Nuphy Air60 V2 review: specs, features, price

Mechanical keyboards are extra mainstream than ever and are available in each form and dimension. Nevertheless, smaller, extra moveable mechanical keyboards are a lot more durable to seek out with an honest construct and options.

Nuphy is an exception because it stands out with the feature-packed Air lineup, and the favourite Air60 is back with a second version. It amps up most of the options like improved connections and customization with out sacrificing dimension or battery life.

I used to be a giant fan of the Nuphy Air60 once I reviewed it in 2022. The small dimension, journey case, and lengthy battery life made it a fantastic keyboard (that’s till my cat killed it with wine).

There are many configurations to select from when ordering too. Nuphy affords a number of new and upgraded swap choices, a brand new basalt black coloration, and shine-through keycaps.

Nuphy managed to refresh the design a bit with out departing from the skinny and light-weight case. New two-layer fold-out “AirFeet” present extra angles, and the case is ever so barely thinner on the thinnest finish.

Nuphy Air60 V2 assessment: small, brilliant, colourful

The white unit we examined has a pleasant matte end that matches properly with the keycap set. Inexperienced accents on the escape key, rear switches, and USB-C port add a splash of coloration together with the yellow spacebar and orange enter key.

It’s precisely one pound, measuring 11.7 inches by 4.2 inches by 0.59 inches. It may be carried in a small magnetic folio we’ll get into extra later.

The underside of the keyboard has magnets for attaching it to the folio, however that is additionally wonderful in case you occur to have a magnetic desk mat like one bought by IKEA. Just like the earlier mannequin, customers can slot the keyboard completely into many laptop computer keyboard trays, together with the 14-inch MacBook Pro.

Nuphy Air60 V2 assessment: low profile keys on a slim plastic case

The RGB backlight seems to be brighter and in a position to gentle the keys extra evenly. The consequences might be managed with the Perform key and arrow keys.

The bottom plate continues to be plastic, however that is not a problem. I by no means had an issue with the bottom plate cracking from use or journey, and the clear impact is an fascinating alternative.

A part of the enjoyable of mechanical keyboards is the power to swap elements and customise performance. Nuphy has ample choices for each because of hot-swappable switches and VIA assist.

Nuphy Air60 V2 assessment: sizzling swappable keys and customized keycaps

The one factor you possibly can’t swap after buy is the case, clearly, which is available in grey, black, and white choices. The mint inexperienced highlights, orange enter key, and yellow house bar persist throughout colorways.

Nuphy affords Purple 2.0, Blue 2.0, Brown 2.0, Aloe, Cowberry, Wisteria, and Moss switches. Every affords its personal signature actuation distance and sound.

We acquired the Wisteria switches, which have near-identical specs to the earlier Brown swap we examined within the Nuphy Air60 V1, however a long-pole stem and an extended 16.5mm double-stage spring. The result’s a cushty key press with a way more satisfying clacky noise. The Brown noise is rather more shallow.

Nuphy Air60 V2 assessment: VIA can reprogram any key on the keyboard

Along with the hot-swappable switches, the important thing caps might be changed. Nuphy has an excellent selection of low-profile keys in its storefront. Plus, you possibly can all the time connect any keycap that matches the usual Cherry “+” swap.

Customization goes past easy seems to be and key actuation because of VIA integration. Customers can join their Nuphy Air60 to the favored open-source program on Mac to reprogram any key on the keyboard or connect macros.

The NuFolio V3 is just like the V2 besides there is a new coloration along with the intense orange “nostalgic tan” — a brown tundra khaki. The brown coloration is an ideal impartial that blends in with canvas bags I take pleasure in from Waterfield.

Nuphy Air60 V2 assessment: NuFolio in khaki brown is way simpler on the eyes

It’s appropriate with each variations of the Nuphy Air60. Just like the earlier model, it’s a folio that may open up right into a easy iPad stand.

The keyboard is held in place by magnets on the base, and a snap closes the case shut. When opened, the clasp might be looped again and closed within the open place to behave as a stand.

For the reason that Air60 and NuFolio are wider than the 13-inch iPad Pro, it will probably maintain the massive pill with room on either side. Nevertheless, it’s simply balanced towards the again with no grip, no magnets, and no slot.

Nuphy Air60 V2 assessment: 13-inch iPad Professional suits, however no grooves or connect factors

The brand new brown coloration is good, however I hope a future model affords some sort of technique to safe the iPad with out including bulk to the case. Even a small slot or groove can be higher than nothing.

That stated, the setup is loads sturdy on a tabletop.

There’s extra to the Nuphy Air60 V2 past customization and its small dimension. It’s full of the most recent options discovered in lots of well-liked mechanical keyboards.

Nuphy Air60 V2 assessment: three accessible angles with the AirFeet

First, what’s distinctive to the Nuphy Air60 is its design particularly tailor-made to be used with MacBooks and choose laptops. The rubber AirFeet can slot between the keys so the Nuphy Air60 sits atop the present MacBook keyboard.

