SKU # AC76415 | Model # KBNPGEM80BK | Brand NuPhy
· A Uncustomary Custom Keyboard |
· TKL (80%) Form Factor |
· 1000Hz Polling Rate |
· Hot-Swappable |
· QMK/VIA Support |
The barebone kit is the keyboard that comes with almost everything, the PCB, sound mods, pre-lubed stabs etc, already assembled and screwed in place, and ready to go after simply popping in switches and keycaps.
A custom keyboard, and much more than one. Gem80 packs the wireless performance of a gaming keyboard, a refined thocky sound signature, and an abundance of part choices into its splendidly polished aluminium chassis, with lots of fun.
It is named Gem, and it is cut, faceted, polished like one. Each Gem80 comes with a high precision CNC-machined 6063 aluminium chassis, treated with 0.090mm zircon sands to produce the refined feel to the touch expected on a custom product. The back of Gem80 meanwhile, is made from thick PC material that makes strong wireless reception possible, and the theme matching colour of the inside visible through its polished ridges and satin like grooves, inspired by the crystal order and symmetry of gems.
More solid than ethereal colour ways this time, and more accentuation on the sheen to reflect the gem theme. There is something for the romantics (Inca Rose & Airy Lilac), and the old schoolers too (Cosmic Mocha, which is a bit like peppered beige).
The word ‘custom’ acquires whole new meanings when applied to Gem80’s sound experience and the process created it. From the density and elasticity of the three poron hollow sound absorbers, to the expansion ratio of the IXPE dampener, from the molecular structure of the sound purifying transparent elastomer , to the anechoic pattern on the silicone sheet, almost every aspect of Gem80’s six sound mods is customised and fine tuned to produce sound concentration and purity never before heard on a mass-produced keyboard. It would be more fun though we think, if you can beat us in our own game, and this is why we also build a maximum amount of user customisability into the keyboard.
Custom keyboards are not exactly known for great wireless performance, or any kind of wireless support at all, which is why we shove a 1000Hz polling rate Nordic wireless chip into the tri-mode version of Gem80, so you can start to use it as a gaming keyboard as well. Is that over the top? Now we are talking about it, there was indeed a bit of work, optimisation, needed to have a thick PC bottom that both is conducive to EM propagation and doesn’t compromise on sound. But at the end of the day they are all worth it if our users don’t have to make trade-offs, however they may be dictated by conventions.
The bottom line of top performance. The EM characteristics of the PC case and our years spent researching and creating them further adds to the wireless advantage of Gem80, no matter where your chassis is relative to your keyboard, you can get guaranteed excellent reception.
A 1000Hz polling rate may be eye-catching, yet actual latency depends on factors including MCU’s matrix scan rate, processing and debounce time, the wireless cache size etc. Never content with half measures, we support Nordic's state of the art NRF52832 SoC with STM32F072 MCU's high performance, and use an elaborate testing procedure to ensure minimised total trip delay.
It only makes sense to extend the great customisability achieved on Gem80’s hardware to its firmware as well. With the open-source QMK/VIA firmware, its endless key mapping, light customisation, and other creative possibilities, our hardware’s potential can be truly realised.
Mac, Windows, Linux...you name it.
VIA's key remapping and macro work seamlessly on all major desktop platforms, or any that supports a browser, make it even easier to customise Gem80 to your heart's content.
When it comes to creating a authentic Mac experience, we have always empathised a hardware/software synthetic approach. This is why we have implemented the F3-F6 special feature keys under the Mac mode with VIA, which can be enabled at the toggle of the completely redesigned system switch, now neatly tucked away at the bottom case yet can still be easily reached. We will continue to find more ways to bring values to our Mac users on both the hardware and software.
SKU # AC76415 | Model # KBNPGEM80BK