NuPhy Launches Fundraising Initiative through Kickstarter for Slimline Keyboard Model Kick75
Picture this: Lego and IKEA collaborating to create a keyboard? The outcome might resemble the recently unveiled NuPhy Kick75, now available for pre-order on Kickstarter. This latest offering from the burgeoning keyboard brand is turning heads in the mechanical keyboard community.
The genesis of the Kick75 can be traced back to the trial production phase in June 2022 of NuPhy's first-gen Halo keyboards. The designers aimed to introduce an all-plastic model, enhancing its stylish appearance, while promising an outstanding typing feel and premium build quality.
Elevating the Typing Experience
The creators' intent was to target users of slimline, membrane keyboards like the Logi MX Keys or Apple Magic Keyboard, encouraging them to explore the realm of mechanical switch keyboards. The design inspiration was drawn from the iconic Nike Air Force 1 sneakers, with the first side-profile sketch of the keyboard completed in Sketch. The end result? A gasket-mounted structure and pre-lubed switches to deliver a smoother typing experience than cheaper membrane models.
Customizable Suit Your Style
NuPhy recognized the importance of offering users a variety of preferences by including a plethora of switch options. These choices cater to specific typing experiences and sounds, including a quiet switch appreciated by colleagues working in bustling offices. The decorative plate is designed to fit multiple patterns, allowing for designer adaptability and future releases.
Timeless Development
Developing a low-profile switch with an authentic tactile feel proved to be a challenging, two-year endeavor. NuPhy introduced the nano switch, allowing users to swap between low-profile and standard-profile switches and keycaps. This innovation led to NuPhy launching the N1 nano switch and Nos75 together in 2024, providing valuable feedback and improvements.
The momentum continued with NuPhy producing the world's first hybrid satellite stabilizers, which function seamlessly with low-profile and standard-profile switches. These stabilizers provide added stability to the low-profile switches and serve as anchors for standard-profile switches when mounted on the keyboard's PCB or plate.
Bells and Whistles
Additional unique features of the Kick75 include a decorative bottom plate and detachable silicone strips, which contribute to the overall aesthetic while making the keyboard more ergonomic and resonant. Despite these enhancements, the development process delayed the Kick75 by three years, but the final product has been well worth the wait.
The Kick75 boasts clean lines and distinctive color schemes, along with low-profile keys executing a mechanical typing action that feels and sounds like full-travel switches. Its keycaps present a larger surface area, resulting in an uncanny typing precision level with fewer errors.
Connectivity Options
NuPhy offers users a trio of connection options, either USB, Bluetooth, or 2.4GHz wireless connections, enabling seamless compatibility with various devices. Bluetooth provides the ability to switch between three host devices, while 2.4GHz wireless offers the same level of responsiveness and latency as a wired connection.
In conclusion, the NuPhy Kick75 blends minimalistic design, low-profile mechanics, and customizable features, garnering appeal among gaming enthusiasts and membrane keyboard users interested in transitioning to mechanical switches.
Prices start at $89 on Kickstarter. As with any crowdfunded project, thorough research is essential before making a purchase to protect your investment.
- If you're a fan of mechanical keyboards, you might be interested in the Kick75, which features hot-swappable nano switches and is currently available for pre-order on Kickstarter using the code f6a284d23de6a25f9552064642c49ede.
- The designers of the Kick75 were inspired by the low-profile design of Nike Air Force 1 sneakers, resulting in a gasket-mounted structure that offers a smoother typing experience compared to membrane models.
- One of the standout features of the Kick75 is its hot-swappable nano switches, which allow users to switch between low-profile and standard-profile switches and keycaps, providing a unique and customizable typing experience.
- Unfortunately, due to layoffs in the company, the development of the Kick75 was delayed by three years, but the final product has received positive reviews from early adopters.
- The Kick75 also comes with a variety of connectivity options, including USB, Bluetooth, and 2.4GHz wireless connections, enabling seamless compatibility with various devices, making it a versatile choice for both gaming and daily use.
