I am reviewing another mechanical keyboard that is from China and it’s the Smart Duck XS-61K Pro 60% TKL Wired Mechanical Gaming Keyboard.
While the company’s official website is quite sparse with information and show the Smart Duck XS61, this is the pro version and for one it looks quite different.
For one, it’s a white keyboard and features a clear base (known as the Transparent White), while on the website, the non-pro version is black.
The main similarity is that the pro and non-pro version are both 60% and features a compact layout. With a total of 61 keys, it will take a while to get used to.
But once you do, you start to admire how compact it is.
According to the company, the keyboard is durable and tested to 50 million keystrokes, full anti-ghosting (N-Key rollover) and precise tactile feedback. I also like the shortcuts but also the typeface is not difficult to read, like some other makers who try to go overboard and make their letters and numbers hard to read.
This pro version features Pudding Keycaps, which allow the lighting to show through the lettering.
The keyboard comes with RGB backlight with seven global lighting modes and 5 interactive lighting modes.
You can control lighting by pressing FN+P or the left bracket button (next to the P) to control the color brightness. While the right bracket allows for singular colors. The slash next to the bracket buttons allow you to change the lighting effects.
Unfortunately, the lights under the keyboard can not be changed. It stays with the rainbow colors, which I’m not a big fan of and wish the base can be set to different colors.
But for those wondering how to access the arrow keys, you use the Function button and then the arrow keys which are on the CTRL, ALT, Forward Slash keys. Each key cap does show the functions, so if you want to lower volume or forward or rewind your music, you can easily.
But positives about the keyboard is that it is hot swappable and the version I am reviewing is the red switch version which is good, but I feel it is more like brown switches than red.
You also get a white braided USB-C to USB-A cable, a switch puller and a keycap puller plus a manual. All this for under $36.
I have reviewed 61-key keyboards like this with pudding caps, but I will say that I do like the transparent base which Smart Duck offers and I also like the fact that there are various lighting effects and a plenty of shortcuts. Which is a plus about this keyboard!
For the price, I really have nothing bad to say about the Smart Duck XS-61K Pro 60% TKL Wired Mechanical Gaming Keyboard. The competition is becoming fierce as more gaming mechanical keyboards are coming from China and South Korea and many are going to for that bang for the buck, but also offering hot swappable keyboards for a good price.
I do like it and for the price, I definitely do recommend the Smart Duck XS-61K Pro 60% TKL Wired Mechanical Gaming Keyboard!
