Ducky ProjectD Outlaw 65 Review | 64 Data compared

The Ducky ProjectD Outlaw65 is a compact, 65% gasket-mount mechanical keyboard kit that offers a highly satisfying DIY assembly experience for hardware enthusiasts. The standard $299 kit includes premium, heavy sandblasted aluminum casing parts, a PCB, hot-swappable sockets, sound-dampening foam, and a choice between two distinct top plates (FR4 and POM). Builders must provide their own switches and keycaps, though a First Edition bundle includes both for £300. Weighing a hefty 1.3kg when fully assembled, the board delivers an incredibly sturdy construction, exceptionally smooth stabilized keys, and premium tactile typing feedback. However, the premium tinkering experience comes with a steep price tag, making it expensive for its compact size. Sourcing appropriate keycaps also introduces minor layout complications; the keyboard features a non-standard 1.75u left-hand shift key and a vertical right-hand column (Del, Page Up, Page Down, End) spread across four horizontal rows. This vertical layout causes standard keycap profiles to sit unevenly unless users buy completely flat profile keys or blank replacements. Additionally, the included instruction manual only details the US layout, which adds a bit of confusion for anyone...

The Ducky ProjectD Outlaw65, reviewed by MMORPG.com, is a premium, enthusiast-grade 65% DIY keyboard kit featuring a unique, racecar-inspired design with a robust multi-piece frame and carbon fiber backplate. The kit is praised for its highly satisfying assembly process, including flexible gasket mounting options for superior typing feel, and comes with high-end extras like lubed stabilizers. MMORPG.com However, the $299 price tag applies only to the barebones kit, requiring additional investment for switches and keycaps. The included "First Edition" Cherry MX2A switches were noted for having a scratchy sound profile, and the keyboard operates wired-only without specialized high-end gaming features.

The Ducky ProjectD 65 Outlaw is a premium, 65% barebones DIY mechanical keyboard kit priced at $299 that requires complete assembly from scratch, including the aluminum case, stabilizers, and PCB. It provides a rewarding, Lego-like building experience and features high-end materials like thick aluminum case elements and a carbon fiber bottom plate, resulting in a heavy, modern-looking product. The keyboard stands out for its customisability, allowing users to choose between an FR4 or a flexible, thocky POM plate, and between poron or softer rubber gaskets. While it lacks switches and keycaps out of the box, the hotswappable PCB makes it easy to install components that deliver an exceptional everyday typing experience with zero case ping. The primary pros of the ProjectD 65 Outlaw include its highly engaging assembly process, robust material quality, excellent sound tuning options, and a luxurious carrying case packaged with all necessary tools. However, it comes with notable cons: it is not beginner-friendly, and the manual fails to explain how different plate and gasket materials alter the typing acoustics. Furthermore, the lack of included switches and keycaps...

The Ducky ProjectD Outlaw 65 review on TechPowerUp highlights Ducky’s entry into the high-end enthusiast market with an all-aluminum, gasket-mounted 65% DIY kit that features exceptional assembly instructions and paired with Cherry’s new MX2A Red RGB switches. The kit is praised for its excellent unboxing experience, which includes a high-quality carrying case, necessary assembly tools, and a focus on a "build-it-from-scratch" experience. Pros include the solid, well-machined thick aluminum chassis, south-facing LEDs for broad keycap compatibility, and open-source QMK/VIA support for deep software customization. Cons include the high $299 price tag and the involved assembly process, which is aimed at enthusiasts rather than those seeking a ready-to-use keyboard.