Key Takeaways
1. New Keyboard Release: NuPhy announced the WH80, a tri-mode wireless Hall effect keyboard, addressing issues found in previous models.
2. Pricing and Pre-Order: The WH80 will retail for $249.95, with a 15% discount for pre-orders, which also include transparent keycaps and a carrying case.
3. Key Features: It offers Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz connectivity, an 8 kHz polling rate, a gasket-mount design, sound dampening, and custom Hall effect switches.
4. Battery Life: The WH80 boasts impressive battery life of up to 500 hours, leveraging similar technology to NuPhy’s Kick75 keyboard.
5. Design and Layout: The keyboard features a unique TKL layout with a reduced navigation cluster, dedicated toggles for connectivity and profile switching, and a new NuPhy x Gateron Dragon-N switch for enhanced performance.
NuPhy, known for its popular Halo and Air series mechanical keyboards, has been quite active recently. They just announced an update to the battery life of the Halo V2 series and introduced the Node75 low-profile mechanical keyboard. Now, they are back in the gaming keyboard arena with a sneak peek of the WH80. This new tri-mode wireless Hall effect keyboard appears to address the issues seen in other wireless Hall effect keyboards we’ve examined before, such as the Lemokey L1 HE.
Pricing and Pre-Order Details
From NuPhy’s social media updates and the pre-launch site, we learn that the WH80 will retail for $249.95 at its initial release, with a 15% discount for those who pre-order. Pre-order customers will also receive some extras, including transparent keycaps and a carrying case.
Features and Specifications
The WH80 seems to check all the right boxes. It will offer wireless connectivity through both Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz, along with an impressive 8 kHz polling rate for low latency. Additionally, it features a gasket-mount design, sound dampening, and custom switches to create a refined sound profile. The Hall effect sensors provide rapid trigger sensitivities down to 0.005 mm, which is likely beyond the capabilities of most users to notice. While NuPhy has chosen a gasket mount for the WH80, they’ve also opted for an aluminum plate, indicating limited flex. However, the transparent keycaps and Hall effect switches may produce a higher-pitched sound, so those after a deep “thock” might need to search elsewhere.
Impressive Battery Life
NuPhy claims that the wireless functionality will support up to 500 hours of battery life. This isn’t unexpected given our experience with the Kick75, which uses the same NuPhyIO firmware. It’ll be interesting to see the WH80’s performance regarding polling rates in wireless mode. If gaming mice are any indication, higher polling rates can significantly impact the keyboard’s battery life.
Layout and Design Insights
NuPhy has not launched the early reservation page for the WH80 yet, which leaves many of its specifications up in the air, but the pre-launch mini-site provides enough information to draw some intriguing conclusions. The site reveals that the keyboard will have a slight variation of a TKL — or 80% — layout. The navigation cluster typically above the arrow keys has been reduced to two columns of three rows each. This unique design aims to save mouse space while retaining keyboard usability.
Unique Features
The micro-site also showcases much of the design, including two dedicated three-way toggles—one for connectivity and another labeled “M1, M2, M3” for profile switching. The WH80 will also include a knob in the top right corner, although it doesn’t appear to be the kind of free-spinning knob found on many mechanical and Hall effect keyboards. Instead, it features a red indicator and markings along one edge, hinting that it may have a limited range of motion, which could restrict its functionality or just be a design choice. An exploded view of the keyboard indicates that the case might be made from plastic, although this is not confirmed, and it has aluminum decorative plates on the sides and front edge, framing a long RGB light bar.
New Switch Collaboration
Once again, NuPhy has partnered with Gateron to create a new branded switch, the NuPhy x Gateron Dragon-N switch. This switch appears to be a slight variant of the Gateron Dual-Drive Magnetic Spark and Sakura switches (currently priced at $119.99 for 70 switches on Amazon), featuring what looks like a POM stem for smoother operation. While the transparent keycaps with dot-matrix style lettering are included as a pre-order bonus, it’s uncertain what keycaps the WH80 will come with when sold officially. The site showcases the keyboard with smoky grey translucent keycaps. Regardless, both versions of the keyboard have a retro-futuristic aesthetic that should attract a specific audience.
Source:
Link
Leave a Reply