LOFREE Flow2 Review: High-quality low-profile keyboard with German layout

Fans of low-profile keyboards with a German ISO layout were left behind for a long time. The optical keyboards on the German market were of limited quality for a long time. However, this changed abruptly a good six months ago when LOFREE released the Flow Lite (our test) with a German layout. Other manufacturers such as NuPhy and Keychron followed suit and seem to have finally realized that the German market should not be neglected. With the LOFREE Flow2, the manufacturer’s high-quality mechanical low-profile keyboard, which has enjoyed enormous popularity on social media for over six months, is finally making it to us. In this test, we find out whether it was worth the wait.

Technical data of the LOFREE Flow2

Product name	Flow2
Switch type	Mechanical
Button switch type	Lofree x Kailh Cloud Series Switch
Switch types offered	Linear
Switch interchangeable	Yes
Keycaps interchangeable	Yes
material	Aluminum
Material keycaps	PBT and PC doubleshot
Dimensions (L x W x H)	341.2 mm x 126 mm x 21.5 mm
Battery life	Up to 120 hours
Cable connection	USB type C
Connectivity	USB-C; 2.4 GHz; Bluetooth 5.3
Sampling rate	1,000 Hz
Price	Price not available *

LOFREE Flow2 Review: Elegant hip flask with impressive workmanship

It’s been a good six months since I first saw the LOFREE Flow2 in a video. And was disappointed that this high-quality low-profile aluminum keyboard was (once again) not available in a German ISO-DE layout. “That’s typical again,” I thought. Shortly before, LOFREE had released the Flow Lite on the German market, which had already tapped its way into my heart with its sound and excellent typing feel.

The Flow2 is the more grown-up and higher-quality counterpart to the Lite. Even flatter, even more appealing and above all, not least thanks to the aluminum housing, even higher quality. The low-profile keyboard is available in three sizes, with only the 84-key version (without numeric keypad) and the 96-key version with numeric keypad appearing to be available for the German market. And in either space gray or silver.

The housing of the Flow2 is milled from a single block of aluminium, anodized and has a matt, slightly grainy surface that has a high-quality feel and looks absolutely solid in the hand. No wobbling, no creaking, no flex – the housing is quite simply a small work of metal art.

The keycaps are double-injected (double-shot) from PBT (top) and polycarbonate (bottom), which ensures both durable lettering and pleasant light transmission. Compared to its predecessor, the keycaps have been deliberately enlarged and given steeper edges. This makes it much quicker and more precise to find the individual keys, even when blind.

The keys also have white backlighting, which can either shine permanently or light up in a breathing effect. The first disappointment: although the lighting is clearly visible in dark surroundings, it is not strong enough during the day to shine through the largely opaque keycaps. However, there are no different lighting modes or intensity levels.

There are two fold-out metal feet on the back, which raise the tilt angle to 7 degrees and hide the connection mode switch at the same time – a clever, space-saving detail. The five-layer cushioning system on the inside is also a positive feature: silicone pad, sandwich pad, IXPE switch foam, PET cushioning film and PU foam combine to provide a full, rich typing experience.

A special feature of the LOFREE Flow2 is the touch bar, which can be found on the right-hand side. Incidentally, just like the USB-C port for charging, which I personally find very impractical. As my PC is located to the left of my desk, I have to run the cable around the entire keyboard. Why isn’t the port on the top side, which remains completely empty?

The touch bar is mainly used to control the volume and brightness, and in my opinion reacts very accurately to touches and implements them reliably.

Up to 120 hours of battery life

Probably the biggest criticism of the original LOFREE Flow was its poor battery performance. The manufacturer has obviously taken this feedback to heart: The 75% and 96% variants of the LOFREE Flow2 now come with a 3,000 mAh battery (compared to 2,000 mAh for its predecessor). Officially, they promise up to 120 hours of runtime with the backlighting switched off – and this is no empty advertising promise.

In my test of the keyboard, the battery life proved to be much more suitable for everyday use: The 100-key version lasts a very long time until the battery status indicator in the top right corner lights up red, signaling that it’s time to recharge it.

With full backlighting, however, the runtime is significantly reduced. The manufacturer’s specification speaks of a maximum of 17 hours, but surprisingly, I was able to go much further than promised during the LOFREE Flow2 test with around 21 hours. Nevertheless, if you work with light, you have to charge every 3-4 days. That’s a bit meager. However, this is not surprising due to the flat housing.

