This... I'm looking to buy a 75% low profile for on-the-go. I'm so torn between these two. I love the lofree sounds, but I want my flippy feet damnit! is there a best of both worlds out there? Let's see what comes next...
I bought both. My main use for a mechanical keyboard is to type on it for hours on end. For that, the Lofree Flow wins for me. The typing feel and sound, no clackiness, sleek sexy aluminum case all around, slimmer, and gasket mount feel. I don't need key customizations, I actually like how the backlight partially shines through, and bluetooth has worked well for me despite my preference for 2.4ghz wireless. My Nuphy Air75 v2 went back in its box.
Which would you say is better to throw it into the backpack and whip it out quickly on the road? Eg in a café or something similar, on top of a laptop.
Thank you, I appreciate, it after watching so many type tests, there's a person that can touch type and doesn't just mash the keys in an effort to make it look like you are. Also the 4 finger hunters are also pretty painful to watch, so THANK YOU!
As of now, the QMK support is only on wired and Nuphy is actually false advertising because they aren't open-sourcing the wireless connection for QMK which goes against GPL license
I chose Keychron K3 Pro earlier this year over Nuphy Air75v1 for its VIA feature, but switched to Nuphy keycaps (look way better than keychron's), now V2 got VIA as well, I immediately bought V2 to replace my K3 pro😁
@jGRite If you're a Windows users can use Microsoft's Power Toys and the keyboard manager utility within that to remap the keys on the Lofree Flow. There are various other keyboard remapping utilities available as well.
I really don't understand why for low profile keyboards they never specify the lowest height closest to your wrists vs the tallest height. That is massively important for wrist comfort on a portable keyboard if you don't want to be carrying around a wrist rest all the time.
@@ethernet764 It's freaking amazing. I love it. It sounds and feels like marbled butter, whatever that is. Also get the white one, unless you're really into tactiles.
I own Nuphy Air 75 V2 with Wisteria switch. The board definitely the best keyboard i've typed on. I also own Keychron K3 V2. From K3 V2 to Nuphy Air 75 V2 was a huge upgrade in term of everything. Maybe, Nuphy Air 75 V2 is the best low profile keyboard you can find on market right now.
Thanks for the review! Here are my thoughts: 1) Backlighting with opaque keys actually reduces readability rather than enhancing it, making it mostly useless. 2) While polling rate matters, gamers are typically more sensitive to input lag, which sits around 10..15 ms. 3) Personally, I find RGB to be a gimmick. I wouldn’t miss it if it weren’t included at all. 4) NuPhy might want to reconsider their material and color choices. Lofree looks much more sophisticated. 5) For serious gamers, a wired connection is generally the better choice, offering speed without interference. Wireless is still a trade-off, even with newer technology. 6) For office work, pick the keyboard that you like most in terms of looks and ergonomics and forget about polling rates :)
I got the lofree flow for work and I love it. I don't need any other special functions. I just want something that sounds good and type well and I always have it connected. I love this keyboard!
I think the low profile keyboard comparisons are few and far between, so I really appreciate your videos! I ordered the Lofree Flow linear a few months ago during the WhatGeek sale, but it still hasn't shipped yet. I assume it's because I also ordered the 8BitDo keyboard, which is taking longer to ship. At any rate, I am still interested in maybe purchasing the Air V2, as I was not interested in the first version. However, I did select the Lofree because of the typing and sound experience, which is most important to me for keyboards in general.
The Lofree Flow looks, sounds, and feels nicer without a doubt, but without VIA and switch swapping compatibility it’s a nonstarter. I could overlook the lack of VIA in this layout, but the switch support is a hard dealbreaker. Kailh and Lofree really guaranteed I wouldn’t consider their product by intentionally designing their switch pins to be incompatible with other low profile switches. For the same reason I won’t consider a keyboard with Outemu hot swap sockets or Keychron optical switches, etc. I won’t consider the Flow. Being locked in artificially to a certain brand’s switches (rather than being able to choose the best ones for me on their own merit) is pretty antithetical to what I enjoy about mechanical keyboards in the first place.
Those things don't matter to me and most people looking for a keyboard, it's for the niche/enthusiast community. We care about aesthetics and typing experience. The Lofree Flow just wins there with ease.
Interesting and timely video as I recently bought the Lofree and am also considering the Nuphy v2! Here's my take on the Lofree Flow. PROS: 1. Nice typing action - definitely different and more 'plush' sounding compared to every other low profile keyboard I've tried. Keys sound like proper lubed switches. No hint of rattliness, which is great. 2. Adding 'O' rings (40A hardness/1.5mm thickness) to the keycap stems significantly reduces the noise on each keystroke - useful if you work in a share office, at night, or simply prefer quieter keystrokes. 3. A sound dampening mat underneath the keyboard also reduces the noise/resonance through the aluminium case/desk - you can even use the including foam pad supplied in the box. 4. Compatible with many other keycaps. The Nuphy ABS 'shine through' keycaps actually work with the Lofree and vastly improves the backlighting due to the shine through key legends. XVX low profile keycaps also work and they come in different varieties and colors including PBT and shine through etc. 5. Well built and feels like a quality product. 6. Power management, wake from sleep, bluetooth connectivity etc is good and with no issues (I've been using this keyboard for the last couple of months using bluetooth to switch from desktop to 2 other work laptops on a daily basis). CONS: 1. The Phantom tactile switches produce a very definite key action (you know exactly when you've hit the key correctly which touch typists may like). Personally, I feel that the actuation is a bit 'heavy' with slightly more resistance than I would like and I don't love the feel of the keys when they bottom out and strike the backplate as its doesn't feel that cushioned to me (though I'm probably used to laptop membrane/scissor switch keyboards). Phantom tacticle advertised at around 50gf but I wish they were slightly lighter eg. 40gf or 45gf actuation. I think I would prefer the Ghost linear switches over the Phantom tactile switches. Make sure you order a set of each switches if you're unsure! 2. There is NO Fn-Lock on this keyboard. In other words you cannot change the default function key action only using the keyboard. My keyboard has F-Keys as default. This drives me nuts as I want media keys enabled by default. Some other users have reported that they have media keys enabled by default which is odd. The comments from Lofree on this issue on Reddit makes absolutely no sense. They simply have not enabled any sort of FN-Lock or switching on this keyboard at all. 3. The backlighting is useless but this can be cured by getting some shine through key caps (see above). Shine through keycaps make a HUGE difference to the legibility of the keys in darkness. 4. No QMK/VIA key mapping option. You can use Windows Powertoys and the keyboard remapping function within that but this only works to some extent as you cannot replicate certain keystroke combinations. Remapping single keys is easy enough though eg. mapping F3 to say CTRL + . (period) for an emoji popup or some other CTRL+SHIFT+KEY type function. However, you cannot map say FN+Volume Up to F12 for example. 5. Only 2 switch options. As mentioned above, personally I'd like to see a lighter linear switch option. OVERALL If the Lofree could be combined with the Nuphy, ie Lofree POM/gasket/dampening etc, with Nuphy's wider range of options, you'd have the perfect keyboard! At the moment, both are good, but neither are perfect....
