Key Takeaways
1. NuPhy introduced the Node75 hybrid-profile mechanical keyboard with a customizable touch bar, available for pre-order on November 10 at an introductory price of $99.95.
2. The keyboard features a retro design and claims an impressive battery life of up to 1,000 hours when connected via Bluetooth, potentially with RGB backlighting off.
3. Connectivity options include 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth, and USB-C wired connections, with customization available through NuPhyIO for macros and key remapping.
4. The Node75 will utilize a gasket mount PCB and offer a choice of Gateron x NuPhy Low Profile 3.0 or Gateron full-height 5-pin mechanical switches, including various smooth and silent options.
5. The keyboard boasts a sleek design with color options of beige, pink, and charcoal grey, and features a dot grid touch bar with status feedback LEDs, while allowing users to switch between low-profile and full-height switches.
NuPhy has recently introduced a new hybrid-profile mechanical keyboard through a crowdfunding initiative. This time, it has replaced the knob seen on the Kick75 (currently priced at $99.99 on Amazon) with a unique touch bar situated along the top of the keyboard. The NuPhy Node75 is set to be available for pre-order starting November 10 at an introductory price of $99.95. Additionally, NuPhy has announced that a Node100 model is in development, which will showcase the same retro design as the Node75 but in a full-size format.
Retro Design and Impressive Battery Life
The NuPhy Node75 stands out due to its nostalgic appearance, impressive battery life claims, and the innovative customizable touch bar on the keyboard’s surface. NuPhy asserts that when connected via Bluetooth—and likely only when the RGB backlighting is off—the Node75 can provide up to 1,000 hours of battery life. While this claim needs to be verified for credibility, our brief experience with the NuPhy Kick75, which operates on the same NuPhyIO firmware, showed that their battery life assertions were quite reliable.
Connectivity and Customization Features
The keyboard will offer several connectivity options, including 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth, and USB-C wired connections, with the first two providing a polling rate of up to 1,000 Hz. It will also be fully customizable through NuPhyIO, the company’s proprietary web-based customization platform that allows users to create macros, remap keys, and even modify the touch bar at the top of the keyboard.
Quality and Switch Options
There’s certainly more to a mechanical keyboard than just wireless capabilities and extra features, and the Node75 doesn’t disappoint in specifications. It’s expected to utilize a similar PCB gasket mount as seen in the Kick75, along with a choice between Gateron x NuPhy Low Profile 3.0 or Gateron full-height 5-pin mechanical switches. While it lacks fun analog input features like those we admired in the Keychron K4 HE review, users will find a variety of smooth, pre-lubricated switches available, including the impressive Gateron x NuPhy Red Max switches, as well as the silent Blush and tactile Brown Nano and Max options.
Compatibility and Aesthetic Appeal
While it is confirmed that users can swap between low-profile Nano switches and full-height Max switches just by changing the case, it remains uncertain if a kit with both case types and switch options will be offered. It’s likely that conversion kits will only be sold as post-purchase add-ons, similar to the arrangement with the Kick75.
The NuPhy Node75 combines a sleek and retro-inspired design, featuring a dot grid touch bar at the top and color options of beige, pink, and charcoal grey. The nSA and mSA profiles from NuPhy enhance this retro feel, mimicking the classic SA profiles found on older Apple and IBM keyboards.
Construction and Innovative Features
Similar to the recent NuPhy Air75 V3 series, the Node75’s upper case appears to be crafted from either aluminum or opaque plastic, while its lower case is made of translucent plastic. Currently available teasers provide limited information, but it seems there will be 10 white LEDs arranged in a 5×2 grid in the upper left corner of the touch bar for feedback on various statuses like battery level.
The NuPhy Node75 will also include the same feet design that allows keyboards, such as those in the Air series, to rest on top of a standard Apple MacBook keyboard without activating the laptop’s built-in keys.
NuPhy’s latest launch certainly aims to impress with its features and design!
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