Which one should you get?
Get the
Zerodate K87
- Extremely low cost entry point for a QMK/VIA compatible keyboard.
- Lighter weight (560g) and slightly thinner profile for easier portability.
- Includes doubleshot ABS keycaps, which are durable against legend wear.
- Uses a soldered PCB, preventing easy switch replacement without desoldering.
- Only available with linear blue switches, offering no choice in switch type.
- Construction lacks advanced features like gasket mounting or sound dampening mentioned for the competitor.
Get the
Keychron Lemokey X4
Hot-swappable
- Hot-swappable sockets enable easy switch customization without soldering.
- Gasket mount structure with a polycarbonate plate for a potentially more flexible typing feel.
- Offers choice between linear, tactile, and clicky switch types, and between ABS and PBT keycap options.
- Higher price point compared to the Zerodate K87.
- Heavier at 712g, making it less portable.
- The vendor listing shows it is frequently out of stock or backordered.
For most users, the Keychron X4 is the recommended choice. The additional investment buys significant upgrades in build quality, typing experience, and long-term flexibility through hot-swap sockets and a superior mounting style. Only choose the Zerodate K87 if your budget is extremely constrained and you are willing to sacrifice easy customizability and premium features for basic QMK functionality at the lowest price.
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.
Zerodate K87
Keychron Lemokey X4
Layout size
80%
75%
Hot-swappable
No
Yes
Case material
ABS
ABS, Plastic
Switch options
Linear
Clicky, Linear, Tactile
Knob
No
Yes
- Zerodate K87
- Keychron Lemokey X4
- Performance
- 7075
- Build quality
- 7183
- Productivity
- 6695
- Customizability
- 7683
- Portability
- 5265
- Connection: Wired
- QMK
What will you mostly use it for?
The Keychron X4 is the more versatile choice, winning in gaming, office, programming, modding, and content creation due to its superior feature set, including hot-swap, a gasket mount, and a more ergonomic 75% layout. The Zerodate K87's primary advantage is for travel or situations where minimizing the initial purchase price is the absolute top priority, as it undercuts the X4 while still offering QMK/VIA support.
Pick the Keychron Lemokey X4
- The Keychron X4 has a specified 1000 Hz polling rate for lower latency.
- It features N-key rollover for accurate simultaneous keypress registration.
- The gasket mount and polycarbonate plate may offer a more consistent typing feel during rapid inputs.
Zerodate K87 vs Keychron Lemokey X4 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
16 of 25 specs differ
Zerodate K87
Keychron Lemokey X4
Switch options
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Sound dampening
Screw-in stabilizers
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Knob
Display
Connection
Max polling rate
USB-C
Case material
Plate material
Keycaps
Weight
Dimensions
Typing angle
Backlight
QMK
VIA
N-key rollover
Mac & Windows
Released
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Zerodate K87 vs Keychron Lemokey X4: your questions
No, the Zerodate K87 uses a soldered PCB according to its vendor description. This means switches cannot be easily replaced without desoldering equipment and skill.
The Keychron X4 has a 1000 Hz polling rate, as stated in its specifications. This is a standard high-performance rate for gaming keyboards.
Yes, both keyboards support QMK firmware, which allows for deep key remapping and macro programming. The Keychron X4 also promotes its Lemokey Launcher web app for this purpose.
The Keychron X4 is designed for better ergonomics with three adjustable typing angles (4°, 8°, 10°). It also uses a gasket mount and includes sound dampening, which typically leads to a more comfortable and quieter typing experience.
The Keychron X4 listing explicitly includes Mac support in its features. The Zerodate K87 listing does not specify Mac compatibility, though QMK firmware can often be configured for it.
Depending on the version you choose, the Keychron X4 comes with either OEM profile double-shot ABS shine-through keycaps or Cherry profile side-printed double-shot PBT shine-through keycaps.
The core structural difference is the mounting style. The Keychron X4 uses a gasket mount design with a polycarbonate plate, while the Zerodate K87 uses a standard tray mount, as indicated by the absence of a gasket mount mention in its specs.
Both keyboards have backlighting. The Zerodate K87 has full RGB lighting. The Keychron X4 features red backlighting with over 14 effect modes, using either north-facing or south-facing LEDs depending on the keycap version.
The Keychron product description states that the mechanical switches are pre-lubed (excluding clicky ones). It mentions the keyboard includes screw-in stabilizers but does not specify if they are pre-lubed from the factory.
Lemokey is a sub-brand or product line from Keychron. The vendor page and product title refer to it as the Lemokey X4 QMK Wired Mechanical Keyboard, indicating it's the same product.
The Zerodate K87 listing does not mention knob support. The Keychron X4 specifically lists 'Knob Support' as an extra feature, indicating it is designed to accommodate one.
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