Anyone play Mega Man back in the day? That’s the first thing I thought of when I unboxed the new NuPhy Halo75 V2 mechanical keyboard. The awesome “blue lagoon” color just screams Mega Man, and the aptly named Halo75 puts on a really playful light show for your Mac as you type. Come to think of it, those blues also give 9to5Mac vibes…
Anyway, the NuPhy Halo75 V2 is an all-new take on a previous fan favorite. NuPhy Studio shares the awesome design story and decisions that went into making V2, which you should read next. In the meantime, here’s my take.
Look and lights
First, let’s get the blue lagoon presentation out of the way. This mechanical keyboard is a statement keyboard. It says work and productivity without being business and boring. Seriously, nothing says “I am my own boss” more than a vibrant blue mechanical keyboard with parading RGB lights circling the base of it. Or maybe you’re not your own boss, but you just carry that mindset and want to express yourself. Halo75 V2 accomplishes that.
Even better, NuPhy has managed to make the Halo75 V2 feel fun and playful while still feeling premium like a well-crafted tool. There’s a lot of intention in the shimmering metallic aluminum top case, LED backlight placement, and Home key lights.
And while the Halo75 V2 is a wireless mechanical keyboard, I imagine you’ll want to be wired in with the USB-C port much of the time. That way you can enjoy the programmable aurora from the RGB lights that glow through the hard, gummy sneaker-like base without worrying about battery drain. NuPhy lists 9 to 91 working hours with all lights on and 307 working hours without lights on thanks to the 4000mAh battery.
Sound and feel
Beyond the presentation is utility. My main driver is a Keychron K2 mechanical keyboard, which feels like a fine point retractable pen to write with. NuPhy’s Halo75 V2, for comparison, feels like how I imagine a mechanical version of the iPhone or iPad keyboard would feel. It’s soft but clicky, and the sound the keys make is more like key tapping than key clanking. This is due to a silicone base layer beneath the keys. It’s delightful!
Ultimately, NuPhy has delivered on its promise of being at war with boring and uninspiring design. Not just physical design, but sound design too. The NuPhy Halo75 V2 is just a cool keyboard through-and-through. Halo75 V2 should be at the top of the list for anyone looking to liven up their workspace with personality.
The $129.95 wireless mechanical keyboard comes in five colors:
- Obsidian Black
- Ionic White
- Mojito (green)
- Lagoon Blue
- Sakura Fizz (pink)
You can also choose from four key switch options:
- Mint (37gf) [switch I tested]
- Raspberry (46gf)
- Lemon (55gf)
- Silent Red Clear-Top (45gf)
Gf, in this case, refers to gram force. The lower the gf, the less force is required per key press.
Things you should know
There’s a lot more to NuPhy’s Halo75 V2 than the surface level typing experience. Here are some things you should also know before buying:
- Its state of the art 1000Hz 2.4G SoC delivers wired-like latency for pro-gaming level responsiveness when used with the included receiver. That’s a 10.3x jump. Bluetooth mode is also 5.9x faster than the V1 model. Wired mode is also 10.4x faster than V1.
- The Halolight supports SignalRGB for customizing the light beyond, and open-source QMK/VIA firmware enables key mapping and color control from your Mac.
- The box also includes a 1.5m USB-A to USB-C cable, the 2.4G receiver, a keycap/switch puller, 6 extra keycaps, 3 extra switches, a sticker set, and a poster.
- Three typing angles are supported: 5º, 8.5º, and 12º.
- At 2.24 pounds, Halo75 is sturdy but not heavy.
- NuPhy also sells mSA keycaps as well as matching wrist rests and desk mats.
As of this writing, NuPhy Halo75 V2 in Obsidian Black with all four switch options and Ionic White with Mint or Raspberry switch options are shipping. You can sign up to be notified your preference is available.
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