NuPhy Field75 HE review: Most unique yet
The NuPhy Field75 HE brings the company's enthusiast-level keyboards into the gaming world for the first time. How does it stand up against the rest of the market?
NuPhy's Field75 HE is the company's first attempt at creating a gaming keyboard with Hall Effect switches, and while there are flaws, it is among the best I've used so far.
Hall Effect keyboard switches have taken over the industry over the last few years, thanks to their customization options, speed, and Rapid Trigger support.
NuPhy's first attempt at a Hall Effect gaming keyboard is the Field75 HE, and it's among the best I've used so far.
NuPhy Field75 HE keyboard
NuPhy's first attempt at a gaming keyboard with Hall Effect switches, and popular features like Rapid Trigger, SOCD, Rapid Shift, and more.
Disclaimer: NuPhy provided the Field75 HE in exchange for a review, but did not influence the results whatsoever. Also, links on this page may be affiliate links that pay me a small commission.
Key Specs
- Switch type: Gateron Magnetic White
- Keycaps: PBT
- Connectivity: Wired
- Form factor: 75%
- Lighting: Per-key RGB
- Features: Screw-in stabilizers, rapid trigger, macro keys, physical profile switch
- Price: $149.99
Design & Features
The NuPhy Field75 HE is one of the most unique keyboards I've used over the years, with its futuristic design and placement of the various knobs.
NuPhy placed eight macro keys across the Field75 HE, with four below the space bar and four on the left side of the keyboard. Above the left keys are two white knobs, and tucked away in the corner is a volume wheel.
The NuPhy Field75 HE uses PBT keycaps with a gasket-mounted PCB and features several layers of sound-reducing foam. All of these features give it an absolutely wonderful sound profile and overall typing experience.
My review unit has linear Gateron Magnetic White switches inside. NuPhy maintained the hot-swappable capabilities, meaning you can simply replace a single broken switch instead of the whole keyboard.
Hall Effect keyboards aren't as universal as regular mechanical keyboards, unfortunately, which means you may run into some compatibility issues with other HE switch brands.
NuPhy dropped support for the 2.4Ghz and Bluetooth wireless modes available in the regular Field75 keyboard, which is a bummer considering how many competitors still feature full wireless capabilities on their HE keyboards.
Software
NuPhy released its new web-based software, Nuphy.io, alongside the Field75, making their software setup even more confusing.
Older NuPhy keyboards use the company's dedicated software, while releases like the Air75 V2 use VIA for web-based software control and the non-HE Field75 uses the brand's Field Console software. I'd like to see them consolidate their software with future releases and make their entire lineup use Nuphy.io.
The company has done well with its release, though. Nuphy.io is super easy to navigate with just four menus at the top of the screen, and every option is very well explained.
Features like Rapid Shift, Mod Tap, SOCD, and more are hidden under the right-click menu on the main page of NuPhy.io. This location may be the only caveat to the software, but once you find it you'll be just fine.
Despite the Field75 HE having eight customizable buttons for macros... the software doesn't support them, which is something I would have liked to see at launch. Luckily, NuPhy says the feature is in the works and I'll update this review when it's released.
Performance
NuPhy came out swinging with its first attempt at a Hall Effect gaming keyboard. The Field75 HE features up to 8,000Hz polling rate and support for Rapid Trigger, SOCD, and Rapid Shift right out of the box.
I tested Rapid Trigger and Rapid Shift out while playing Valve's latest game, Deadlock, but I wasn't able to try out SOCD due to the risk of being punished.
So, I opened Warzone to give it a shot and it works just as well as you would expect. NuPhy launched SOCD and Rapid Shift over a month after the keyboard was released, and the performance of both features shows that the wait was worth it. It's always better to have a late but properly built feature than it is to have an early, broken one.
The typing experience on the NuPhy Field75 HE is great as well, but hall effect switches will never provide the same experience as regular mechanical ones. Hall Effect switches are generally more hollow sounding and lack the ability to have a tactile bump – but maybe that will change in the future.
The verdict - 4/5
There's a lot to like about NuPhy's first Hall Effect gaming keyboard, and I think they're just going to get better as the company continues to release new versions.
However, the fact NuPhy decided to launch a keyboard that has 8 macro buttons, without the ability to make macros, is just silly. Paired with the loss of wireless options... the Field 75 HE falls short from being a perfect keyboard.