Keyboard specialist Keychron has announced that the flagship model from its Lemokey sub-brand has begun shipping. The Lemokey L1 HE magnetic wireless keyboard is an 86-key design with open‑source firmware, which means it can be extensively customized.
A few years ago, mechanical keyboards were something of a niche product. However, in the past year or two, they’ve gone mainstream, partly because of the development of magnetic switch technology. These switches aren’t mechanical, as such, because they use magnetic switching for lightning-fast actuation, exceptional durability and ultra-low latency. These are just the sort of features competitive gamers demand.
Gateron Double Rail Magnetic Switches
The L1 HE is Keychron’s first premium keyboard bearing Lemokey branding and it uses hot-swappable Gateron double-rail magnetic switches. These Hall Effect switches are aimed at esports pros and power users who need to fine-tune their performance with adjustable actuation points, rapid trigger and dynamic keystrokes.
Until now, magnetic switches were only seen on expensive keyboards with wired connectivity and uninspiring styling. Keychron says the L1 HE addresses those criticisms and combines advanced magnetic hardware with the convenience of wireless connectivity.
The L1 HE features a full-metal chassis with customizable magnetic switches and pro-grade connectivity that give it the edge in competitive situations like esports tournaments. The keyboard offers an elevated typing and gaming experience and is particularly suitable for gamers and coders
A Keyboard Milestone
“The L1 HE marks a key milestone in making premium magnetic keyboards accessible without compromise,” says Paul Tan, COO of Keychron. “Our goal was a device that meets the demands of competitive gaming while offering the build quality and customization pros expect across work, play and everything in between.”
The L1 HE’s Gateron double‑rail magnetic switches have a consistently high‑speed response and because they aren’t mechanical, they are more durable. There’s a choice of connecting to the host device using a 2.4GHz RF dongle, Bluetooth or USB‑C, giving users the option of low-latency wireless and wired connectivity. For everyday use, there is the option to connect using Bluetooth with fast switching between three devices.
The new keyboard also features a programmable aluminum roller and dedicated macro keys for streamlined gaming control. The case is made from a precision CNC‑milled aluminum frame with gasket-mounted assembly and sound‑dampening design. The L1 HE has a 1000Hz polling rate on 2.4GHz and wired connections, making it ultra-responsive, a feature that gamers will appreciate.
The keycaps on this new keyboard have a Cherry profile and are made from PBT with a double-shot construction with see-through legends. The L1 HE uses open-source QMK firmware which means it can be fully customized and remapped using the Lemokey configurator.
Pricing and Availability:
The Lemokey L1 HE is available directly from Lemokey and can be ordered in a choice of Black, White and Space Silver colorways. The price is $239.99.
Tech Specs:
- Number of keys: 86.
- Layout : ANSI (US).
- Angle: 5°.
- Front height: 21mm (without keycaps and feet).
- Back height: 32.84 mm (without keycaps and feet).
- Feet height: 2.2mm.
- Frame material: Full metal.
- Plate material: Aluminum.
- MCU: ARM Cortex-M4 32-bit STM32F402 (256KB Flash).
- Polling rate: 1000Hz (2.4 GHz and wired) / 125Hz (Bluetooth mode).
- N-Key Rollover (NKRO): Yes, for both wireless and wired modes.
- Rapid trigger: Yes.
- Adjustable actuation points: 0.2 – 3.8mm.
- Dynamic keystrokes: 4-in-1 action keys.
- Sensitivity: 0.1mm.
- Keycap: Cherry Profile double-shot PBT.
- Switch: Gateron double-rail magnetic.
- Switch face: North-facing RGB.
- Hot-swappable: Yes, compatible with Gateron double-rail magnetic switch only.
- Stabilizer: Plate mounted.
- Backlight: 22 types of RGB backlight.
- Wireless working time (backlight off): Up to 100 hours.
- Charging time : Around 5 hours.
- Charging port: USB Type-C.
- Battery: 4,000mAh rechargeable Li-polymer.
- Connectivity: 2.4 GHz/Bluetooth/wired.
- Bluetooth version: 5.2
- Compatible systems: Windows/ macOS/ Linux.
- Dimensions: 370 x 146mm.
- Weight: 1,977g.
