Lofree Flow 2 Review: Gorgeous Stock, Outstanding With Two Easy Mods

I really liked the original Lofree Flow, the shape, the feel, the overall vibe.

My one deal-breaker on Windows was the media keys: to use play/pause, next/previous, volume, brightness, etc., you had to hold FN. There was no way to flip them to be the default. That friction showed up dozens of times a day.

Enter the Flow2.

I picked up the 84-key space gray version with Pulse switches and have been using it daily.

Out of the box, it’s a premium, compact board that looks fantastic on a desk and types nicely.

And crucially, the Flow2 lets you choose whether the top row behaves as media keys or F-keys by default so I no longer have to hold FN just to change volume or pause music.

That single quality-of-life fix immediately made the Flow2 feel like a real upgrade.

Design & Build Quality

The space gray aluminum frame is the Flow2’s calling card: dense, rigid, and confidently premium.

The 84-key (75%) layout trims off the numpad while keeping arrow keys and a proper function row, which is the sweet spot for me, compact, but not cramped.

The black keys complement the metal frame perfectly; on a tidy desk, it looks like a piece of kit designed to stay.

There’s also the right-side protrusion, a design flourish that extends the board’s profile.

It’s divisive; personally, I’d prefer it not be there (or I’d rather see it on the left side since I’m right-handed).

I was worried my mouse would bump into it, but in practice that never happened. So while it’s not my favorite design decision, it hasn’t created a real usability problem.

Layout, Ergonomics & Everyday Comfort

As a daily driver, the 84-key footprint just works.

You get arrows/home cluster access without reaching across a full-size board, and the shorter width keeps your mouse closer, great for ergonomics.

The default typing angle feels natural, and the chassis has enough weight that it doesn’t skate around when you’re in the zone.

It’s compact enough to toss into a bag, but hefty enough to feel planted when you’re working.

Switches & Typing Feel (Stock)

My unit shipped with Pulse tactile switches.

They’re smooth and consistent, and the board’s acoustics hit a pleasant, subdued “thock” for a low-profile design.

I personally prefer tactile or clicky feedback; I like feeling that gentle bump on actuation.

One limitation I don’t love though, color choices are tied to switch options.

Space gray comes with Pulse; the silver options pair with Surfer or Void linear switches.

I wish Lofree allowed mix-and-match (pick your color, pick your switch) but the switches are at least hot-swappable so you can change them yourself.

Noise-wise, stock Pulse is office-friendly. If you’re in shared spaces or on lots of calls, the Flow2 won’t rattle anyone.

Keycaps & Backlight Behavior

The keycaps are PBT, which I love for durability and texture, and their low-profile sculpt feels great.

My gripe is the font: certain legends look a bit off, and on some keys the printing reads like a QC miss even when it isn’t.

Because the caps are shine-through, readability is heavily tied to the backlight, and the backlight turns off fairly quickly to save battery. With lighting off, the legends can be hard to see in dim rooms; with lighting on, battery life drops faster than I’d like.

This is the one area that made me pause: I adore the frame and footprint, but the stock caps’ aesthetics + light dependency weren’t a match for my workflow (I type in mixed lighting and prefer no backlight).

Controls, Media Keys & the Side Slider

Two big improvements here:

Media/F-row behavior

On Flow2, you can flip the default so the top row is media keys first (and F-keys with FN). That single toggle resolves my biggest complaint with the original Flow on Windows.

Now I can just tap Play/Pause, Next, Previous, Volume, Brightness with no finger gymnastics.

Side slider

For me, it’s … nothing. I never use it.

I’ve seen reports of accidental bumps; that’s never happened to me, but I also don’t find the slider meaningful. Its presence isn’t a deal-breaker, it’s just superfluous in my setup.

Outside of those, the keyboard’s basic shortcuts work as expected, Bluetooth pairing is straightforward, and everything feels reliably responsive.

Mods That Transformed It (Highly Recommended)

A Reddit thread sent me down a very good rabbit hole, and two mods turned the Flow2 from “really nice” into “this is my main board for the foreseeable future.”

Switch swap to Kailh Deep Sea Tactile Whale switches

If you like tactile feedback, these are fantastic: buttery-smooth travel with a clean, satisfying bump that feels intentional rather than sandpapery.

The difference compared to stock Pulse is night-and-day for me, far more engaging to type on without being fatiguing and also quieter with a nicer sound and no ping. They’re now my favorite feeling switches.

Keycap swap to NuPhy WoB keycaps

These caps have clearer, non-shine-through legends and excellent contrast, so I can turn the backlight off entirely and still read everything.

Bonus: with lighting off, the battery lasts for weeks between charges.

The aesthetic also pairs beautifully with the space gray chassis, it’s clean, crisp, and professional.

With those two swaps, the Flow2 became exactly what I wanted from day one: premium frame, tactile feedback, legible legends without relying on lighting, and long battery life.

Stock Flow2 is already a looker with solid fundamentals; post-mods, it’s outstanding.

Verdict: A Beautiful, Compact Board That’s Great Stock and Brilliant Modded

What I love

• Aluminum frame and 84-key layout: compact, solid, and desk-worthy.
• Media key toggle: finally, media by default, no more FN gymnastics on Windows.
• Typing feel (post-mods): Kailh Deep Sea Tactile Whale + better caps = chef’s kiss.
• Battery life with lights off: genuinely weeks.
• Overall aesthetic: the space gray chassis with black keys is gorgeous.

What could be better

• Switch/Color bundling: let us choose any switch with any color.
• Stock keycap legends: font and print quality look a bit inconsistent; reliance on backlight is a pain.
• Right-side protrusion / slider: not harmful, but not helpful, it feels like styling over substance.

The Bottom line

The Lofree Flow2 is a beautiful, premium 75% keyboard with the right fundamentals and one crucial usability fix: media keys can be default.

In stock form, it’s a very good board, especially if you can get your preferred combination of color and switches and keep the backlight on.

If you’re open to two easy upgrades (tactile switches + better contrast keycaps), it becomes exceptional: better feel, better readability, and dramatically improved battery life.

After those tweaks, it’s my favorite keyboard out of everything I’ve tried, and the one I’m sticking with as my daily drive, at least for now.

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Images are from the Lofree website and used under Fair Use.