NuPhy Halo75 V2 Review — A Prebuilt Keyboard with All The Custom Goodness

When I reviewed the NuPhy Gem80, I was sure that I would not find a better keyboard than that, and I was also certain that such an experience can only be possible if you build the keyboard yourself. However, NuPhy was quick to prove me wrong when the sent me the NuPhy Halo75 V2, a much more affordable keyboard as compared to the Gem80, but something that is virtually the same in so many aspects and even better in some. If you are not looking to shell out upwards of $200 on a custom keyboard and still want a great experience, then this might be the perfect choice because I am a fan and you should be, too.

The NuPhy Halo75 V2 is proof that NuPhy loves keyboards

Now, the NuPhy Halo75 V2 joins the Halo lineup of keyboards, and if you are not familiar, the focus here is on RGB lighting and loads of it. I will get to that later but the one thing that I realized the moment I took the board out of the box is how familiar it felt. I immediately removed the keycap to find the same great Mint switches that I have installed on my Gem80, and after a quick typing test, I was floored to realize that despite their price differences, both keyboards sound the same and considering how acoustic and typing experience are two things that most people want, NuPhy got both aspects nailed down.

Now, unboxing the NuPhy Halo75 V2 is a lot less glamorous than the Gem80. This keyboard comes in a single box instead of three separate boxes if you buy the whole set for the Gem80, the box is also a lot lighter, and there are not a lot of accessories, either. However, the unboxing experience never makes you feel like the company should have done more. It is classic NuPhy, and it shows.

All NuPhy Halo75 V2 variants come in color-matched boxes, which is a nice attention to detail. I did not request a color this time around and Madison decided to send me the Mojito colorway, and honestly, I was pretty happy with how it looked. Now, keep in mind that if it were up to me, I would make everything I own black, but this is the first non-black keyboard that I seriously fell in love with. The color is nicely done and it does not look tacky at any point. There is enough contrast going around here, and you would be hard-pressed to dislike this.

The unboxing experience is relatively simple. Remove the top sleeve, open the black box underneath, remove the protective tray, and take out the NuPhy Halo75 V2 from its protective sleeve. You are not getting the fancy microfiber treatment as you did with the Gem80, but hey, I am not complaining.

The NuPhy Halo75 V2 comes with the standard set of accessories including a switch and keycap remover, a USB cable, an extra set of keycaps, extra switches, and a 2.4GHz dongle that can also be housed at the back of the keyboard (a very underrated but highly useful feature) I honestly cannot really complain about the accessories that are provided here. You basically get everything that you would want in a prebuilt keyboard without the headache of building it on your own.

The NuPhy Halo75 V2 also ships with three switches that the company provides. You get the Mint, Lemon, and Raspberry switches. The Mint switch is the lightest, with 37 grams of actuation force, and a linear type; the Raspberry is also linear but heavier at 46 grams of actuation force, with the Lemon being tactile and heaviest at 55 grams of actuation force. NuPhy also offers a Cherry Silent Red with 45 grams of actuation force. However, these are the options that the company sells on its website. Considering the hot-swap nature of this board, you can go for your own switch variation without any issues. My experience with NuPhy switches has been nothing but excellent and these are some of the best out-of-the-box switches that I have come to experience.

Much like the Gem80, the NuPhy Halo75 V2 is tastefully built with quality materials across the board. The keyboard has an aluminum top plate, giving it the heft and premium feel that it needs with an ABS translucent bottom and a POM plate to ensure that the typing experience remains as good as it can possibly be.

The one thing that I really loved about the NuPhy Halo75 V2 when compared to the Gem80 is that this keyboard comes with adjustable feet that allow you to adjust the height of the keyboard at two different angles. This is a very underrated feature, but for me, it’s a must because it allows you to actually position the board on top of your laptop’s keyboard in case you are looking for easier access.

The top side of the NuPhy Halo75 V2 is nothing fancy, it hosts all the switches that you would need to switch between different modes and connectivity. The keyboard supports wired, 2.4GHz, and Bluetooth connectivity, so you are not going to be left out in any case.