Excellent assessment! I couldn't agree more that if someone could combine these two keyboards, it really would be perfect. Functionality of the Air75 V2 with the sound and feel of the Flow would be an endgame keyboard.
All Kail switches are suitable for LoFree. And these are 3 for their special keycaps (keycaps will need to be replaced) and 3 new formats already available on the market. Plus, these two are special for LoFree and if you look there are also pink and some other limited versions. Therefore, it is possible that Kail switches, on the contrary, have the largest differnt types. Another thing is that they all have single-stage springs. I have no idea what the difference is between them))))
just bought white nuphy air75 v2. I specifically bought it to replace my previous linear normal profile keyboard, which sounds to my liking - but introduces typing error due to minimal linear resistance - when I'm just chilling and not thinking when typing, I would have aaa, ss, just extra unwanted characters due to the nature of linear switches. now I chose tactile moss switch, and it is as I hoped it would be, just perfection for me. it literally boosted my wpm by 10-20. I rarely have typing error, and the sound although not as marbly as my linear kb, it is just perfect, it grows on me. and lastly, I replaced the alphabets, arrows, pgup and pgdn keycaps with xvx seethrough keycaps, and now I can see the legends lighted beautifully.
Glad you are liking it! Love to hear that you found the right combination for you. Everyday typing is so much more enjoyable when you find just the right keyboard and switches.
I purchased a Lofree Flow 100, as well as an air96 v2. I have to say, the typing experience isn’t really comparable. The Lofree just feels so much more quality when typing, while the Nuphy feels almost cheap/plasticky by comparison. I wouldn’t have noticed if I didn’t have both. Yes, if you need VIA, there is only one choice in this comparison. But if you don’t, and you just want the best low profile typing experience available, again there isn’t really a choice.
Had to admit that air75 is good with specs and kinda have the samilar design with lofree flow, just different colors. But damn, that lofree looks classic and cool... you know air75 kinda looks like a fun vibe with modern touch, kinda like a gundam but lofree is premium vibe, like a man in suit with cigar going out of black sportscar kind of thing lol perfect for black all around setup.
The Lowfree Flow seems like a great start. If they release a V2 with some of the complaints addressed, I’d definitely consider. It seems a little overpriced for the features but if they update to address these issues, I think it would be worth the price
I recently got the Air 75 v2. I've only used cheap membrane in the past, and was getting frustrated by how sluggish it felt, as someone who dabbles in rhythm games. I wanted a smaller mechanical keyboard I could put over my laptop keyboard and also set on my desk, and the Air 75 fit that perfectly while having way more customizations and features than I expected. I don't really care about how the switches feel right now since I'm coming from membrane, but I don't like the sound of clicky keys and I heard Cherry reds were good for rhythm games, so I went with their Gateron red option. Since getting my Air 75 v2, it has completely blown away my expectations, and I'm very easily beating my old scores with it. It feels like a whole new league compared to membrane, and it's even replaced the Bluetooth keyboard I use with my tablet. I just wish Nuphy sold seperate low-profile numberpads. I chose the 75% for portability and space, but I miss touch typing the calculator with the numberpad.
I'm using the Lofree Flow. The battery will be a problem if you guys want to bring it outside a lot. I'm fine with it cause it sits still on my desk. The real sound is not like in most of the videos, it's not that thock, can't blame cause it's a low-profile anyway. I'm getting used to it cause before that I used a very creamy high-profile mechanical keyboard. I change to this one because it hurts my wrist and I'm tired of using the wrist rest.
I get outside with my laptop and keyboard a lot, so I want my keyboard fit nicely on my laptop's built-in keyboard, seems like Lofree might accidentally press the keys, but nuphy fits perfectly
I've experienced no issues with the battery. For normal office work, mine lasts about 3 weeks before charging. The power management of it is really good. Powers off quickly and wakes from sleep quickly as well (unlike the awful power management on Keychrons)
This comparison is one of the most helpful I've seen! I'm considering both of these right now but mainly informing purchase on finger pain where impact of tactile feeling or kinda solid feeling keyboards, as well as heavy switches... So I'm unsure about the heavier actuation force of the switches on the Lofree compared to Nuphy's linears but at the same time the Air75 not having any flex seems like it may be an issue too 😅 Loving seeing the new innovation in this space though!
I have the Lofree Flow 100 with Phantom Black switches and the Nuphy Air98 with Moss switches. I absolutely love both the Moss switches and the Phantom switches equally. If you're transitioning from MX keys, these are the keyboards and switches you want. The feel of the Lofree Flow is amazing, thanks to the stabilizers and gasket mount design. While they offer totally different experiences, I love switching back and forth between them. However, I have one issue with the Flow 100: I can't get certain keys, such as the function keys and the number lock, to work with my Mac. It works perfectly on Windows, and I hope they can fix the Mac issues! Despite their different feels and styling, both keyboards provide perfect bump and feedback from the keys and I love their compact design with the number pad.
