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The Ducky Cushion 98 makes a compelling case for a quieter mechanical keyboard: its supplied black cushion noticeably softens keystroke noise, while an included grey cushion offers a firmer feel. In Club386’s week-long review, the trade-off was clear—the quietest setup felt soft under the fingers, and the spacebar remained more audible than the rest of the board. The 100-key layout keeps a number pad without taking up a full-size keyboard’s footprint.
How quiet is the Ducky Cushion 98?
Quietness is the Cushion 98’s defining feature. In Ben Hardwidge’s Club386 review, the tested board sounded remarkably subdued, which the review attributes to a thick, flexible silicone cushion between the base and the other keyboard layers. Ducky calls this construction Nest Mount and says it absorbs keystroke force.
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The review compared recordings made at the same 1 cm distance with a Razer BlackWidow V4 X using clicky Green switches and a Corsair K95 RGB Platinum with tactile Cherry MX Brown switches. That was an informal demonstration, not a calibrated acoustic test: it supports a qualitative impression, not a decibel figure or a promise that every setup will sound the same. The spacebar was a notable exception to the board’s generally muted sound.
Two cushions, two different feels
The box includes a black cushion and a grey alternative. In Club386’s use, the black cushion was quieter but made typing feel soft and somewhat mattress-like. The grey cushion felt firmer and was somewhat louder; the reviewer preferred it for typing and gaming while still finding it much quieter than the comparison boards.
#1 Best Overall
- More Uniform Keystroke Feel Than Gasket Mount
- Tool-free Keyboard Tuning
- Quiet Performance with Total Flexibility
- Total Customization, Zero Software Hassle
- Win the Split-second with Faster Input
A quick latch at the rear and magnets let you open the case without a screwdriver to swap the cushion. Club386 found the process straightforward, while cautioning users to take care around the internal cables. The alternate cushion is included in the box; the sources do not establish that it is sold separately.
Layout, build and everyday controls
Ducky describes the Cushion 98 as a compact 80% keyboard with 100 keys and a number pad. That makes it worth considering if you want dedicated numeric entry but have limited desk space. Club386 found the numpad useful and described the tested board’s frame as heavy aluminum.
Rank #2
- Budget-friendly Price: Ducky Ok-M delivers a premium mechanical typing experience at a budget-friendly price.
- Great Typing Experience: Its gasket-mount design and five-layer acoustic dampening reduce pinging and echoes for a quieter, more comfortable feel.
- Versatile Connectivity: Supports USB-C, BT, and 2.4GHz wireless for flexible, multi-device use.
- VIA Support: Unlock full key and macro customization through VIA (web-based) software.
- Side RGB: Subtle side lighting enhances the keyboard’s look with a touch of flair.
Ducky’s published specifications list an aluminum top, ABS bottom, aluminum plate, PBT double-shot Cherry-profile keycaps, south-facing RGB lighting, dimensions of 386.16 × 147.07 × 41.74 mm, and a weight of 1,216 g ± 15 g. These are manufacturer specifications; visible color accents and keycap legibility may vary by SKU.
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What may frustrate you
- There are no dedicated Print Screen or media keys. Club386 says secondary functions can be remapped in Ducky’s web configuration tool.
- Some legends on the dark grey keys were hard to read in the review sample.
- The RGB lighting sits between the keycaps rather than lighting the legends, limiting its practical visibility.
- The spacebar makes more noise than the rest of the board.
Switches, connectivity and gaming features
The Cushion 98 supports hot-swappable switches, and Ducky lists silent linear and silent tactile Shush options. The retailer listing gives the linear switch an actuation force of 43 g and bottom-out force of 58 g; it lists the tactile switch at 45 g actuation force and 2.0 mm pretravel. Both are listed with 4.0 mm total travel. Those figures are listing specifications, not independent measurements.
Rank #3
- Kailh yellow hotswap sockets on stabilizer keys (ESC, Back Space, Enter, left Shift, right Shift, Space Bar, Numeric 0, +, and Enter)
- Detachable braided USB-C cable
- Bonus enter key in a random color
- OEM profile Double Shot PBT keycaps
- South-facing switches
For connections, Ducky and the retailer list USB-C wired, Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless modes. Ducky lists a 4,200 mAh battery and up to 63 hours of battery life with lighting off, as well as a 1,000 Hz polling rate. The listed rollover is NKRO in wired mode and 6KRO wirelessly.
Club386 describes a web configuration tool for remapping, macros, lighting and SOCD controls. It says the tool requires a Chromium browser and cannot be used over Bluetooth. SOCD features are banned in some games, including CS2, according to the review; check the current rules for your game before enabling them.
Rank #4
- Kailh yellow hotswap sockets on stabilizer keys (ESC, Back Space, Enter, left Shift, right Shift, Space Bar, Numeric 0, +, and Enter)
- Detachable braided USB-C cable
- Bonus enter key in a random color
- OEM profile Double Shot PBT keycaps
- South-facing switches
Who should consider the Cushion 98?
It makes the most sense if you want a notably quiet mechanical board, need a numpad, and value the choice between a softer and firmer cushion. Before choosing a configuration, consider these trade-offs:
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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →- Choose the black cushion if reducing sound matters more than a firm, crisp feel.
- Choose the grey cushion if you prefer a firmer typing and gaming feel and can accept somewhat more noise.
- Check the switch variant if you have a specific preference for linear or tactile key action; the board is hot-swappable.
- Choose a connection deliberately: the listed rollover differs between wired and wireless modes, and the configuration tool has browser and Bluetooth limitations.
- Check the local listing for the exact layout, SKU, seller, included items and current price. Club386 listed £149.99 in the UK on 26 September 2026; that review price is not a current-market quote.
Club386 rated the keyboard 4.5 after a week of daily use. That verdict reflects the review sample and its priorities; it is not a controlled comparison with competing keyboards.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Kailh yellow hotswap sockets on stabilizer keys (ESC, Back Space, Enter, left Shift, right Shift, Space Bar, Numeric 0, +, and Enter)
- Detachable braided USB-C cable
- Bonus enter key in a random color
- OEM profile Double Shot PBT keycaps
- South-facing switches
Sources and specifications
- Club386’s Ducky Cushion 98 review by Ben Hardwidge, published 26 September 2026, for the week of use, sound and feel impressions, drawbacks and review-context UK price.
- Ducky’s Cushion 98 product page, accessed 4 October 2026, for manufacturer specifications and feature claims. The page is localized in Chinese.
- Mechanical Keyboards’ retailer listing, accessed 4 October 2026, for listed variants, included items and switch specifications; retailer details may change.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
