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Head to head · Prices checked Oct 21, 2026

Zerodate K87 vs Keychron Lemokey X4

Choose the Keychron X4 for its superior build and hot-swap flexibility, or the Zerodate K87 for the lowest possible entry price into a QMK-compatible board.

Quick verdict

Which one should you get?

Get the

Zerodate K87

If you want

  • 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.

And can live with

  • 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

If you want

  • 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.

And can live with

  • 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.

Bottom line

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.

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.

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

KeebFinder scores

How we score
  • Zerodate K87
  • Keychron Lemokey X4
Performance
70
75
Build quality
71
83
Productivity
66
95
Customizability
76
83
Portability
52
65

What they share

  • Connection: Wired
  • QMK
See every spec side by side

Best for

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.

For gaming

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.

Full specs

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

Typing & switches

Switch options

Linear
Clicky, Linear, Tactile

Hot-swappable

No
Yes

Mount style

—
Gasket Mount

Sound dampening

No
Yes

Screw-in stabilizers

No
Yes

Layout

Layout size

80%
75%

Layout standard

ANSI
ANSI

Ergonomics

Standard
Standard

Knob

No
Yes

Display

None
None

Connectivity & battery

Connection

Wired
Wired

Max polling rate

—
1,000 Hz

USB-C

No
Yes

Build & materials

Case material

ABS
ABS, Plastic

Plate material

—
Polycarbonate

Keycaps

ABS
ABS, PBT

Weight

560 g
712 g

Dimensions

35 x 350 x 130 mm
41 x 325 x 145 mm

Typing angle

—
10°

Backlight

RGB
Yes, south-facing

Firmware & software

QMK

Yes
Yes

VIA

Yes
No

N-key rollover

No
Yes

Mac & Windows

No
Yes

Extras

Released

2025
2024

Where to buy

Compare prices

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

Lowest price across stores, Amazon excluded.

Zerodate K872 stores
  • VelocifireCN

    In stock
    $29Visit
  • AmazonGlobal

    Check price
    ~$29Visit
  • KeychronHK

    In stock
    $34Visit
  • AmazonGlobal

    Check price
    ~$34Visit

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.

FAQ

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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