I was all set to pull the pin on getting the Lofree Flow until I saw your video. I'm going to do a little more research, but I'm firmly leaning towards team Nuphy now. Thank you very much.
No way, perhaps quality control failed on your keyboard? I learned that the first step of the foldable feet is not very tight, if you place V2 with the first step plucked out on your desk, the feet may easily move back into its case if you push it forward, that may be a problem😳
Thank you for the excellent review. I have a question from someone who is not familiar with keyboards att all. Is it possible to replace the keycaps on the Lofree Flow with other keycaps that are not listed on their website? Is there a standard keycap size or fitting for the switches used in the Flow? How can I determine which keycaps on the market are compatible with the Kailh switches used in the Lofree Flow?
Hi! Yes, you can replace the keycaps on the Lofree Flow with pretty much any MX low profile keycaps. The switches have the standard MX "+" shaped stem so any low profile switches that have MX style connectors will work. The only thing to watch out for is the stabilized keys - some keycaps have an offset for the stabilizer connection points - meaning the connection for the keycap is not linear to the stabilizer connections. The Lofree Flow has linear stabilizer positioning, so the stabilizer keycaps need to have linear connections. This is generally more common that having offset stabilizers, so most low profile keycaps should work.
Are the switches from Lofree compatible with the Nuphy Air 75? It seems the option is to buy the Nuphy and replace the switches with the ones from Lofree 🤔
compare with the Lofree as well please. I actually have the Lofree and the Falchion arriving today, but im curious to hear your thoughts. Honestly main reason I ordered them is for my 3 year old. I think a low profile keyboard will be easier for him to game on. Don't ask.
I have the NuPhy 96V2 and I absolutely love it! It's amazing... however the sound of the Lowfree.... creamy as.. How do I get my NuPhy to sound like thiss?!
It seems like the Lofree Flow has a chokehold on us when it comes to thock. Outside of that I'm waiting for a V2 if they create one, cuz Lofree needs to match what Nuphy offers for their price.
i gotta go with lofree I love the sound thats all matters I don't realy tweak any mapping in my keyboard anyways I just want a low profile keyboard that sounds so satisfying to type on and looks minimalistic
I have a chance to buy either Lofree or Nuphy Air75 V2 for the same price, which one should I buy? I prefer on the type experience & the look than other features.
Lofree sounds amazing. But at $150 it's way too expensive. If it had been $75, I would get one. It needs to be QMK/VIA compatible, needs a bigger battery (1 month battery life would be great), and a 2.4GHz adapter would be great too.
Your putting out great reviews my compliment.. i'm not even typing on that board but i can feel what your saying and it resonates 100%.. btw what's that crap about switch pins being different. That sucks big time never knew that .. i don't have a low profile board but that seems like a show stopper.
Thank you! Yeah low profile switches vary a bit by manufacturer unfortunately...Gateron and Kailh have their pins in different positions so no swapping between them. I'm not sure why it's like that with low profile switches when regular switches are pretty much consistent across manufacturers.
I have both of these keyboards - Lofree with the linear switches and the Nuphy with the Aloe and Cowberry. Both keyboards have the frustrations - the Lofree because of its lack of features and the Nuphy because of how rattly and hollow the switches/keyboard sounds. I'm half way through a project of taking apart the Nuphy to lube the switches and stabs with some krytox and add some pebax or similar into the case.
For the typing action sound/feel, the Lofree Flow with linear switches is better than the Nuphy. The Lofree sounds more buttery whereas the Nuphy rattles more. For features such as QMK/VIA then obviously the Nuphy. However Lofree are releasing a v2 version in 2024 with these sort of features. @@NinjaSushi2
Is linear > tactile for these low profile mech. keyboards? I love my Cherry MX blue switches in a "normal travel" keyboard (like my Varmilo MIYA Pro), but perhaps for low profile you get the same sense/punch with linear? or is the difference the same (for low profile vs. "normal travel")? thank youuuu
Great question, I have noticed that with the shorter travel of low profile switches it is easier to bottom-out linear switches, so I'm getting that feeling as the feedback vs. really needing the bump midway through the press. As a result, I tend to have fewer errors while typing on linear low profile switches compared to high profile linear switches. I prefer linears for the smooth feel, but tactile & clicky low profile switches still offer significantly more feedback so if typing accuracy is one of your main priorities, you'll likely still get better results with a tactile or blue low profile switch.
I keep reading reviews and the Lofree firmware breaking like the LEDs stop working or the keyboard powers off randomly. That turns me off and I'll probably go with the Nuphy knowing these quality issues.
qmk/Via support puts it over everything else.. sure the internals of the lofree flow are better meaning the building like screws and nice eva foam and silicone .. But the qmk/via and better battery is a killer..
I don’t need the QMK/VIA supports, for me the typing feel is more important. Already bought the LoFree Flow & this keyboard could be my end-game (for long time). The accent color on the Nuphy isn’t my favorite too, I like the more “serious-looking” vibes on the LoFree
are linear switches not pleasurable in terms of typing experience? I always hear people talk about mistakes but darn the sound of those cowberry switches sound so much better than the tactile moss
I personally love typing on linear switches. I generally do find the likelihood of typing errors increases from Clicky to Tactile to Linear. I personally could not stand the sound of clicky switches all day long, but there's no doubting when you've registered each key press. Tactile has a big range of mild to sharp feedback - the new moss switches offer much more feedback than typical brown switches. I still type accurately on tactile but sometimes just want the smooth feel of linears. I do make a few errors here and there with linears because I'll try to go too fast and won't fully press down a key once in a while, but it's not like a huge ratio of errors. The amount of switch travel also makes a difference - with shorter travel linear switches including low profile, they will bottom out relatively quickly so that helps reduce errors. I've noticed I make a few more errors on high profile linear switches with a traditional 4.0mm travel, and slightly fewer errors on low profile linear switches which have 3.0 to 3.4mm of travel.
@@semiprotechi appreciate your feedback! I had some time today and went to a local computer store and realized i also prefer linear's smoothness and made less errors compared to these mx browns i have at home as my first keyboard.
