Key Takeaways
1. The NuPhy Kick75 is a hybrid-profile mechanical keyboard that supports both low-profile and full-height mechanical switches.
2. It is available in four versions, with different firmware options (NuPhyIO and QMK/VIA), and prices ranging from $89.99 to $119.99.
3. The keyboard offers four switch types: Red, Brown, Silver, and Blush, and comes with either nSA low-profile or mSA full-height keycaps.
4. The Kick75 features an innovative PCB gasket mount design, allowing easy switching between profiles with minimal hardware changes.
5. A cost-effective profile swap kit is available for $19, consisting of a taller top case and thicker foam, making it accessible for users to experiment with both profiles.
NuPhy has officially opened pre-orders for the NuPhy Kick75 after teasing its new “hybrid-profile” mechanical keyboard for several weeks. A standout feature of the Kick75 is its ability to work with both low-profile and full-height mechanical switches.
New Insights on Switching Modes
Although earlier information about how to switch between low-profile and full-height modes was vague, the updated product page now clarifies how this process will function and what potential buyers need to consider. However, there are still some puzzling elements, such as NuPhy’s decision to offer two different firmware options for the keyboard.
Kick75 Low, NuPhyIO: $89.99
Kick75 Low, QMK/VIA: $109.99
Kick75 High, NuPhyIO: $99.99
Kick75 High, QMK/VIA: $119.99
The Kick75 is available in four versions without extra accessories or customization. Customers can choose from either low- or high-profile kits, and NuPhy also provides the Kick75 with either QMK/VIA firmware or its proprietary NuPhyIO firmware, with the latter being priced lower for some unknown reason.
Switch Options and Keycaps
NuPhy has made the Kick75 available with four different switch types: Red (linear), Brown (light tactile), Silver (tactile), and Blush (long-travel linear). The keyboard comes equipped with either nSA low-profile keycaps featuring concave tops and green highlights or mSA full-height keycaps, which are a variation of the popular SA profile but with slightly reduced key heights.
In addition to its unique look and design, the NuPhy Kick75 boasts a 4,000 mAh battery for the QMK version and a 2,500 mAh battery for the NuPhyIO version. NuPhy claims that this will deliver 294 hours of battery life with the RGB backlighting turned off and 60 hours with the backlighting on. The Kick75 supports both Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless connections, along with a USB Type-C port. However, it’s not clear if NuPhy is providing battery life estimates for Bluetooth or 2.4 GHz.
Innovative Design Features
When the Kick75 was first revealed by NuPhy, the specifics of the switching mechanism were not clear. Initially, only an alternative top case, switches, and some internal components were shown as needing to be changed. However, the pre-order page now offers further insights into how the innovative hybrid design works. It appears that the Kick75 utilizes a PCB gasket mount, allowing only the plate foam and top case to be swapped for the switching process. Remarkably, NuPhy has engineered its stock stabilizers to function in both setups, which is quite an achievement.
This information is intriguing for two reasons. First, it enables NuPhy to provide a switching kit with minimal hardware—just a different top case and foam for placement between the PCB—thereby lowering costs for those wanting to experiment with both profile options. Second, hot-swappable low- and high-profile mechanical switches have distinct plate height requirements. Past efforts to standardize the switch pin layout, which NuPhy attempted with the Nos75, often required different plates, mounts, or entire bottom cases. The transition to a PCB gasket mount helps the Kick75 avoid the plate height issue without needing to replace multiple injection-molded components.
Cost-Effective Profile Swap Kit
The profile swap kit for the Kick75 consists of just a taller top case and a thicker foam sheet, allowing NuPhy to offer it at a low price (discounted by 30% to $19 with a pre-order of the Kick75). Buyers will need to purchase additional switches for the alternative profile, but many mechanical keyboard fans likely already own an extra switch set, making it feasible to buy a Low Kick75 and a swap kit to achieve their goal.
It’s also important to mention that the full-height version of the Kick75 supports standard five-pin Cherry MX-style switches, like the Epomaker Wisteria Tactile switches, which can be found on Amazon for around $11.99 for a set of 30. In contrast, the low-profile Kick75 configuration utilizes a new Gateron Nano switch, which shares the same pin arrangement as the full-height switches, making them the only low-profile switches currently compatible with the hybrid-profile keyboard. Therefore, anyone interested in the low-profile switches should likely opt for the Low configuration, as there is uncertainty about the future production of this new switch standard.
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