Are these the BEST low-profile mechanical keyboards?

In this video, we compare three popular low-profile mechanical keyboards: the Keychron K3 Pro, the Nuphy Air 75, and the Logitech MX Mechanical Mini. We discuss the similarities and differences between these keyboards, their unique features, and which type of personality each keyboard might work best with. And of course there's plenty of ASMR typing tests with the blue, brown, quiet, and wisteria switches on offer from each brand. Join us as we explore the world of mechanical keyboards and help you find the perfect one for you!
PRODUCT LINKS:
Nuphy Air 75 : bit.ly/3IzQiRZ (use code TMG10 at checkout for 10% discount)
Keychron K3 Pro : bit.ly/4aRcX7J
Logitech MX Mechanical Mini for Mac : logitech-emea.pxf.io/jrGeYv
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⌚️TIMESTAMPS
0:00 : Intro & Similarities
1:52 : Nuphy Air 75
5:37 : Keychron K3 Pro
8:55 : Logitech MX Mechanical Mini for Mac
12:14 : Conclusion
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🔗 RELATED
REMATCH - 75% low-profile keyboard showdown: • The best low-profile 7...
Nuphy Air 96 Keyboard review: • Nuphy Air96 Keyboard: ...
Keychron K3 Pro VS K3 v2: • Keychron K3 Pro vs K3 ...
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[@ThatMarkGilroy]

Sorry about the ‘Trump hands’ at 0:05. Don’t know what came over me.

[@JakubS_]

Nothing wrong with that

[@JJHaz]

Really good, tks. Write from keychron k3 pro, i love it. I planning to buy the Nuphy air 75, two solid rocks, very well

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

Good choice!

[@shuper_j5819]

Nice video! The sound tests confirmed to me again that the logitech wasn't the option I wanted to go with. I had already done some research on low profile mechanical keyboards before seeing this and had almost gone with a Keychron K3 (non-pro) with the Keychron Optical Mint switches because I liked the idea of a low-profile, early bump tactile switch. I've used multiple different Lenovo thinkpad laptops regularly and think that their keyboards are very "poppy" (I know the apple magic keyboard feels similar to this too) which I was hopeful the mint switches would feel similar, but with the advantages of a true mechanical switch. I ultimately decided to go with a NuPhy Air75 V2 with their tactile Wisteria switches (but I also got the brown 2.0 switches to compare to, since it was like $15 extra). Those switches are still tactile, and the operating force listed on their website is 55+/-15gf but the end force is 50+/-5gf and they have a 2 stage spring. I think this will accomplish the same early bump "poppy" tactile feel I'm looking for, but I'll get to compare it head to head with the brown 2.0 switches too. The goal for this keyboard ultimately is office work, so I didn't want a "clicky" switch annoying my coworkers.

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

Nice choice. I’ve also preordered the V2 Air75 with Wisteria switches. Could be the perfect combo!!🤞🏼

[@flarierza33]

Mind sharing how it went after 4 months? How does the wisteria compare to the brown? I've used the traditional brown and blue switches, I prefer the brown. Interested what the wisteria switches feel like.

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

@@flarierza33 Wisteria is a slightly deeper sound to the browns. I’ve got a recording of the Air75V2 with wisteria switches installed over at kzbin.info/www/bejne/boDFk4quiLuml5Y

[@Murdock47]

Lovely video Mark! Thanks for sharing!

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

Thanks mate - glad you enjoyed it!

[@Murdock47]

@@ThatMarkGilroy 100%. I have the G915tkl tactile browns, but I hate that it feels a bit 'mushy' and that the key caps kind of wobble slightly at the top. For over a oner i expect something that feels almost perfect. I just tried a cidoo epomaker and returned it because the thing is so high up! I suspect I've been spoiled by the g915 experience and can never return to high profile. Might have to try the nuphy. Do you have an opinion on the Keychron Q3 at all? Would that probably feel like it's on stilts too? I need those arrows and I need VIA for macros if poss. I also want 'built like a tank' for anything over a hundred.

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

@@Murdock47 Yep, those Pro Keychron keyboards are built like tanks. You might need to spend a bit of money adding some more dampening to the Q3 board though as they're a bit rattle-y. If you like the Keychron looks and low-profile you might want to look at the K13 Pro (80%) or K17 Pro (96%) which will give you VIA too.

