NuPhy Updates Air75 V3 Low-Profile Mechanical Keyboard Knob After Harsh Community Feedback

[Cpt.Jank]

NuPhy's latest low-profile mechanical keyboard, the Air75 V3 was announced only a few short weeks ago, promising a slew of upgrades over its predecessors, including redesigned switches, a noise-isolating gasket mount, and a new removable, customizable knob. In general, the promised design updates seem to have been received positively by the community, but NuPhy's decision to sell the Air75 V3 with only the tall version of the knob—which sticks up over the low-profile keycaps—and sell the low-profile knob separately in a bundle with the NuFolio case. According to an announcement on NuPhy's official X account, all pre-orders of the NuPhy Air75 V3 will include both the low-profile and full-height knobs.

NuPhy also clarified that the knob color will match the keyboard color. The main knob stems remain red, but the knob module's background color and the color of the translucent ring around the low-profile knobs will change depending on the keyboard color—the Nova White Air75 V3 has a clear plastic ring around the red stalk, while the Nebula Dark colorway comes with a smokey translucent plastic ring. Critically, it's unclear whether this only applies to the Air75 V3 pre-orders or if NuPhy will include both versions of the knob in the final in-stock version of the keyboard. A recent post on the r/NuPhy subreddit claimed to present an email from NuPhy's customer service that also said the low-profile knob would be included with the Air75 V3 from the start, but there was no distinction made between the pre-order and the in-stock keyboard here, so it may be the case that the low-profile knob will be included after all.


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[Caring1]

Let me get this straight, gamers were complaining their knob was too big?

 

[Chrispy_]

I've never understood the use-case for a knob on a keyboard.
It needs both software and driver support to work, and whatever software you are using that could use a keyboard knob can also use a mousewheel, which is already under my fingers.
Need more knobs/wheels/dials? SHIFT+scroll, ALT+scroll, CRTL+scroll etc.

 

[Flakko86]

I've never understood the use-case for a knob on a keyboard.
It needs both software and driver support to work, and whatever software you are using that could use a keyboard knob can also use a mousewheel, which is already under my fingers.
Need more knobs/wheels/dials? SHIFT+scroll, ALT+scroll, CRTL+scroll etc.

Volume?

 

[RejZoR]

I've never understood the use-case for a knob on a keyboard.
It needs both software and driver support to work, and whatever software you are using that could use a keyboard knob can also use a mousewheel, which is already under my fingers.
Need more knobs/wheels/dials? SHIFT+scroll, ALT+scroll, CRTL+scroll etc.

My UVI Pride V1 keyboard has a "knob", well, a scroll wheel for volume and works without any drivers. It defaults to Windows volume and I'm using it religiously. I'm kinda sad that their V2 doesn't have it anymore which is a bummer since it's the only keyboard that natively comes with factory Slovenian key labels that utilize shine thru RGB (none of that laser etched nonsense all over the keys) and a big ENTER key.

 

[AsRock]

Let me get this straight, gamers were complaining their knob was too big?

Maybe they felt to much of a knob ?, pun intended.

 

[Nostras]

I've never understood the use-case for a knob on a keyboard.
It needs both software and driver support to work, and whatever software you are using that could use a keyboard knob can also use a mousewheel, which is already under my fingers.
Need more knobs/wheels/dials? SHIFT+scroll, ALT+scroll, CRTL+scroll etc.

Except it does not? They're just sent as key events which are picked up correctly by virtually every OS.

 

[Chrispy_]

Except it does not? They're just sent as key events which are picked up correctly by virtually every OS.

AKA the brightness/backlight/volume function keys on laptops? Sometimes Windows handles those flawlessly, sometimes they're broken until you install software. It's hit and miss on laptops.

If people have a use for the knobs and they work without effort or bloatware then great. That's all I was asking.

 

[Cpt.Jank]

I've never understood the use-case for a knob on a keyboard.
It needs both software and driver support to work, and whatever software you are using that could use a keyboard knob can also use a mousewheel, which is already under my fingers.
Need more knobs/wheels/dials? SHIFT+scroll, ALT+scroll, CRTL+scroll etc.

I currently use a keyboard with two knobs, and each has three separate functions, depending on the layer I'm on. Right knob is mouse scroll on layer 1, switching browser tabs on layer 2, and screen brightness on layer 3, while left is a text selector on layer 1 (works backwards and forwards, depending on scroll direction), switching browser tabs on layer 2, and system volume on layer 3.

I also more often find myself with both hands on the keyboard, and it's a much shorter trip from home row to knob than from home to the mouse. Also, I don't think I could do a lot of on the mouse without moving the mouse.