The details
- The Halo75 V2 has a hot-swappable PCB that NuPhy documents as accepting both 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style switches. No clipping of the two plastic guide legs on 5-pin switches is required.
- The board uses south-facing LEDs, which means Cherry-profile keycaps clear the switch housings without the interference problem that plagues north-facing boards.
- Only full-height MX-style switches fit. NuPhy's low-profile switches from the Air series use a completely different housing and will not seat in this board.
- Stock switch options are NuPhy's own branded switches and vary by the configuration you ordered. Check the box label or your order confirmation to see which one shipped in yours.
- Because the sockets are standard MX hot-swap, the choice between linear, tactile, and clicky is entirely up to you. All three types work.
What does not fit
Three categories to rule out before you order:
- Low-profile switches. Gateron low-profile and other slim formats belong to NuPhy's Air75 and Air96 boards, not the Halo line. The names are similar, the switches are not interchangeable.
- Magnetic Hall-effect switches. These need a magnetic-sensor PCB. The Halo75 V2 is a conventional mechanical board and cannot read them.
- Non-MX stems. Alps, Topre, and optical switches use different mounts or sensing and will not work.
What owners actually do
The common community pattern is to run the stock NuPhy switches for a few weeks, then experiment. Popular swaps in owner discussions are heavier linears for typing feel and factory-lubed tactiles for quieter offices. Two habits worth copying: support the PCB from below with a finger while pressing a new switch in, and check that both metal pins are straight before insertion. A bent pin is the single most common cause of a dead key after a swap, and it is usually fixable by pulling the switch and straightening the pin gently.
The trap to avoid
NuPhy's product names invite mix-ups. The Halo75 V2 (full-height MX, this page) and the Air75 V2 (low-profile) are different platforms with incompatible switches, and the original Halo75 V1 is a different board internally even though it also takes MX switches. When buying switches, ignore the model name on the listing thumbnail and match on one thing only: full-height MX-style, 3-pin or 5-pin. If a listing advertises switches specifically for the Air series, they are the wrong ones for this board.