Most wireless keyboards now offer more than one way to connect. Which one you use day to day matters more than the spec sheet suggests, so here is how to choose.
2.4G receiver
A small USB receiver pairs with the keyboard out of the box. It is the usual choice for a desktop or gaming PC. NuPhy lists a 1000Hz polling rate for the Air75 V2 in 2.4G mode.
Bluetooth
Bluetooth needs no dongle and suits laptops, tablets and phones. Lofree lists the Flow84 for up to three devices over Bluetooth 5.0, and Tom's Hardware reports the same three-device limit for the Air75 V2.
USB-C cable
A cable removes pairing and charging from the picture. All three keyboards here can run wired over USB-C.
How the three compare
- NuPhy Air75 V2: 2.4G, Bluetooth and USB-C.
- Lofree Flow84: Bluetooth 5.0 and USB-C; no 2.4G option according to Trusted Reviews.
- 8BitDo Retro 87: GameSpot describes 8BitDo keyboards in general as 2.4GHz, Bluetooth and USB-C; we have not confirmed this for the Retro 87 on 8BitDo's own page.
If you switch between a work laptop and a gaming PC, a board with both a receiver and Bluetooth saves re-pairing. If you only use one Mac or iPad, Bluetooth alone is usually enough.