NuPhy Halo96 [Halo65, Halo75] vs Gem80

Which Keyboard Is Better?

Products

NuPhy Halo96 [Halo65, Halo75]
NuPhy Gem80

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated May 30, 2025 08:08 PM

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Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.4.3

Updated Jan 14, 2026 05:46 PM

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NuPhy
  1. Recommended in 2 articles:
  2. Mechanical
  3. TKL

Our Verdict

NuPhy Halo96 [Halo65, Halo75]

NuPhy Gem80

Both the NuPhy Halo96 and the NuPhy Gem80 are wireless mechanical keyboards. The Halo96 is a prebuilt model that is part of a wider lineup with smaller 75% and 65% models available. On the other hand, the Gem80 is only available in a TKL form factor. It's designed with customizability in mind and only comes as a barebones kit, so you have to buy and install switches and keycaps yourself. The Gem80 also has significantly better raw performance and more acoustic material inside the case.

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Variants

  • Halo65 (Ionic White - 65%)
  • Halo75 (Ionic White - 75%)
  • Gem80 (Airy Lilac)
  • Gem80 (Cosmic Mocha)

Check Price

Ionic White - 65%
Halo65
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Airy Lilac
Gem80
Amazon.com
Ionic White - 75%
Halo75
Amazon.com
Cosmic Mocha
Gem80
SEE PRICE
NuPhy
Ionic White - 96%
Halo96
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Inca Rose
Gem80
Amazon.com
Matte Black - 65%
Halo65
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Mystic Indigo
Gem80
Amazon.com
Matte Black - 75%
Halo75
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Obsidian Black
Gem80
Amazon.com
Matte Black - 96%
Halo96
Amazon.com
 
Read more

Main Differences for
Gaming

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 
 

7.9
8.3

Single-Key Latency 
 

7.9
8.6

Multi-Key Latency 
 

7.7
8.4

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
NuPhy Halo96 [Halo65, Halo75] Top Picture
Compare High-Res
NuPhy Gem80 Top Picture

Size 
 

Compact (96%)
TenKeyLess (80%)

Height 
 

1.6" (4.1 cm)
1.8" (4.6 cm)

Width  

14.8" (37.7 cm)
14.1" (35.7 cm)

Depth 
 

5.3" (13.5 cm)
5.6" (14.2 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

8.5" (21.5 cm)
N/A

Weight 
 

3.14 lbs (1.424 kg)
3.05 lbs (1.382 kg)
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

8.5
9.0

Build Quality Close Up 
 

Compare High-Res
NuPhy Halo96 [Halo65, Halo75] Build Quality Close Up
Compare High-Res
NuPhy Gem80 Build Quality Close Up

Keycap Material  

PBT
PBT
Show Text 

Ergonomics 
 

6.0
6.0

Side Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
NuPhy Halo96 [Halo65, Halo75] Side Picture
Compare High-Res
NuPhy Gem80 Side Picture

Curved/Angled 
 

No
No

Split Keyboard 
 

No
No

Key Alignment 
 

Staggered
Staggered

Minimum Incline 
 

5.5°

Medium Incline 
 

8.5°
N/A

Maximum Incline 
 

12°
N/A

Home Row Height 
 

32.1 mm (1.3")
34.3 mm (1.4")
Show Text 

Hardware Customizability 
 

8.9
9.1

Customizability Overview 
 

Compare High-Res
NuPhy Halo96 [Halo65, Halo75] Customizability Overview
Compare High-Res
NuPhy Gem80 Customizability Overview

Replaceable Cherry Stabilizers 
 

Yes
Yes

Stabilizer Fixation 
 

Plate-Mounted
Plate-Mounted

Spacebar Stabilizer Size 
 

6.25u
6.25u

Size Of Right Mod Keys 
 

1.25u
1.25u

Hot-Swappable Switches 
 

Yes
Yes

Switch Stem Shape 
 

Cherry MX Style
Cherry MX Style

Mechanical Switch Compatibility 
 

5-pin Cherry
5-Pin Cherry

Magnetic Switch Compatibility 
 

No Magnetic Switch Support

North-Facing Cherry MX Interference 
 

Yes
No
Show Text 

Backlight Features 
 

10
10

Backlighting Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
NuPhy Halo96 [Halo65, Halo75] Backlighting Picture
Compare High-Res
NuPhy Gem80 Backlighting Picture

