We Reviewed the First Ever Low-Profile Gaming Keyboard with Magnetic Switches

Despite all the diversification in the mechanical keyboard world, even with low-profile mechanical keyboards becoming a more accessible option, the gaming community has still shunned them as a viable option for gaming. But now, thanks to the release of the NuPhy Air60HE, that view is probably going to come into question for a lot of gamers. Measuring just 18mm thick, this keyboard packs NuPhy’s incredible hall effect magnetic switches in an incredibly thin profile.

NuPhy is no stranger to low-profile keyboards, with the Air60 V2 being a fan favorite for years now, but I was very excited to get my hands on the HE version to see if it was up to snuff for gaming as well as daily use. Over the last couple of weeks, I put this keyboard to the test, playing games like Space Marine II, doing work, and just using it as a daily driver keyboard. While I might be a bit biased as a proponent for low-profile keyboards earning a more respectable place in the gaming community, long story short, the Ai60HE is going to be quite the game changer for a lot of gamers out there.

NuPhy Air60HE Unboxing and First Impressions

Box Contents

• NuPhy Air 60HE Keyboard
• USB-C to USB-A Cable
• Keycap and Switch Puller
• Extra Keycaps

NuPhy has nailed the unboxing experience with the last couple of keyboards I have tried, and the Air 60HE is no different. Taking this keyboard out of the box is a very luxurious experience. Even though it doesn’t come with a ton of accessories, it does come with everything to get up and running.

Maybe it’s just me, but my first impressions are typically based on a few idle taps on a couple of keys as I pick up the keyboard out of the box, and those first couple of taps solidified this keyboard as a top contender for one of the best keyboards to come out in 2024. We will talk more about the actual typing experience in-depth, but right off the bat, these Hall Effect switches in this low-profile frame are just as good, if not better, than some of the other Hall Effect switches we have tried with full-sized keyboards.

NuPhy Air60HE Design and Features

This keyboard’s most impressive feature is the engineering feat of fitting these Hall Effect switches into the thin 18 mm frame; this is not the thinnest mechanical keyboard out there. That title still goes to the Lofree Edge84, which is just 10mm thin, but this is the first time players have seen Hall Effect switches in such a tiny frame.

While Hall Effect or magnetic switches are not required for the best gaming experience, more and more keyboards are starting to offer keyboards with them, and for good reason. With an adjustable actuation point, Hall Effect switches are easily the most versatile switch you could have in your keyboard. The other big advantage to Hall Effect switches is the ability to assign multiple inputs to one keypress, and thanks to NuPhy’s software, you can even turn on features like SOCD (Simultaneous Opposite Cardinal Directions), Hyper Shift, and Dead Zone Calibration.

However, it’s worth noting that if you are a competitive gamer, especially for CS2 players, turning on features like the SOCD can get you kicked out of the game, and there have been rumors that features like Hyper Shift might be making their way onto the list of kickable features as well. These features are pretty overpowered for competitive gaming, so we totally get it, but if you are a single-player gamer and want to feel like a gaming god, try turning on some of these for a good time.

Design

The Air 60HE’s features list is incredibly impressive, but the keyboard’s overall design ties it all together. Most of the other small form factor Hall Effect keyboards we have seen in the past fit into the same box of black keyboards with RGB lighting. Thankfully, the Air 60HE breaks the mold and looks incredible doing it.

The base set keycaps are made of nSA plastic, rather than the typical PBT or ABS. They are meant to handle heavier use, and during our testing, they held up quite well. The matte coating stayed matte even during some tense gaming sessions; the sweat build-up didn’t affect the look of the keycaps or the excellent feel. Plus, the transparent keycaps that come with the base set are made of the same material, but provide a nice texture distinction between the two parts of the keyboard.

You can pay extra for a more typical-looking keycap set, but I recommend sticking with the base keycap set if you want that distinctive look that complements the rest of the keyboard’s case and frame. You will want to be a reasonably comfortable touch typist with these keycaps, though, because while they are fun, they are not helpful if you are trying to remember what those keys are.

NuPhy Air60HE Comfort

While the Air60HE is by no means an ergonomic keyboard, it is reasonably comfortable to use all day for work and gaming. If you are used to the smaller form factor, this keyboard feels very natural once you start typing on it, but if you are used to a full-size or even TKL keyboard, the Air60HE will feel pretty small at first.

