The world of switches has grown at Overclockers UK. Today, we’re talking Ducky Switch Kits.
Ducky is well and truly established as a gaming keyboard titan. A lot of their models utilise Cherry MX switches. But with the Quack Mechanics hot-swapping and ProjectD offering near unlimited customisations, it was only a matter of time before we saw Ducky switch kits hit our virtual shelves.
Switches Galore
We stock a great variety of mechanical switches at Overclockers UK. Brush up on all things Cherry MX and Glorious switches.
Cherry MX
Glorious
What are Ducky Switch Kits?
In the most “what it says on the tin” way, Ducky switch kits are a pack of mechanical switches containing 110 pieces. They feature a number of popular switch brands, including Cherry MX, Kailh, and Gateron. There are some well-known models and plenty of more specialist ranges to explore.
To cover all my bases in case you’re new to mechanical keyboards, switches lie beneath your keycaps. Every time you press a keycap down, the switch connects with the PCB, telling your keyboard and PC which key you just hit. It’s where the magic happens.
How to Choose the Right Ducky Switch Kit
There are lots of different types of switches, providing different feels, noise levels, and overall experience. Before we get into the details of each Ducky switch kit, we have a few key terms to define.
- Feedback: This describes the feel of the switch under your fingers as you press the keycap down. The common feedbacks are linear, tactile, and clicky. None particularly have an advantage over the other, this largely comes down to preference.
- Actuation Force: This is the level of force required to press your switch to activation. Bottoming out force is the full force required to completely depress your switch its total travel. Leading us nicely onto…
- Travel: This is the distance your switch needs to travel to activate. Pre-travel brings you to the point of registering whereas total travel is the full distance the switch can be depressed.
- Audible click: Half the joy of mechanical keyboards is their satisfying click clack as you type. Some switches produce more noise than others. Linear switches tend to be quiet whilst clicky switches offer a crisp, well, click!
We have a full dedicated guide on how to pick the right mechanical switches.
What are the Different Ducky Switch Kits?
There are seventeen Ducky Switch Kits available at Overclockers UK. Here’s a quick TL;DR list, complete with links to the product pages.
- Ducky Switch Kit Kailh Box Navy
- Ducky Switch Kit Kailh Box Red
- Ducky Switch Kit Kailh Box White
- Ducky Switch Kit Kailh Box Brown
- Ducky Switch Kit Kailh Box Jade
- Ducky Switch Kit Kailh Box Jellyfish Y
- Ducky Switch Kit Kailh Box Red-Super V2 Speed Silver
- Ducky Switch Kit Kailh Midnight Pro
- Ducky Switch Kit Kailh Polia
Each of these switch kits comes in packs of 110, which will comfortably fill most full-size keyboards. UK ISO layouts typically have 102 to 105 keys, leaving you roughly five to spare. (We all have those moments when things fly out of our hands and vanish into another dimension. What, just me?)
Building on the TL;DR, here’s a table detailing feedback, actuation, travel, and sound. We love a good table; they are so handy for comparison! If you’re still itching for more info, don’t worry, we’ll be looking at each switch individually next.
| Name | Feedback | Actuation | Total Travel | Sound |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherry MX Red RGB | Linear | 45gf | 4.0mm | No click |
| Cherry MX RGB Silent Red | Linear | 45gf | 3.7mm | No click |
| Cherry MX RGB Speed Silver | Linear | 45gf | 3.4mm | No click |
| Cherry MX RGB Brown | Tactile | 55gf | 4.0mm | No click |
| Cherry MX RGB Blue | Tactile | 60gf | 4.0mm | Click |
| Cherry MX RGB Black | Linear | 60gf | 4.0mm | No click |
| Kailh Box Navy | Clicky | 60-90gf | 3.5mm | Click |
| Kailh Box White | Clicky | 55gf | 3.6mm | Click |
| Kailh Box Brown | Tactile | 45gf | 3.6mm | Click |
| Kailh Box Red | Linear | 45gf | 3.6mm | No click |
| Kailh Box Super V2 Speed Silver | Linear | 40gf | 3.5mm | No click |
| Kailh Box Jade | Clicky | 50-60gf | 3.6mm | Clicky |
| Kailh Box Jellyfish Y | Linear | 50gf | 3.6mm | No click |
| Kailh Midnight Pro | Linear | 45gf | 4.0mm | No click |
| Kailh Polia | Tactile | 60-67gf | 3.88mm | Click |
| Gateron G Pro Yellow | Linear | 50gf | 4.0mm | No click |
| Gateron G Pro White | Linear | 38gf | 4.0mm | No click |
Ducky Switch Kit Cherry MX Red RGB
The Cherry MX Red is a classic switch. They are the go-to linear switch, with 2mm pre- and 4mm total travel. With minimal noise, they are great for fast paced gaming and speed typers, alike. What’s best about these linear switches is their clear housing, which will let your RGB lighting shine through unimpeded. Great for making your keyboard glow!
