So, with the Node 75 announcement now out in the open, when will we start seeing full specs and feature breakdowns, especially the differences between the low-profile and standard-profile versions and its comparison to the other Nuphy models, specifically the new Air75 V3.

This is a brand-new keyboard line, not just a refresh like the Air series, which makes it even more intriguing. I’m hoping we’ll get more details soon because there are a few things I’m really wondering about:

• What’s the real difference between the low-profile and standard-profile versions?

• How will that touch zone / bar above the function row actually work in practice? Is it similar to a rotary encoder in capability, or does it have different limitations?

• Weight and build differences between the two profiles

• How it might stack up in sound and feel compared to existing NuPhy boards

It’s also interesting that the Node 75 is priced at $99, while the new Air 75 V3 comes in at $140. That’s a $40 gap, so what’s driving the difference in build and features? What will the Node 75 lack compared to the Air 75 V3?

I already put my $1 down to reserve a spot but I’m torn between just buying the Air 75 V3 now or waiting for the Node 75, since it sounds like it could blend both worlds if done right.

NuPhy, if you’re reading this — please chime in!

What’s everyone else thinking about the Node 75 so far?

Hello everyone!

A little while ago i was fortunate enough to have been selected to recieve and test the new Node75 board from Nuphy with the intention to write an honest review of my thought and opinions on it so here we are!

To start I tested two boards in total, both being high profile with one using blush max and the other using brown max switches, I'll go more into detail on the specifics of each a little further down.

Node75

Switches aside, the board itself is already very nice for the price.

• The case is entirely plastic which leaves it fairly lightweight which I appreciated when I was carrying it with me. I imagine the heavy use of plastics has a good deal to do with the end product sound of the boards.

• The Tri-mode connectivity worked very well for for me and I had no problems with connecting to multiple different devices. My primary method during my use was with the 2.4Ghz dongle which didn't give me any sort of problems and supports the same 1000hz polling rate as wired which was nice to see as the standard. The bluetooth connection supports 3 device which you can switch between using a key bind and is only 125hz but that is still plenty for any regular typing/writing use case.

• The touch bar was something I was excited to see as it helps keep a very clean look to the design of the board while still giving you an easy access to volume or can be rebinded to fit your needs, as well as having some built-in actions available for some Adobe software and Figma.

• The rubber feet on the bottom are a little unique compared to a regular board as they are made slim to be able to rest on top of a laptop's keyboard. This is true for both the low and high profile options.

• Interestingly enough, Nuphy has provided and seems to promote the idea of 3D printing accessories for the board which can be attached to the rear end via two screws holding the case together. On the product page they provide a few pre-made STP's that range from a phone mount, card holder, to a keycap display/mount. You could technically print an accessory for any board but it is a nice touch to see it endorsed by Nuphy as well as them providing some files to jump off from and create your own designs.

• Of course the board offers full RGB with mode, color, brightness, and speed settings built into the board as keybinds if you don't want to use the software. The default keycaps are not shine-through though so you will only have a underglow.

• All boards come with keycaps for use with Windows, Mac, and a three colored switches as accent pieces.

Blush Max

I have to come out and say that this board with the blush max switches are definitely the quietest keyboard I have every put my hands on. Personally I have always cared a little too much about the sound of my boards so the sudden shift to almost complete silence was very jarring and took me a while to get used to before it just clicked. If you are in a office or shared enviroment and looking for something low-key, these switches are definitely something to consider for that alone. They are linear switches so it's a nice smooth ride down to the bottom-out point which matches the vibe of the silence and it offered a good resistance for me to make up for the lack of a "click." I was skeptical of these for me at first but I grew to really enjoy it for the quietness and the cool factor honestly.

Brown Max

These are certainly close to what I was used to. The brown switches offered a nice subtle bump at the actuation point. Nothing crazy feel wise compared to any other brown switches. Where I was surprised was the sound factor. The board sounded much creamier and thockier than any brown switch board I have used in the past and I found it to be very pleasant with a slight good note that was neither too high nor low. This is probably not due to the switches per say but rather the entire build of the board especially pulling from the plastic case and the shape of the key-caps. The caps are a slightly different shape to your average MX caps featuring a larger, more circular "flat spot" on top of each. I tried the board with a different, more conventional set, and it had a noticable difference, mainly lowering the pitch and not feeling as "tight" of a sound. Your mileage may very but I am bias towards the stock caps due to this.

"Third Party" Test

I employed two people I know who type all day to test both boards to get an outsiders point of view as they have only ever used whatever free keyboard their pc comes with and never questioned to replace. Interestingly everyone preferred the brown max switches over the blush max. They labeled the brown max's as being very satisfying to use and hear, while the blushes were too much of a change from what they're used to, being both linear and silent.

NuphyIO

The default software Nuphy now uses on their boards is a web based one now on it's 2.0 revision. Overall I found it very simple and intuitive to use and adjust all the available settings. It carries support for some more "advanced" options such as SOCD or toggle keys and like I mentioned earlier, even has support for specific software for keybinds. You can make and adjust profiles for your boards but they are only toggleable by a switch on the board and cannot auto switch. It is not perfect though. My biggest gripe with the software stems from the language barrier that has been seen throughout Nuphy as a whole, whether from promotional art or their manuals and other documents. 99% of the english is fine, but there are certain parts here and there that get the point across, but clearly aren't the best way to word something. It's fairly easy to work around but it is there, and it is noticeable. What Nuphy does a much better job at is their firmware updates of which I saw two during my ~1 week of use. These updates range from fixes to adding more functionality, mainly addings key bind options or adjusting the software specifically for this board. NuphyIO is also available as a downloadable program for Windows and Mac if you prefer that method.

Summary

Overall I did enjoy my time with both boards they perform exactly as they should. Acting as a sort of "budget" version of the air75 while adding it's own personality with the retro design. You can certainly find boards cheaper than this or build your own to be similar. Although as with their current lineup at this time, you're paying more for the finished product and polish they do for you in terms of build quality and software. I think it would make a good pairing for someone who expects to do a lot of typing and is looking for a nicer quality upgrade from usually a cheap, office board. I would also recommend the low profile board more as it would be best for ultimate portability and you dont sacrifice very much when compared to the high profile. At $100 I would consider these boards a good deal from my perspective, particularly if you can get free shipping during a sale for example. I am no keyboard enthusiast, just an enjoyer, and these have been my honest thoughts.

Heyyy guys, it's been around 2 weeks of node75 being released, I think I could only find 2 proper reviews on youtube. Where are all the big channels and their reviews? If someone already knows of good reviews, please share them with me! 🙏🏻

The NuPhy Node 75 is now available for pre-order and I might just have to add this to my kb collection, looks awesome and I'm a huge fan of the Air 75 HE (currently my main kb) layout and design. If they come out with a Node 75 HE then I could see that easily becoming my new main.

https://nuphy.com/pages/node-75-pre-launch-page