and thickness, the case material, the case’s weight, if there’s a top plate, if there’s padding in the case, how the keyboard meets the desk… the list goes on. An aluminum case is denser and heavier than a plastic case and, to my subjective fingers, dramatically improves the typing experience. It’s denser, more solid, more satisfying.
And frankly, it’s pretty cool to have a heavy metal keyboard. It’s a conversation starter if nothing else.
)
)
Moving on from the case, the other major change is that Ducky has shifted the Mecha Mini to a floating key style that exposes the Cherry MX RGB switch housings and improves the lighting. It’s the usual style we see in RGB gaming keyboards and looks great here. The RGB is still the same and looks amazing with the white top plate creating that gorgeous bed of colors, but the keycaps I received were blue instead of pink, giving it a different look. These are random, however, so your mileage may vary.
)
There are only two things I’m not a fan of on this board. The first is that there’s a slight “ping” sound I hear from time to time. This isn’t uncommon in mechanical keyboards, but I would have loved to have seen this damped, perhaps with extra padding in the case. Second, the space bar is now only illuminated with a single, centered LED instead of the three on the One 2 Mini. This is unfortunate as the Year of the Pig space bar included in the box doesn’t look nearly so good only being lit in the center.
)
Final Thoughts
All in all, though, these are nitpicks. The Ducky Mecha Mini is an outstanding. If you’re a gamer, it offers tons of programmability in lighting, macros, and remaps and never once demands that you download software. You save it to the board and those settings carry to any PC. The small size is also great for extra mousing space if you’re big on low DPI shooters like Counter Strike. Like the One 2 Mini, the 60% design isn’t going to be for everybody, but if it appeals to you, the Mecha is one of the best options on the market today. For only $20 more than the One 2 Mini, choosing the Mecha is an absolute no brainer.
)
