Ducky OK-M-98

Design 

• Convenient, near full-size layout
• PBT keycaps are a nice touch
• Build quality is a little plasticky

Ducky’s OK-M line of keyboards is available in three different sizes, with a 65% (no function row, arrow keys), 75% (function row, arrow keys, smaller nav cluster) and 98% (a squished-up full-size choice) layout options available. My sample shipped in the latter.

It’s a layout that gives most of the functionality of a traditional full-size layout, but moves some of the nav cluster keys to sit above the number pad in the name of saving space. This has gained more appeal as the enthusiast space has grown, being previously limited to a few niche models from longstanding manufacturers and, before that, a range of Cherry keyboards, which explains its colloquial title as the ‘1800’ layout. 

I’m a fan of the two-tone blue and black colour scheme the OK-M-98 comes with, complete with a pleasant matted finish on the casing. It also extends to the doubleshot PBT keycaps this keyboard comes with, adding an extra dose of quality and durability to a more affordable keyboard. The blue is on the accent keys, such as Esc, Enter and the arrow keys.

Despite the quality touches with the PBT keycaps and a pleasantly tactile volume dial in the top right corner, the main chassis of this Ducky ‘board feels a smidgen plastic. I noticed this in my hands-on of the range at Computex, and that hasn’t necessarily changed here. There is a fair bit of flex at the corners under pressure, although it is more rigid in the middle. 

For a company that I’ve always known for keyboards that could be used as weapons, it is a little disappointing that this one feels on the cheaper side.

Elsewhere, the OK-M-98 is thoughtful, with sturdy two-stage feet on the underside with a solid hinge, plus a convenient interface on the rear. Here you’ll find two toggle switches, one for choosing operating system and the other for choosing the connectivity method. There is also a spot for storing the USB-A receiver and a USB-C port for wired use and charging.

Performance

• Cheaper feeling KTT switches
• Versatile wireless connectivity 
• Decent battery life

Inside, the OK-M-98 comes with a choice of two KTT switches – you either have linear Wine Red or soft tactile Baby Blue switches to choose from. KTT isn’t a brand I’d come across before, but they seem to have cultivated a bit of a reputation for more affordable switches in a range of enthusiast-grade keyboards

My sample came with the former Wine Red linears, complete with a 45g force, standard 4mm travel and factory lubrication. For the most part, typing out thousands of words a day for reviews, they feel fine, with the lubrication helping to provide a reasonably smooth feel. They are reasonably consistent across the keyboard in terms of force and feel, but don’t feel quite as smooth or consistent as other clones, or proper MX Reds for that matter.

There’s a certain roughness you’ll notice if you push down the switch a little before letting go, and they are also quite wobbly with the stems, which is usually a marker of them being cheaper switches.

If you don’t like the KTT Wine Reds inside, though, then the OK-M-98 is hot-swappable, meaning switches can be swapped out with no need for soldering or dislodging.

As long as you’ve got a keycap and switch puller to hand (Ducky provides a combo puller in the box plus a neat keyboard brush with a duck on top), the process is simple, as this Ducky keyboard supports both 3-pin and 5-pin switches, and swapping the switches out is as easy as taking the keycap off, pulling the switch out, getting a new switch and lining the pins up with the respective holes and pushing the switch down into place until it clicks.

Acoustically, with the lubricated switches and a five-layer sound-dampening system inside, the OK-M-98 impresses, with a brighter sound profile and little in the way of rattle or ping from the case or stabilisers. This keyboard is also gasket-mounted, lending it to have a slightly bouncier feel under finger.

As for connectivity, this Ducky keyboard supports both Bluetooth and a 2.4GHz wireless connection, as well as working over a USB-C wired connection.

Bluetooth pairing works on up to 3 devices, with the receiver adding another channel. Switching between them is as easy as picking the relevant channel using the Fn key and the relevant number. The P1 Pro also works happily on Windows or Mac, although it is a curiosity that the keycaps aren’t dual legend for convenience, and the toggle on the rear of the keyboard says ‘iOS’ rather than ‘macOS’.

On the front of battery life, Ducky has stuck a hefty 4000mAh battery inside this larger model, which should offer excellent endurance in theory. In my experience, it lasted a few working days with the RGB enabled before I needed to plug it back in, which is fine, although some ‘boards can go for weeks on end if you can hypermile.

Software and Lighting

• Clever VIA app for programming
• Smart RGB lighting

On the point of software, Ducky hasn’t bothered with any of its own software for the OK-M-98, instead leaning on the trusted VIA app for programming. This is common among smaller brands, and the likes of Keychron have used it in the past with a good degree of success. 

You can either use its dedicated app or run it in a browser, and with the JSON file of the keyboard in tow, you can do everything from programming any layout you want to fiddling with the RGB lighting and programming macros. It’s lightweight, functional and works as it should.

The OK-M-98’s lighting is bright and acts as more of an underglow than a full-blown rainbow, owing to the solid nature of the keycaps. I think this gives it a bit of a smarter finish if you’re into that sort of thing.

Should you buy it?