After years of typing directly on my MacBook Pro’s built-in keyboard, I finally made the jump to a mechanical keyboard—and honestly, I wish I’d done it sooner. The NuPhy Kick75 has been my daily driver for four months now, and it’s completely changed how I think about my workspace setup.
The Real Reason I Made the Switch
To be honest I didn’t make this change willingly. After years—and I mean years—of using computers, my wrists finally started protesting. Honestly, I’d gotten so used to the discomfort that I didn’t even mention it until the people around me noticed. My friends and family got genuinely concerned about my wrist health, and their worry is what finally pushed me to actually do something about it.
I was so resistant to changing anything about my setup. Part of me thought “if I just ignore it, it’ll go away” which is obviously not how bodies work, but here we are. Sometimes the people who care about you see what you’re too stubborn to admit.
First Impressions: Instant Nostalgia
The moment I started typing on this keyboard, something clicked. It wasn’t just about the ergonomics—it was the feel. The Kick75 transported me back to my childhood, sitting in front of old arcade machines and gaming consoles. You know that satisfying feedback you got playing Mario, the hours spent with Pokémon? That’s the vibe this keyboard gives me every single day.
I went with the low-profile setup because I’ve never been a fan of clunky keyboards. The Kick75’s sleek, low-profile design gives me that nostalgic gaming feeling without the bulk. When I unboxed it, the first thing I noticed was how premium it felt without being unnecessarily heavy or thick. It just looked clean on my desk.
Switch Decision
Choosing switches was overwhelming as a first-timer. I narrowed it down to the Blush or Brown switches, and went with Blush. The Kick75 uses NuPhy’s Nano Switch technology (developed with Gateron specifically for low-profile keyboards), and the Blush switches have been really good. They’re smooth, responsive, and they’ve got this satisfying typing sound without being loud enough to mess up my work calls or drive anyone around me crazy.
I spent way too much time on Reddit and YouTube trying to understand switches. Linear vs tactile? It was a whole rabbit hole. At some point I was like “I’m just gonna pick one and see what happens” because you can research forever and still not really know until you try it. Glad I went with Blush though—they hit that sweet spot between feeling nice and not being too loud for my work environment.
What I Actually Love About It
Typing Experience
The smoothness is honestly unreal. Every keystroke feels effortless, and there’s this consistency that makes typing feel… enjoyable? Which sounds weird to say out loud, but when you’re writing reports or responding to emails all day, it actually matters.
There’s no scratchiness, no keys that feel different from others. After four months, that quality hasn’t gotten worse at all. If anything, i think the switches have gotten even smoother as they’ve broken in.
Side note: I never thought I’d be the person talking about how switches “break in” but here we are. This is what happens when you fall down that mechanical keyboard rabbit hole.
Wired and Wireless Freedom
The Kick75 gives you both connectivity options. Most days I run it wireless to keep my desk clean, but when I need to charge or want zero latency, I can just plug it in. No compromises.
The battery life has been impressive too. I charge it maybe once every four weeks with moderate backlighting use. And the transition between wired and wireless is seamless—no weird lag or connection drops.
Programmable Keys Through NuPhy IO
Here’s where it gets fun: the ability to remap keys has been a game-changer. Through NuPhy’s web-based IO software, I’ve customized certain keys to trigger shortcuts I use constantly. It’s one of those features you don’t know you need until you have it, and then you can’t imagine working without it.
I’ve set up custom shortcuts for things like screenshot tools, window management, and even some work-specific applications. The web-based interface is clean and intuitive—I can’t speak to other keyboard software since this is my first one, but I didn’t struggle with it at all.
Funny enough, I’m using the globe key on my Mac which opens the emoji keyboard—you know, the one you press when you need to throw in a 🤦🏽♀️ or 😅 real quick. But I had to remap the keyboard to get that function back since it wasn’t working the same way initially. Now I’m actually looking for a new keycap for it because the current one doesn’t have the globe symbol and it’s throwing me off every time I look down. Small thing, but it bugs me more than it should.
Wrist Pain Situation (The Big One)
This is the big one for me. After four months of using the Kick75, my wrist pain has significantly decreased. I think it’s a combination of factors: the low-profile design creates a more natural typing angle, and the mechanical switches require less force to actuate compared to the resistance I was fighting with the MacBook keyboard.