It means you possibly can benefit from the wonderful MacBook show, Magic Trackpad, and Touch ID button without having to make use of the low-travel chiclet keys. Plus, there should still be a couple of of you on the market with a damaged butterfly keyboard that may love an alternate.

Past that, Nuphy Air60 V2 affords specs prospects anticipate in top-of-the-line keyboards like a 1,000Hz polling charge. It runs the Nordic NRF52810 SoC to attain unimaginable low latency.

Nuphy Air60 V2 assessment: swap between modes

Join as much as 4 gadgets wirelessly and one over a wire. There are three Bluetooth radios, a 2.4GHz radio by way of a USB-A dongle, and a USB-C port.

It’s 5.1x quicker than the Nuphy Air60 V1 and as much as 3.1x quicker over Bluetooth than opponents. Wired mode has a formidable 6.2x pace versus opponents as properly.

The QMK-based platform permits assist for devoted Highlight and Dictation keys that work with macOS. Substitute F-Keys are additionally included.

Nuphy Air60 V2 assessment: sidelights present completely different statuses

The vary of RGB choices return, sidelights included. The left sidelight reveals caps lock and connection mode, whereas the proper sidelight signifies battery degree.

There’s additionally been an improve to the padding layers. The Nuphy Air60 V2 makes use of plate poron hollow-sound absorption and IXPE PCB sound purification within the small type issue. The spacebar has additionally been tuned to be in higher concord with the remainder of the keys.

I assessment a variety of keyboards, and switching between layouts can take time to get used to. Fortunately, in case you’re used to typing on the MacBook Pro or iPad Magic Keyboard, you must really feel proper at house in a short time.

Nuphy Air60 V2 assessment: sufficiently small to pack into most laptop computer baggage

The important thing format and basic dimension are virtually an identical to these Apple keyboards, however the journey and sound are significantly better. I did not have any issues utilizing the Nuphy Air60 V2 interchangeably between these different keyboards or on Apple Vision Pro.

My mind does want to regulate between Nuphy and Apple keyboards versus a Keychron or different full-sized mechanical keyboard. However that is all the time been the case because of the key form, dimension, and journey.

I really like the Nuphy Air 60 V2 as a lot as the unique. It’s the good journey companion, particularly now since I would like one thing to connect with my Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional.

I’ve a backpack by Waterfield I reviewed particularly crafted for Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional, and it has a slot for a keyboard, seemingly modeled for Apple’s ultra-thin Magic Keyboard for Mac. The Nuphy Air60 V2 slips into this slot with out challenge, making it my go-to pairing.

I will make this grievance in each keyboard assessment till it is not true, and it is not Nuphy or any third-party producer’s fault, however I want Apple’s particular keyboard options labored with them. The Magic Keyboard will get a particular set of options, like attaching the textual content suggestion bar to the keyboard or revealing it via spatial environments.

Nuphy Air60 V2 assessment: wonderful moveable mechanical keyboard

Perhaps somebody will discover a workaround to trick Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional into doing this for third-party keyboards. Nevertheless, probably the one actual answer is Apple baking it into visionOS. Oh properly.

Regardless of not having these options, I am fairly proud of the Nuphy Air60 and use it for at any time when I am not at my desk. Its dimension and weight are good.

I’ve but to see one other mechanical keyboard producer come near Nuphy’s low-profile keyboards when it comes to function set and dimension class.

• Placing the proper steadiness of dimension and journey distance
• Helpful options like becoming on a MacBook keyboard and magnetic backside
• Adjustable angle with three toes choices
• NuFolio makes it a wonderful iPad companion
• Good sound, comfortable typing
• Glorious battery life as much as 30 hours with lights at full brightness

• It is Apple’s fault, however would not get the identical remedy as Magic Keyboards with Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional
• Plastic physique nice for weight, not for sturdiness
• At over $100, it’s a powerful evaluate for patrons regardless of the wonderful function set

This near-perfect keyboard is difficult to fault. It is a wonderful construct with a spread of options, however at over $100, Apple prospects would possibly select a Magic Keyboard as a substitute.

In case you’re searching for a Magic Keyboard different that’s customizable, mechanical, and moveable, the Air60 V2 is 5 stars straightforward. Nevertheless, we will not ignore the market phase this machine is focusing on and the ability of Apple’s model at this value.

The Nuphy Air60 V2 is accessible on the Nuphy web site and Amazon at a premium. The Nuphy Air60 V2 starts at $109.95 with purple, blue, or brown switches, or is $119.95 with aloe, cowberry, wisteria, or moss switches on the Nuphy web site.

Amazon offers the same configurations, however for $20 extra every. The Nuphy Air60 V2 with lower-priced switches is $129.99 on Amazon, whereas the higher-priced switches are $139.99.