Brightness Max 
 

Compare High-Res
NuPhy Halo96 [Halo65, Halo75] Brightness Max
Compare High-Res
NuPhy Gem80 Brightness Max

Backlighting  

Yes
Yes

Brightness Min 
 

Compare High-Res
NuPhy Halo96 [Halo65, Halo75] Brightness Min
Compare High-Res
NuPhy Gem80 Brightness Min

RGB 
 

Yes
Yes

Per-Key Backlighting 
 

Yes
Yes

Effects 
 

Yes
Yes

Software Controllable 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Backlight Clarity 
 

4.0
4.0

White Shot 
 

Compare High-Res
NuPhy Halo96 [Halo65, Halo75] White Shot
Compare High-Res
NuPhy Gem80 White Shot
Show Text 

Cable & Connector  

Connectivity  

Wireless
Wireless

Detachable 
 

Yes (Wired Mode and Charge)
Yes (Wired Mode and Charge)

Length  

5.1 ft (1.5 m)
8.2 ft (2.5 m)

Connector (Keyboard side) 
 

USB type-C
USB type-C
Show Text 

Wireless Versatility 
 

10
10

Bluetooth 
 

Yes
Yes

Bluetooth Multi-Device Pairing 
 

3
3

Proprietary Receiver 
 

Yes
Yes

Battery Type 
 

Rechargeable
Rechargeable
Show Text 

Macro Keys And Programming 
 

4.0
4.6

Dedicated Macro Keys Count  

0
1

Onboard Macro Programming 
 

No
No

Macro Programming With Software 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Extra Features 
 

Extra Features 
 

Compare High-Res
NuPhy Halo96 [Halo65, Halo75] Extra Features
Compare High-Res
NuPhy Gem80 Extra Features

Media Keys 
 

Non-Dedicated
Non-Dedicated

Trackpad / Trackball  

No
No

Scroll Wheel 
 

No
No

Control Knob 
 

No
No

USB Passthrough 
 

No
No

Numpad  

Yes
No

Windows Key Lock 
 

Yes
Yes

Lock Indicator  

Caps Lock
Caps Lock
Show Text 

In The Box  

Bundle Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
NuPhy Halo96 [Halo65, Halo75] Bundle Picture
Compare High-Res
NuPhy Gem80 Bundle Picture
Show Text 
Typing Experience

Typing Quality 
 

8.5
8.5

Key Spacing 
 

19.0 mm (0.748")
19.0 mm (0.748")
Show Text 

Typing Noise 
 

8.5
9.8

Typing Sample  

Average Loudness 
 

48.1 dBA
38.1 dBA

High Pitch Clicks 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

 Preview Graph
NuPhy Halo96 [Halo65, Halo75] Key Switch Actuation Graph
 Preview Graph
NuPhy Gem80 Key Switch Actuation Graph

Initial Force 
 

36 gf

Peak Tactile Force 
 

45 gf
N/A

Actuation Force 
 

48 gf
45 gf

Bottom-Out Force 
 

54 gf

Pre-Travel Distance 
 

2.1 mm
2.1 mm

Total Travel Distance 
 

3.6 mm
3.8 mm
Show Text 

Adjustable Input Granularity 
 

0.0

Input Linearity Graph  

 Preview Graph
NuPhy Gem80 Input Linearity Graph

Analog Output Graph  

NuPhy Gem80 Analog Output Graph

Top Deadzone 
 

N/A

Bottom Deadzone 
 

N/A

Detection Ratio 
 

N/A

Minimum Step Depth 
 

N/A

Switches 
 

Wobble Video  

Switch Name 
 

Gateron Baby Raccoon
Cherry Silent Red Clear-Top

Switch Type 
 

Mechanical
Mechanical

Feel 
 

Linear
Linear

Output Type 
 

No
Non-Adjustable
Performance

Single-Key Latency 
 

7.9
8.6

Single-Key Latency Graph  

 Preview Graph
NuPhy Halo96 [Halo65, Halo75] Single-Key Latency Graph
 Preview Graph
NuPhy Gem80 Single-Key Latency Graph

