Last Updated on December 5, 2023
Compared 2 60% mechanical keyboards between Ducky One 2 Mini vs GK61. This comparison might be a bit off the mark but it’s important to note that the Ducky one 2 mini is one of the best 60% mechanical keyboards on the market today. While the GK61 is known as one of the most affordable 60% mechanical keyboards on the market.
Apart from the price side, you certainly want to know their comparison significantly. In this comparison there are several important aspects that must be considered. Starting from the build quality, switches, keycaps used, durability, and also the experience of using it. Let’s start the Ducky One 2 Mini vs GK61 60% Mechanical Keyboard comparison!
Design
Ducky One 2 Mini Design
The design and build quality of the Ducky One 2 Mini is simply amazing. The whole body material is made of plastic, but the plastic material used is of high quality plastic. Ducky One 2 Mini feels very sturdy and solid when used. Overall, for the design we don’t have much to complain about this keyboard.
Ducky embeds quality PBT plastic keycaps on this keyboard. Because the keycaps are made of PBT plastic material made by Double Shot method, this keyboard can’t emit RGB light evenly through the PBT keycaps, but RGB light appears between the gaps of the keycaps, it looks very elegant.
GK61 Design
If you are a gamer who slams the keyboard after losing, the GK61 is the keyboard for you. This keyboard body material is made of thick plastic and aluminum. The GK61 feels as solid as a keyboard made of aluminum covered in plastic.
The GK61 one is slightly lighter than the Dukcy One 2 Mini, this may be because the PCB and switch parts are very light. For use, this keyboard feels quite comfortable even if for your large hands, it will often shift when you use it. We recommend that you use an XL sized mouse pad when using this keyboard to maximize your comfort because the support legs do not attach enough to your desk.
When the button is clicked, the sound issued is quite firm, feels like it’s not a light keyboard. With double shot keycaps made of ABS plastic, it can maximize the RGB emission on this keyboard very well.
Keycaps & Switches
Ducky On 2 Mini Keycaps & Switches
Ducky On 2 Mini is embedded with Cherry MX Brown, at first you might feel the keys on this keyboard are a bit heavy to press. You just need to adapt a little to the keys on this keyboard, once you get used to it and are comfortable you will feel that you can type more accurately and quickly, the keycaps of this keyboard are very comfortable to press, feel quality and thick.
The use of Cherry MX Brown on this keyboard produces a soft typing sound, the keyboard is quite quiet. If you want a more clicky typing sound, we recommend choosing the Cherry MX Red or Blue switches.
For the 60% layout on the Ducky One 2 Mini is the right decision, the buttons feel very easy to reach. This means that the travel distance from your fingers to the other keys is quite efficient which can minimize errors when typing.
GK61 Keycaps & Switches
Double Shot Keycaps made of ABS plastic on the GK61 keyboard are quite good. But when compared to the Ducky One 2 Mini’s PBT double shot keycaps, it feels very significant. Keycaps on the Ducky One 2 Mini feel more solid and comfortable to press.
With a 60% keyboard layout, the GK61’s typing experience with the Duncy One 2 Mini is a bit similar, only that the feel, quality, accuracy, and speed of the Dukcy One 2 Mini is superior. But overall, the GK61 is good enough and can meet your needs.
GK61’s ABS keycaps feel smooth when held, that’s one of the characteristics of ABS keycaps, because they are made to maximize RGB lighting on the keyboard. In addition, the price of keycaps made of ABS plastic is very affordable.
The profile of the GK61 keycap does not float, looks like it is very low and close to the body, this adds to the benefits in terms of ergonomics when typing for long periods of time. The switch used by this keyboard is the Gateron Switch which is available in various colors.
Gateron is available in six colors, Red, brown, blue, white, black, and yellow. But if you want to replace the keyboard switch, this is a Hot-Swappable keyboard whose switches you can replace without needing to solder the switches. For the GK61, it is very suitable to use the Silent Brown gateron, but it all comes back to the taste of the user.