Ducky Switch Kit Cherry MX RGB Silent Red
We’ve established the MX Red is an icon among switches. The Silent edition takes the 45gf actuation force and pairs with a shorter 1.9mm pre- and 3.7mm total travel, making them ideal for FPS games. Utilising the same clear housing design, these switches will really make the lighting on your keyboard pop! Oh, and they are silent, too.
Ducky Switch Kit Cherry MX RGB Speed Silver
The Cherry MX RGB Speed Silver looks at the Silent Red and says, “Yeah, make it faster.” Featuring the same 45gf actuation force, this switch only needs to travel 1.2mm to register and 3.4mm to bottom out. They are light, responsive, hella quick, and also feature the clear housing to optimise your RGB lighting display. The perfect ammo for fast-paced FPS games.
Ducky Switch Kit Cherry MX RGB Brown
The Cherry MX RGB Brown is a great all-rounder switch, perfect for those new to the feel of mechanical keyboards. They have a medium actuation force of 55gf, which is well suited for gaming and typing. Perfect for if your mechanical keyboard will be both at the office and your battle station. Featuring a 2mm pre- and 4mm total travel with linear feedback, this is a comfortable switch for extended use. Plus, once more, they have the transparent shell to optimise RGB lighting.
Ducky Switch Kit Cherry MX RGB Blue
If you like a tactile chronch to your typing, then the Cherry MX RGB Blue is for you. Famous for its audible click and heavy actuation, the MX Blue is all about that satisfying click while you type. Its pre- and total travel are 2mm and 4mm, respectively. Plus, it features the transparent housing to maximise the RGB glow around your keys.
Ducky Switch Kit Cherry MX RGB Black
The Cherry MX RGB Black switches pair linear feedback with a high 60gf actuation force. Their heavier feel is great for typing, whilst the 2mm pre- and 4mm total travel make this switch well suited to gaming. Its premium build materials include the transparent housing, for that ultimate RGB glow. (RGB = see through, we get it, Cherry!)
Ducky Switch Kit Kailh Box Navy
Featuring stylish blue stems, the Kailh Box Navy switches are heavy and clicky. Their actuation force is 60gf and they bottom out at 90gf! This is paired with a relatively short total travel, though, of just 3.5mm. Overall, they have a unique feel which could be perfect for your typing and gaming needs.
Ducky Switch Kit Kailh Box White
These all-white switches would look at home on a white mechanical keyboard. The Kailh Box Whites have a clicky feedback with a medium actuation force of 55gf. Their crisp feel, 1.8mm pre-, and 3.6mm total travel make these switches great for swift keystrokes and you get to enjoy that satisfying click every time.
Ducky Switch Kit Kailh Box Brown
The Kailh Box Browns offer tactile typing with a medium 45gf actuation force. Thanks to the 1.8mm pre- and 3.6mm total travel, you can enjoy a satisfying typing experience whether you’re exploring your favourite game or typing out that report for work.
Ducky Switch Kit Kailh Box Red
Much like the Cherry MX Red, the Kailh Box Red is all about that fast-paced, linear typing action. Their actuation force is just 45gf, which is paired with the standard 1.8mm to 3.6mm travel we’ve seen on all the Kailh Box switches. Swift and responsive typing waits for you with this switch.
Ducky Switch Kit Kailh Box Super V2 Speed Silver
The lightest switch on this list, the Kailh Box Super V2 Speed Silver has an actuation force of just 40gf. This primes it for competitively fast keystrokes, executed with a total travel of 3.5mm. Plus, their silver and black housing make them a stylish addition to any keyboard!
Ducky Switch Kit Kailh Box Jade
Pairing white and clear housing with a green stem, the Kailh Box Jade is a clicky switch with a medium to high actuation. Taking 50gf to register your keystrokes, these switches bottom out at 60gf with a total travel of 3.6mm. As such, they provide a satisfying typing experience with every key press.
