Flow is Back!
The second version of the Lofree Flow, the “Flow2,” has made an impact on the mechanical keyboard world. The second version of the Lofree Flow, the Flow2, has been announced.
While maintaining the superb rigidity of the aluminum chassis, the key feel and sound have been upgraded in the direction of “audibility”.
In addition, the long-awaited support for keymap changes and the look is more compatible with Apple products, It can be said that “all things have evolved” compared to the first-generation It can be said that “everything has evolved” compared to the original “Flow”.
Flow2 is a “typing experience gift” from Lofree that makes “typing fun”.
This article will review the Flow2 using actual photographs.
Representative of GreenEchoes Studio
He launched his own media as a site operator and web writer, and now plans and manages multiple corporate media. He often types heavily in his work, and in his search for greater efficiency, he became addicted to the keyboard swamp and established “GreenKeys”.
[Photos] Lofree Flow2 Review
Let’s take a look at the actual pictures of Lofree Flow2.
First, here is what the exterior looks like.
The outer box for the white keycap and silver body model is “white” and the outer box for the black keycap and space gray body model is “black.
KawamuraAt this time, keycap color and switch combinations have not yet been determined.
The only difference is the color of the exterior, and the contents are almost the same.
Let’s focus on the Flow2 84keys model with black keycaps.
The exterior is quite simple.
It is in a box that fits just right at the top and bottom.
The outer box is securely marked with a technical certification mark, allowing wireless connection in Japan.
KawamuraIt is very important to have this kind of licensing literacy in foreign companies.
I also very much like the minimalist feel of the packing, as seen in recent Apple products.
If you move the keyboard out of the way, you will find accessories and instructional documents underneath.
The important things are the USB dongle, the replacement keycap, and the Type-C (L-angle) to Type-A USB cable.
The USB cable has a flexible nylon braided material that gives the impression of being easy to maneuver.
The default keycaps are for macOS, with optional keycaps for Windows.
KawamuraThe original Flow had both Windows and macOS keycaps, which were not well received.
You have firmly improved in Flow2!
Let’s look at the keycap first.
Unlike the Flow1, the keycap used in this case is a shine-through PBT material.
As you can see, only the text portion is transparent to light, which is different from the “sublimation printing” of the first generation.
Both black and white are the same in terms of light transmission, but black is less visible without a backlight.
The shape is a “cylindrical” type, with the key tops gently curled in the left and right directions as if they had been cut out of a cylinder, and the slope does not change from row to row.
The photos below show, from left to right, Flow Lite/Flow/Flow2.
Given that the previous two keytops had a “spherical” shape with depressions from the four corners toward the center, this is a significant change from Flow 2.
The rounded corners are also more angular and edgy than previous keycaps.
KawamuraPersonally, I quite like this point.
I like the way Cylindrical doesn’t force too much of a finger placement point.
Let’s look at the overall appearance.
Let’s start with a bird’s eye view.
You can see that the 84keys/68keys differ greatly in size.
Also, both are shine-through keycaps, but the black keycaps are less visible in a bad way and look cooler and unmarked in a good way.
Body colors also vary widely.
White is silver and black is space gray.
The coloring is perhaps implicitly intended to be more compatible with the colors of Mac products, but it is important to note that the colors are not completely “identical”.
We will spotlight each location.
The texture of the keycap has a slightly grainy aspect and easily reflects light.
The black keycaps are particularly pronounced.
The color is closer to “black” than black.
There are no terminals on the back of the unit, and they are centrally located on the right side of the unit.
The right side has a margin common to all models, with a status LED bar at the front of the margin, a Type-C port at the top of the side, and a touch sensor below it.
As described below, this touch sensor can only adjust volume and illumination, and no other functions can be assigned to it.
The back is quite simple.
There is a solid technical mark.
A movable tilt leg is now included in this version.
There are two levels of adjustment.
KawamuraThe black part is a rubber material that serves as a non-slip surface both when folded and when standing.
