Imagine if Lego and IKEA decided to join forces and design a keyboard, there is a good chance it might look like the new NuPhy Kick75 which has just launched on Kickstarter and is the latest new product from the rapidly growing keyboard brand.
The origin of the Kick75 goes back to June 2022, when NuPhy started the trial production phase of its first-generation Halo keyboards. The designers wanted to create an all-plastic model as a follow-up to the Air and Halo keyboards, but they wanted the keyboard to sport a stylish new look but with an exceptional typing feel and premium build quality.
The next design goal was to make the new keyboard an entry-level mechanical model that could lure users of slimline membrane keyboards like the Logi MX Keys or Apple Magic Keyboard to take a first step into the world of mechanical switch keyboards.
The all-plastic Kick75 has a clean design with primary color keycaps and a choice of low or standard … [+]
Inspired By Nike’s Air Force 1 Sneakers
The design of the NuPhy Kick75 was inspired by the iconic Nike Air Force 1 sneakers and the first side-profile sketch of the keyboard was completed in Sketch. It was a fresh and clean design with a gasket-mounted structure and pre-lubed switches to create a typing action that would be a major step up from cheaper membrane models.
NuPhy decided to offer a wide range of switch options on the Kick75 so users could select their favorite feel of switch for the kind of typing experience and sound they preferred. The switch options included a silent switch that would be appreciated by colleagues in a busy office who might be driven crazy by a constant clacking sound of a traditional mechanical keyboard.
The Kick75 has a decorative plate that has been designed to accommodate various patterns so that any future versions of the keyboard can make the most of any future designer’s creative possibilities, including a structure that could even support decorative metal plates.
The low-profile version of NuPhy’s Kick75 keyboard uses nano Switch low-profile switches.
To manufacture a low-profile switch with the kind of tactile feel that NuPhy was looking for, the company developed the nano Switch. Creating a swappable and low-profile switch with the action NuPhy wanted, delayed the development process by two years. Finally, in May 2023, NuPhy received a prototype of the nano Switch and that sparked the idea of creating a keyboard that could accommodate low-profile and standard-profile switches and keycaps.
Change Between Low And Standard Profile
NuPhy realized that giving user’s the option to change the keyboard’s profile might not be a major selling point, but the company thought the idea had potential as a standout feature that could attract attention from consumers and the industry alike. In doing so, NuPhy hoped it might create a common and unified standard across the low-profile switch landscape.
The result of all this research was the NuPhy Kick75, a keyboard that supports both nano Switches and hot-swapping capabilities with standard profile switches. NuPhy has worked closely with switch-maker Gateron to refine the third iteration of its nano Switch and, by 2024, the first nano Switch—the N1 nano—alongside Nos75, was launched and provided valuable user feedback for further improvements.
The keycaps on the low-profile version of the Kick75 have a larger surface area for more accurate … [+]
For the Kick75, NuPhy also developed the world’s first hybrid satellite stabilizers that could function with low and standard-profile switches. When mounted on the Kick75’s PCB, the stabilizers steady the low-profile switches. When the stabilizer is mounted on a keyboard plate, it serves to stabilize standard-profile switches.
Other notable features on the Kick75 include a decorative bottom plate and detachable silicone strips, but all these changes and development hurdles ended up delaying the Kick75 by a total of three years. Now the keyboard is finally ready to ship and I’ve had a chance to play with it.
With its clean lines and primary color keycaps, the Kick75 is a fun-looking keyboard. The low-profile keys have a mechanical typing action that feels like full-travel switches. However, the low-profile keycaps feature a larger surface area for a typist’s fingers to hit, making it a keyboard that feels uncannily accurate with fewer typos.
Choice Of Connectivity
When it comes to connectivity, NuPhy has provided a choice of USB, Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless connections. The Bluetooth mode can switch between three host devices with the press of a couple of keys. The 2.4GHz wireless dongle connection offers the same kind of polling rate and latency as a USB cable connection.
The new NuPhy Kick75 offers a blend of simple and playful styling with a sleek and low-profile design that is easy to type on. The design won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but gamers are sure to find it a solid performer in tournament situations. Meanwhile, general users looking to move from membrane keyboards, like the Logi MX Keys or Apple Magic Keyboard, will appreciate the easy typing action, choice of switches, satisfying sound and tactile feedback.
Pricing and Availability:
The NuPhy Kick75 is launching today on Kickstarter and prices start at $89. When buying via crowdfunding, be sure to carry out any necessary due diligence before buying as protections are different than when buying online or from a physical store.
