This low-profile keyboard is what I needed to get me into modding — and it stuns with its performance

Serious typists and modding enthusiasts: you’re gonna want to check out the Chilkey ND75 LP. If you like low-profile keyboards as much as I do, this keyboard should be on your radar. It’s extremely comfortable to type on, and its stock linear switches offer a smooth, friction-free typing experience.

It comes with an LCD screen that can be customized via web-based software, but one of its biggest selling points is that it can be easily dismantled and personalized thanks to the tools included in the box.

But it isn’t perfect. The included wrist rest isn’t made of the best materials, and the ND75 LP’s power switch has an awkward placement. Also, the keyboard lags after waking.

Is this one of the best mechanical keyboards out there? Read my full Chilkey ND75 LP review to find out.

Chilkey ND75 LP review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? A 75% low-profile mechanical keyboard with linear switches
• Who is it for? For serious typists and modding enthusiasts
• How much does it cost? The Chilkey ND75 LP is available for $99
• What do we like? The sturdy all-metal build, lovely typing experience, modding capabilities, comfortable low-profile design, customizable screen and web-based software
• What don’t we like? The impractical power button, significant lag after waking and subpar wrist rest

Chilkey ND75 LP review: Specs

Chilkey ND75 LP review: The ups

From its sturdy aluminum construction and comfortable low-profile design to its lovely typing experience and modding capabilities, the Chilkey ND75 LP is a killer keyboard.

Fantastic, sturdy build

If you want a sturdy keyboard that will stand the test of time, the Chilkey ND75 LP easily checks that box. Don’t let its sleek, low-profile design fool you: it’s made of full CNC machined aluminum, similar to the pricier Keychron Q65 Max ($209) and the Keychron Q14 Max ($209). There's no trace of any plastic used in the ND75 LP’s construction, so there’s no flex in the body.

This means that the ND75 LP is a heavy keyboard, weighing 4.01lbs. That’s much heavier than other similarly priced low-profile keyboards, such as the NuPhy Air75 V2 (1.31lbs, $119) and the NuPhy Kick75 (1.93lbs, $89) — but these are made of plastic, not metal. At least it’s lighter than the Q65 Max, which weighs 5.4lbs.

You’re getting bang for your buck here, too, as the ND75 LP comes fitted with double-shot PBT keycaps. Keep in mind that this keyboard costs $99, and we’ve seen far pricier keyboards come with cheap, less durable ABS keycaps — looking at you, Razer Pro Type Ultra ($159) and Corsair K65 Plus for Mac ($179).

Overall, the ND75 LP is built extremely well. It’s hard to get a full-metal keyboard for less than $100. Most of Keychron’s Q-Series metal keyboards cost nearly double, so Chilkey earns major brownie points here.

Comfortable low-profile design

Low-profile keyboards, like the Chilkey ND75 LP, are usually more comfortable to type on than standard-profile ones. That’s because you don’t have to raise your wrists as high to type, and your hands fall in a way that’s similar to their natural resting position.

Low-profile keyboards also use low-profile switches, which are slimmer than conventional standard ones. They’re also easier and quicker to activate as they have a shorter travel distance. The ND75 LP uses POM linear switches with a total travel distance of 3mm, and a pre-travel distance of 1.8mm. This means that you don’t have to press the switch all the way down for it to register a command, so you can type faster.

They also require 45g of force to activate. Now, these aren’t the lightest linear switches I’ve tested: the Epomaker RT100’s ($115) 35g Sea Salt switches hold that honor. But they’re still very comfortable to type on, which I’ll get into in the next section.

And if you’re wondering what POM means, as I was, it’s a material that is said to have a lower coefficient friction compared to other materials, which makes the switches feel smoother — and it’s true.

I didn’t feel any discomfort or stress in my hands while using the ND75 LP, and as someone who types upwards of 8,000 words a week, I can’t understate its importance.

Lovely for typing

So what’s the Chilkey ND75 LP like for typing? It’s fantastic. The double-shot PBT keycaps feel soft under my fingertips, and the stock switches are highly responsive. I like the low-profile switches this keyboard uses, and it’s fully hot-swappable if you want to spec it with even lighter ones — like you can with the NuPhy Air75 V2, which can be specced with very light ones in the 35-40g mark.

A typing test taken at 10fastfingers.com showed just how good the ND75 LP is for typing, and as you can see in the results above, I got a higher-than-average score.

Customizable screen via web-based software

If you’re familiar with my coverage of keyboards, you’ll know that I can’t resist ones that come with customizable screens you can display GIFs or static images on. It might feel gimmicky, but what’s wrong with adding a whimsical touch to your workspace?

Much like the Epomaker RT100 and the Gamakay LK75 ($129), the Chilkey ND75 LP comes pre-loaded with a GIF of a cartoon dog (Chilkey’s mascot) snoozing. But you can change it to whatever you like through — drumroll — web-based software!

