The idea for Kick can be traced back to June 2022, during the trial production phase of the first-generation Halo keyboard. We wanted to create an all-plastic keyboard as a follow-up to Air and Halo, featuring an entirely new design language, exceptional typing feel, and top-notch build quality. The goal was to make it an entry-level mechanical keyboard of NuPhy, convincing users of membrane keyboards to take their first step into the world of mechanical keyboards.

This concept persisted until August 2022, when we were inspired by the iconic Air Force 1 sneaker. The first side-profile sketch for the Kick series was completed in Sketch, setting the stage for the design.

We believed the design achieved the effect we were striving for—a fresh design language, a more approachable form, and a distinctive style (something especially important to us). With that, the first keyboard in the Kick series, the Kick80, was officially approved for development. We proceeded with the following principles:

1. Exceptional Typing Feel. The Air Force 1 revolutionized basketball shoe cushioning with Nike’s Air Solo technology, significantly reducing the risk of injury during intense movements. Similarly, the then-emerging gasket-mounted structure and pre-lubed switches brought a qualitative improvement to typing feel, creating a stark contrast with membrane keyboards.
2. A Wide Range of Switch Options. Unlike membrane keyboards, mechanical keyboards allow for switch replacements, enabling users to select their favorite switches like coffee enthusiasts choose their favorite beans. This flexibility offers a completely different typing experience and sound, including silent switches beloved by office workers.
3. Versatile Expandability. The Kick’s decorative plate was designed to accommodate various patterns, with future versions of Kick already in mind during its design phase. To maximize creative possibilities, we aimed for a structure capable of supporting metal decorative plates.

By October 2022, we had completed the industrial design and structural work, and the molds were ready. By the end of the year, we had received the first mold samples for Kick80. Everything seemed to be progressing smoothly.

Perfectionism Strikes

In reality, 2022 was also marked by our parallel development of another project—Nos75. We experimented with POM and POK materials for second-generation low-profile switches, but the combination didn’t deliver the typing feel and sound we were aiming for when paired with Nos75.

Thus, in early 2023, we officially collaborated with Gateron to begin developing the third-generation low-profile switches, known as "nano Switches." The goals for nano Switches were ambitious:

1. Achieve compatibility with standard switch sockets, paving the way for the low-profile market to adopt standard sockets and resolve compatibility issues between different manufacturers' low-profile switches.
2. Increase the total travel to 3.5mm, recreating the feel of standard-profile switches within a low-profile format.
3. Improve typing sound with a new structure, providing more room for customization.

The name "nano Switch" was chosen to reflect its ethos—just like the iPod nano compressed size without compromising experience. What we didn’t anticipate was that these switches would delay the Kick series by nearly two years, pushing its original 2023 release to 2025.

In May 2023, we received experimental nano Switch samples. While there were significant issues, the samples met our preliminary goals. These samples also sparked the idea of creating a keyboard capable of switching between low-profile and standard-profile switches. We understood that this feature alone wouldn’t necessarily drive users to purchase a keyboard, but we saw its potential as a standout feature to attract attention from the market and the industry. By doing so, we hoped to unify standards across the low-profile switch landscape.

During the design process for this switch-swapping keyboard, a bold idea emerged:
The ecological shift we envisioned for low-profile switches with nano Switches mirrored the Air Force 1’s disruption of the sneaker industry with Air Solo technology. If Kick aimed to challenge the dominance of membrane keyboards, could launching both nano Switch and a standard-profile version simultaneously appeal to a larger audience? This uncharted territory ignited our excitement.

The rest, as NuPhy enthusiasts may already know, is history. We made the difficult decision to abandon the 2023 launch of Kick80 and instead redesigned it as Kick75—a keyboard supporting both nano Switches and switch-swapping capabilities. Without a doubt, we wanted the Kick series to embody even more of our ideas and ambitions.

This decision, which thrilled us at the time, transformed what was nearing completion into an entirely new challenge.

Over the next year, we worked closely with Gateron to refine the third-generation nano Switch. In 2024, we launched the first nano Switch product, the N1 nano, alongside Nos75. This gave us valuable user feedback to further improve the switch.

We also developed the world’s first hybrid satellite stabilizer, designed to adapt to both low-profile and standard-profile switches. When mounted on a PCB, it functions as a stabilizer for low-profile switches; when mounted on a plate, it serves standard-profile switches. (This stabilizer, along with Nos75’s low-profile PCB stabilizer, will be available for sale in our store. Custom keyboard teams are welcome to contact us for more information.)

We infused the Kick75 with thoughtful design and playful details, such as a decorative bottom plate and detachable silicone strips. Our hope is that when Kick75 enters the market, it will leave a lasting impression on users.

However, this relentless pursuit of perfection pushed the Kick75’s release from its planned 2024 launch to 2025. By then, more than 2.5 years had passed since the project first took shape in 2022.

The Odyssey Continues

As I write this story, Kick75 is finally ready to meet the market. From 2022 to 2025, we’ve witnessed the prices of custom keyboards drop significantly, the rise of magnetic switches reshaping the gaming keyboard market, and the emergence of better products in the low-profile switch space. The development of Kick took far too long, and the market certainly wasn’t waiting for us. At times, we even questioned ourselves—does a design team like ours still have a place in this ever-changing market?

Regardless, we’ve thoroughly enjoyed this long, challenging, and rewarding development journey. Fittingly, it aligns with the first theme we defined for Kick: 8-Bit Odyssey.

Now, with Kick75 ready for launch, its mission to redefine the low-profile switch market has only just begun.