LOFREE Flow2: Customization via VIA

One of the biggest upgrades compared to its predecessor is the introduction of QMK firmware and VIA compatibility – a feature that enthusiasts sorely missed in the first version. Using the free VIA web app, key assignments, macros and lighting settings can be conveniently adjusted via browser without having to install any software.

At least in theory. During the test, VIA recognized the keyboard and the pop-up for authorization appeared, but nothing more happened. The connection between the browser tool and the keyboard could not be established. It turned out that a JSON file is currently still required for this. Hopefully this will no longer be the case for the final release. However, everything could then be adjusted with the file.

In practice, VIA has deliberately kept things simple. Anyone expecting complex firmware customizations, such as those offered by proprietary software from Keychron or Razer, will come up against limits here. For example, the touch strip cannot be reconfigured via VIA, but all other keys can be freely assigned and macros can be stored directly in the browser. Linux users can also look forward to full compatibility. A plus point compared to many proprietary solutions.

If you want to go deeper into customization, you can also configure the keyboard directly on the device using Fn key combinations – for example to switch between up to four paired Bluetooth devices or to permanently deactivate the touch strip (Fn + space bar for 3 seconds).

Incredibly smooth: LOFREE Flow2 in a practical test

I was already impressed by the typing feel of the Flow Lite. I’m currently using the NuPhy Air75 V3 with the excellent Blush Nano switches in my setup – so I’m pretty spoiled when it comes to the triggering noise and typing feel.

The LOFREE Flow2 initially starts with a small damper in the test, because the low-profile keyboard is not completely plug-and-play. With the USB dongle plugged in (which unfortunately has no place in the housing), the keyboard is not recognized at first. The solution: The 2.4 GHz mode must first be activated using the FN key combination (FN+4). Fortunately, this is only the case the first time it is used.

Typing on the Flow2 is undoubtedly a real pleasure. The keycaps feel wonderful: Lightly textured for optimum grip, the enlarged surface and steeper angle ensure that you can find keys faster and more reliably. The German version apparently has two switch variants (Pulse and Surfer), while the ANSI original has three options to choose from. Kailh Surfer (crisp linear switches), Void (low-noise linear switches) and Pulse (tactile switches).

The Pulse switches are installed in the test sample, which offer a pleasantly tactile but not necessarily quiet typing experience. The Pulse switches (40g actuating force) feel smooth, with a slight tactile feedback. Their moderate noise level makes them a good choice for office environments. The switches are also hot-swappable and can be easily replaced.

The gasket mount system provides pleasant damping on impact. Even if the flex in the LOFREE Flow2 is significantly less than its predecessor and you would hardly recognize it as a classic gasket mount.

But the Flow2 is by no means perfect and does not secure the top spot among my personal low-profile favorites, and there are several reasons for this. The first is the layout: the 96 percent design, consisting of 100 keys, means that the numeric keypad is very squashed against the arrow keys. Precisely because LOFREE leaves space on the right for its own logo and the battery status LED.

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The result is that the keys are much closer together than they should be with the case. You won’t find any space between the ENTER and arrow keys or the numeric keypad, which often led to incorrect entries in my case. You can certainly ignore this if you opt for the 84 percent model – and that’s exactly what I would recommend to anyone.

LOFREE Flow2 sound:

LOFREE Flow Lite sound:

In addition, the touch bar on the right-hand side might be a little too smooth for many people. And I don’t think the positioning is ideal either. Accidental touches, for example if you want to move the keyboard around on the table, result in an unwanted change in volume.

Otherwise, however, there is little to complain about in everyday use. I particularly liked the pleasant shape and the convincing typing feel of the LOFREE Flow2 in practice. Even when gaming, by the way: In gaming use, the Flow2 impresses in 2.4 GHz mode with the 1,000 Hz polling rate. Competitive gaming is therefore possible without any problems.

LOFREE Flow2 Review: Conclusion

The LOFREE Flow 2 is the best keyboard the manufacturer has built to date. The long overdue QMK/VIA support and a useful battery life solve the biggest frustrations of the original Flow. There are also adjustable feet, 2.4 GHz wireless and revised keycaps. For frequent typists looking for an elegant low-profile keyboard for the office and everyday use, it is a very good option.

But it won’t be my favorite. Instead, there are a few points that bother me. These include the squashed layout of the full-size version, the somewhat oversensitive touch bar and the very poor battery life when the backlight is on.

The bottom line is: Mac users, minimalists and anyone who wants to combine a mechanical feel with a slim design will love the Flow2. In combination, this results in a harmonious overall picture, combined with a unique and stylish design. In purely functional terms, however, the competition is better positioned here.