I think you could have talked about the case that the nuphy v2 come with. I think it’s especially good for people with pets and cats especially and is good to keep it clean from fur or when u eat snacks in front of your computer sometimes
Hi! The switches are not interchangeable between the Lofree and NuPhy. The switches in the Lofree are made by Kailh and they have different pin positions compared to gateron low profile switches.
Pretty much on point...Lofree looks and sounds better but NuPhy simply offers more. Seriously, Lofree, what's with the color being locked into switch type, transparent keycaps, single height, meh batery and the lack of 2.4G? And it's more expensive, to boot. Up your game. On a side note, I wish the switch makers would standardize the goddamn pinout so that low profile keyboard crowd isn't locked into just one brand of switches...bastards.
I know the alternative low profile keyboard other than NuPhy Air, just like Lofree Flow, just now. I guess YT recommendation is far better to lead you into rabbit hole.
The MCU and wireless polling rates have been upgraded - 2.4GHz is now 1000Hz. I have not had any trouble with mine and it does seem to be more responsive than the V1.
i'm not in the market for a lowProfile board .. but if i was or will be in the future then i 100% agree with you Air75 v2 is definitely the winner no contest .. And that's coming from a keyboard addict. typing on a nice Saka68 with hmx cloud switches.... i can see myself buying this board if i ever need a lowprofile travel board.
so basically the lofree is great if you plan to use it wired only but the nuphy is much better at its stated goal. I plan to use a kvm over mode-switching so prolly gonna go for the lofree. that all aluminum shell is just.. too much to ignore.
For any "serious" use (like competitive gaming) I wouldn't even bother with wireless connection. It's susceptible to interference and I think only Logitech and Razer were able to reduce the input lag to around 1 ms. Other wireless keyboards have a lag of 10..15 ms even if the polling rate is high. For productivity / office work none of this matters :)
![กี่หมื่นฟ้า | Your Sky Series EP.1 [1/4]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/vLGjxFL6U_I/mqdefault.jpg)
We need a Lofree Flow v2.0 with QMK support and a larger battery
Also with foldable feet
so true @@Mickstar305 the feet design on the lofree flow is terrible.
seems like we need a combo of Lofree Flow and Nuphy Air75V2 here🤣
v2 version is coming in 2024.
Yes! I am down for this.
The Air75 V2 is great but damn that Lofree sounds creamy.
This... I'm looking to buy a 75% low profile for on-the-go. I'm so torn between these two. I love the lofree sounds, but I want my flippy feet damnit!
is there a best of both worlds out there? Let's see what comes next...
@@RovakX you may want to consider lofree flow lite which will be released later this year
I bought both. My main use for a mechanical keyboard is to type on it for hours on end. For that, the Lofree Flow wins for me. The typing feel and sound, no clackiness, sleek sexy aluminum case all around, slimmer, and gasket mount feel. I don't need key customizations, I actually like how the backlight partially shines through, and bluetooth has worked well for me despite my preference for 2.4ghz wireless. My Nuphy Air75 v2 went back in its box.
why not sell it in second hand market, could've been a great option for someone else😊
Would you be interested in selling it?
Which would you say is better to throw it into the backpack and whip it out quickly on the road? Eg in a café or something similar, on top of a laptop.
linear or tactcile flow?
Wow, great that retailer allows you to trying out products. Here in au, no retailer accept returns.
This video is so relevant thank you for existing!
Lofree flow still is the winner to me, the typing feel and sound is so creamy
I love muphy, but lofree sounds 100x better lol.
Lofree wins by FAR.
Nuphy’s switches feel like hot garbage.
Thank you, I appreciate, it after watching so many type tests, there's a person that can touch type and doesn't just mash the keys in an effort to make it look like you are. Also the 4 finger hunters are also pretty painful to watch, so THANK YOU!
I actually ordered a NuPhy last night and just found this video - which confirmed my decision! Great video, love your videography style!
Eagerly awaiting my Nuphy v2 👍🏻
The number one reason I got the Nuphy Air75v2 was the fact that it is QMK/VIA compatible. Without that there's little reason to deal with a keyboard.
As of now, the QMK support is only on wired and Nuphy is actually false advertising because they aren't open-sourcing the wireless connection for QMK which goes against GPL license
@@amitkulkarni3922Does that mean that changes made via qmk software won't work on wireless mode?
So what is aMit talking about? Thanks.
I chose Keychron K3 Pro earlier this year over Nuphy Air75v1 for its VIA feature, but switched to Nuphy keycaps (look way better than keychron's), now V2 got VIA as well, I immediately bought V2 to replace my K3 pro😁
@jGRite If you're a Windows users can use Microsoft's Power Toys and the keyboard manager utility within that to remap the keys on the Lofree Flow. There are various other keyboard remapping utilities available as well.
I really don't understand why for low profile keyboards they never specify the lowest height closest to your wrists vs the tallest height. That is massively important for wrist comfort on a portable keyboard if you don't want to be carrying around a wrist rest all the time.
Ok, didn't know I needed a new kb, but I just ordered the Lofree flow. Great video. Thanks.
How do you like it?
How is it?
@@ethernet764 It's freaking amazing. I love it. It sounds and feels like marbled butter, whatever that is. Also get the white one, unless you're really into tactiles.
@andremessado7659 Excellent. I got the black phantom switches first. Ordered the white ghost switches as well. Will return one of them 😅
@@ethernet764update? Which one you prefer?
Wish Nuphy had a subdued sound like Lofree flow for office work.
I own Nuphy Air 75 V2 with Wisteria switch. The board definitely the best keyboard i've typed on. I also own Keychron K3 V2. From K3 V2 to Nuphy Air 75 V2 was a huge upgrade in term of everything. Maybe, Nuphy Air 75 V2 is the best low profile keyboard you can find on market right now.
Thanks for the review! Here are my thoughts:
1) Backlighting with opaque keys actually reduces readability rather than enhancing it, making it mostly useless.
2) While polling rate matters, gamers are typically more sensitive to input lag, which sits around 10..15 ms.
3) Personally, I find RGB to be a gimmick. I wouldn’t miss it if it weren’t included at all.