Features
Mini Ducky One 2 Features
Ducky One 2 Mini does not have supporting software to make it easier to operate and manage its needs for this keyboard. Ducky One 2 Mini has a button on the bottom of the body that can be used to change the location of the windows key, capslock, and more. If you buy or already have this keyboard, make sure you read the manual included in the purchase package.
Ducky One 2 Mini is compatible with Windows, MacOS, and Linux operating systems. But there are some buttons and functions that can’t work on Linux and MacOS operating systems. This keyboard cannot connect with your android or iPhone and iPad.
Ducky Shine 7 software is not compatible with the Ducky One 2 Mini keyboard. so you can’t set RGB on this keyboard like other Ducky keyboard compatible with ducky shine software. But don’t worry, you can still use the FN key and macros to adjust the RGB on this keyboard. Make sure you read the manual so you know more about the features of this keyboard.
GK61 Features
Since this is a keyboard with a 60% layout, you certainly know that a keyboard with this layout does not have Arrow Keys that function as up, down, left, and right navigation. To use the Arrow keys on this keyboard, you use the FN key combination and press the function keys that are written above the keyboard keycaps.
FN and backspace are used to adjust RGB and change effects. For software support, GK61 surprisingly has software to adjust RGB effects on this keyboard. Unlike the Ducky One 2 Mini which is not compatible with the Ducky Shine 7.
You can reprogram the buttons via the GK61 support software and adjust the functions you need according to your wishes. An important feature when you are playing games is to disable the windows key, and that feature is available on this GK61 keyboard.
RGB Backlight
The Ducky One 2 Mini and GK61 both have great RGB backlighting. The advantage in RGB settings of the GK61 is better than the Duky One 2 Mini. On the GK61, you can adjust RGB effects and variations using software, while the Ducky One 2 Mini, you have to use keyboard shortcuts while reading your manual to set them up.
The Ducky One 2 Mini looks more luxurious as RGB illuminates the gaps in its Doubole Shot PBT keycaps. Maybe it’s just my taste. While the GK61 looks brighter on the keycaps, this is because the GK61 uses an ABS keycap that is not too thick like the PBT keycap on the Ducky One 2 Mini which is thick and solid. Both RGB backlight keyboards can be adjusted in brightness. GK61 has the advantage for RGB settings because it is easier to use software.
Ducky One 2 Mini vs. GK61 Price
In terms of price we are not surprised to learn that the price of the Ducky One 2 Mini is more expensive than the GK61. The Ducky One 2 Mini is priced at $109 and the GK61 is priced at $60. The materials used in the Ducky One 2 Mini are indeed more expensive and of high quality. Plastic material on the body that feels solid, Double Shot PBT Keycaps are thick and have better durability than the GK61 ABS Keycap.
But if you are looking for a 60% Mechanical Keyboard with the best budget, reliable quality, the GK61 is the right choice. For $60 you get a keyboard with typing quality similar to the Ducky One 2 Mini, and the GK61 also gets supporting software to operate it. Great!
If you want to buy Ducky One 2 Mini, please use our special link so you get a friendly price. This is also a link to purchase the GK61 at a fairly low price.
Ducky One 2 Mini vs GK61: Which Better?
Overall aspects of build quality, typing experience, quality keycaps and responsive switches, the Ducky One 2 Mini is superior when compared to the GK61.
It’s not that because of this comparison you think the GK61 is bad, the GK61 isn’t bad at all. This keyboard is one of the 60% keyboards that has pretty good quality and has supporting software which is a plus. If you think that the Ducky One 2 Mini is too expensive you can buy a cheaper GK61 with a quality that is almost close to the Ducky One 2 Mini. For another alternative, you can try the Anne Pro 2 which costs right in the middle of these two keyboards.
Kizaru is a fan, collector, and has a huge addiction to mechanical keyboards. Kizaru has a collection of dozens of mechanical keyboards that come in different sizes and use different switches. He also frequently contributes to various forums that discuss keyboards such as Reddit and GeekHack.