Best Connection 
 

8.8 ms
4.8 ms

Best Connection Std Dev  

±3.2 ms
±1.5 ms

Wired 
 

8.8 ms
4.8 ms

Receiver 
 

12.8 ms
6.8 ms

Bluetooth 
 

27.4 ms
14.3 ms

PCB (Estimated) 
 

7.0 ms
3.0 ms
Show Text 

Multi-Key Latency 
 

7.7
8.4

Latency Video  

Multi-Key Latency Graph  

 Preview Graph
NuPhy Halo96 [Halo65, Halo75] Multi-Key Latency Graph
 Preview Graph
NuPhy Gem80 Multi-Key Latency Graph

Connection Evaluated  

Receiver
Receiver

Key Press 
 

13.2 ms
6.5 ms

Key Release 
 

15.1 ms
Show Text 

Data Transmission 
 

7.4
8.2

Multi-Key Raw USB 
 

Compare High-Res
NuPhy Halo96 [Halo65, Halo75] Multi-Key Raw USB
Compare High-Res
NuPhy Gem80 Multi-Key Raw USB

Connection Evaluated  

Receiver
Receiver

USB Polling Rate 
 

500 Hz
1,000 Hz

Effective Update Rate 
 

250 Hz
1,000 Hz

N-Key Rollover (NKRO) 
 

Yes
Yes

Multiple Keys Per USB Report 
 

Yes
No
Show Text 

Chord Split 
 

7.7
7.1

Chord Split Graph  

 Preview Graph
NuPhy Halo96 [Halo65, Halo75] Chord Split Graph
 Preview Graph
NuPhy Gem80 Chord Split Graph

4 Chord Split Delay 
 

6.4 ms
7.0 ms

8 Chord Split Delay 
 

10.5 ms
19.4 ms
Show Text 
Software and Operating System

Configuration Software 
 

Software Tour  

Software Name  

NuPhy Console
VIA

Software Windows Compatible 
 

Yes
Yes

Software macOS Compatible 
 

No
Yes

Onboard Memory 
 

Yes
Yes

Profiles 
 

6+
6+
Show Text 

Computer Compatibility 
 

10
10

Windows 
 

Fully Compatible
Fully Compatible

macOS 
 

Fully Compatible
Fully Compatible

Linux 
 

Fully Compatible
Fully Compatible

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Windows, MacOS & Linux
Windows, MacOS & Linux
Show Text 

Wireless Mobile Compatibility 
 

10
10

Android 
 

Fully Compatible
Fully Compatible

iOS 
 

Fully Compatible
Fully Compatible

iPadOS 
 

Fully Compatible
Fully Compatible

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Android, iPhone & iPad
Android, iPhone & iPad
Show Text 

Check Price

Ionic White - 65%
Halo65
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Airy Lilac
Gem80
Amazon.com
Ionic White - 75%
Halo75
Amazon.com
Cosmic Mocha
Gem80
SEE PRICE
NuPhy
Ionic White - 96%
Halo96
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Inca Rose
Gem80
Amazon.com
Matte Black - 65%
Halo65
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Mystic Indigo
Gem80
Amazon.com
Matte Black - 75%
Halo75
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Obsidian Black
Gem80
Amazon.com
Matte Black - 96%
Halo96
Amazon.com
 

NuPhy Halo96 [Halo65, Halo75]

NuPhy Gem80

Comments

  1. Comparison

NuPhy Halo96 [Halo65, Halo75] vs NuPhy Gem80: Main Discussion

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