4) NuPhy might want to reconsider their material and color choices. Lofree looks much more sophisticated.
5) For serious gamers, a wired connection is generally the better choice, offering speed without interference. Wireless is still a trade-off, even with newer technology.
6) For office work, pick the keyboard that you like most in terms of looks and ergonomics and forget about polling rates :)
I got the lofree flow for work and I love it. I don't need any other special functions. I just want something that sounds good and type well and I always have it connected. I love this keyboard!
I think the low profile keyboard comparisons are few and far between, so I really appreciate your videos! I ordered the Lofree Flow linear a few months ago during the WhatGeek sale, but it still hasn't shipped yet. I assume it's because I also ordered the 8BitDo keyboard, which is taking longer to ship. At any rate, I am still interested in maybe purchasing the Air V2, as I was not interested in the first version. However, I did select the Lofree because of the typing and sound experience, which is most important to me for keyboards in general.
Thanks! It's hard to beat the typing feel and sound of the Flow for a low profile keyboard, so I think you'll enjoy it when it arrives!
@@semiprotech I just got it in the mail and I am completely blown away. I did not anticipate it being this good!! It sounds and feels amazing.
Thanks for this! Holy the Lofree sounds amazing, both versions!
The Lofree Flow looks, sounds, and feels nicer without a doubt, but without VIA and switch swapping compatibility it’s a nonstarter. I could overlook the lack of VIA in this layout, but the switch support is a hard dealbreaker.
Kailh and Lofree really guaranteed I wouldn’t consider their product by intentionally designing their switch pins to be incompatible with other low profile switches. For the same reason I won’t consider a keyboard with Outemu hot swap sockets or Keychron optical switches, etc. I won’t consider the Flow.
Being locked in artificially to a certain brand’s switches (rather than being able to choose the best ones for me on their own merit) is pretty antithetical to what I enjoy about mechanical keyboards in the first place.
Those things don't matter to me and most people looking for a keyboard, it's for the niche/enthusiast community. We care about aesthetics and typing experience. The Lofree Flow just wins there with ease.
I don't know. Looks boring to me.
I like some color.
The numphy looks better 100%
Lack of remappability on the Flow is a dealbreaker for me. Sad because I prefer the sound to the Air. Thanks for the great sound tests!
This is excellent! Thank you for taking the time to provide relevant and useful information in deciding which to buy.
Interesting and timely video as I recently bought the Lofree and am also considering the Nuphy v2! Here's my take on the Lofree Flow.
PROS:
1. Nice typing action - definitely different and more 'plush' sounding compared to every other low profile keyboard I've tried. Keys sound like proper lubed switches. No hint of rattliness, which is great.
2. Adding 'O' rings (40A hardness/1.5mm thickness) to the keycap stems significantly reduces the noise on each keystroke - useful if you work in a share office, at night, or simply prefer quieter keystrokes.
3. A sound dampening mat underneath the keyboard also reduces the noise/resonance through the aluminium case/desk - you can even use the including foam pad supplied in the box.
4. Compatible with many other keycaps. The Nuphy ABS 'shine through' keycaps actually work with the Lofree and vastly improves the backlighting due to the shine through key legends. XVX low profile keycaps also work and they come in different varieties and colors including PBT and shine through etc.
5. Well built and feels like a quality product.
6. Power management, wake from sleep, bluetooth connectivity etc is good and with no issues (I've been using this keyboard for the last couple of months using bluetooth to switch from desktop to 2 other work laptops on a daily basis).
CONS:
1. The Phantom tactile switches produce a very definite key action (you know exactly when you've hit the key correctly which touch typists may like). Personally, I feel that the actuation is a bit 'heavy' with slightly more resistance than I would like and I don't love the feel of the keys when they bottom out and strike the backplate as its doesn't feel that cushioned to me (though I'm probably used to laptop membrane/scissor switch keyboards). Phantom tacticle advertised at around 50gf but I wish they were slightly lighter eg. 40gf or 45gf actuation. I think I would prefer the Ghost linear switches over the Phantom tactile switches. Make sure you order a set of each switches if you're unsure!
2. There is NO Fn-Lock on this keyboard. In other words you cannot change the default function key action only using the keyboard. My keyboard has F-Keys as default. This drives me nuts as I want media keys enabled by default. Some other users have reported that they have media keys enabled by default which is odd. The comments from Lofree on this issue on Reddit makes absolutely no sense. They simply have not enabled any sort of FN-Lock or switching on this keyboard at all.
3. The backlighting is useless but this can be cured by getting some shine through key caps (see above). Shine through keycaps make a HUGE difference to the legibility of the keys in darkness.
4. No QMK/VIA key mapping option. You can use Windows Powertoys and the keyboard remapping function within that but this only works to some extent as you cannot replicate certain keystroke combinations. Remapping single keys is easy enough though eg. mapping F3 to say CTRL + . (period) for an emoji popup or some other CTRL+SHIFT+KEY type function. However, you cannot map say FN+Volume Up to F12 for example.
5. Only 2 switch options. As mentioned above, personally I'd like to see a lighter linear switch option.
OVERALL
If the Lofree could be combined with the Nuphy, ie Lofree POM/gasket/dampening etc, with Nuphy's wider range of options, you'd have the perfect keyboard! At the moment, both are good, but neither are perfect....
I have both of these keyboards and agree with the points you make about the Lofree.
Excellent assessment! I couldn't agree more that if someone could combine these two keyboards, it really would be perfect. Functionality of the Air75 V2 with the sound and feel of the Flow would be an endgame keyboard.
@@semiprotech Collab in the future? :P
Excellent review all around, both content and video/sound quality. Subbed.
Thank you!
What’s the best choice of switches on the air75 to replicate the white lofree feel?
Exactly what I was looking for, thank you! 🙏🏻
NuPhy is the keyboard that I really love, and I got 3 of 'em: Air 60, 60 and 75...they are just fantastic...
which switches do you enjoy the most for typing?
@@curseknight5 75 -- Breeze switches, the thockiest one...feels really good, but I think they could even do better, we'll see...
