Lemokey L1 HE evaluation | Macworld

Worth When Reviewed

$239.99

Greatest Costs Right this moment: L1 HE

If Apple’s Magic Keyboard isn’t fairly hitting the spot for you, branching out into the world of mechanical keyboards is commonly a superb guess. The Lemokey L1 HE is a premium possibility with a price ticket to match, however it’s overflowing with high-end options that promise to raise your typing expertise.

Let’s begin with the side that’s most obvious if you first unbox this keyboard: its phenomenal weight. It’s constructed 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 (slightly below 4.5 lbs), and likelihood is it’s the heaviest keyboard you’ll ever use. There’s no want to fret about it shifting round your desk in day-to-day utilization–this factor is staying put, it doesn’t matter what.

Alex Blake/Foundry

Not solely that, however the added heft brings an actual sense of sophistication to the L1 HE. There’s completely no bend or flex within the physique anyplace you look. It’s so sturdy, in actual fact, that it might most likely survive a nuclear blast and nonetheless come up smiling.

Battery life is respectable. When examined in Bluetooth 5.2 mode and with backlighting on full brightness, the complete battery was at 60 % after 20 hours of utilization. Lemokey says it is best to stand up to 100 hours of juice from its 4,000mAh battery when the backlighting is at its lowest setting, or 18 to twenty hours when backlighting is full. Given our drop of 40 % after 20 hours with lighting turned all the way in which up, you would possibly be capable to exceed Lemokey’s numbers. Whereas RGB lighting isn’t for everybody, the default wave sample is tasteful. With 22 presets to select from, you’re certain to seek out one thing you want.

Alex Blake/Lemokey

The L1 HE is available in a 75 % format, which basically chops off the numpad and loses a fistful of bonus keys for good measure. It presents the usual QWERTY keys and a operate row, alongside just a few extras (Delete, Insert, Web page Up, Web page Down, Residence, however no Finish). This does make the keyboard extra compact and travel-friendly, though that’s offset considerably by the addition of 4 giant macro keys and, most clearly, the unimaginable weight.

Lemokey is the gamer-focused sub-brand of keyboard maker Keychron, and one factor this agency has at all times been good at is guaranteeing its keyboards work with each macOS and Home windows layouts. Within the Lemokey L1 HE, you get swappable macOS and Home windows keycaps within the field (in addition to many extras, together with a keycap puller, screws and a screwdriver, a USB-C to USB-A adapter, and extra), plus the flexibility to vary layouts on the fly, so the macOS Command operate is mapped to the proper key robotically, for instance. Many Keychron boards have a bodily change for this, however sadly the L1 HE forces you to do that with the Lemokey Launcher app. That slows issues down, and a bodily change could be preferable in case you’re usually flipping between macOS and Home windows.

Alex Blake/Foundry

On the left-hand facet of the keyboard are 4 programmable macro keys, which could be set utilizing Lemokey’s Launcher companion app (extra on that in a bit). Above them is a customizable curler (set to regulate system quantity by default) and a flip change for altering between Bluetooth, wired and a couple of.4GHz modes. The curler is textured and agency, if somewhat heavy in motion, whereas the flip change clicks satisfyingly in use.

Lemokey has carried out one thing fascinating with the keycaps on the L1 HE by utilizing two completely different approaches. You get double-shot PBT caps for many keys, whereas accents (just like the Enter, Backspace, Shift and Caps Lock keys) are fashioned out of clear polycarbonate plastic. The tip result’s a blended bag and positively gained’t be to everybody’s style. Whereas the PBT caps are barely textured and immune to finger oils, the clear keycaps decide up (and maintain onto) smudges extremely simply. They’re additionally daubed with garish “gamer” thrives that aren’t precisely Apple’s aesthetic (fortunately, Lemokey does a number of different shade choices). And since their legends are printed on (versus the PBT caps, which have the legends molded into the keys), they’ll ultimately put on off.

Typing sound and really feel

The typing really feel is likely one of the most necessary components to think about when shopping for a keyboard. If it’s not snug to make use of, it gained’t final lengthy at your desk. Sadly, this keyboard lacks any sort of top adjustment, and that resulted in a level of discomfort after solely a brief interval of typing. I finally received used to it, however the lack of top adjustment means its ergonomics are sub-par. Presumably the system is just too heavy for flip-out legs, however maybe another possibility is feasible (stackable magnets are utilized by rival merchandise, for instance). The dearth of a wrist relaxation can be a contact disappointing, particularly contemplating the sky-high worth.

In lots of different methods, although, the Lemokey L1 HE is excellent to kind on. My evaluation unit got here with Gateron’s Nebula switches below every key. Their linear nature means there’s no tactile bump or click on as they’re actuated, which is ideal for gaming (the place fast presses are required) however can result in finger pressure from “bottoming out” the keys in case you’re typing all day. Fortunately, that wasn’t an issue in testing, and whereas typists would possibly choose tactile switches, the Nebula linears are nonetheless a powerful possibility.

Alex Blake/Foundry

These switches come pre-lubed for smoother movement and in addition function magnetic Corridor impact tech versus a extra conventional mechanical change construction. What this implies is that they use an electromagnetic area to actuate with every key press. As a result of this avoids bodily contact, they need to final for much longer than normal options. Their magnetic nature additionally means you may customise the actuation level to your liking, which means you may kind whereas urgent as shallowly or as deeply as you need.

If the switches aren’t doing it for you, you may take away them and swap them out for one thing else. Lemokey says you’ll want to make use of appropriate Corridor impact magnetic switches, although.

Any keyboard connoisseur is aware of {that a} board’s sound is nearly as necessary as its really feel, and right here the Lemokey L1 HE comes up trumps once more. It brings a thocky sound that’s deeply satisfying if you’re firing off sentences at a fast clip. That’s thanks partly to the a number of layers of froth and sound-dampening supplies that cut back the vibrations as you kind. It’s value noting that the House bar produces a barely completely different sound to the opposite keys, which can or will not be an issue for you.

Whereas it’s a fantastic system for typists, the Lemokey L1 HE can be loaded with gamer-pleasing options. That features a fast set off mode that repeatedly actuates with out requiring every key to be totally launched, a Snap Click on function that enables two keys to be alternated in fast succession, an analog mode that allows fine-grained management reasonably than binary on/off statuses, and extra. You may even program keys to carry out completely different duties relying on how far you press them. And in case you use the board in its wired or 2.4GHz modes, you get a 1,000Hz polling price, which supplies the sort of low-latency strikes that can provide you an edge throughout gameplay. With macOS more and more turning into a severe gaming vacation spot, these are worthy options to have.

Many of those additions must be enabled utilizing the Lemokey Launcher, which is an internet app reasonably than a standalone program. You may run it on each macOS and Home windows, and it supplies a reasonably intuitive approach to customise your keyboard. Though some options may very well be somewhat clearer, it’s a comparatively painless approach to create macros, allow gaming instruments, remap keys, and extra.

In case you’re out for a premium mechanical keyboard that pulls nearly no punches, the Lemokey L1 HE is a worthy contender. Its snug switches, high-end options and quite a few high quality touches make it a top-notch possibility for discerning typists. However be ready to pay for the privilege.

Must you purchase the Lemokey L1 HE?

Given its $240 price ticket, the Lemokey L1 HE isn’t an impulse purchase for most individuals. That mentioned, it’s filled with high-end options that can profit typists and avid gamers alike, from its hot-swappable Corridor impact switches and easy acoustics to its big customizability and compatibility with each macOS and Home windows layouts. In case you’re available in the market for a premium keyboard that doesn’t scrimp on options, it ought to be in your shortlist.