a new company called ExcellentFounded by two brothers with design and manufacturing experience, it is rethinking desktop accessories with the goal of making our computers more comfortable to use. Today it debuts a collection of magnetic peripherals called Flow that focuses on a split wireless keyboard, all designed to make it easier to find the perfect ergonomic layout, even if it changes constantly throughout the day.
Tom Wilson, CEO of Nuio (a combination of new and I/O), previously worked at companies including Apple, Google and Frog Design, while Greg Wilson, the company's chief marketing officer, spent years at Frog Design and the agency Creative Digitas. The brothers co-founded Nuio with the goal of improving the way we physically interact with our computers. “There are literally no right angles in the human body,” says Tom. “Yet, we spend most of our lives hunched over rigid, rectangular keyboards and peripherals.”
1/4
That's why Nuio Flow is a complete accessory system and not just a stand-alone keyboard. It's designed to strike a balance between products like Logitech's Ergo series, which features a one-size-fits-all keyboard with a fixed ergonomic layout, and more advanced split options like the ZSA Moonlander Mark I, which users can spend weeks fine-tuning and customizing. Using simplified peripherals like stands, wristbands, and a magnetic base, putting together a comfortable keyboard layout with the Flow system is almost as easy as using Apple's MagSafe accessories.
The star of the show is the $399 Flow keyboard, which has a fully split design with two independent halves with keys arranged in a radial, wave-shaped layout designed to make fingers feel more natural to reach for.
Unlike other split keyboards that appeal to those who like to customize everything down to the feel of the keys, the Flow uses proprietary rubber dome switches and custom backlit concave keys that aren't designed to be interchanged with third-party alternatives. Instead, the Flow is aimed at those who prefer the quiet feel and sound of a laptop keyboard, specifically those found on a MacBook, with similarly short key travel and less resistance than mechanical switches.
Each half of the split keyboard is made of stamped aluminum, which, along with the rechargeable batteries in each, gives them a satisfying heft. Aside from an included dual-head USB-C cable for charging both halves simultaneously, the Flow is completely wireless. It connects to PCs and mobile devices via Bluetooth as a single device, while a switch on the back lets you connect the Flow to three different devices and switch between them without having to go through the pairing process again.
1/3
A rubber bottom helps keep the Flow keyboard from sliding around once you find a layout that's comfortable for you. For even more grip, both halves can be magnetically attached to a $129 Deskpad accessory that's also rigid enough to use on your lap in case you want to use the keyboard while lying on a couch.
The Flow can be complemented with adjustable supports. They cost $59 each, but most users will want one for each side of the keyboard, so two are a little cheaper at $99. They connect to the bottom of the keyboard at a few different points using magnets, elevating both halves while allowing them to tilt in any direction between 10 and 15 degrees, giving you more layout options. When you find an ideal angle, a tension wheel on each bracket can be tightened to lock its position.
Once you have both halves of the Flow elevated, you'll probably want something that supports your wrists. Nuio also sells a pair of padded wristbands for $99 that magnetically attach to your Deskpad. And while Nuio doesn't feature a mouse with its Flow system, you can add a compact $249 wireless touchpad that supports gestures and does all the magnetic work, too.
Unlike some products from startups that look great on promotional materials but offer no quality, the Flow keyboard and all its accessories appear to come from a team with a lot of experience in both design and manufacturing. I've been testing the keyboard and its peripherals for a few days (not the touchpad), and the quality is on par with what companies like Apple offer, which makes sense given the brothers' pedigree. No compromises have been made with the materials, build quality or functionality of Nuio's first products, but that comes at a steep price.
Fully split keyboards are usually not cheap. ZSA's Voyager and Moonlander Mark I debuted at $365, while the Dygma Defy Wireless It's $369. But they all come with built-in mechanisms to adjust their heights and angles. The Flow keyboard with magnetic desk pad and a pair of stands costs $627, while the full Flow system, with the wrist pads and trackpad, will set you back $975.
All Flow System content, including accessories offered in colors including Space Gray, Silver, Gold, Rose Gold, Espresso Brown, Deep Green, and Midnight Blue, are available for pre-order today. However, only the space gray version of the Flow keyboard with macOS legends, the matching touchpad, and the other accessories in black will ship starting December 1, 2024. If you want one of the alternative colors or a version of the keyboard Flow with both macOS and PC legends, you'll have to wait until January 1, 2025 for them to ship.