All Kail switches are suitable for LoFree. And these are 3 for their special keycaps (keycaps will need to be replaced) and 3 new formats already available on the market. Plus, these two are special for LoFree and if you look there are also pink and some other limited versions. Therefore, it is possible that Kail switches, on the contrary, have the largest differnt types.
Another thing is that they all have single-stage springs. I have no idea what the difference is between them))))
Just got my nuphy v2 and i am really happy with it
just bought white nuphy air75 v2. I specifically bought it to replace my previous linear normal profile keyboard, which sounds to my liking - but introduces typing error due to minimal linear resistance - when I'm just chilling and not thinking when typing, I would have aaa, ss, just extra unwanted characters due to the nature of linear switches. now I chose tactile moss switch, and it is as I hoped it would be, just perfection for me. it literally boosted my wpm by 10-20. I rarely have typing error, and the sound although not as marbly as my linear kb, it is just perfect, it grows on me.
and lastly, I replaced the alphabets, arrows, pgup and pgdn keycaps with xvx seethrough keycaps, and now I can see the legends lighted beautifully.
Glad you are liking it! Love to hear that you found the right combination for you. Everyday typing is so much more enjoyable when you find just the right keyboard and switches.
Love your videos, so high quality! Excited for your channel to grow
Thank you!
@@semiprotech where did you get your keyboard mat?
I purchased a Lofree Flow 100, as well as an air96 v2. I have to say, the typing experience isn’t really comparable. The Lofree just feels so much more quality when typing, while the Nuphy feels almost cheap/plasticky by comparison. I wouldn’t have noticed if I didn’t have both. Yes, if you need VIA, there is only one choice in this comparison. But if you don’t, and you just want the best low profile typing experience available, again there isn’t really a choice.
Thanks for your review and I found my favourite keyboard! NuPhy air 75 V2 with cowberry switch is simply unbeatable!
I agree, cowberry is my favorite switch from NuPhy!
Had to admit that air75 is good with specs and kinda have the samilar design with lofree flow, just different colors. But damn, that lofree looks classic and cool... you know air75 kinda looks like a fun vibe with modern touch, kinda like a gundam but lofree is premium vibe, like a man in suit with cigar going out of black sportscar kind of thing lol perfect for black all around setup.
The Lowfree Flow seems like a great start. If they release a V2 with some of the complaints addressed, I’d definitely consider. It seems a little overpriced for the features but if they update to address these issues, I think it would be worth the price
I recently got the Air 75 v2. I've only used cheap membrane in the past, and was getting frustrated by how sluggish it felt, as someone who dabbles in rhythm games. I wanted a smaller mechanical keyboard I could put over my laptop keyboard and also set on my desk, and the Air 75 fit that perfectly while having way more customizations and features than I expected. I don't really care about how the switches feel right now since I'm coming from membrane, but I don't like the sound of clicky keys and I heard Cherry reds were good for rhythm games, so I went with their Gateron red option. Since getting my Air 75 v2, it has completely blown away my expectations, and I'm very easily beating my old scores with it. It feels like a whole new league compared to membrane, and it's even replaced the Bluetooth keyboard I use with my tablet.
I just wish Nuphy sold seperate low-profile numberpads. I chose the 75% for portability and space, but I miss touch typing the calculator with the numberpad.
I'm using the Lofree Flow. The battery will be a problem if you guys want to bring it outside a lot. I'm fine with it cause it sits still on my desk. The real sound is not like in most of the videos, it's not that thock, can't blame cause it's a low-profile anyway. I'm getting used to it cause before that I used a very creamy high-profile mechanical keyboard. I change to this one because it hurts my wrist and I'm tired of using the wrist rest.
I get outside with my laptop and keyboard a lot, so I want my keyboard fit nicely on my laptop's built-in keyboard, seems like Lofree might accidentally press the keys, but nuphy fits perfectly
I've experienced no issues with the battery. For normal office work, mine lasts about 3 weeks before charging. The power management of it is really good. Powers off quickly and wakes from sleep quickly as well (unlike the awful power management on Keychrons)
This comparison is one of the most helpful I've seen! I'm considering both of these right now but mainly informing purchase on finger pain where impact of tactile feeling or kinda solid feeling keyboards, as well as heavy switches... So I'm unsure about the heavier actuation force of the switches on the Lofree compared to Nuphy's linears but at the same time the Air75 not having any flex seems like it may be an issue too 😅 Loving seeing the new innovation in this space though!
I got the Air75 v2 with cowberry, and it’s simply amazing to type with
I agree the cowberry switches are fantastic!
did you see that NuPHY just sent out pre release invites for the V2 of Air96? im looking forward to your review!
Yes I'm excited for that!
I have the Lofree Flow 100 with Phantom Black switches and the Nuphy Air98 with Moss switches. I absolutely love both the Moss switches and the Phantom switches equally. If you're transitioning from MX keys, these are the keyboards and switches you want. The feel of the Lofree Flow is amazing, thanks to the stabilizers and gasket mount design. While they offer totally different experiences, I love switching back and forth between them.
However, I have one issue with the Flow 100: I can't get certain keys, such as the function keys and the number lock, to work with my Mac. It works perfectly on Windows, and I hope they can fix the Mac issues! Despite their different feels and styling, both keyboards provide perfect bump and feedback from the keys and I love their compact design with the number pad.
try fn+m for mac option probably you're still on windows mode
I was all set to pull the pin on getting the Lofree Flow until I saw your video. I'm going to do a little more research, but I'm firmly leaning towards team Nuphy now. Thank you very much.
I just bought the white Nuphy Air75 V2 with Wisteria switches, love the feel and sound, a bit heavier than the V1 but still recommended for travel.
I have been using Nuphy 96....the some switch failed after 1 year of using.
Quick question - are the F-keys on the Nuphy enabled as media keys (volume, brightness etc) by default or F1-F12 etc by default?
you can change them with the included software but it is f keys by default with a function key to use media keys
Out of the box, the Mac side yes the Window side no.
@@jGRiterip
Lofree wins on sound. Nuphy on everything else.
