NuPhy Air75 V2 Review: The Low Profile Mechanical Keyboard Benchmark

NuPhy Air75 V2 has 5,000+ reviews on JD.com with a 4.5/5 rating at ¥599 ($84). Users appreciate the satisfying low-profile mechanical typing feel that bridges the gap between laptop chiclet and full-height mechanical, the gorgeous retro color scheme that stands out on any desk, and the seamless multi-device switching across three Bluetooth devices. The main complaints are the premium pricing that’s 2-3× the cost of comparable full-profile mechanical keyboards, non-standard low-profile switches limiting customization options, and the carrying case being sold separately. Conclusion: ✅ Worth Buying — the best low-profile mechanical keyboard for mobile professionals who need mechanical feel without the bulk.

Introduction

The low-profile mechanical keyboard segment has exploded, and the NuPhy Air75 V2 is widely considered the benchmark. With low-profile Gateron switches, a sleek 16.5mm height profile, and multi-device Bluetooth, it targets a specific user: someone who wants mechanical typing feel but needs a slimmer keyboard for ergonomics or portability.

At ¥599 ($84), it’s squarely in premium territory. We analyzed feedback from 5,000+ JD.com reviews to assess whether it’s worth the premium over cheaper alternatives.

Specifications

Feature	NuPhy Air75 V2	Lofree Flow	Logitech MX Mechanical Mini	Keychron Air75
Price (JD)	¥599 ($84)	¥699 ($98)	¥549 ($77)	¥499 ($70)
Height	16.5mm	17.3mm	20.5mm	18mm
Switches	Gateron LP 2.0	Kailh LP (Full POM)	Kailh Choc v2	Gateron LP
Hot-Swap	✅	✅	❌	❌
Connectivity	BT 5.0 + 2.4G + USB-C	BT 5.0 + USB-C	BT + Logi Bolt + USB-C	BT + USB-C
Battery	2500mAh	2000mAh	1500mAh	2000mAh
Keycaps	PBT (NuPhy profile)	PBT	ABS	ABS
Backlight	Per-key RGB	White only	White only	White only
JD Rating	4.5/5	4.4/5	4.6/5	4.4/5
JD Reviews	5,000+	3,000+	20,000+	3,000+

Design and Build Quality

The Air75 V2 is beautiful. The retro white/gray colorway with orange escape key is instantly recognizable. The case is a combination of aluminum top plate and ABS plastic bottom. At 16.5mm thin, it’s significantly slimmer than a standard mechanical keyboard (typically 30-40mm) while still providing mechanical key travel.

The included low-profile PBT keycaps use NuPhy’s own sculpted profile. They’re thin but durable — the legends are legible and the texture is pleasant. Keycap wobble is minimal for low-profile caps.

The keyboard has a 2.4GHz dongle stored in a magnetic compartment on the bottom — a nice touch. Bluetooth 5.0 connects to three devices with a dedicated toggle.

“The build quality is superb. The aluminum top plate gives it a premium weight (but not too heavy), and the retro colorway gets compliments from everyone who sees it. At 16.5mm, typing on it feels natural without a wrist rest.” — JD.com user

Typing Experience

The Air75 V2 ships with Gateron Low Profile 2.0 switches — available in Red (linear), Brown (tactile), or Blue (clicky). The 2.0 revision has reduced wobble and smoother travel compared to the original Gateron LP switches.

The key travel is 3.0mm (vs standard mechanical 4.0mm) — noticeably less travel but still satisfyingly mechanical compared to scissor-switch or membrane keyboards. The bottom-out feel is cushioned by silicone pads.

Hot-swap support is a welcome addition in V2 — you can change switches without soldering. However, the selection of low-profile switches is limited compared to the standard MX ecosystem.

“I switched from a Keychron K3 to the Air75 V2 and the difference is noticeable. The Gateron LP 2.0 Browns have a cleaner tactile bump and less wobble. The hot-swap sockets mean I can try NuPhy’s own Wisteria switches if I want.” — JD.com user

User Reviews by Theme

Typing Comfort

“I used a standard-height mechanical keyboard for years but it caused wrist strain. The Air75 V2 at 16.5mm lets me type with properly straight wrists. The low profile mechanical feel is addictive — it’s like a MacBook keyboard but with actual satisfying key travel.” — JD.com user

💡 Summary: The primary value proposition — low-profile mechanical typing reduces wrist strain while maintaining satisfying tactility.

