As a frequent traveler who spends hours writing every day, I’m always on the lookout for anything that can make my mobile setup better. You can probably guess that, like many people, I do most of my work on a laptop. And while laptops are convenient, their built-in keyboards often leave a lot to be desired for long-form typing. That’s why the Nuphy Air60 V2 keyboard has been such a welcome addition to my kit.
This is a low-profile, wireless mechanical keyboard designed for people who care about both portability and typing feel. After using it for several months on planes, in hotel rooms, and in coffee shops around the world, here’s how it stacks up.
The Nuphy Air60 V2 strikes a rare balance between portability and performance, delivering a satisfying mechanical typing experience in a compact, travel-ready form. With solid build quality, versatile connectivity, and hot-swappable switches, it’s an ideal choice for writers and digital nomads who won’t compromise on feel on the go.
Pros:
- Excellent typing feel for a low-profile keyboard
- Super compact and lightweight
- Hot-swappable switches
- Tri-mode connectivity (Bluetooth, 2.4GHz, USB-C)
- Multi-device compatibility (including Mac and Windows)
Cons:
- No dedicated function row
- Low-profile keycaps take some adjustment
- Bluetooth connection may require extra steps
- Not the cheapest option
Typing experience is where it shines
Portability is great, but even the best travel keyboard needs to be enjoyable to actually use. Thankfully, the first thing that impressed me about the Nuphy Air60 V2 keyboard was the typing feel. Despite being low-profile, the keys deliver a satisfying mechanical response with minimal wobble.
You have a handful of different switch options here, all from well-regarded switch maker Gateron. First, there are the standard “big three” switch options, which include smooth red linear switches, clicky blue switches, and tactile brown switches, which are somewhere in-between red and blue in terms of feedback and noise. Nuphy also offers some other Gateron switch options, including “Moss,” “Wisteria,” and “Aloe,” and “Cowberry.”
If you’re not too picky about your keyboard switches, I recommend sticking with the linear reds or tactile browns. Personally, I went with the Gateron Brown switches, which provide satisfying tactile feedback without creating too much racket. That’s useful since I’m often working in public spaces where keyboard noise wouldn’t be appreciated. The less clicky linear red switches would be even quieter, if that’s a concern for you. Yet whichever switch type you choose, it’ll be a noticeable step up from scissor switches or membrane keyboards.
Overall, the typing experience of the Nuphy Air60 V2 is fantastic, and the mechanical switches feel great. That said, the low-profile PBT keycaps did take some getting used to. More on that in a bit.
Perfectly suited for travel
You can tell just by looking at the thing that portability is where the Nuphy Air60 V2 keyboard really stands out. It weighs just over a pound and slides easily into a laptop sleeve or backpack. The aluminum top plate gives it a premium feel without adding too much heft, and the keyboard holds up well to being jostled around in a bag or backpack. I sprung for the official NuFolio V3 keyboard case (which will set you back around $35-$40), which is perfect for tossing into my shoulder bag.
The Nuphy Air60 V2 keyboard connects via Bluetooth or a 2.4GHz dongle, and it can switch between up to four devices. Personally, I found the Bluetooth connection a little fussy with my Windows machines, and it may even require a driver download on certain devices. I much prefer to use the included USB wireless dongle (as I almost always do with wireless mice and keyboards).
Both my Microsoft Surface Pro tablet and Windows desktop PC recognized it immediately, and I was able to start using it right away with no extra steps required. Unless you absolutely can’t spare a USB port, I recommend using the wireless dongle for the easiest setup and best reliability. I also didn’t notice any latency to speak of.
Battery life is solid, even when I switched on the RGB backlighting in the evenings. I get around 40 hours of active use per charge, which easily covers a week of travel. The layout is compact, but still includes arrow keys, which are essential for my writing and editing. If you’re used to full-size or tenkeyless keyboards, you’ll need a few days to adjust, but once you do, it’s fast and efficient.
Design and build quality
This is a slick and good-looking keyboard. The floating keycap design, brushed aluminum frame, and customizable RGB all contribute to a clean, modern aesthetic with a satisfying (but not cumbersome) weight. The build quality feels premium in the hands, especially for something so portable.
That said, the low-profile keycaps can feel a bit slippery at first, especially if you’re used to taller caps. After a few days, however, muscle memory adjusts, and I found the typing flow to be smooth and natural. The lack of a function key row (the Fn keys are combined with the number keys) also takes some adjustment, but is easy to adapt to once you learn a few hotkey shortcuts for things like backlighting, media controls, etc.
Is it worth it?
If you’re a writer, coder, or heavy typist who often travels, the Nuphy Air60 V2 keyboard is very easy to recommend. It offers the tactile joy of a mechanical keyboard in a package that’s actually designed for mobility. While the layout won’t suit everyone and the price is a bit higher than typical Bluetooth boards, the overall experience justifies the investment.
It’s not just good for travel; the Nuphy Air60 V2 could easily become your daily driver. Personally, I’m not going to replace my Keychron K2 with this as my desk keyboard (I do like having a dedicated function row), but I wouldn’t cry into my cups if I had to for some reason.
Final verdict
The goal of this hands-on Nuphy Air60 V2 review is to answer one question: do you need a mechanical keyboard that travels as well as you do? If the answer is yes, this one hits the sweet spot. It is a bit more expensive than the competition, however. If the $130 price tag is too steep, consider something cheaper, like the similarly sized (but less feature-rich) Keychron K3 V2.
Nonetheless, I’m very happy with my Nuphy Air60 V2, which has accompanied me (and will continue to accompany me) on many travels. Compact, capable, gorgeous, and a joy to type on, it’s an excellent mechanical keyboard for anyone who works on the go.
Overall rating: 9/10