Both look and sound great BUT neither is available with UK keycaps as far as I can see, which rules them out for me.
You can easily learn the ANSI format it’s not difficult
You can replace the individual keycaps...
@vwmusicplaylist1935 but what Do I replace them with? What other makes of low profile keycaps would fit?
@@richardOracleDBA DSA keycaps should work fine without adding too much overall thickness. I use them on my air60.
Does the nuphy come with an extra spacebar that’s not yellow?
Yeah definitely dislike that
My Nuphy Air 75 V2 wobbles a lot when typing, is this like a normal thing for low profile keyboards?
No way, perhaps quality control failed on your keyboard? I learned that the first step of the foldable feet is not very tight, if you place V2 with the first step plucked out on your desk, the feet may easily move back into its case if you push it forward, that may be a problem😳
Thank you for the excellent review.
I have a question from someone who is not familiar with keyboards att all. Is it possible to replace the keycaps on the Lofree Flow with other keycaps that are not listed on their website? Is there a standard keycap size or fitting for the switches used in the Flow? How can I determine which keycaps on the market are compatible with the Kailh switches used in the Lofree Flow?
Hi! Yes, you can replace the keycaps on the Lofree Flow with pretty much any MX low profile keycaps. The switches have the standard MX "+" shaped stem so any low profile switches that have MX style connectors will work. The only thing to watch out for is the stabilized keys - some keycaps have an offset for the stabilizer connection points - meaning the connection for the keycap is not linear to the stabilizer connections. The Lofree Flow has linear stabilizer positioning, so the stabilizer keycaps need to have linear connections. This is generally more common that having offset stabilizers, so most low profile keycaps should work.
Are the switches from Lofree compatible with the Nuphy Air 75? It seems the option is to buy the Nuphy and replace the switches with the ones from Lofree 🤔
Unfortunately no, the switches are not interchangeable. The pins are in different positions than the Gateron switches in the Air75 V2.
Damn, been researching and the Air75 with Cowberry or Wisteria switches and that travel case seems outstanding to typing in public.
Nuphy v2 VS ROG Falchion RX Low Profile?👀
I actually have the Falchion RX waiting in line for a review so I can definitely do a comparison!
compare with the Lofree as well please. I actually have the Lofree and the Falchion arriving today, but im curious to hear your thoughts. Honestly main reason I ordered them is for my 3 year old. I think a low profile keyboard will be easier for him to game on. Don't ask.
Great vid! that's what I was looking for
thank you. concise as to what people are looking for
Lofree sounds very creamy indeed, but The "MOSS" Switches are exactly what I needed to make up my mind & go with the Nuphy.
can you seriously not get ghost switches with the black theme for the lofree? why would they do that lmao
Great comparison.
Do Nuphy low profile keycaps compatible with Lofree Flow KB?
Hi! I'm trying to find the answer to that question too, have you found out anything about that?
Thanks man u help me to buy Nuphy Air V2 bassalt black with cowberry switch
Does this mean that you can't put the switches from the Lofree Flow into The Air75, and vice versa?
You made me buy the Lofree Flow!
I have the NuPhy 96V2 and I absolutely love it! It's amazing... however the sound of the Lowfree.... creamy as.. How do I get my NuPhy to sound like thiss?!
It seems like the Lofree Flow has a chokehold on us when it comes to thock. Outside of that I'm waiting for a V2 if they create one, cuz Lofree needs to match what Nuphy offers for their price.
which one would you recommend for small hands ? or do you have any other recommendations ?
i gotta go with lofree I love the sound thats all matters I don't realy tweak any mapping in my keyboard anyways I just want a low profile keyboard that sounds so satisfying to type on and looks minimalistic
I have a chance to buy either Lofree or Nuphy Air75 V2 for the same price, which one should I buy? I prefer on the type experience & the look than other features.
Lofree sounds amazing. But at $150 it's way too expensive. If it had been $75, I would get one. It needs to be QMK/VIA compatible, needs a bigger battery (1 month battery life would be great), and a 2.4GHz adapter would be great too.
lofree flow with the tactile switches is absolutely mint. amazing that they could achieve that in such a low profile keyboard.
If it had been the way you described, its price would probably have leveled up further🤣
Is it possible to change the switches on air75 to the ghost linear from lofree? That way you'd have best of both worlds
Unfortunately no, the Kailh POM switches do not have the same pin positions as Gateron low profile switches, so they are not interchangeable.
Your putting out great reviews my compliment.. i'm not even typing on that board but i can feel what your saying and it resonates 100%.. btw what's that crap about switch pins being different.
That sucks big time never knew that .. i don't have a low profile board but that seems like a show stopper.
Thank you! Yeah low profile switches vary a bit by manufacturer unfortunately...Gateron and Kailh have their pins in different positions so no swapping between them. I'm not sure why it's like that with low profile switches when regular switches are pretty much consistent across manufacturers.
Great review. Thank you!!
The Nuphy Air75 v2 is excellent apart from not being able to have a bright white light on the back light.
I have both of these keyboards - Lofree with the linear switches and the Nuphy with the Aloe and Cowberry. Both keyboards have the frustrations - the Lofree because of its lack of features and the Nuphy because of how rattly and hollow the switches/keyboard sounds. I'm half way through a project of taking apart the Nuphy to lube the switches and stabs with some krytox and add some pebax or similar into the case.
Which do you prefer?
For the typing action sound/feel, the Lofree Flow with linear switches is better than the Nuphy. The Lofree sounds more buttery whereas the Nuphy rattles more. For features such as QMK/VIA then obviously the Nuphy. However Lofree are releasing a v2 version in 2024 with these sort of features. @@NinjaSushi2
@@googlereviewer1944 If that's true, here we go again. My wallet will empty again LOL
@@googlereviewer1944 "However Lofree are releasing a v2 version in 2024" - Thank you for including that in your post. I think i'll wait for V2.
Is it possible to put nuphy shine through keys on lofree flow?
Is linear > tactile for these low profile mech. keyboards?