I’m not a doctor, but I can tell you my wrists are thanking me. The friends and family who pushed me to make this change have definitely noticed the difference in how I talk about my work setup now. There’s way less complaining, that’s for sure.
What I’ve realized is that with the MacBook keyboard, I had to press down all the way on every key with more force than I needed to. The Kick75’s switches register halfway through the press, which means my fingers don’t have to work as hard with every keystroke. When you’re typing thousands of words a day, that makes a real difference.
Coming from MacBook Keyboards (As a Die-Hard Apple Fan)
Let me just say this upfront: I’m a huge Apple fan. Always have been, always will be. This keyboard switch hasn’t changed that one bit—I’m still typing on my MacBook Pro M3 (when I’m not at my desk), still deep in the Apple ecosystem, and I’m not going anywhere. Like, my loyalty to Apple is unwavering.
But being an Apple fan doesn’t mean ignoring when something isn’t working for your body. For anyone else who’s been on Apple’s built-in keyboards for years, here’s what switching was like: there’s definitely an adjustment period. The key travel is different, the sound is different, and you’ll probably have some typos for the first week.
Stick with it though. By week two, I was typing just as fast but more comfortably than I ever did on the MacBook keyboard. It took some getting used to, but it wasn’t as dramatic as I thought it’d be. And the best part? The Kick75 works seamlessly with my Mac setup—which makes sense because NuPhy actually designed this keyboard specifically for Mac users. All the Mac-specific keys are there, the function keys work exactly as they should, and I didn’t have to sacrifice any functionality.
The Build Quality and Design
I should mention the build quality because it’s genuinely impressive. The polycarbonate case feels solid without being heavy, and there’s zero flex when typing. The keycaps are durable, oil-resistant PBT material, which is nice because they won’t get that shiny, worn look over time from your fingers constantly touching them.
The low-profile design also means it doesn’t take up much vertical space on my desk. Combined with the sleek aesthetic, it actually makes my workspace look more put-together rather than cluttered.
A Few Things to Note
No product is perfect, so let me keep it honest. The low-profile switches mean this isn’t going to give you that deep, chunky mechanical keyboard experience some people love. But that’s exactly why I chose it—I don’t like clunky keyboards. If you’re looking for that vintage IBM clack, this isn’t it. But if you want something sleek, smooth, and professional enough for office environments with a hint of retro gaming nostalgia, the Kick75 nails it.
Also, if you’ve never used programmable keys before, expect a learning curve with the software. It’s not complicated, but it does require some time to set up your perfect layout. I’d recommend starting simple with just a few key remaps and building from there.
Who Should Consider This Keyboard?
The NuPhy Kick75 is ideal for:
- Apple enthusiasts who need an ergonomic solution (without leaving the ecosystem)
- Mac users looking to move away from built-in keyboards
- Anyone experiencing wrist discomfort from typing
- People who want the mechanical keyboard experience without the bulk
- Remote workers who need a quiet, professional-sounding keyboard
- First-time mechanical keyboard buyers (like I was)
Final Thoughts
Four months in, the NuPhy Kick75 has definitely earned its spot on my desk. It solved my wrist pain issues, made typing more enjoyable, and honestly just makes work feel a bit better. For someone trying out mechanical keyboards for the first time, I couldn’t have asked for a better introduction.
The combination of wireless flexibility, smooth typing, ergonomic benefits, and that nostalgic gaming feel has made this one of my best tech purchases from 2025. My only regret? Not listening to my friends and family sooner when they first said something about my wrists. Could’ve saved myself some pain, honestly.
If you’re on the fence about mechanical keyboards, especially as a Mac user, I’d say give the Kick75 a shot. Your wrists (and the people who care about you) will probably thank you.
Rating: 9/10
Have you made the jump to mechanical keyboards? What was your experience like? Drop a comment below—I’d genuinely love to hear about your setup.
Disclaimer: This is my honest review based on three months of daily use. I purchased this keyboard myself and am not sponsored by NuPhy, though I’m certainly open to working with tech companies I believe in.