Ducky Switch Kit Kailh Box Jellyfish Y
This is me, officially asking that more switches be named after fish. That aside, the Kailh Box Jellyfish Y switches will be a great addition to an RGB-lit keyboard, thanks to their clear housing. They are linear with a medium actuation force of 50gf. Paired with a 1.8mm pre- and 3.6mm total travel, the Jellyfish Y switches will effortlessly keep up with all your fast-paced keystrokes.
Ducky Switch Kit Kailh Midnight Pro (Linear)
Moving onto some names you might not know, the Kailh Midnight Pro is a light and linear switch. The housing is grey – as expected with a moody name like Midnight! Their actuation force is 45gf, with a total travel of 4mm. Whether you’re an avid gamer or typing up the next best fantasy saga, these switches are a great tool for your trade.
Ducky Switch Kit Kailh Polia
Boasting an iconic pastel blue and clear housing, the Kailh Polia is a tactile switch with a unique feel. The actuation force is relatively high, at 60gf, but only takes 67gf to bottom out. Plus, their total travel is 3.88mm (very specific). These switches put a crisp click at your fingertips.
Ducky Switch Kit Gateron G Pro Yellow
Personally, I think the Gateron G Pro Yellows are the perfect match for the Ducky One 3 Yellow. The white and yellow casing is just iconic. More than just their good looks, these switches are linear, low noise, and have a medium 50gf actuation force. Their 2mm pre- and 4mm total travel make them a great switch for gaming and typing, alike.
Ducky Switch Kit Gateron G Pro White
Another classic, all-white switch, the Gateron G Pro white switches have been optimised for fast and responsive gaming. Their combination of linear feedback, light 38gf actuation, and low noise make these the perfect switches for FPS games and other fast-paced titles. Swift keystrokes are vital for any battle plan!
The Barebones Keyboard to Match
Why do we even need to know this much about switches? With hot swapping technology and barebone keyboards, enthusiasts can now freely customise to their heart’s content – without needing to learn how to solder or worry about voided warranties. All of the Ducky One 3 Series feature hot swappable switches, but our focus here is the more recent ProjectD Series. Whether you opt for pre-built or barebones, this keyboard series offers customisation options throughout the whole design.
You can learn more about Ducky ProjectD on our dedicated blog below, but we’ve picked out an Outlaw and Tinker model here to show you what they’re all about.
Ducky ProjectD Outlaw65 Barebone Keyboard First Edition
The Ducky ProjectD Outlaw65 is the flagship model of the series. It sports a 65% form factor and is a barebones mechanical keyboard that you assemble. Not one for the faint hearted! You need to build the inner workings, with select layers coming in a choice of materials, and assemble the outer, aluminium frame. The result will be a sleek keyboard finished in black.
As a First Edition model, it does come with switches and keycaps which will also need installing. However, you are free to purchase your own switch and keycap sets to complete the look and feel how you like it.
Ducky ProjectD Tinker75 Pre-Built Keyboard
The other model in the ProjectD line-up currently is the Tinker. This is available in 65% and 75% form factors, as well as either barebone or pre-built. Here, we’re highlighting the Tinker75 Pre-Built Keyboard, just to give you a comprehensive cross-section.
Unlike the barebones model, this keyboard is fully assembled. You still have incredible customisation options, however, from hot swapping to QMK/VIA programming. Plus, every layer has been manufactured from premium quality materials to ensure a satisfying and stable typing experience.
For a limited time, the Ducky ProjectD Tinker75 comes with a free randomly selected keycap set to kickstart your customising!*
Never built a mechanical keyboard before? Take our Overclockers UK Academy course: How to Build a Mechanical Keyboard! This dedicated blog article has a written out step-by-step guide as well as a video tutorial to guide you through the process.
Smooth Typing Experience
What is your go-to switch? I’m a classic light and linear – keep it going in the comments!
*All promotions were correct at the time of writing.
- 12 min read
Emily Haylock
Author
Emily is a board and cosy gamer, keyboard obsessive, and content copywriter for Overclockers UK. She has been with Overclockers UK for two years, writing about everything from noblechairs to 8Pack PCs. She writes from within her desk nest with a foster pup at her feet. (What, a desk duvet is a totally normal thing!) In her downtime, she likes to play board games, farming sims, and old-school Final Fantasy. IX to be specific. It is the best, and that is a hill she will die on.
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