[@RespawnRoss]

Nice video, I’ve got the k3 v2, but tempted by the logi mx mini, that battery life is pretty impressive!

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

Thanks Ross. Yep, it’s hard to argue with that battery life. I think it’s the best looking out of the three too, I just can’t get past the way it feels to type on.

[@TheGodFerllini]

I used to use the k3 v2 (I have the spetial edition with orange swith parts ), now im using the mx mechanical mini... the only thing better with the mx is the batery life (and the fact I use the mx master 3s as well haha), but the keycaps, the switches (hot swappable in may case), even the height is better with the K3... So after I bought the mx , I had a k3 to spare, so I gave it to my GF, she loved it, she completelly prefer the k3 over the mx, so think it well before changing the k3. Also I was thinking on getting the Nuphy Air 75 or the k3 pro, to replace MX hahaha

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

@TheGodFerllini yes I used to have a K3V2 - an awesome keyboard let down by some shonky Bluetooth! I can definitely recommend the Nuphy - I have 3 of their keyboards now. I will be reviewing the Lofree Flow very soon and comparing against the Air75, so watch this space.

[@earthops4821]

Hopefully you havent bought it yet, but i have and regret it. They "S" key was on the frits about 2 months of owning it and it not having a hot swappable is a huge let down. keys also feel very hard to push down after typing for a while. this is just my thoughts not a keyboard guru, but i own both keychron and the MX

[@BudaSuyasa]

I have the Keychron K3 V2, but after using it for 2 months, I switched to the NuPhy Air75 V2. My main issue with the Keychron was the frequent typos I made. I tried both the brown and banana switches; the banana switch slightly improved my typing, as I made fewer typos. However, after trying the Air75 with Wisteria switches, I experienced a significant improvement in both sound and typing experience. The Wisteria switches are somewhat similar to the brown switches, but they offer better sound and more stability. Additionally, the Air75 V2 features QMK/VIA compatibility and superior keycaps, lending it a premium feel. It's a solid, rock-solid product.

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

Hi Buda. Glad to hear you landed on the Air75. It’s a GREAT keyboard.

[@emmacoller1718]

I might have to stop watching these AWSOME videos. They cost me a fortune! 😂 I simply have to buy a nuphy 😂 those colours! ❤

[@JohnLangridge]

Super video, thanks Mark. Looking to move over to my first mechanical as I build up a home set up. I would be all over the Nuphy, it's stunning. As a Brit, I use the £ a lot though and it looks like they aren't making an ISO version. Do you use ISO or ANSI mainly? If ANSI, how do you get by? Thanks!

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

Thanks John. If you like the look of the K3 Pro they do offer an ISO UK version though it's a bit buried in their website. I've found SHIFT+3 is fine for accessing £ when I need it. Also, the VIA integration on the Nuphy (version 2), Logi options software, and Keychron K3 Prof is great for quickly programming a macro to change the way the keys work.

[@Adam_StefaniakSaltea_Moonspell]

Great Content. I'd appreciate if you could advice: I've never used mechanical keyboard, because I didnt really play that much or at all. I've always been a MX Logitech keyboard user and I got them at home and at work. I would like to order mechanical keyboard for gaming and working and I thought that the MX from Logitech would be the best option. In terms of sound wise is the Logitech the quite one after longer testests? Can you measure the sound with objective noise-meter?

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

If you're used to the way Logi keyboards feel and haven't tried a mechanical keyboard before, you'll be in safe hands with the MX Mechanical. I just couldn't get along with the feel of it having used a number of other mechanical boards over the past few years. And yes, it's easily the quietest of the bunch.

[@arab6745]

​@@ThatMarkGilroyinteresting, it sounded the loudest in the video.

[@bjorn-falkoandreas9472]

The Keychron K3 non-pro with the low profile optical Gateron switches is the most interesting keyboard I own. I MAY have a bit of a problem since I actually now own two different versions of the K3, a heavily modded Q1, a random vintage Cherry Model M clone I still had and some McLogitech overpriced thing. The Keychron K3v2 non pro is the most interesting one I own. If you put the lightest linear optical switches on that you get the twitchiest of keyboards. No metal contact and only the resistance of light between you and actuation. That keyboard screams for low profile optical white Gateron switches.