If you are not a big fan of keyboards that lie flat, the Air60HE has adjustable feet that will give you a bit more room to experiment with what works best for you. During the testing period, I found that the flat position worked best for me and my typing style. Because of the low-profile design, I never felt like I was straining to reach the keys or hovering my hands over the keyboard, which can lead to RSI.

It would slightly detract from the small form factor and ultra-sleek design, but if you want to get the most comfort out of the Air60HE, adding a wrist rest will make it better for long-term use.

NuPhy Air60HE Performance

As with all keyboards, it can look and feel great, but when it comes down to it, outright performance is what really takes the cake and separates excellent keyboards from just the pretty looking ones. Thankfully, the Air60HE isn’t just a pretty face; this keyboard is an all-out gaming machine. I never felt like I wanted more performance out of this keyboard, whether I was playing intense and fast-paced games, story games with lots of exploration, or even just day-to-day work usage.

Gaming

Obviously, NuPhy wanted to put a big emphasis on the gaming community with this keyboard, and with this performance, this may be the keyboard that starts to turn the heads of gamers who had previously written off low-profile keyboards as unserious options for gamers.

The low-profile magnetic jade switches feel absolutely amazing out of the box. In the standard setting, there is a satisfying amount of resistance on the initial push, but not too much to make it tiring to game for hours at a time. Plus, if you want a bit lighter keypress, you can easily change that in the Nuphy software, which is reasonably easy to navigate around.

There is a fair amount of debate about whether an 8,000 Hz polling rate makes a difference for gaming or whether it is just overkill. I am not going to make one claim valid over the other, but all I know is that this keyboard feels incredibly responsive. During the testing period, I had no issues with input lag or ghosting.

While the Air60HE didn’t magically make me an e-sports gamer god, it did make me feel more confident in competitive games, where I usually struggle. I am sure that in more capable hands, this keyboard would make you a threat in any competitive game you are playing.

Work

Just because this is a gaming keyboard, doesn’t mean you can’t use it for work and day to day tasks. This became my daily driver during my testing period, and besides losing the arrow keys and the function row to the smaller form factor, I had no complaints using this keyboard for work.

With a switch on the back of the keyboard, you can easily key layouts between Mac or Windows, and you can even program a third custom setting for game or work macros. This made it super easy to switch between my Windows and MacOS setup in a matter of seconds, rather than trying to remember a weird key combination.

When it comes to typing, this keyboard really feels like you are typing on a full-height keyboard despite being half the thickness of standard keyboards. That is largely thanks to the low-profile magnetic jade switches having the same travel distance of 3.3mm as their full-height siblings. This makes typing incredibly satisfying with this keyboard; the sound is nice and full, but not overpoweringly loud, so you won’t annoy your desk neighbors if you bring this keyboard into the office.

Is The Nuphy Air60HE Right For You?

Coming in at $120, the NuPhy Air60HE is not a budget keyboard, but it is also nowhere near some of the other premium keyboards we have seen this year. If you are looking for a low-profile keyboard that can game and work, all while looking amazing on your desk, the NuPhy Air60HE might be the keyboard for you. However, if you love this keyboard and the only thing holding you back from pulling the trigger is the form factor, NuPhy just announced the Air75HE for pre-order, which looks like the same great internals in a slightly larger form factor.

Even if you are not a massive fan of low-profile keyboards, I highly recommend at least trying out this keyboard; out of all the low-profile options out there, this keyboard is probably the most likely to change some minds.

Of course, I am not going to force anyone to use a low-profile keyboard if they don’t want to. If low-profile keyboards just aren’t for you, but you still want to try out the magnetic jade switches, something like the NuPhy Halo 65 HE is going to be a great option for you. There are also a handful of other options that are similar, yet offer slightly different features that might be better suited to you and your gaming rig.

FAQ

Q: Does the Air60HE really support an 8KHz polling rate?

Yes, the NuPhy Air60HE actually supports an 8KHz polling rate, which, when you pair it with the magnetic switches, makes this keyboard an absolute powerhouse of the low-profile keyboard for gaming.

Q: Is the NuPhy Air60HE good for gaming?

Low-profile keyboards are generally not considered good gaming options, but the NuPhy Air 60HE is an exception. This keyboard is exceptional for gaming, whether you are looking for high-performance competitive gaming or casual exploration gaming.