I love my Cherry MX blue switches in a "normal travel" keyboard (like my Varmilo MIYA Pro), but perhaps for low profile you get the same sense/punch with linear? or is the difference the same (for low profile vs. "normal travel")? thank youuuu
Great question, I have noticed that with the shorter travel of low profile switches it is easier to bottom-out linear switches, so I'm getting that feeling as the feedback vs. really needing the bump midway through the press. As a result, I tend to have fewer errors while typing on linear low profile switches compared to high profile linear switches. I prefer linears for the smooth feel, but tactile & clicky low profile switches still offer significantly more feedback so if typing accuracy is one of your main priorities, you'll likely still get better results with a tactile or blue low profile switch.
I keep reading reviews and the Lofree firmware breaking like the LEDs stop working or the keyboard powers off randomly. That turns me off and I'll probably go with the Nuphy knowing these quality issues.
qmk/Via support puts it over everything else.. sure the internals of the lofree flow are better meaning the building like screws and nice eva foam and silicone .. But the qmk/via and better battery is a killer..
both lofree sound worlds better than the nuphy in sound test
I don’t need the QMK/VIA supports, for me the typing feel is more important. Already bought the LoFree Flow & this keyboard could be my end-game (for long time). The accent color on the Nuphy isn’t my favorite too, I like the more “serious-looking” vibes on the LoFree
are linear switches not pleasurable in terms of typing experience? I always hear people talk about mistakes but darn the sound of those cowberry switches sound so much better than the tactile moss
I personally love typing on linear switches. I generally do find the likelihood of typing errors increases from Clicky to Tactile to Linear. I personally could not stand the sound of clicky switches all day long, but there's no doubting when you've registered each key press. Tactile has a big range of mild to sharp feedback - the new moss switches offer much more feedback than typical brown switches. I still type accurately on tactile but sometimes just want the smooth feel of linears. I do make a few errors here and there with linears because I'll try to go too fast and won't fully press down a key once in a while, but it's not like a huge ratio of errors. The amount of switch travel also makes a difference - with shorter travel linear switches including low profile, they will bottom out relatively quickly so that helps reduce errors. I've noticed I make a few more errors on high profile linear switches with a traditional 4.0mm travel, and slightly fewer errors on low profile linear switches which have 3.0 to 3.4mm of travel.
@@semiprotechi appreciate your feedback! I had some time today and went to a local computer store and realized i also prefer linear's smoothness and made less errors compared to these mx browns i have at home as my first keyboard.
I think you could have talked about the case that the nuphy v2 come with. I think it’s especially good for people with pets and cats especially and is good to keep it clean from fur or when u eat snacks in front of your computer sometimes
what after market key caps did you get for the lofree?
Hi. Price being equal. Which would you choose. Typing feel is my priority.
Lofree
what low profile keycaps did you use (mentioned at 6:13)?
I used these - nothing fancy but they were a little nicer than I expected: www.amazon.com/XVX-Low-Profile-Keycaps-Mechanical/dp/B0CBMNCQJ2
Hi 👋
Can change switch between Nuphy anh Lofree? 🤔
Hi! The switches are not interchangeable between the Lofree and NuPhy. The switches in the Lofree are made by Kailh and they have different pin positions compared to gateron low profile switches.
@@semiprotech Thanks.
Pretty much on point...Lofree looks and sounds better but NuPhy simply offers more.
Seriously, Lofree, what's with the color being locked into switch type, transparent keycaps, single height, meh batery and the lack of 2.4G? And it's more expensive, to boot. Up your game.
On a side note, I wish the switch makers would standardize the goddamn pinout so that low profile keyboard crowd isn't locked into just one brand of switches...bastards.
No full-size enter key... :(
I know the alternative low profile keyboard other than NuPhy Air, just like Lofree Flow, just now.
I guess YT recommendation is far better to lead you into rabbit hole.
hey so that means that i also cannot use the kailh switches of the lofree keyboard for the nuphy v2?
Correct, they are not interchangeable between the Lofree Flow and Air75.
@@semiprotech thank you :) what a pitty, that would have been great.
what about the input lag of nuphy? is it fixed for v2?
The MCU and wireless polling rates have been upgraded - 2.4GHz is now 1000Hz. I have not had any trouble with mine and it does seem to be more responsive than the V1.
thanks@@semiprotech
Are you considering making VIA mapping tutorials?
both pass test: holding both shift keys and can write the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog? can anyone confirm?
The sound of the Lofree absolutely smokes the NuPhy.
What's the polling rate on the Lofree Flow? Can't find it listed anywhere
500hz according to various reviews.
Lofree offer better feel and sound.
Nuphy offer better design and color.
Btw, Can I just buy Lofree and change its keycaps to Nuphy keycaps...???
Lofree smashes nuphy. Sounds great.
Hello, any chance you can share the tree wallpaper @ 1:20 please ?
Sure thing! Here you go: basicappleguy.com/basicappleblog/os-x-rancho-cucamonga
Lofree flow Tactile or Linear? Anyone can chime in?
Can we put nuphy keys on lofree flow?
The keycaps are both MX so yes you can! The switches are not interchangeable but the keycaps will work.
i'm not in the market for a lowProfile board .. but if i was or will be in the future then i 100% agree with you Air75 v2 is definitely the winner no contest .. And that's coming from a keyboard addict.
typing on a nice Saka68 with hmx cloud switches.... i can see myself buying this board if i ever need a lowprofile travel board.
Quick checking: Do both work well with MAC thu?
I've not had any issues using them with my Mac, and they're also compatible with iPad and iPhone.
so basically the lofree is great if you plan to use it wired only but the nuphy is much better at its stated goal. I plan to use a kvm over mode-switching so prolly gonna go for the lofree. that all aluminum shell is just.. too much to ignore.
For any "serious" use (like competitive gaming) I wouldn't even bother with wireless connection. It's susceptible to interference and I think only Logitech and Razer were able to reduce the input lag to around 1 ms. Other wireless keyboards have a lag of 10..15 ms even if the polling rate is high. For productivity / office work none of this matters :)
The loFree backlighting kind of kills it for me
Can you suggest cheaper option that does the same as Lofree Flow?