Nuio Flow is a new ergonomic keyboard and accessory system for those who don’t mind sacrificing big bucks for a sleek and thoughtful design. Co-founded by two brothers, one of whom is a former Apple designer, Nuio has an Apple-like value proposition. Split keyboards and optional trackpads, desk pads, magnetic stands, and wrist pads range from $400 to more than $1,000 for the keyboard alone. All of the components.
At the heart of Nuio’s product lineup is the Flow split ergonomic keyboard, which (again, Apple’s influence shows) “puts the human form at the center of every design.” Nuio CEO Tom Wilson says the product’s purpose is to reject the traditional decisions that often influence keyboard design. “There are literally no right angles in the human body,” Wilson said in a press release shared with Engadget. “But we spend most of our lives hunched over rigid rectangular keyboards and peripherals, often enduring hours of wrist pain, technical fatigue, and poor posture. There are a lot of them.”
Nuio
The company explains that the keyboard’s split radial design is ideal for hand positioning. (Of course, there are already plenty of ergonomic split keyboards available for purchase for much less.) With curved keys with a scissor-switch mechanism (like many laptops, including Apple’s current models) This model is not for them. People who like mechanical keyboards.
The keys and their symbols are backlit, but there is no color customization. The Flow keyboard is estimated to last up to 28 days on a single charge, but that drops to about 15 days with “some use of the backlight.” The keyboard comes with a split USB-C cable that charges both halves at the same time.
The company estimates that the built-in battery, which is not user-replaceable, has a lifespan of about two years, after which it can be sent to the company for replacement. When we contacted the company to clarify the cost of the service, a Nuio spokesperson said battery replacements are free for the first two years. After that, “a nominal replacement fee will be charged.”
Unlike many top-of-the-line keyboards, you can’t replace the physical keys on the Flow keyboard. Nuio also doesn’t seem to offer key changes at the software level. The FAQ states that a “limited amount of key customization” is offered through the device’s operating system.
Most ergonomic keyboards come with a built-in stand, but Nuio sells the magnetic keyboard separately for $99. You can “tent and tilt” your keyboard along multiple axes. The company says the stand holds its position securely after each adjustment.
Nuio
Nuio also sells a wireless multi-touch Flow trackpad to complement the keyboard for $249. The company says the edge-to-edge glass surface provides precision tracking and pressure sensing. Unlike Apple’s current Magic Trackpad, it clicks mechanically rather than using tactile or pressure sensing. Nuio said the company’s trackpad fully supports gestures, but not deep presses like Apple’s. You can also purchase a magnetic stand for your trackpad with multi-axis tilt support for $59.
The rest of the Nuio system includes a $99 “super comfortable” wrist pad. It can be attached to a desk pad and is initially available in a small, travel-friendly size for $129. The price for the large size was originally listed on its website at $179, but is “still under consideration,” a company spokesperson said. The desk pad also includes magnets to allow “precise and flexible placement of all NUIO components.” The company says it strikes a balance between keeping all of the system’s components securely in place while still being easy to adjust.
Nuio
Ordering a keyboard, trackpad, stand, and large desk pad will cost you over $1,084. Just like a luxury watch or car, the Nuio Flow system asks you to pay close attention to its elegant, modern design while typing, and to invest in an ecosystem of elegant-looking accessories (and maybe even yours at Apple). (You probably get paid a designer’s salary.)
The Nuio Flow Keyboard and its peripherals are now available for pre-order from the company’s website. Space gray keyboards with macOS legends, small deskpad keyboard stands, trackpad stands, and wristpads are scheduled to ship in early December. On the other hand, if you want the Windows/Dual OS legend or keyboard in other colors (silver, gold, rose gold, blue, green, brown), you’ll have to wait until early January. A large desk pad is “scheduled to be released soon.”
Updated October 15, 2024, 5:50 PM ET: The article has been updated to reflect the latest details about the keyboard’s estimated battery life and large desk pad pricing, according to a company spokesperson. .
Updated October 15, 2024, 5:00 PM ET: This article has been updated to include information from a Nuio spokesperson regarding the cost of battery replacement services.
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