My MacBook Air M2 for work doesn’t allow me to download third-party software onto it, which means I usually have to use our shared Windows 11 laptop to test software. Web-based software simplifies the process, and it means I can test it on both macOS and Windows. The ND75 LP’s dedicated webpage makes it extremely easy to remap keys, configure three different profiles, program macros and, of course, personalize the screen.

I quickly downloaded a GIF of a red panda being silly (my favorite animal) and uploaded it to the web-based software via the interactive screen tab. It took a while for the GIF to upload to the keyboard’s internal memory, but it eventually happened. Just remember to be patient and not keep refreshing and, therefore, disrupting the process like I did.

It’s also worth noting that the ND75 LP’s LCD screen is more high-res than the Gamakay LK75’s. It’s clearer and brighter, and I prefer it over the LK75’s.

Modding capabilities

If you want to get into modding but don’t want to spend a lot of money on a custom keyboard, the Chilkey ND75 LP could be a good option for you. It’s an inexpensive way of getting into the world of keyboard modding, as it can be fully stripped down to its core.

Just like you do with Keychron’s K-Series custom keyboards, you get the basic tools to start modding in the box. Removing the aluminum case is easy; all you need to do is hold the keyboard down and pull it, and it magnetically snaps back into place — nifty! You can then do whatever you want to the ND75 LP.

If you want a low-profile keyboard that can be fully customized, the ND75 LP easily warrants a recommendation. And unless you’re sold on the styling of the ND75 LP, the NuPhy Kick75 is one of the finest keyboards for modders, thanks to its dual low-/standard-profile compatibility. Better yet, it starts at just $89, making it the better choice. But really, it comes down to personal preference at the end of the day.

Chilkey ND75 LP review: The downs

The Chilkey ND75 LP’s pros outweigh its cons, but that doesn’t mean the keyboard is perfect. It comes with a subpar wrist rest, a strange power button, and it lags after waking.

Subpar wrist rest

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy a good wrist rest to have something that cushions my hands and wrists while I type away for long periods of time. I believe all keyboards should come with wrist rests so that users are always comfortable.

The Chilkey ND75 LP comes with what the brand calls a “multi-functional wrist rest.” Basically, you can use it to prop up the keyboard at a 10° angle, as the keyboard itself doesn’t have built-in feet. Innovative, right? But the quality isn’t the finest and it’s far from comfortable.

Reviews editor Pete Wolinski used the ND75 LP for a while before I got my hands on it, and he felt the wrist rest was redundant: “It’s thin and made of rubber so it doesn’t really provide any relief to your hands. It’s also not wide enough, so it doesn’t make any noticeable difference.”

I would have much preferred a wrist rest akin to the one that comes with the Razer Pro Type Ultra, which is extremely comfortable — and while I didn’t like that keyboard, I would have happily kept the wrist rest.

Switch off… how?

Most keyboards I’ve tested come with dedicated switches to swap between operating system layouts and switch between connectivity modes. The Chilkey ND75 LP comes with neither of these. Instead, you need to rely on the screen… and a keycap puller.

Like I mentioned before, you get a tiny screen that can be used to cycle through various settings. Using a combination of the function and + or - keys lets you go through the different settings, such as connectivity mode, OS layout, RGB effects and more. These all work as intended, and that’s not what I have an issue with.

If you want to turn off the battery for, you know, traveling or simply preserving it, you’ll need to grab a keycap puller and take off the right shift key. Removing it reveals the battery switch, which you need to flick down using the ends of a switch puller (like I did).

I’m not a big fan of this design choice. It feels impractical and something you might forget to do, resulting in the ND75 LP running out of juice without you knowing. What was wrong with the good ol’ dedicated, physical toggles to power down a keyboard?

I get the minimalist vision Chilkey is going for, but having reviewed many keyboards, I can confidently say that having toggles doesn’t ruin the low-key design. Keyboards like the NuPhy Air75 V2 and the Keychron K13 Max ($94) are great examples.

Lag after waking

The Chilkey ND75 LP, like other keyboards, falls asleep and goes into standby mode when left idle for a few minutes. When it wakes up, though, there’s a significant lag. The keyboard woke up, which I could tell by the GIF coming to life, so I pressed the enter key and nothing happened. I must have pressed it eight or nine more times before it registered the presses, and then it proceeded to add multiple line breaks that I had to undo.

This was frustrating, to say the least, as it happened a couple more times when I came back from lunch or simply making coffee. I haven’t experienced this issue with any other keyboard I’ve tested. Sure, some take a few seconds to wake up, but they never register idle commands after waking up.

Chilkey ND75 LP review: Verdict

Custom keyboards are great because you can pull them apart and alter the sound profile and typing experience, and the Chilkey ND75 LP is an inexpensive way of getting into it — especially if you like low-profile keyboards.

The keyboard’s full-aluminum build makes it extremely sturdy and durable. Its stock linear switches offer a smooth typing experience. Oh, and its low-profile design makes it comfy, too. The ND75 LP also comes with web-based software for you to upload GIFs to its built-in LCD screen.

Despite the keyboard having a subpar wrist rest, lagging when waking and an awkward power button, the things it does right are done really well. The ND75 LP, therefore, is easily worthy of a recommendation.