Highlights

  • The Lofree Flow is a thin mechanical keyboard that uses full POM Kailh switches, providing a smooth and enjoyable typing experience.
  • It has a long-lasting battery life of up to 40 hours and a premium aluminum frame construction, making it durable and high-quality.
  • The low-profile design of the Flow makes it convenient to travel with, but the Bluetooth connection may not be ideal for gaming.

Lofree is a new brand rising through the ranks of mechanical keyboard manufacturers that stray from the norm. Even their mice, like the Lofree Touch PBT and Wavy Chips mouse, have excellent functionality but take the design of a typical mouse and throw it out the window. That being said, the Lofree Flow is a relatively normal-looking keyboard, but it executes every feature nearly perfectly, and the aluminum chassis makes this keyboard feel very premium.

The Flow has two firsts. It is the first low-profile keyboard to utilize a gasket design and switches made entirely out of POM plastic. Granted, gasket designs and POM plastic switches have been on full-size keyboards for some time. However, this is the first time it has been brought over to the low-profile format, and Lofree did an excellent job with it.

Box Contents and Setup Process

Lofree Flow keyboard with the box and swappable switches
  • Lofree Flow Keyboard
  • Keycap and Switch puller
  • USB-C To USB-A charging cable
  • Extra set of switches (optional)

The Lofree Flow came in a very sturdy box. Everything inside was immaculately wrapped and felt premium to the touch. Lofree was nice enough to send both the Ghost and Phantom switches to test out, but even if users decide to pick out one set of the switches, the keycap/switch puller is still included. From getting the keyboard out of the box, this keyboard was paired and ready to go within minutes, and that was after some time of just marveling at its beautiful build quality.

After getting the keyboard out of the box and set up, it did have some issues with some keys not fully registering. However, this was easily fixed by giving a good press to the frame of the keyboard. Apparently, this is a fairly common issue because the gasket structure can move during shipping.

Design and Features

Lofree Flow keyboard port and mode switch, Lofree logo, and swappable switch

From the exposed screws to the gold Lofree logo plate and the fixed typing angle feet, the Flow has a look of its own. It almost looks like it belongs on the desk of a fancy executive, not a gaming desk. That being said, it has been a joy to have this keyboard on my desk for the last couple of weeks. The low-profile design and the 60% form factor make smaller desks feel more roomy, and bigger desks can easily achieve that sleek, minimalist look with the Flow.

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The aluminum chassis makes this keyboard incredibly sturdy. There is no deck flex, and the rubber feet keep it in place when typing. To some gamers' disappointment, there is no RGB backlighting, but there is per-key white backlighting and two strips of RGB under glow on either side for accents of RGB. The keycaps are printed to work for both Windows and macOS.

Windows users may need to switch the Flow to Windows mode by pressing FN+N . Otherwise, the ALT and Windows keys will be flipped.

For a tiny keyboard, it is jam-packed with exciting features. As mentioned, the Lofree Flow is the first low-profile keyboard with full POM switches and a gasket design. These features combined make for an excellent typing experience that is thocky but not overly loud.

Not only has Lofree packed two firsts for low-profile keyboards into the Flow, but it also houses a 2,000mAh battery rated to last up to 40 hours and charge up to full battery within 3 hours. In Game ZXC's testing, these numbers are very close to accurate.

Comfort

Lofree Flow keyboard with the power cord plugged in

While not the most ergonomic keyboard out there, the Flow is relatively comfortable to use, even for more extended periods of time. The typing angle is fixed at 3.8 degrees, but if users want a flatter angle, the feet can be easily removed with the star screws on either side.

It would be nice to have adjustable feet in the future, but it is understandable why Lofree decided to go with fixed feet to get that ultra-slim profile. Compared to slim keyboards like the NuPhy Air75, which doesn't even have angled feet, the Flow is much more enjoyable to use with that slight angle.

People who are used to bigger keyboards or have larger hands might feel a little cramped using the Flow, but typing feels very natural after taking some time to get used to it. A lot of times, on smaller keyboards like this, either the enter key or backspace key is shortened to make room. On the Flow, both are full-sized and easy to press without looking down.

Performance

Lofree Flow keyboard next to a mouse

As some have probably guessed, the PCB is hot-swappable, and Lofree makes three low-profile switches: Ghost (Linear), Phantom (Tactile), and Wizard (Clicky). Game ZXC has only gotten a chance to test the Ghost and Phantom switches; they are both excellent. If the Wizard switches are built up to the same quality, they are worth picking up for fans of clicky switches.

Starting with the Phantom switches, which are the switches that come with the black colorway by default, after finishing the first typing test, any worries about the thin profile leading to a decrease in typing experience were no longer a concern. These low-profile switches have incredibly smooth travel, with a light actuation point that makes typing for long periods of time less tiring, but it can cause typos. If people want a thocky keyboard, that low-profile Game ZXC heavily recommends the Flow with the Phantom switches.

After about a week of using the Phantom switches, it was time to test out the Ghost switches. The switch-out process was pretty easy, thanks to the included keycap/switch puller that easily slips under the keys and gets a good hold of the switches. The Ghost switches are a bit louder than the Phantom switches, but by no means are they annoyingly loud. These switches have a bit heavier actuation force, which prevents more typos.

When it comes to gaming, the Lofree Flow is probably not going to be the best option. The Flow had about 22ms of input delay when connected via Bluetooth or wired connection. The input lag is barely noticeable for typing and daily computer use, but compared to dedicated gaming keyboards, the lag can cause some frustration, especially in fast-paced competitive games. However, slower-paced games that don't rely heavily on instantaneous keyboard input were fun to play, and the input lag was not too much of a problem.

Overall Thoughts

After using the Lofree Flow for the last two weeks, it is easy to recommend this keyboard to anyone looking for a low-profile keyboard that does not compromise on typing experience. This keyboard is incredibly well-built, comfortable to use for hours, and offers some of the best-feeling low-profile switches on the market. Because of the hot-swappable PCB, this keyboard is even a great place for DIY fans to build on a fantastic chassis.

Unfortunately for gamers, the Flow might not be the best option, but if any gamer wants a secondary keyboard that can travel with them or just wants a more professional-looking keyboard for work, the Flow is an excellent option.

Comparable Low Profile Keyboard

NuPhy Air75

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Low Profile Keyboard With Better Gaming Performance

MSI GK50 Elite TKL

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Low Profile Full-Size Mechanical Keyboard

Logitech MX Full Size

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FAQ

Q: What does POM mean on a mechanical keyboard?

Polyoxymethylene (POM) is a versatile polymer that is used in a variety of use cases. As far as keyboard switches go, POM is used a lot for the outer housing of the switch, but it is not often used to make the entire switch. Full POM switches tend to have a smoother feel to them.

Q: What is the polling rate of Lofree Flow?

The polling rate of the Lofree Flow is 500Hz. Since it's not intended to be used as a gaming keyboard, this isn't a huge downside. People planning to use this keyboard for gaming will probably have better luck when in wired mode.