Introduction
In a world of black and grey office peripherals, finding a keyboard that is both a joy to use and a genuine centerpiece for your desk can feel like an impossible quest. Too often, we are forced to choose between bland but functional workhorses and beautiful but impractical showpieces. What if you could have both? What if a keyboard could deliver a top-tier typing experience while sporting a design that sparks creativity every time you sit down to work?
This is the promise of the NuPhy Air75 V2. Meet Sophia, a UI/UX designer who works across Mac and Windows devices. She needs a keyboard that is precise enough for design work, comfortable for long writing sessions, and stylish enough to match her carefully curated desk setup. The Air75 V2, with its vibrant colorways and reputation for an exceptional out-of-the-box feel, caught her eye. But does its performance live up to its stunning looks? This deep-dive review will explore every aspect of the NuPhy Air75 V2, from its unique design and build to its typing feel and powerful features, to help you decide if this is the low-profile keyboard you’ve been waiting for.
First Impressions: Unboxing and A-Plus Aesthetics
NuPhy understands that the user experience begins the moment the package arrives. The unboxing of the Air75 V2 is a premium experience, complete with high-quality packaging, included accessories like extra keycaps for Mac/Windows, a switch/keycap puller, and a beautiful braided USB-C cable.
But the main event is the keyboard itself. NuPhy has become famous for its bold and tasteful aesthetics, and the Air75 V2 is a prime example. Available in several colorways, like the subtle “Ionic White” or the iconic “Basalt Black,” the design is a breath of fresh air. The keycaps are the real star, featuring a soft, rounded rectangular shape (known as nSA profile) and vibrant accent colors that are playful yet professional. The thin light bar on the side, which indicates connection status and battery life, is another thoughtful touch. This keyboard doesn’t just sit on your desk; it makes a statement.
Build Quality and Typing Experience
Despite its slim and lightweight profile, the Air75 V2 feels reassuringly solid. It features a sturdy aluminum top frame and a polycarbonate bottom case, striking a great balance between rigidity and weight, making it an excellent travel companion.
However, a keyboard review lives or dies by the typing experience, and this is where the Air75 V2 truly shines. NuPhy has engineered a unique sound and feel by mounting the internal components on silicone. This creates a softer, deeper, and more muted sound profile than many of its competitors. It’s less of a sharp “clack” and more of a refined “thock,” which is incredibly pleasant for long typing sessions.
The keyboard comes with a selection of pre-lubed Gateron Low-Profile 2.0 switches. The factory lubrication is excellent, meaning the switches feel incredibly smooth right out of the box, with no scratchiness. The nSA profile keycaps are made from high-quality PBT plastic, which resists shine and has a comfortable, slightly textured finish. If you want to understand more about the difference a switch can make, you can explore our complete guide to mechanical keyboard switches.
Features, Connectivity, and Software
The Air75 V2 is packed with modern features that cater to power users. Its tri-mode connectivity is a standout, allowing you to connect via low-latency 2.4GHz wireless (with the included dongle), Bluetooth 5.1 (up to three devices), or a wired USB-C connection. The 1000Hz polling rate in both wired and 2.4GHz modes ensures there is no discernible lag, making it perfectly suitable for gaming as well as productivity.
For enthusiasts, the most significant feature is its support for QMK/VIA. This open-source firmware allows for complete and total customization of every key, macro, and function layer. You can remap keys to your exact workflow needs using the simple web-based VIA configurator. This level of control is something typically found in high-end custom keyboards and is a huge asset for the Air75 V2.
Here’s a quick rundown of the key specifications.
How Does It Stack Up Against the Competition?
The low-profile market is competitive. So, where does the Air75 V2 fit in? We previously compared two other titans in our Keychron vs. Logitech showdown, and the Air75 V2 carves out its own distinct niche.
- vs. Keychron K3 Pro: Both keyboards offer QMK/VIA support and hot-swappable switches. However, the NuPhy often wins on aesthetics and its out-of-the-box sound and feel, thanks to the excellent factory lubrication and internal dampening. The Keychron, on the other hand, often has a slightly lower starting price.
- vs. Logitech MX Mechanical Mini: The Logitech is built for the corporate ecosystem, with its simple Logi Options+ software. The Air75 V2 is for the user who wants more personality and deeper, firmware-level customization. The NuPhy’s PBT keycaps are also a significant advantage over the Logitech’s ABS caps in terms of long-term durability and feel.
Final Verdict: Is the NuPhy Air75 V2 for You?
The NuPhy Air75 V2 is an outstanding keyboard that confidently delivers on its promise of style and substance. It provides one of the best out-of-the-box typing experiences available in a low-profile board, eliminating the need for immediate modifications like lubing switches. Its vibrant design is a joy to behold, and its feature set—including tri-mode connectivity and QMK/VIA support—is top-tier.
This keyboard is perfect for:
- Creative professionals, developers, and writers who value aesthetics as much as performance.
- Users who want an enthusiast-level experience without the hassle of building a custom keyboard from scratch.
- Anyone who needs a portable, high-quality keyboard that works seamlessly across multiple devices and operating systems.
For Sophia, our designer, the NuPhy Air75 V2 is a near-perfect match. It meets her high aesthetic standards, provides a superb typing feel for her writing tasks, and offers the deep customizability she can use to create shortcuts for her design software. While it may come at a slight premium, the quality, features, and sheer pleasure of using it make the NuPhy Air75 V2 an easy recommendation and a true standout in the crowded keyboard market.
