NuPhy Gem80
Now AvailableType
Mechanical KeyboardPrice
$169.95 (Wireless) | $149.95 (Wired)If you have not managed to catch up already, it has become evident that NuPhy makes excellent keyboards. I learned that when I started using the Air60 V2, and after my review was complete, Madison from NuPhy was kind enough to ask me if I would like to test their Gem80. I said yes and then started digging into all the press material and reviews that were published on the internet. At the start, I was under the impression that it was just a mechanical keyboard that had gone through the NuPhy treatment. I was wrong.
The NuPhy Gem80 has forever spoiled me, and I have never used a keyboard better than this
The NuPhy Gem80 defied every expectation I had from a mechanical keyboard. Back when I started using the Akko MOD007B HE, I was very certain that I would never be going back to any other keyboard, but the Gem80 only took one day to change my mind, and man, I am in love with this keyboard, and it's going to take a lot of convincing for me to go to a different keyboard.
Now, by default, the NuPhy Gem80 comes as a barebones, which means you are going to spend extra on the switches and keycaps. Thankfully, NuPhy provides you with a lot of options, and if you do not want to go with what the company has for you, you can always pick your own poison. NuPhy was kind enough to send me everything that I would need to get the Gem80 up and running. Right off the bat, the unboxing experience was one of the best I had experienced.
The keyboard comes wrapped in a microfiber cloth, and honestly, I fell in love with it the moment I took the cloth off. The keyboard feels luxurious, and you can tell the moment you lay your hands on it. The keyboard comes with a screwdriver, extra feet, and different silicone mounts to better suit your build. I am telling you, this keyboard spoils you and does a great job at it.
The above picture shows how the keyboard is going to look when you first take it out of the box. For the sake of reference, the NuPhy Gem80 has three switches installed. You have the Mint switch that I am using on the Escape key. You also have a Lemon switch on the space bar and a Raspberry on the enter key. At the moment, the options that you can choose from are:
- Mint
- Raspberry
- Lemon
- Silent Red (Cherry)
If these switches are not something you are looking for, you can always opt for offerings from other companies as long as they are compatible with the board. As for the first three switches, you can have their operating information below for better understanding. I believe the Mint switch is going to be the best for typists and gamers.
Assembling the keyboard is not really the most complicated thing there is. If you are a fan of building things, you are going to love the NuPhy Gem80 because the whole experience is fun. However, if this is your first time building a mechanical keyboard, I would advise that you be careful when installing the pins because you can bend them. The keys might be easy to bend, but they are strong enough so you can straighten them out. Just be careful. NuPhy does provide some extra switches in the box, so you can go easy on yourself.
If you think a nice unboxing experience is limited to the board itself, then that is not the case. It is very evident that every aspect of the NuPhy Gem80 is well thought about, and NuPhy has paid a lot of attention to making sure that you are getting what you are paying for.
The NuPhy Gem80 comes in five stunning colors, the one I have is called Obsidian Black, but you can also get Cosmic Mocha, Mystic Indigo, Airy Lilac, and Inca Rose. NuPhy even sells themed keycaps that you can get your hands on if you are like me and prefer cohesion. If not, you can always get your hands on custom keycaps. The NuPhy Gem80 has south-facing LEDs, so you are not really going to run into any issues with the interference. Considering that I prefer a stealthy keyboard, and I have no shortage of colorful keyboards, I opted for black keycaps, which really suit the rest of the keyboard.
Once you are done installing the switches on the NuPhy Gem80, the only thing that you have to do is install the keycaps on it. If you choose to go with the stock keycaps, you will be given every variation for different layouts, and there are also some special keycaps that you can get your hands on inside the package. Fully assembled, this is what the keyboard looks like.
By all means, the NuPhy Gem80 is a thick boy, and I am not going to lie about that. If we were still in the glory days of the Attitude Era, this could very well be used as a weapon, but I am glad that there is so much thought in how this keyboard is built and designed. It feels solid. It is solid. Not a single aspect of the keyboard feels like an afterthought. It even has all the mode switches on the back to make sure that the user does not have to remove a keycap just to access the power-on switch. Everything is well thought out and executed to perfection.
For those who are thinking "Carpal tunnel" just by looking at the lack of wrist rest, there is nothing to worry about. The NuPhy Gem80 can be purchased with a wrist rest as a separate offering, and the company was kind enough to send it to me. I haven't been using one for some time because my wrists are used to keyboards without any support, but the good news is that you can buy a matching wrist rest or add your own--the choice is yours.
I think I have raved enough about how the NuPhy Gem80 looks, but how does it actually perform? After all, what good is a Rolex if it uses cheap movement inside of it? Well, I can go as far as saying that the NuPhy Gem80 is one of the best keyboards in terms of typing and the overall feel of it. This is backed by the fact that even when I was done with my day, I would find excuses just to take the keyboard out and start pressing the keys because of how good it would sound. I am not exaggerating when I say that this is one of the best-sounding keyboards on the market, and every key feels soft and smooth without any issues that you might encounter.
Every key press is consistent and has a satisfying feel to it, and if you don't believe me, you can have a look at the sound test below. Now, I have to say I did not use professional equipment to record the way this keyboard sounds, but it does give you a better idea.
Now, if you are pleased with how the NuPhy Gem80 sounds, there are a lot of factors that make it sound really good. For starters, NuPhy has added a number of silicone mounts from which you can choose. For this build, I am using the stock mount, which consists of silicone sockets. However, you can use different mounts that are available in the box. For the plate, the keyboard is using a Fr4 plate. However, NuPhy also provides options such as aluminum, polycarbonate, and POM. So, your options are there. Last but not least, the keyboard is constructed in such a way that the best possible sound is provided to you right out of the box. Just have a look at the diagram below to get a better idea.
Needless to say, the actual usage of this keyboard is perfect, and I have not had the chance to use a keyboard that is this good. The NuPhy Gem80 is not only built like a Rolls Royce, but it also provides a similar, consistent experience across the board. The battery life is great. There is QMK/VIA support, tri-mode connectivity, lots of ways to customize the keyboard, and stellar battery life.
However, the NuPhy Gem80 is not perfect, as there are some things that I would like to address. For starters, the RGB lights, even on max, are simply not bright enough. Now, this might not be an issue for me, but it can be an issue for several people. You can have a look at the image below to get a better idea of how bright the RGB is.
Considering how price is a subjective issue, I don't find myself in a position to deduct any points as far as the price is concerned. Whether you are getting the barebones, wired, or wireless option, the NuPhy Gem80 is an excellent purchase. I cannot imagine any of the mainstream brands offering the same level of customization and flexibility for the same price.
Simply put, the NuPhy Gem80 is an excellent keyboard that not only sounds excellent but has robust battery life, a ton of customization offers, and one of the best out-of-the-box experiences. If you are just getting into custom keyboards and you are looking for a simple and seamless experience, then this keyboard is something that you should be looking into because you will not be disappointed by the experience it provides. On the contrary, since this is the near-perfect keyboard available in the market. I am glad to be working with NuPhy and cannot wait to try out their future offerings.
For the price, the NuPhy Gem80 is more or less the Rolls Royce of keyboard--it is built beautifully, has excellent set of features, provides one of the best typing experiences, and is backed by QMK/VIA support. You cannot find a better sounding keyboard for this price.
- One of the best typing experiences you can get in a keyboard
- Great battery life
- Lots of customization on hardware and software level
- Solid build quality that exudes quality
Pros
- The RGB lighting could have been brighter