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

I wish I’d given my bank balance a warning before I started getting into keybs. It’s never ending!

[@shuper_j5819]

Out of curiosity, which Gateron switches did you get? I was looking at getting a Keychron K3 non-pro with the optical mint switches since I wanted that early tactile bump "poppy" feel. I ended up going with a NuPhy air75 V2 with their Wisteria switches. I love the look, and the wisteria switches seem like they may still have that "poppy" feel I'm looking for

[@bjorn-falkoandreas9472]

@@shuper_j5819 Honestly I was jumping between optical brown and optical orange. Since I now fully am committed to the K3 Pro I may put optical white switches into the K3 non-pro. Those actuate by you looking at them and I always wanted to try them. The K3s are ideal when it comes to 75% ultra portable. They are basically only keys and no wasted millimeter. The NuPhy has a frame and I exactly did not want that for space reasons.

[@gnostie]

I was sitting memorising Chinese characters, with KZbin talking to itself in the background. This video made me raise my head and watch...

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

In a good way….?!

[@moulayderissy5445]

Where did you get your wooden wrist rest from?

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

The one shown with the Nuphy is from….Nuphy! It’s the beech option but they have about five other colour options.

[@moulayderissy5445]

@ThatMarkGilroy thank you brother 🙏

[@Ruptured_AU]

I got keychron and the keys seem to ahve a smaller overwall footprint and not a standrad width wich really throws me off a lot.

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

Which one did you get- the K3 Pro?

[@Woot-Zee]

I almost closed at "the blue keys sounds on"...

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

Ha! God knows what I thought I meant. 🙄

[@crazy4chickens]

Do they make even clickier switches?

[@sillakilla8674]

Hello, I would like to buy a mechanical keyboard. I game about 7 hours a day, but I've already had carpal tunnel surgery. Which is gentler on the hands and wrists? Normal or low profile?

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

Hi - you'll probably find low-profile much gentler on your hands - pair it with a wrist rest for added comfort and you should be fine. The Nuphy and Keychron options come with custom-designed ones to fit the specific keyboards here, but anything to fit 75% size will be fine. I've got a new 75% low-profile comparison coming this week or next with some new pretenders to the ones covered here.

[@lukasburkel1250]

Awesome video! I’d like to have the NuPhy, but because I need a German ISO layout I can only decide between the K3 Pro and the MX Mechanical Mini. Although I know that the Keychron basically is more of a real mechanical keyboard (because it’s hot swappable e.g.) I tend towards the Mechanical Mini. I’m about to get a MX Master 3s and then I have a beautiful combination. I typed on the Logitech in a store and quite liked it. I’m wondering if I should order both the Logitech and the Keychron for comparison but actually I already decided for the MX Mechanical.

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

Thanks Lukas! If you can afford it I’d definitely order both and see what you think of the typing feel. I couldn’t get on with the feel of the MX Mechanical Mini as much as I love the MX Master mouse - a shame as it looks and sounds awesome. Plus, that incredible battery life. 🙌🏻

[@lukasburkel1250]

@@ThatMarkGilroy thanks!

[@alter.i1957]

Nuphy lubbed is other level and of course my favorite.

[@anaj23andaravind37]

You should try rog falchion rx low profile

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

Looks really nice. Maybe I’ll give it a go!

[@pichirisu]

Fuck yeah, I love wisteria switches.

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

For me they’re a sweet spot between a bunch of other switches. I don’t mind the Aloes either!

[@Tephnos]

Nuphy seems great, but I've heard of typical wireless issues. What's annoying is Logi seem to excel in battery life and wireless connectivity (I use an MX Keys Mini but things are similar there) but suck at the actual typing. The Nuphy excels at typing and seems to suck at the other parts. Getting the perfect low profile keyboard is a hassle. Options open up a lot if you stick with wired... but I don't wanna.

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

Lofree Flow is my choice at the moment. No bluetooth issues and sounds/feels amazing. There’s a dedicated review on the channel as well as another 75% comparison with other brands.