Is the screw a T8 special screw? I wonder if it is a T8 special screw.
Raise the left tilt leg to reveal the switch.
From left to right: wireless connection, wired connection, and off.
The length of the tilt leg is the same for all models, and the angle is different only for the 68keys model, which has one less row.
Apple products are famous for using a common R for Macs and iPhones, but it seems that the same R was not adopted for Flow2.
KawamuraHowever, it is almost the same R as the Magic Trackpad, so it is nice to have them side by side. In fact, I may be the one who is uncomfortable when I notice it here. Sorry.
The keyswitches were renewed for this release, with the black one being “PULSE (Tactile)” and the white one “SURFER (Linear)”.
This time, the key switch has a new housing and a diffusing lens as a separate part.
KawamuraThis lens is extremely small, but it is terribly precise, as you can see from the way the “Lofree” is firmly engraved on the lens and the way it fits the circular shape of the switch.
The switch plate material is resinous, possibly PC (polycarbonate).
KawamuraAlthough it has not been disassembled, it has the same gasket-mounted structure as the first generation.
Here is a review of the exterior.
Lofree Flow2 Recommendations (Benefits)
Now that you have seen what the product looks like, let me tell you about the advantages of Flow2 that I found.
- Sophisticated appearance, beautiful and highly compatible with Mac
- Excellent keystroke sound and feel
- Low price
- Highly customizable｜VIA compatible
Sophisticated appearance, beautiful and highly compatible with Mac
The first thing that surprised me was the quality of the product.
This satisfies the pleasure of seeing and owning, and it is no exaggeration to say that this is Flow2’s number one attraction.
KawamuraAlthough tastes may differ, I personally love the “blank” area on the right edge of the body. I feel the beauty of the aluminum material here.
Excellent keystroke sound and feel
Compared to Flow1, the taste of the keystroke feel has changed considerably.
The first generation had a “Kotokotoko-style” sound with a strong muted feel, but v2 has evolved into a “Kotokotoko-style” sound that makes the listener listen.
The muted component has been reduced and a more three-dimensional typing sound can be experienced, so much so that you will want to type just for the comfort of it.
KawamuraAt worst, the keystroke sound has become “louder in a volumetric sense.
However, this is only an evolution for enjoying the sound of keystrokes, and it has not become noisier.
However, there is no doubt that it is not suitable for office use.
If you want to use it in the office, choose a quiet switch.
(Flow JIS uses a similar quiet switch, but it is loud enough to be used in an office.)
Low price
Frankly, I think they are “too cheap” as far as price is concerned.
VIP pricing in particular is at a tremendous discount.
Sales Schedule
- VIP price for reservation ($1.00 deposit for special price)
- July 10｜Started crowdfunding on KickStarter
| layout | VIP Price | Normal price |
|---|---|---|
| 68keys 65 | $89.00 | $189.00 |
| 84keys 75 | $99.00 | $199.00 |
| 100keys 96 | $109.00 | $209.00 |
Click here for VIP price purchase page ▷▷▷.
It is probably better to buy on Kickstarter rather than wait for regular sales, as the discount rate will probably be reasonable even after the crowdfunding starts.
Highly customizable｜VIA compatible
Finally, the long-awaited VIA is now supported from Flow2.
In other words, you can set any key at any position you want.
In addition, “Mod-Tap” using the Any Key function can be set up for both wired and wireless operation, greatly expanding the scope of customization.
KawamuraMod-Tap can achieve behaviors such as “A” for a “short press” and “Control” for a “long press”.
This simulator is useful for setting up VIA’s Any key.
A “macro function” is also available to register specific key operations and execute them with a single button press.
キーマップ変更に関する注意点▷▷
At this time, the VIA database does not reflect the registration of Flow2, so a “.json” file must be read to change the keymap.
Go to VIA, turn on “Show Design Tab” from the tab marked with the gear symbol, go to the Design tab → On the Design tab, with “Use V2 Definitions (deprecated)” turned off, you need to load the .json file from the “Load” button You will need to load the .json file from the “Load” button.
