Nuphy already struck a profitable formulation with the Air60 because of the ultra-portable design, nevertheless it developed the V2 completely with 1,000Hz polling, quicker connection speeds, and VIA assist.
Mechanical keyboards are extra mainstream than ever and are available in each form and dimension. Nonetheless, smaller, extra moveable mechanical keyboards are a lot more durable to seek out with an honest construct and options.
Nuphy is an exception because it stands out with the feature-packed Air lineup, and the favourite Air60 is again with a second model. It amps up most of the options like improved connections and customization with out sacrificing dimension or battery life.
I used to be an enormous fan of the Nuphy Air60 once I reviewed it in 2022. The small dimension, journey case, and lengthy battery life made it an important keyboard (that’s till my cat killed it with wine).
There are many configurations to select from when ordering too. Nuphy gives a number of new and upgraded change choices, a brand new basalt black colour, and shine-through keycaps.
Nuphy Air60 V2 assessment — design
Nuphy managed to refresh the design slightly with out departing from the skinny and light-weight case. New two-layer fold-out “AirFeet” present extra angles, and the case is ever so barely thinner on the thinnest finish.
Nuphy Air60 V2 assessment: small, vivid, colourful
The white unit we examined has a pleasant matte end that matches nicely with the keycap set. Inexperienced accents on the escape key, rear switches, and USB-C port add a splash of colour together with the yellow spacebar and orange enter key.
It’s precisely one pound, measuring 11.7 inches by 4.2 inches by 0.59 inches. It may be carried in a small magnetic folio we’ll get into extra later.
The underside of the keyboard has magnets for attaching it to the folio, however that is additionally glorious for those who occur to have a magnetic desk mat like one bought by IKEA. Just like the earlier mannequin, customers can slot the keyboard completely into many laptop computer keyboard trays, together with the 14-inch MacBook Professional.
Nuphy Air60 V2 assessment: low profile keys on a slim plastic case
The RGB backlight seems to be brighter and in a position to mild the keys extra evenly. The consequences will be managed with the Perform key and arrow keys.
The bottom plate remains to be plastic, however that is not a difficulty. I by no means had an issue with the bottom plate cracking from use or journey, and the clear impact is an attention-grabbing alternative.
Customization
A part of the enjoyable of mechanical keyboards is the flexibility to swap components and customise performance. Nuphy has ample choices for each because of hot-swappable switches and VIA assist.
Nuphy Air60 V2 assessment: sizzling swappable keys and customized keycaps
The one factor you possibly can’t swap after buy is the case, clearly, which is available in grey, black, and white choices. The mint inexperienced highlights, orange enter key, and yellow house bar persist throughout colorways.
Nuphy gives Purple 2.0, Blue 2.0, Brown 2.0, Aloe, Cowberry, Wisteria, and Moss switches. Every gives its personal signature actuation distance and sound.
We acquired the Wisteria switches, which have near-identical specs to the earlier Brown change we examined within the Nuphy Air60 V1, however a long-pole stem and an extended 16.5mm double-stage spring. The result’s a snug key press with a way more satisfying clacky noise. The Brown noise is way more shallow.
Nuphy Air60 V2 assessment: VIA can reprogram any key on the keyboard
Along with the hot-swappable switches, the important thing caps will be changed. Nuphy has a wonderful number of low-profile keys in its storefront. Plus, you possibly can all the time connect any keycap that matches the usual Cherry “+” change.
Customization goes past easy seems and key actuation because of VIA integration. Customers can join their Nuphy Air60 to the favored open-source program on Mac to reprogram any key on the keyboard or connect macros.
NuFolio Case, now in brown
The NuFolio V3 is much like the V2 besides there is a new colour along with the brilliant orange “nostalgic tan” — a brown tundra khaki. The brown colour is an ideal impartial that blends in with canvas luggage I get pleasure from from Waterfield.
Nuphy Air60 V2 assessment: NuFolio in khaki brown is far simpler on the eyes
It’s suitable with each variations of the Nuphy Air60. Just like the earlier model, it’s a folio that may open up right into a easy iPad stand.
The keyboard is held in place by magnets on the base, and a snap closes the case shut. When opened, the clasp will be looped again and closed within the open place to behave as a stand.
For the reason that Air60 and NuFolio are wider than the 13-inch iPad Professional, it will probably maintain the big pill with room on either side. Nonetheless, it’s simply balanced in opposition to the again with no grip, no magnets, and no slot.
Nuphy Air60 V2 assessment: 13-inch iPad Professional matches, however no grooves or connect factors
The brand new brown colour is sweet, however I hope a future model gives some type of method to safe the iPad with out including bulk to the case. Even a small slot or groove could be higher than nothing.
That stated, the setup is lots sturdy on a tabletop.
Nuphy Air60 V2 assessment — options
There’s extra to the Nuphy Air60 V2 past customization and its small dimension. It’s filled with the newest options discovered in lots of well-liked mechanical keyboards.
Nuphy Air60 V2 assessment: three out there angles with the AirFeet
First, what’s distinctive to the Nuphy Air60 is its design particularly tailor-made to be used with MacBooks and choose laptops. The rubber AirFeet can slot between the keys so the Nuphy Air60 sits atop the present MacBook keyboard.