[@Tephnos]

@rkGilroy It definitely looks great, but the only thing bothering me about it is the lack of 2.4GHz, so I imagine latency for gaming won't be great. By the way, when you had your MX Mechanical, did you ever notice an issue when holding down the shift key to start a new sentence? NOticing THat SOmething like this is happening with doubling the caps, almost as if the keyboard is too slow to de-register the shift key before I press the next one because I type too fast. It's my only real grip with this keyboard (MX Keys Mini), too bad it's a huge one.

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

@Tephnos stay tuned. My spies tell me a new Lofree Flow is in the works and due out soon. 👀 Never had a specific issue with the MX shift key. I just found the whole thing really heavy and muddy to use.

[@max10hoop]

LoFree Flow is pretty up there imo!

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

Got a new comparison coming this week pitting the Nuphy Air75v2 against the Lofree Flow and also the new Keychron K3 Max. Meanwhile, here’s my Lofree review : kzbin.info/www/bejne/fau4aK2CrpmYnNU

[@vincentiusmahendra5249]

I think the best LP Mechanical Keyboard is the Vissles lp85. It looks cleaner and thinner than all 3 keyboard in this video IMO, sadly it so hard to get the keyboard compared to the 3 keyboards in the video. Maybe you should try to get the Vissles LP85 and reviewed it.

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

Wow, it looks really smart. I’ll see if I get hold of one. Thanks for the recommendation.

[@kastatd]

Logitech MX Mechanical Mini can't be used via USB cable, you can only charge it, which is baffling. I also hate the fact that in EU you can only buy the ISO layout, can't even order them from the US, because sellers will refuse to send ANSI versions to EU. Well done Logitech

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

Ah yes you’re absolutely right. Baffling is a good word!!

[@NinjaSushi2]

I mean it has such a big battery life when were you ever use all the battery before you get a chance to charge it?

[@whithull5211]

Don't buy the Logi MX Mechanical! I just bought a full size version and when I brought it home it did not sit level on my desk. The top right corner was not touching the desk causing it to rock back and forth like that one table at a casual dining restaurant. Exchanged it for a different one the same day and that one was EVEN WORSE. Did some googling and found out that this was a fairly common problem with both the full size and mini MX Mechanical. I am currently without a keyboard since my old one broke and am almost certainly buying a Keychron.

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

Yikes! If you didn't get it from this video, I REALLY didn't get on with that keyboard.

[@MelvinBerdan]

I do own a keychron k5 ( coz i need full keyboard layout ), its my first pricey keyboard and it feels really good.. but there is a problem when using bluetooth, when autosleep is enabled on k5, it disconnects every few seconds/min of not being used, and when you finally type again, you need to give it time to reconnect to your pc again (known issue and still not resolved 2024 )..this was a deal breaker for me.. and i think ill will never buy keychron again.. im using windows and im not sure if its the same on mac.. though you can prevent the k5 from being disconnected by disabling autosleep on k5, but these means you'll have a shorter battery life being wireless since its ON even when your pc is off, unless you turn it off manually which in most of the time, im too lazy to do... which sucks..

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

I don’t mention this in this video (or my followup showdown), but the Lofree Flow comes in a 100 key layout. Well worth a look!

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

I’ll also be reviewing Keydous NJ98 in a few weeks which you might like.

[@NinjaSushi2]

9:03 what are you talking about? Logitech has been making mechanical keyboards for years now. Their first mechanical keyboard came out in 2012.

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

I missed a word out. What I meant to say was ‘low profile mechanical keyboard space’.

[@NinjaSushi2]

@@ThatMarkGilroy oh lol my bad

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

@@NinjaSushi2 Not at all, fair play! My first ever keyboard was a Logitech mechanical brick for an office!

[@Jonnn21]

Ever heard of 104 key keyboards?

[@FatimDoki]

Im not good bout keyboard types but low profile type have better sounds 😅

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

They do!

