Ducky Zero 6108 Review

If there is a keyboard manufacturer that I have often felt is underrated, it would be Taiwanese brand Ducky. It was one of the first brands I noticed when I first started looking into mechanical keyboards as a kid ten years ago. Back then, it made headlines for its special “plate” of hand-crafted ceramic tiles for marking Year of the Rooster in the Chinese zodiac or a confined edition keyboard with eleven different MX switch variants: Ducky One 711.

Since those heady days when mechanical keyboards were a niche thing, the brand has become synonymous for long-time enthusiasts like me who want a functional, reliable mechanical option that’s built like a tank and packed with features. The all-new Ducky Zero 6108 is no exception.

The main feature of the Zero 6108 is a sign that Ducky is moving away from using Cherry’s original MX switches in favor of the modern MX2A products. Jacob previously discussed this in his review of the lovely Cherry Xtrfy K5V2 , but for those who don’t know, let me explain a bit more.

The MX2A is a modern version of the celebrated MX switches from the German brand, which has been trying to fend off the onslaught of clone switches for a few years now, introducing features like factory lubrication, a ribbed shaft for less key wobble, and diamond polishing for a super-smooth surface. For years, some have complained that MXs of all kinds were abrasive during initial operate, so lubrication and polishing should go a long way in changing that.

As for Ducky, the Zero 6108 comes with four types of MX2A switches—Red, Brown, Speed ​​Silver, and Blue—a nice mix of speedy linear selections, a tender tactile feel, and a heavier, audibly tactile switch. My sample came with the MX2A Blues, which was a personal decision, as I know these particular switches haven’t seen the same amount of improvement as other switch models. Specifically, the MX2A Blues lack lubrication and the switch to a barrel spring, but they still feel like a significant improvement over the OG MX Blues I’m used to.

Right out of the box, the MX2A Blues were silky and wonderful to type on, while retaining the distinctive audible click and a high degree of tactile feedback. I used the MX Blues daily on an venerable G80-3000 I had lying around on my desk when I was a teenager, and the Zero 6108 made me go back to using that, except it felt even more responsive.

Even though the MX2A Blues don’t have lubrication, they still feel smoother right away and even more precise over longer periods. However, the Blues have traditionally only let down me when it comes to gaming performance, and after a few rounds of Counter Strike 2, I wanted something lighter and more linear.

However, gaming workloads are not what the Blues are, never were. Instead, they are a reliable tactile switch designed to be a workhorse for office work. When typing thousands of words a week, including this review, the MX2A Blues are one of the best switches for typists, with a crisp mid-press click and a solid level of tactility.

The only thing to watch out for is the noise – while you or I might like it, others in your home or office might not. The acoustics are solid too, thanks to the combination of those switches and the generous helping of PU foam inside, there’s no unwanted rattling or pinging here.

If those switches aren’t for you, the Zero 6108 is hot-swappable and offers wide compatibility with 5-pin switches. That means you can take any switch that’s compatible with the five pins on the bottom and pop it into your keyboard without having to desolder the venerable ones and solder modern ones. For my review, I had a couple of spare Holy Panda switches from Drop, and they slotted in without a hitch. It’s a handy addition that helps keep Ducky in the mainstream of keyboards.

Connectivity is also fantastic, with the Zero 6108 working in three possible ways: Bluetooth, 2.4GHz, and wired USB-C. Pairing the keyboard with my main Windows gaming PC or my trusty MacBook Pro was a piece of cake via Bluetooth, and using it with the included receiver was as basic as plugging it in and turning the keyboard on. As for whether this “board” works wirelessly, it has a 2500mAh battery inside, which in my tests allowed the keyboard to last a few days of operate before needing to be charged with the RGB on. Ducky claims that the Zero 6109 lasts for 18 hours with RGB on and connected via Bluetooth, and 138 hours with the lighting off. That’s not bad, although it seems a bit low for a 2500mAh battery. A higher level of endurance would be nice.

The RGB lighting also looks good, with glowing colours and even coverage across the full-size layout on offer. However, where the Zero 6108 falls low is the lack of control over said lighting without software. There’s a diminutive amount of customisation available via hotkeys to do things like change the pattern (Fn+F10), escalate or decrease the brightness (Fn+up or down arrow) and change the speed (Fn+left or right arrow). The lighting effects themselves aren’t all that impressive, with different colour display options but not much else.

Elsewhere, the Zero 6108 offers a gigantic, full-size layout with all the keys you need, including a navigation cluster, a numeric keypad, and an extensive function row. There are also shortcut keys for media controls and opening the calculator in the top right corner.

The 1.2kg plastic casing is quite bulky, and the platform doesn’t flex at all. The Zero 6108 also features some thoughtful features, including integrated locking lights, a cable management channel on the bottom, and sturdy, two-step adjustable feet that let you change the angle of the keyboard.

The wonderful build quality is also supported here by Ducky’s textured PBT keycaps, which are both wear-resistant with legends that are part of the keycap itself and lightly textured, making them quite comfortable to type on compared to smoother ABS options.

And why are you so pissed off about all this Ducky kindness? Well, that’s 99 dollars/96 pounds, which seems like a good deal. Okay, I know you’re sacrificing advanced RGB effects and software, but other than that, it’s firm to find a keyboard this good for the price. It’s not just about how large This thing is a full-size keyboard, but with extensive wireless connectivity and some of the best switches on the market.

While there are better options available at a slightly higher price point, you’ll be hard-pressed to find something as powerful in every respect as the Ducky Zero 6108. 99 dollars/96 pounds.