My journey with low-profile mechanical keyboards is just starting, but I already feel like I have grown to appreciate the comfort and convenience that comes with them. The Lofree Flow Lite is the latest low-profile model that I've used, and based on my week with it, I have a few opinions about it.

Lofree set out to make a better and more affordable version of the Lofree Flow, specifically in terms of typing comfort, customization, and convenience. Although the Flow Lite is certainly a step down from the original, it has almost everything that most users could ask for. A few downsides made me deduct a few points, but the Flow Lite remains one of the most affordable yet high-quality options in its segment.

About this review: Lofree sent me the Lofree Flow Lite for this review but did not have input into its contents.

Pricing and availability

The Lofree Flow Lite is currently available only on Kickstarter but will soon arrive on Lofree's website and other online stores. You can choose from three color options—white, grey, and pink—and two form factors, 75% and 96%. You can also pick from Lofree's Specter switches and the more silent Hades switches, both of which are linear.

The 75% variant is the one I've been using for a while, and it'll cost you $89 on Kickstarter, while the 100-key variant is priced slightly higher at $100.

What I liked

Lightweight, silent, and affordable

Let's start with the stuff that Lofree gets right this time. The Lofree Flow Lite is meant for people looking for an understated, silent, and feature-rich keyboard. For those who want an extremely portable option, the 84-key variant will be ideal, and it is the one I'm testing for this review. Those who can't sacrifice the Numpad can go for the 100-key variant, which comes with a larger battery and a slightly higher price tag.

The moment I unboxed the Flow Lite 84, I was instantly impressed with how good it looked and felt in my hands, despite being relatively affordable. The off-white color of my review unit fits in nicely with my white-themed setup and desk, and the copper-themed aluminum volume knob adds a touch of visual variety and premium-ness to the package. The keyboard is also very light, making it easy to throw in your bag for travel.

I loved the colorways Lofree has chosen for the Flow Lite — Off-White, Marble, and Flamingo. They add to the understated feel of the keyboard without looking bland or cheap. The feet and kickstands under the keyboard have a nice rubber covering, so your desk doesn't show any scratches after hours of typing. The PBT keycaps have a satisfying texture, and the polycarbonate legends allow the bright (and only white) backlight to shine through during those night sessions.

Regarding the typing experience, the low-profile Kailh switches offered a fast and mostly error-free run during my week of testing. I have the Specter switches on my unit, which are relatively silent while offering enough auditory feedback. I have my gripes about how the typing experience wasn't up to the mark, but I'll talk more about that in the next section.

The love from manufacturers for knobs and displays has grown of late, and I especially loved the metallic volume roller on the Flow Lite. You can increase and decrease the volume as well as mute the audio with the knob, and the gradations are distinct without feeling too stiff. The knob is a new addition that you won't find on the original Flow, along with the 2.4GHz connection, adjustable feet, 1000Hz polling rate, and a keymap configurator.

Regarding remapping keys, you can download Lofree Key Mapper and reconfigure keys, program macros, and customize the lighting effects. The software seems barebones, but simple to use. You can also switch between Windows and Mac modes and change the polling rate within the program. The Mac legends on the keyboard come in handy. The keyboard allows you to change many settings directly, so the program isn't necessary.

The Flow Lite is a wireless keyboard with 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connectivity. The included cable can also be used for wired use and charging the keyboard. There's a nifty battery indicator next to the volume roller that indicates low battery and charging status. Surprisingly, the Flow Lite retains the hot-swappable switches seen on the original Flow, so you're free to experiment with other low-profile switches.

What I disliked

Stiff typing and more flex than I'd like

The Lofree Flow Lite is a budget mechanical keyboard, so corners had to be cut. However, I feel some users might be put off by its sub-optimal aspects. For instance, I performed my usual bending test after taking it out of the box and was surprised to see the amount of flex it has. This would probably not affect your time with the keyboard, but it reflects poorly on the decent build quality.

My biggest complaint with the Flow Lite is the relatively uncomfortable typing experience, especially for someone like me who likes to press hard on the keys. Lofree makes a huge deal of the lower actuation force of the switches and the dual-layer sound dampening of the Flow Lite, but I still felt a distinct lack of cushioning and frequent bottoming out. Even the spacebar had a distracting amount of vibration; nothing too significant, but more than I've seen on other low-profile models.

Lastly, I found that the typing angle, even with the adjustable feet, was too low for my taste, probably because I use a wrist rest that raises my hands quite a bit. The backlight is not RGB, but I'm guessing that won't be a significant issue for the kind of users Lofree targets with its low-profile, non-gamer keyboards. Overall, the Flow Lite felt too stiff to me, but for those who don't apply a lot of weight during typing, mostly use keyboards for office use, and haven't experimented with a lot of mechanical keyboards, the Lofree Flow Lite might not exhibit the same kind of issues.

Should you buy the Lofree Flow Lite?

You should buy the Lofree Flow Lite if:

• You specifically want a good-quality, low-profile keyboard
• You don't want to spend too much on your first mechanical keyboard
• You like volume knobs, hot-swappable switches, and software customization

You should not buy the Lofree Flow Lite if:

• You prefer a softer typing experience
• You don't like linear switches
• You want premium build quality