[@synergypiano]

I'd still go with the K3 V2, and for now it's the one I'm going to buy pretty son. Keycaps should never hit the baseplate and it's a flaw in design because it defeats the purpose of changing Switches, as it completely changes how it should feel and sound. The K3 Pro looks weird, it's so damn LOUD and lost its character because it's trying to look like NuPhy. I don't like the way the Air 75 looks, and having that frame around it defeats the purpose of a 75% Keyboard, my desk is already cramped as it is and it's a 210x80 table top. The Logitech is nice and I love the proximity sensor, but expensive and hot swap is a must even if in the end I never end up changing the switches. And regarding all keyboards, for me, they should all be as quiet as possible without losing typing experience, I have so many better things to listen to while I work or game than to hear the constant clickety clack of the keys. I suggest, if I may, that you make pretty good remarks on keycaps touching the baseplate on all keyboards. Not only stating if they do, but also if they do not touch the baseplate while showing a close up on camera for a few seconds as you speak about it. You could be setting a new bar in keyboard reviews, because as I mentioned earlier I've watched several videos about keyboards, and no one ever talks about this, only the sound. And it's so damn important not only for sound but also for feel, as you definitely feel the sudden difference in how the key stops compared to baseline switch travel length. Also, be really careful with audio mixing on the keyboard sound test part, specially regarding Mic distance, gain and equalization, make it as raw as possible while raising the gain if needed while setting the same for all. A great video nonetheless and thank you for remembering 😉

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

Good points all. I was trying to figure out what it was about the Nuphy Air 75 I wasn’t sure about and you nailed it- it’s the frame.

[@christopherberry8519]

Dodgytech - really dislike the company and yet I own several of their top end mice. The keyboard sounded awful - and because I know that their mice are useless the second time you have to take them apart - unless you pre-order chinese skids- because of a permanent fault on the thumb button - I wouldn't trust their warranty. I like that Keychron are bringing something upgradable to the masses (and thus repairable and reusable) and really like the idea of VIA remapping. I use 4 language layouts, Illustrator, photoshop and Lightroom. Remapping the esc and function keys for single left hand macros in a smaller footprint is a huge bonus. I use the tilde to swap languages with the number keys and function to bring back the escape key. - all this with a RAZER... the drivers are hugely clunky though - so I think the Keychron via/qmk will be good for me...

[@johnwolf1475]

keychon customer service sucks-- over a week waiting for them to get back-- they only do emails--- and my board wont connect to windows 10 or 11 unless wired

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

It’s a shame isn’t it. Sorry you’ve had such a similar experience to others.

[@svlagonda7417]

Respect to you for taking the time to make the video but its too long! Just nail the key points - that's what people really want as there's no shortage of reviews on these. I've owned/own all 3 of these as well as the Lofree and I'd say: 1st - Lofree Flow. Best typing action (with O rings added) but lack of key mapping is a real annoyance. Key caps aren't shine through (which makes the backlighting poor) but you can actually use the Nuphy shinethrough key caps on this keyboard as they're compatible with +(plus) shaped stems. 2nd - Great range of features, particularly the key mapping, but typing action not quite as plush as the Lofree. 3rd - Logi MX - Great battery life/power management and decent software but typing action is rattly, keycaps thin and cheap etc. 4th - power/bluetooth management and wake from sleep is atrocious. Really annoying to use. Feels cheap. Avoid the optical switches which are appalling.

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

Thanks for this. I'm hoping to test to Lofree really soon as a ton of people have been in touch to say I need to test it!

[@vwmusicplaylist1935]

Review is pretty flawed as you haven't included the Lofree Flow.

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

Working on that one! 😉

[@sibiris8474]

Nice but, they are all silly format.

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

Silly as in….?

[@sibiris8474]

@@ThatMarkGilroy unreasonably small and without numpad

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

@@sibiris8474 I'm quite a fan of a detachable numpad. The Melgeek keyboard in my best/worst tech video has an optional numpad for when you need it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jKbdd6Jqr9asqac

[@turkeyphant]

Lost me when you starting talking about children's cartoon characters.

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

Thanks for commenting Jon. You’ll enjoy the Logitech, I think! 😉

[@NinjaSushi2]

​@@ThatMarkGilroylolololol

[@justinlex2473]

logitech keyboard just not good

[@ThatMarkGilroy]

Maybe I got a faulty unit but I just couldn’t get on with it. I might give it another whirl next year with linear switches on to see if it a one-off. Shame as that battery is a beast, and it’s a looker too!