Ducky One 2 Mini V1: Specs, Features, Pros & Cons
This review measures the Ducky One 2 Mini V1 against the full 34-spec sheet we track for keyboards, comparing it like for like with the 74 other models in our database. It earns a VS Score of 27 out of 100 — the weighted result of every verified specification measured against the class average.
On the spec sheet it is strongest in build & sound and weakest in performance. None of our retail partners currently lists the Ducky One 2 Mini V1, so availability may be limited; a missing price never affects the VS Score. A transparency note: this spec sheet is 62% complete. Anything unverified shows as Unknown and is left out of the score — we never estimate a missing value.
Category strengths
Where the Ducky One 2 Mini V1 beats the average
- Has n-key rollover ?
- Has onboard profiles ?
- Has programmable keys ?
- Has media controls ?
Where the Ducky One 2 Mini V1 trails the average
- 0.96 less connection ?1 vs 1.96 (avg)
- No hot-swappable ?
- No sound dampening ?
- No configuration software ?
- No rapid trigger ?
- No adjustable actuation ?
- No rotary knob ?
- No analog input ?
- No USB passthrough ?
Editor’s note
The One 2 Mini V1 is the original — the 2018 board that turned the 60% layout from an enthusiast curiosity into something ordinary gamers bought.
Understanding what it got right explains why it sold so well. Cherry MX switches rather than clones, doubleshot PBT keycaps that still look new years later, a detachable USB-C cable when most keyboards had a fixed one, per-key RGB, and hardware macros with six onboard profiles and no software to install. At its price nothing else offered that combination, and the 302 mm by 108 mm footprint freed a genuinely useful amount of desk space for low-sensitivity mouse players.
It also has flaws that are worth knowing before buying one second-hand, and they are the reason a V2 exists. The stabilisers under the spacebar and the longer modifiers were inconsistent from unit to unit — some rattle noticeably, some do not, and it is luck rather than a fixable setting. Early firmware also had rough edges in the RGB modes. If you have a choice between V1 and V2 at similar money, take V2.
The rest of the compromises are shared across the line. Switches are soldered, so nothing can be swapped without a soldering iron. There is no dampening foam, so the case sounds hollow next to a modern gasket-mounted board. And there is no wireless version.
Ducky has removed the whole One 2 range from its catalogue, so anything available is used or old stock with no warranty.
Buy one only if it is cheap and the rattle does not bother you. Otherwise pay a little more for a V2, or move to a One 3 Mini.
Specifications
Quality bars are generated automatically against 74 other keyboards.
Switches & typing
The key switch technology; later types are generally more responsive.
The specific switch used (e.g. Cherry MX Red).
The force needed to register a key; lower is lighter to type on.
Swap switches without soldering.
Registers every simultaneous keypress.
Set the actuation point per key (analog / Hall-effect boards).
Keys report their travel depth for variable gamepad-style input and multi-stage actions.
Performance
How often the keyboard reports input; higher can reduce latency.
End-to-end keypress latency over a wired connection; lower is better.
End-to-end keypress latency over the fastest wireless mode; lower is better.
Resets a key dynamically as it moves, enabling faster repeated inputs.
Layout & size
The keyboard size and layout.
The number of keys.
The overall width.
The overall depth.
The front case height without keycaps; lower boards can reduce wrist extension.
The keyboard's weight.
Connectivity
The supported connection types.
How many paired devices it can switch between.
Battery life for wireless models.
The rated capacity of the internal battery.
A built-in USB port for other devices.
Build & sound
Keycap plastic; PBT resists shine and wear better than ABS.
The case material (e.g. aluminium, ABS plastic).
The switch plate material, which influences stiffness and typing sound.
How larger keys are stabilised (e.g. screw-in PCB or plate-mounted).
The plate / PCB mounting style (e.g. gasket mount).
Internal foam or dampening for a quieter, fuller sound.
The per-key lighting.
Features
Remap keys and record macros.
Dedicated volume and playback controls.
A control knob for volume or custom actions.
Stores layouts on the board itself.
Companion configuration software (e.g. VIA / QMK).
How the VS Score works — and what it can’t tell you
Every measurable spec is scored against the average of all the keyboards we track: matching the class average scores 50, clearly beating it climbs towards 100, and each spec counts according to an editorial weight that reflects real-world impact — a battery-capacity gap moves the score far more than a colour-options list. The quality bars on the spec cards above show where this model sits inside the full range for its class, and the overall VS Score rolls every weighted result into one number.
Unknown values are never estimated. A spec this product doesn’t report simply drops out of its scoring — it isn’t penalised with a guess — but a thinner spec sheet does mean a score built on fewer data points, which is why completeness is disclosed under About this data.
Most importantly: a spec-sheet lead is not the same as a better product. Megapixels, gigahertz and benchmark points describe capacity, not experience — image processing, software optimisation, thermals, haptics and ergonomics decide how a device actually feels, and no table captures reliability or long-term support quality. Treat the VS Score as a structured summary of what can be measured, not a substitute for your own priorities.
About this data
- Specifications are compiled from each manufacturer’s official spec sheet, cross-checked against trusted specification databases, and normalised into one schema so identical things are compared identically.
- Specifications last verified August 10, 2026.
- Data completeness: 21 of the 34 specs in this category are verified (62%). Anything we could not verify is shown as Unknown — never estimated — and is excluded from the score.
- Prices and availability come from live retailer feeds via our shopping partners and refresh throughout the day; a missing price means no partner currently lists the product, not that it is discontinued.
- Want the full picture? Our editorial guidelines explain how we research products, weight the scores and stay independent.
- Spotted an error in a spec? Tell us and we will correct the sheet.
Keyboards with similar specs to the Ducky One 2 Mini V1
Ratings & reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience.
The bottom line
The Ducky One 2 Mini V1 earns a VS Score of 27, trailing most of the 75 keyboards we compare here, at least on the spec sheet. It stands out for has n-key rollover, has onboard profiles and has programmable keys. Just be aware of 0.96 less connection and no hot-swappable before you buy. Weigh those trade-offs against what matters most to you.
The VS Score is generated automatically from the weighted specifications above, measured against all other keyboards in our database. Treat it as a shortlisting guide — not a substitute for your own priorities.
