Lemokey L1 HE review | Macworld

Price When Reviewed

$239.99

Best Prices Today: L1 HE

If Apple’s Magic Keyboard isn’t quite hitting the spot for you, branching out into the world of mechanical keyboards is often a good bet. The Lemokey L1 HE is a premium option with a price tag to match, but it’s overflowing with high-end features that promise to elevate your typing experience.

Let’s start with the aspect that’s most apparent when you first unbox this keyboard: its phenomenal weight. It’s built like a tank, with an all-aluminum chassis and barely a strip of plastic in sight. It tipped the scales at a smidge over 2 kg (just under 4.5 lbs), and chances are it’s the heaviest keyboard you’ll ever use. There’s no need to worry about it shifting around your desk in day-to-day usage–this thing is staying put, no matter what.

Not only that, but the added heft brings a real sense of class to the L1 HE. There’s absolutely no bend or flex in the body anywhere you look. It’s so strong, in fact, that it could probably survive a nuclear blast and still come up smiling.

Battery life is decent. When tested in Bluetooth 5.2 mode and with backlighting on full brightness, the full battery was at 60 percent after 20 hours of usage. Lemokey says you should get up to 100 hours of juice from its 4,000mAh battery when the backlighting is at its lowest setting, or 18 to 20 hours when backlighting is full. Given our drop of 40 percent after 20 hours with lighting turned all the way up, you might be able to exceed Lemokey’s numbers. While RGB lighting isn’t for everyone, the default wave pattern is tasteful. With 22 presets to choose from, you’re sure to find something you like.

Alex Blake/Lemokey

The L1 HE comes in a 75 percent layout, which essentially chops off the numpad and loses a fistful of bonus keys for good measure. It offers the standard QWERTY keys and a function row, alongside a few extras (Delete, Insert, Page Up, Page Down, Home, but no End). This does make the keyboard more compact and travel-friendly, although that’s offset somewhat by the addition of four large macro keys and, most obviously, the incredible weight.

Lemokey is the gamer-focused sub-brand of keyboard maker Keychron, and one thing this firm has always been good at is ensuring its keyboards work with both macOS and Windows layouts. In the Lemokey L1 HE, you get swappable macOS and Windows keycaps in the box (as well as many extras, including a keycap puller, screws and a screwdriver, a USB-C to USB-A adapter, and more), plus the ability to change layouts on the fly, so the macOS Command function is mapped to the correct key automatically, for example. Many Keychron boards have a physical switch for this, but unfortunately the L1 HE forces you to do this with the Lemokey Launcher app. That slows things down, and a physical switch would be preferable if you’re often flipping between macOS and Windows.

Alex Blake/Foundry

On the left-hand side of the keyboard are four programmable macro keys, which can be set using Lemokey’s Launcher companion app (more on that in a bit). Above them is a customizable roller (set to adjust system volume by default) and a flip switch for changing between Bluetooth, wired and 2.4GHz modes. The roller is textured and firm, if a little heavy in action, while the flip switch clicks satisfyingly in use.

Lemokey has done something interesting with the keycaps on the L1 HE by using two different approaches. You get double-shot PBT caps for most keys, while accents (like the Enter, Backspace, Shift and Caps Lock keys) are formed out of transparent polycarbonate plastic. The end result is a mixed bag and certainly won’t be to everyone’s taste. While the PBT caps are slightly textured and resistant to finger oils, the clear keycaps pick up (and hold onto) smudges incredibly easily. They’re also daubed with garish “gamer” flourishes that aren’t exactly Apple’s aesthetic (thankfully, Lemokey does several other color options). And since their legends are printed on (as opposed to the PBT caps, which have the legends molded into the keys), they’ll eventually wear off.

Typing sound and feel

The typing feel is one of the most important factors to consider when buying a keyboard. If it’s not comfortable to use, it won’t last long at your desk. Sadly, this keyboard lacks any kind of height adjustment, and that resulted in a degree of discomfort after only a short period of typing. I eventually got used to it, but the lack of height adjustment means its ergonomics are sub-par. Presumably the device is too heavy for flip-out legs, but perhaps some other option is possible (stackable magnets are used by rival products, for example). The lack of a wrist rest is also a touch disappointing, especially considering the sky-high price.

In many other ways, though, the Lemokey L1 HE is superb to type on. My review unit came with Gateron’s Nebula switches under each key. Their linear nature means there’s no tactile bump or click as they’re actuated, which is perfect for gaming (where quick presses are required) but can lead to finger strain from “bottoming out” the keys if you’re typing all day. Happily, that wasn’t a problem in testing, and while typists might prefer tactile switches, the Nebula linears are still a strong option.

Alex Blake/Foundry

These switches come pre-lubed for smoother motion and also feature magnetic Hall effect tech as opposed to a more traditional mechanical switch structure. What this means is that they use an electromagnetic field to actuate with each key press. Because this avoids physical contact, they should last much longer than standard alternatives. Their magnetic nature also means you can customize the actuation point to your liking, meaning you can type while pressing as shallowly or as deeply as you want.

If the switches aren’t doing it for you, you can remove them and swap them out for something else. Lemokey says you’ll need to use compatible Hall effect magnetic switches, though.

Any keyboard connoisseur knows that a board’s sound is almost as important as its feel, and here the Lemokey L1 HE comes up trumps again. It brings a thocky sound that is deeply satisfying when you’re firing off sentences at a rapid clip. That’s thanks in part to the multiple layers of foam and sound-dampening materials that reduce the vibrations as you type. It’s worth noting that the Space bar produces a slightly different sound to the other keys, which may or may not be a problem for you.

While it’s a great device for typists, the Lemokey L1 HE is also loaded with gamer-pleasing features. That includes a rapid trigger mode that repeatedly actuates without requiring each key to be fully released, a Snap Click feature that allows two keys to be alternated in quick succession, an analog mode that permits fine-grained control rather than binary on/off statuses, and more. You can even program keys to perform different tasks depending on how far you press them. And if you use the board in its wired or 2.4GHz modes, you get a 1,000Hz polling rate, which provides the kind of low-latency moves that can give you an edge during gameplay. With macOS increasingly becoming a serious gaming destination, these are worthy features to have.

Many of these additions have to be enabled using the Lemokey Launcher, which is a web app rather than a standalone program. You can run it on both macOS and Windows, and it provides a fairly intuitive way to customize your keyboard. Although some features could be a little clearer, it’s a relatively painless way to create macros, enable gaming tools, remap keys, and more.

If you’re out for a premium mechanical keyboard that pulls almost no punches, the Lemokey L1 HE is a worthy contender. Its comfortable switches, high-end features and numerous quality touches make it a top-notch option for discerning typists. But be prepared to pay for the privilege.

Should you buy the Lemokey L1 HE?

Given its $240 price tag, the Lemokey L1 HE isn’t an impulse buy for most people. That said, it’s stuffed with high-end features that will benefit typists and gamers alike, from its hot-swappable Hall effect switches and smooth acoustics to its huge customizability and compatibility with both macOS and Windows layouts. If you’re in the market for a premium keyboard that doesn’t scrimp on features, it should be on your shortlist.