The .json files will probably be distributed on the official website.
dd
Cautions (disadvantages) to check before buying Lofree Flow2
Please allow me to decline first.
In fact, I listed more disadvantages than advantages earlier.
KawamuraIn fact, we pointed out the same disadvantage at the Lofree Influencer Meeting held in Tokyo on May 6.
However, development was already almost complete and feedback could not be utilized.
However, Lofree is a company that values such “real voices” very much, so we dare to mention them in the hope that they will be utilized in “Flow2 JIS” and “Flow3”.
I’m not sure if it’s that big of a disadvantage though lol.
- Unable to customize the touch sensor on the right side of the unit.
- Not suitable for office use except for silent linear
- There is no Japanese sequence.
- Black keycaps have very poor visibility.
- Side-by-side USB is not to everyone’s taste.
- Different models have different tilt angles.
- Power switch is hard to push
Unable to customize the touch sensor on the right side of the unit.
This is probably the most disappointing point.
The touch sensor on the Flow2 cannot be set except for volume and illumination adjustments.
It is now VIA compliant, but it is not possible to customize this part of the system.
KawamuraIdeally, I would have liked to have set this place to scroll.
Like holding down Shift would make it scroll horizontally. This is something I’ll look forward to next time.
Not suitable for office use except for silent linear
The Flow2, with its regular Tactile Linear model switches, is basically “a type of keyboard where you enjoy the sound of the keystrokes.
Therefore, it is not suitable for office use due to the rather loud sound of the keystrokes.
If you need to use the product in a quiet environment, choose the VOID silent linear switch.
KawamuraEven in an office, where there is a certain amount of buzz, it will surely be fine.
However, since the Flow2’s advantage is that you can enjoy the sound of typing, we recommend that you use two of them, one in the office and one at home, if necessary.
There is no Japanese sequence.
The “Flow2” to be released this time does not have a Japanese-language layout at this time.
Note that only ANSI layout is available.
KawamuraIf you prefer a Japanese-language layout, please consider “Flow Lite JIS,” for which I supervised the layout!
Black keycaps have very poor visibility.
Visibility of the shinethrough black keycaps is poor and nearly unmarked without a backlight.
However, this look should be aimed for, so those who expect “unmarked style coolness” should definitely try it.
Side-by-side USB is not to everyone’s taste.
The USB port, which was rear-facing on the first generation, is now side-facing on the Flow2.
For those with a wired connection, the need to use an L-shaped conversion connector on the included cable or your own cable may be a slight disadvantage.
As for the attached cable, the other side is Type A, so you may need to use a conversion connector to use it with recent Macs that have Type-C as standard equipment and have eliminated Type-A.
KawamuraI am using a split, non-genuine wired cable.
I wish there was a genuine Type-A to C conversion plug.
Different models have different tilt angles.
As mentioned earlier, the length of the tilt leg is the same for all models, and only the 68keys model, which has one less row, has a different angle.
Thus, the 68keys model is quite steeply sloped, which may put stress on the wrist.
KawamuraA 7-degree tilt in low pro is quite an angle.
However, it is not enough without the legs, so I plan to add the following elastic.
Below is an example, but there are multiple heights to choose from.
Power switch is hard to push
I don’t think I would ever press it in the first place, but the power switch is hidden behind the tilt-leg foot, making it a bit difficult to press.
This is the result of prioritizing design, but it may be of concern to some.
summary
This is our review of Flow2.
If the theme of the original Flow was “a high-end keyboard with a low-profile and good key feel,” we felt that the Flow2 is a keyboard that seems to have a theme of “a keyboard to be enjoyed through sight, touch, and hearing.
This is a unique commitment to a product that reflects Lofree’s emphasis on the “typing experience,” rather than making typing a mere task.
Flow2, you will surely enjoy a great typing experience.
I would be happy to be one of the first to experience the charm of the keyboard.