It means you possibly can reap the benefits of the wonderful MacBook show, Magic Trackpad, and Contact ID button with no need to make use of the low-travel chiclet keys. Plus, there should be a couple of of you on the market with a damaged butterfly keyboard that will love an alternate.
Past that, Nuphy Air60 V2 gives specs prospects count on in top-of-the-line keyboards like a 1,000Hz polling price. It runs the Nordic NRF52810 SoC to realize unbelievable low latency.
Nuphy Air60 V2 assessment: change between modes
Join as much as 4 units wirelessly and one over a wire. There are three Bluetooth radios, a 2.4GHz radio by way of a USB-A dongle, and a USB-C port.
It’s 5.1x quicker than the Nuphy Air60 V1 and as much as 3.1x quicker over Bluetooth than opponents. Wired mode has a powerful 6.2x velocity versus opponents as nicely.
The QMK-based platform permits assist for devoted Highlight and Dictation keys that work with macOS. Substitute F-Keys are additionally included.
Nuphy Air60 V2 assessment: sidelights present totally different statuses
The vary of RGB choices return, sidelights included. The left sidelight reveals caps lock and connection mode, whereas the suitable sidelight signifies battery stage.
There’s additionally been an improve to the padding layers. The Nuphy Air60 V2 makes use of plate poron hollow-sound absorption and IXPE PCB sound purification within the small kind issue. The spacebar has additionally been tuned to be in higher concord with the remainder of the keys.
Utilizing the Nuphy Air60 V2
I assessment quite a lot of keyboards, and switching between layouts can take time to get used to. Fortunately, for those who’re used to typing on the MacBook Professional or iPad Magic Keyboard, you must really feel proper at dwelling in a short time.
Nuphy Air60 V2 assessment: sufficiently small to pack into most laptop computer luggage
The important thing format and normal dimension are nearly an identical to these Apple keyboards, however the journey and sound are significantly better. I did not have any issues utilizing the Nuphy Air60 V2 interchangeably between these different keyboards or on Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional.
My mind does want to regulate between Nuphy and Apple keyboards versus a Keychron or different full-sized mechanical keyboard. However that is all the time been the case as a result of key form, dimension, and journey.
I really like the Nuphy Air 60 V2 as a lot as the unique. It’s the good journey companion, particularly now since I want one thing to connect with my Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional.
I’ve a backpack by Waterfield I reviewed particularly crafted for Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional, and it has a slot for a keyboard, seemingly modeled for Apple’s ultra-thin Magic Keyboard for Mac. The Nuphy Air60 V2 slips into this slot with out concern, making it my go-to pairing.
I am going to make this criticism in each keyboard assessment till it is not true, and it is not Nuphy or any third-party producer’s fault, however I want Apple’s particular keyboard options labored with them. The Magic Keyboard will get a particular set of options, like attaching the textual content suggestion bar to the keyboard or revealing it by way of spatial environments.
Nuphy Air60 V2 assessment: glorious moveable mechanical keyboard
Possibly somebody will discover a workaround to trick Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional into doing this for third-party keyboards. Nonetheless, doubtless the one actual answer is Apple baking it into visionOS. Oh nicely.
Regardless of not having these options, I am fairly pleased with the Nuphy Air60 and use it for each time I am not at my desk. Its dimension and weight are good.
I’ve but to see one other mechanical keyboard producer come near Nuphy’s low-profile keyboards when it comes to function set and dimension class.
Nuphy Air60 V2 assessment — execs
- Putting the proper stability of dimension and journey distance
- Helpful options like becoming on a MacBook keyboard and magnetic backside
- Adjustable angle with three toes choices
- NuFolio makes it a wonderful iPad companion
- Good sound, cozy typing
- Glorious battery life as much as 30 hours with lights at full brightness
Nuphy Air60 V2 assessment — cons
- It is Apple’s fault, however does not get the identical remedy as Magic Keyboards with Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional
- Plastic physique nice for weight, not for sturdiness
- At over $100, it’s a robust evaluate for patrons regardless of the superb function set
Ranking: 4.5 out of 5
This near-perfect keyboard is tough to fault. It is a wonderful construct with a spread of options, however at over $100, Apple prospects would possibly select a Magic Keyboard as an alternative.
In case you’re on the lookout for a Magic Keyboard different that’s customizable, mechanical, and moveable, the Air60 V2 is 5 stars simple. Nonetheless, we won’t ignore the market section this machine is focusing on and the ability of Apple’s model at this worth.
The place to purchase Nuphy Air60 V2
The Nuphy Air60 V2 is out there on the Nuphy web site and Amazon at a premium. The Nuphy Air60 V2 begins at $109.95 with crimson, blue, or brown switches, or is $119.95 with aloe, cowberry, wisteria, or moss switches on the Nuphy web site.
Amazon gives the identical configurations, however for $20 extra every. The Nuphy Air60 V2 with lower-priced switches is $129.99 on Amazon, whereas the higher-priced switches are $139.99.