I tested this £160 mechanical keyboard and Mac users are going to love it
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This beautifully built mechanical keyboard feels reassuringly premium and instantly familiar on a Mac, with a clever hidden control adding to its considerable appeal.
Perhaps it's because more of us are working from home, or travelling from office to office, but there has been a real boom in sales of premium keyboards recently.
One of the brands in this busy space I hadn't heard of until now has been Lofree, which has a range of premium mechanical keyboards that really put an emphasis on sleek design.
Its latest launch has been the Flow 2 84, and I've been sent the Mac version to test - in a rather distinctive lime colour called "Volt".
Although the one I'm testing is aimed at Mac users, there's a non-Mac version available too, but the Mac version has a cleverly-designed key architecture that copies the shape of Mac keyboards - so you should find it incredibly easy to get used to.
The Flow 2's design is perhaps a bit divisive. Metal "block" keyboards are an acquired taste, but you can't deny they feel expensive. And the Flow 2 feels every bit as robust and well made as you'd think, and I quite like the asymmetrical footprint. It's distinctive without being cumbersome, and it allows for a hidden capacitive pad that lets you control volume and brightness. Neat.
Lofree has put a lot of work into the keypad response, and there are three button styles to choose from, offering three different types of feedback. The Standard "Surfer" was my personal sweet spot, but they're interchangeable.
What I liked about the Lofree Flow 2
The first thing to discuss here is the design. There's a reassuring weight to the keyboard, the four colours they come in are really classy, perhaps barring the pink, but they're distinctive and add a strong air of individuality.
The hues chosen for the non-Mac version are more subdued, but there's still a choice. And they'll suit most desks.
The personalisation options won't put a top-notch Logitech to shame, but there are some well thought-out customisations.
And the capacitive slider isn't in a very intuitive place, but it's easy to get used to and wonderfully responsive. I really like it being away from the main keys.
I quite like the back-lighting, too. There are three brightness settings, and no fussy RGB. It just looks elegant and functional.
What I didn't like about the Lofree Flow 2
The first thing that's probably worth mentioning is the weight. A lot of people travel with keyboards and, at 745g it'll be one of the heaviest items in a backpack or case. It's perhaps better suited to desk use, then.
I also found the two clips on the back that elevate the keyboard were a bit shallow, but that's a personal preference, and it's nice that they're included. I gather its predecessor didn't have these.
While it comes with a dongle, which is handy for some computers, there's nowhere on board to store it, which is a bit of a shame. I'm often losing them and they're not easy to replace. Standard Bluetooth connectivity works fire though, so most people won't use a dongle anyway.
The only other slight niggle is the battery installed is 2000mAh, which will be fine for long stints if you don't turn the back-lighting up. With those on max brightness, you'll probably find yourself charging it every week or so. Not a deal-breaker, but it feels like a bigger battery should have been possible.
Overall verdict: should you buy a Lofree Flow 2
The problem with reviewing keyboards is there's a lot of personal preference involved. I personally like a number pad, which the Flow 2 quite deliberately doesn't include, but it's no worse off for it. In fact it's the reason it's quite compact and minimalist.
The typing experience is absolutely superb, and Mac users will love the familiarity and the design.
Non-Mac users have more to choose from in terms of competitors, so the Flow 2 might fall down the options list a bit, but it really shouldn't.
Priced at around £159.99 by the time you order it from the UK, it might be at a price point that gives you plenty of other choices, but there are plenty of reasons to choose the Lofree Flow 2.
And I'd go as far as saying, if you're a Mac user, there are plenty more reasons over and above those, too.