The one addition on the top that I think every keyboard should have is a small slot that allows you to house the 2.4GHz dongle, and the NuPhy Halo75 V2 does come with that. However, if you do not intend to use that, there is a nice rubber placeholder that the company adds, so you can always go for it.

I honestly really like the overall fit and finish of the NuPhy Halo75 V2, this is something that I have seen NuPhy do a lot. Every single keyboard from the company that I have tested screams quality. I even love the little magnetic badge that the company has added. It is also available on the Gem80, and adds a nice little touch. Considering how it is magnetic, you can always go ahead and create your own as long as you have the dimensions nailed down.

Now, the one thing that NuPhy advertised about the NuPhy Halo75 V2 is the fact that this keyboard comes with “over 9000x RGB awesomeness” and honestly, they were not wrong. I have used a number of NuPhy keyboards, as you can tell by the fact that I am absolutely raving about them all the time, and this keyboard has not only the brightest but also the most stunning RGB lighting that I have seen.

Now, bear in mind that the NuPhy Halo75 V2 has south-facing LEDs, which is something that I am not a fan of, but the way NuPhy has done it on this keyboard has more or less restored my faith in how lighting should be done. it is smooth, bright, and vibrant. Plus, the auxiliary light is a sight to behold because it adds a glow to your desk that you cannot really go wrong with.

I mean, for a second, I wanted to put my Gem80 in the box and choose the NuPhy Halo75 V2 as my daily driver because the lighting on this keyboard is so much brighter than it is on the Gem80. NuPhy clearly made the right choice here because the lighting looks absolutely stunning, and considering how the keyboard is QMK/VIA supported, there are a lot of effects that you can go for, and you will not have any issues whatsoever.

Speaking of the auxiliary lighting, the NuPhy Halo75 V2 has a light bar running across the entire edge of the body, and it can be controlled separately from the main lighting, well, it just adds more character to the keyboard.

It is safe to say that if you are searching for an absolutely stunning RGB implementation, then the NuPhy Halo75 V2 is definitely something that should be on your list. But don’t let me stop you just there. There is a lot more to this keyboard than just beautiful RGB lighting. After all, it would not be a NuPhy board without me raving about typing.

How does it type? Well, I did not spend a long time with this keyboard, but the moment I started typing on this board, I realized that the NuPhy Halo75 V2 feels exactly like the Gem80. This is not only because both variants that I have used the same switch, but there was very little to distinguish both keyboards, and I am glad that the company has decided to go for this approach. By treating the Halo75 V2 with the same level of attention to detail and care, the company has made sure that those who are not looking to go for a custom keyboard can get almost the same experience with a more affordable offering. You can see a very small acoustic test below and you will know how similar these boards are in terms of acoustic profile.

With so much to rave about, is there any aspect where the NuPhy Halo75 V2 falls short? I honestly don’t think so. Everything about this keyboard works the way it is supposed to, and in some ways, it even surpasses the NuPhy Gem80, which, I believe, is the flagship keyboard that the company has to offer.

How would I justify this keyboard? Well, it is simple, aside from the fact that the NuPhy Halo75 V2 is a keyboard for those who are looking for the NuPhy Gem80 experience but don’t want to spend the extra money or time on a custom keyboard, the Halo75 V2 also has its own personality, which can be seen in the fact that the RGB lighting on this keyboard wipes the floor with some of the other offerings in the market. It has its personality which makes it such a great option that you should consider.

In the end, I would only say that the NuPhy Halo75 V2 is just another keyboard that shows how NuPhy has solidified itself as one of the best companies in the market when it comes to custom and prebuilt keyboards. Even if they start marketing these as gaming keyboards, I would not mind simply because of the typing experience these boards provide. They sound good out of the box, they have some of the best fit and finishes that I have seen on any keyboard, and they easily provide a much, much better value than anything else that the market has to offer. I do not think you can go wrong with a NuPhy board.

The NuPhy Halo75 V2 takes all the best bits of its elder, custom sibling and adds its own personality on the top with stunning RGB lighting, great out of the box typing experience, variety of switch options, and a robust construction that will ensure your typing experience remains the same.