The Ducky Cushion 98 is a £149.99 mechanical keyboard built specifically around the concept of quiet operation. Ducky replaced its standard Cherry MX lineup with proprietary Shush switches and encased the board in a thick silicone cushion, aiming for a mechanical typing experience without the typical noise. Reece Bithrey, who tested the device, found the build quality and quiet nature impressive, though the typing feel and software were less convincing.
The construction is where the keyboard justifies its price point, Bithrey reports. It features an aluminum top case, maintaining structural integrity even under hard pressure. The overall 1.25kg weight ensures the board remains stable on the desk. The keycaps are constructed from doubleshot PBT material, sporting a black and grey two-tone scheme, accented with sky blue for the Esc, Backspace, Return, and arrow keys.
The layout is a 98% arrangement (sometimes called 1800). This design trims a full-size keyboard by repositioning some of the navigation cluster above the number pad. While most core functions remain, the absence of the Print Screen key from the top row is flagged as a genuine annoyance for certain users. Connectivity options include a dedicated USB-C port for charging or wired use, and a switchable toggle that supports both Bluetooth and a bundled 2.4GHz receiver.
Focusing on the switches, Bithrey’s sample featured Shush Green, a soft-tactile switch rated at 45g. The tactile bump halfway down the key was found to be inconsistent across the board, varying in how pronounced it was. Critically, the damping required for silence dulls the tactile feel, making the switches easy to mistake for linears. Bithrey noted they lack the crispness found in switches like Cherry MX Ergo Clears or MX Browns.
Addressing the perceived mushiness, Ducky includes two silicone cushions. The default cushion provides the quietest operation. The alternative grey cushion is louder but firmer, and Bithrey observed this helped mitigate the dull feel of the switches. The unit remains hot-swappable, allowing users to easily replace the Shush units with any 3-pin or 5-pin MX switch without soldering.
Wireless setup proved simple. Bithrey successfully paired the board with both a MacBook Pro via Bluetooth and a Windows PC using the 2.4GHz receiver, noting that both pairings took only moments. The battery capacity is 4200mAh, offering an estimated 63 hours of use with RGB disabled; this held up to a week of usage in his testing.
Lighting is an underglow effect, dictated by the solid PBT keycaps. The illumination is bright and pleasant, though Bithrey suggested translucent keycaps would create a more dramatic look at the expense of aesthetics.
The software package, however, is identified as the weakest element. Ducky utilizes Ducky Hub, a browser-based tool. It handles macros, basic RGB adjustment, SOCD controls for gaming, and remapping using drag-and-drop functionality. However, lighting controls are limited to preset settings, preventing granular customization. For the £149.99 price point, Bithrey considers the software functionality basic.
The Ducky Cushion 98 provides a combination of premium features, including an aluminum case, hot-swappable units, a full number pad, and a quiet profile that few competitors match. Yet, the switches lack crispness, and the thin software layer contrasts with the high price. Bithrey suggests alternatives like the Keychron Q1 Pro or the Lemokey P1 Pro if typing feel or software versatility is prioritized over sheer silence.