Design and Aesthetics

“This is the best-looking keyboard I’ve ever owned. The retro white/gray with orange accent is gorgeous. It looks great on my standing desk in my home office. The slim profile means I can slide my iPad under the front edge.” — JD.com user

💡 Summary: Aesthetic design is a major purchasing motivator — one of the best-looking stock keyboards available.

Price vs Value

“¥599 for a low-profile keyboard is hard to justify when a VGN N75 Pro costs ¥239 and offers similar features in full height. But if you specifically need low profile for ergonomic reasons, there’s nothing better at any price.” — JD.com user

💡 Summary: Premium pricing is justified only if you specifically need low-profile — full-height alternatives offer better value.

Switch Availability

“Hot-swap is great but finding low-profile switch alternatives is harder than standard MX. NuPhy sells their own Wisteria (tactile) and Cowberry (linear) switches but they’re ¥129 for 35 pieces. Options from Gateron and Kailh are limited.” — JD.com user

💡 Summary: Low-profile switch ecosystem is limited — fewer choices and higher prices than standard MX switches.

Battery Life

“Battery life is excellent — about 3 weeks with RGB off at 8 hours daily. With RGB on, more like 5-6 days. The 2500mAh battery is larger than most competitors’ and USB-C charging is fast.” — JD.com user

💡 Summary: Good battery life — best-in-class for low-profile wireless keyboards.

Purchase Recommendations

✅ Worth Buying (¥599)

The Air75 V2 is the best low-profile mechanical keyboard for those who specifically need low-profile. The build quality, typing feel, and design justify the premium if you need to reduce wrist strain or want a slim aesthetic.

💰 Premium Pick: For the Aesthetic

If design matters as much as function, the Air75 V2 is worth every yuan — it’s a genuine desk centerpiece that sparks conversation.

⚠️ Budget Warning: If You Don’t Need Low Profile

If you don’t specifically need a low-profile keyboard, you can get a better typing experience (full gasket mount, PBT keycaps, tri-mode) from the VGN N75 Pro at ¥239 or Ajazz AK820 Pro at ¥199.

Pros & Cons

✅ Pros	❌ Cons
Slim 16.5mm height — ergonomic typing	Expensive at ¥599 — 2-3× budget alternatives
Premium aluminum + plastic build	Non-standard low-profile switches limit modding
Superb low-profile mechanical feel	PBT keycaps are thin for the price
Hot-swappable switches (V2 improvement)	No carrying case included
Tri-mode (BT/2.4G/USB-C) connectivity	RGB is hardware-zone limited, not per-key
Beautiful retro design	Only comes in one color scheme (retro)
2500mAh battery (largest in segment)	Low-profile switch replacement cost is high

FAQ

Q: Can I use standard MX keycaps on the Air75 V2? A: No. Low-profile switches (Gateron LP, Kailh Choc) use different stem dimensions than standard MX. You must use low-profile keycaps. NuPhy sells additional keycap sets for ¥79-99.

Q: Is the Air75 V2 compatible with Mac? A: Yes, it has a dedicated Mac mode with proper macOS key legends (Cmd/Option) and full media key support. The included keycaps have both Mac and Windows legends printed.

Q: What’s new in V2 compared to V1? A: V2 adds: hot-swappable switches, 2.4GHz dongle support (was Bluetooth only), larger battery (2500mAh vs 1850mAh), improved Gateron LP 2.0 switches, and QMK/VIA support.

Q: Does the Air75 V2 support QMK/VIA? A: Yes! V2 added QMK/VIA support. You can remap any key, create layers, and customize macros using the VIA web app. This was the most requested V1 improvement.

Q: How does it compare to the Logitech MX Mechanical Mini? A: The Air75 V2 is thinner (16.5mm vs 20.5mm) and lighter, has hot-swappable switches (Logitech doesn’t), and supports QMK/VIA. The Logitech MX has Logi Bolt for more reliable connectivity and is slightly more durable. Choose NuPhy for typing feel, Logitech for enterprise connectivity.