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Head to head · Prices checked Nov 14, 2026

Double shell DS102i vs Leopold Alchemie

Get the Leopold Alchemie for hot-swappable and qmk.

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Quick verdict

Which one should you get?

Get the

Double shell DS102i

Build quality in the bottom 5% of 100% boards under $150.

Rules this board out

  • Switches are soldered. Swapping them means soldering.
  • Low-profile switches and keycaps only. Standard MX keycaps will not fit.
$119 at Mechkeys

Get the

Leopold Alchemie

Hot-swappable

Build quality in the top 10% of 100% boards under $200.

Rules this board out

  • North-facing LEDs. Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the switch housing.
$159 at MK

What actually differs

The differences that matter

Skip the 40-row spec sheet. These are the specs that change how each board feels, sounds, and fits your desk.

Double shell DS102i

Leopold Alchemie

  • Hot-swappable

    No

    Yes

    Switch changes without soldering

  • Low profile

    Yes

    No

  • Switch options

    Linear, Tactile

    Clicky, Silent

  • QMK

    No

    Yes

    The deep option when you want to remap every key

  • VIA

    No

    Yes

    GUI remapping without compiling firmware

KeebFinder scores

How we score
  • Double shell DS102i
  • Leopold Alchemie
Performance
46
80
Build quality
41
79
Productivity
50
75
Customizability
50
86
Portability
48
52

What they share

  • Layout size: 100%
  • Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
  • Case material: Aluminum
  • Keycaps: PBT
See every spec side by side

Full specs

Double shell DS102i vs Leopold Alchemie specs

Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.

12 of 22 specs differ

Double shell DS102i

Leopold Alchemie

Typing & switches

Switch options

Linear, Tactile
Clicky, Silent

Hot-swappable

No
Yes

Mount style

—
Top Mount

Low profile

Yes
No

Sound dampening

No
Yes

Layout

Layout size

100%
100%

Layout standard

ANSI
ANSI

Ergonomics

Standard
Standard

Display

None
None

Media keys

No
Yes

Connectivity & battery

Connection

Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired

Battery

—
4,000 mAh

USB-C

No
Yes

Build & materials

Case material

Aluminum
Aluminum

Plate material

—
Aluminum

Keycaps

PBT
PBT

Backlight

RGB
RGB, north-facing

Firmware & software

QMK

No
Yes

VIA

No
Yes

N-key rollover

No
Yes

Mac & Windows

Yes
No

Extras

Released

2023
2026

Where to buy

Compare prices

Live prices from the stores we track, cheapest in-stock offer first.

Prices in USD are converted to your currency and can change at any time. KeebFinder may earn a commission when you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you.

Lowest price across stores, Amazon excluded.

Double shell DS102i2 stores
Leopold Alchemie2 stores

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