If you want better legend visibility
Choose GravaStar Mercury V75 Pro. It scores 4.8 vs 2.2 for legend visibility, with a 4.1 overall score.
NuPhy Air60 HE Gaming Keyboard Review
Bottom Line
Choose the NuPhy Air60 HE if you want a compact wired Hall Effect board with fast response, rich tuning, and strong typing feel. Skip it if you need wireless freedom, arrow/function keys, broader switch options, or flawless keycaps.
Best for
Best for gamers who want a compact low-profile Hall Effect keyboard with strong trigger customization, fast response, and web-based software. It also suits users who like NuPhy’s bold styling and can work around layers.
Not for
Not for users who need wireless, dedicated arrow or function keys, broad switch-swapping options, or a conservative keycap design. It is also risky for buyers sensitive to light bleed, scratch concerns, or spacebar rattle.
Verdict
The NuPhy Air60 HE earns its strongest praise as a compact Hall Effect gaming keyboard with fast response, broad trigger tuning, polished web software, and unusually good typing feel for a low-profile board. Reviewers repeatedly liked its sturdy build, distinctive styling, acoustics, and value versus other magnetic gaming keyboards. The tradeoff is that the same compact, wired-first design limits everyday flexibility: several reviewers missed arrow or function keys, disliked the side USB routing, or wanted wireless. Keycap impressions were also split, ranging from high-quality PBT praise to complaints about light bleed, slickness, scratching, and unclear legends. Overall evidence points to a fast, stylish specialist board rather than a universal daily driver.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
44 reviewed features-
Very positive 4.5-5.016 (36%)
-
Positive 3.5-4.416 (36%)
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Neutral 2.5-3.48 (18%)
-
Negative 1.5-2.44 (9%)
Pros
-
Software quality was one of the most consistently praised attributes, with reviewers liking the web app, stability, clean UI, and broad controls.
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Responsiveness was a major strength across reviews, with reviewers praising fast keystrokes, snappy switches, and responsive in-game behavior.
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Reviewers generally liked the low-profile magnetic Jade switches for smoothness, snappiness, and comfort, though one reviewer found the light force required adjustment.
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Build quality was broadly praised, with reviewers describing the board as sturdy, solid, premium-feeling, or well put together.
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Gaming performance was one of the strongest areas, with reviewers praising speed, responsiveness, Hall Effect control, and compact competitive use.
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Design aesthetics were usually praised as stylish, distinctive, and attractive, though a few reviewers disliked the keycap color mix in person.
Cons
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Connectivity was the most repeated drawback because the board is wired-only and side USB or cable placement bothered several reviewers.
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Legend visibility drew criticism because several reviewers found the legends, translucent keys, or light bleed distracting or unclear.
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Reliability drew concerns from firmware-update problems and feet that did not lock securely in one critical review.
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Stabilizer quality was a recurring weak spot, mostly because multiple reviewers singled out the space bar for wobble, rattle, or clanky sound.
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Layout options were a common limitation because the 60% layout omits arrows, function keys, and navigation keys that several reviewers missed.
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Switch choice was criticized as narrow, with reviewers noting the current low-profile magnetic ecosystem leaves only the two Gateron LP Jade variants.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Gaming Keyboards, this product is above average in rapid trigger support, wrist rest quality, software quality, near average in switch feel, portability, below average in connectivity, layout options, key spacing.
Comparison summary
44 compared features-
Above average 0.4+ pts higher13 (30%)
-
Same as average within 0.3 pts16 (36%)
-
Below average 0.4+ pts lower15 (34%)
Largest category differences
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| connectivity | 2.4 | 3.9 | -1.5 |
| layout options | 2.7 | 4.1 | -1.3 |
| key spacing | 2.5 | 3.9 | -1.4 |
| legend visibility | 2.2 | 3.6 | -1.4 |
| stabilizer quality | 2.5 | 3.9 | -1.4 |
| rapid trigger support | 4.8 | 3.5 | +1.3 |
| reliability | 2.3 | 3.6 | -1.3 |
| wrist rest quality | 4.5 | 3.3 | +1.2 |
Consider This Instead
If you want better stabilizer quality
Choose ASUS ROG Falchion Ace 75 HE. It scores 4.8 vs 2.5 for stabilizer quality, with a 4.2 overall score.
If you want better key spacing
Choose Glorious GMMK 3 Pro HE. It scores 4.8 vs 2.5 for key spacing, with a 4.0 overall score.
If you want better hot-swappable switches
Choose Glorious GMMK 2. It scores 4.7 vs 2.5 for hot-swappable switches, with a 4.3 overall score.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
- Compared: price and convenience The Air60 HE is compared with the Keychron K2 HE on price, power, and convenience.
- Better: daily productivity layout The reviewer recommends the Keychron K2 HE instead for daily work because the Air60 HE’s 60% layout is limiting.
- More expensive: price and functionality The Air60 HE is presented as less expensive than the SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini while offering more functionality.
- Similar: responsiveness The Air60 HE’s responsiveness is described as similar to the Steelseries Apex Pro.
- Better: layout and arrow keys The Air60 HE is less appealing than the Varmilo Muse65 for users who want arrow keys, though the Varmilo is heavier.
FAQ
Is the NuPhy Air60 HE good for gaming?
Yes. Reviewers repeatedly praised its fast response, low latency, Rapid Trigger support, and Hall Effect gaming features, especially for compact competitive setups.
Is it good for typing?
It can be excellent for typing if you like low-profile boards. Some reviewers called the typing feel unusually good, while others found the flat layout, light actuation, or keycaps less accurate.
Does the NuPhy Air60 HE have wireless?
No. Wired-only connectivity was the most repeated complaint, especially because the compact low-profile body feels naturally portable.
Are the keycaps good?
Opinions were split. Some reviewers praised the PBT feel and solidity, while others criticized slippery feel, light bleed, unclear legends, scratching, or the mixed color design.
How is the software?
The web-based NuPhy.io software was widely praised for ease of use, clean controls, actuation tuning, remapping, lighting options, and Hall Effect customization.
What are the biggest downsides?
The main drawbacks are wired-only connectivity, the 60% layout’s missing arrow/function keys, limited low-profile magnetic switch options, and inconsistent keycap impressions.
Sample Expert Reviews We Analyzed
These are a few of the reviews included in our analysis.
Video Reviews
YouTube - Straightforward Tech
- Review score
- 3.7
YouTube - Wasabi
- Review score
- 3.2
YouTube - Tristan Pope (Crafting Worlds)
- Review score
- 2.5
Article Reviews
ign.com
- Review score
- 4.2
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