Keychron B40 vs LemoKey P1 HEAlice or Hall Effect
Choose the B40 for its quiet Alice layout and lighter body, or the P1 HE for magnetic-switch gaming features and broader customization.
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from$49at Keychron
5.0 (1)5.0 · 1 reviews
from$169at Keychron
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron B40
Build quality in the bottom 15% of 75% boards under $50.
- 75% Alice layout with low-profile scissor keys that Keychron describes as quiet.
- Five dedicated M1-M5 macro keys and a customizable knob.
- Tri-mode connectivity with Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and USB-C wired operation.
- Switches are soldered. Swapping them means soldering.
- Low-profile switches and keycaps only. Standard MX keycaps will not fit.
- No ISO layout. ISO-DE, UK, and other ISO variants are not offered.
Get the
Keychron LemoKey P1 HE
Hall effect
Build quality in the top 5% of 75% boards under $200.
- Hall Effect magnetic switches support adjustable actuation from 0.2 to 3.8 mm, Rapid Trigger, and Dynamic Keystrokes.
- Full metal case, aluminum plate, gasket mount, and sound-dampening materials.
- Hot-swappable switches, with QMK, VIA, and Lemokey Launcher configuration options.
- Magnetic switches only. Standard MX switches will not fit.
- North-facing LEDs. Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the switch housing.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
Pick the B40 if quiet scissor typing, the Alice layout, and lower carry weight matter more than switch customization. Choose the P1 HE if you want adjustable magnetic actuation, Rapid Trigger, and a metal, hot-swappable platform, while accepting its magnetic-switch and keycap restrictions. For mixed use, decide whether ergonomic office typing or gaming-oriented control is your priority.
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.
Keychron B40
Keychron LemoKey P1 HE
Hall effect (magnetic)
No
Yes
Adjustable actuation helps in games and not in normal typing
Rapid trigger
No
Yes
Faster resets help in games and not in normal typing
Hot-swappable
No
Yes
Switch changes without soldering
Battery
800 mAh
4,000 mAh
A larger battery means fewer cables during the day
Low profile
Yes
No
- Keychron B40
- Keychron LemoKey P1 HE
- Performance
- 5393
- Build quality
- 4688
- Productivity
- 8297
- Customizability
- 4696
- Portability
- 7882
- Layout size: 75%
- Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
- Max polling rate: 1,000 Hz
- Knob
What will you mostly use it for?
The P1 HE has the clearest edge for gaming and customization, while the B40 is the more practical fit for quiet office work and carrying between locations. Programming leans toward the P1 HE because it lists QMK, VIA, and more layout options. Content creation is a close call: both offer a configurable knob and workflow controls, but in different forms. The choice largely comes down to ergonomic, low-noise typing versus magnetic-switch features and a heavier metal build.
Pick the Keychron LemoKey P1 HE
- The P1 HE has Hall Effect magnetic switches with adjustable actuation from 0.2 to 3.8 mm.
- Rapid Trigger and Dynamic Keystrokes support configurable in-game inputs.
- Its 1000 Hz polling rate applies to wired and 2.4 GHz modes.
Keychron B40 vs LemoKey P1 HE specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
19 of 29 specs differ
Keychron B40
Keychron LemoKey P1 HE
Switch options
Hall effect (magnetic)
Rapid trigger
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Low profile
Sound dampening
Screw-in stabilizers
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Knob
Display
Connection
Max polling rate
Battery
USB-C
Case material
Plate material
Keycaps
Weight
Dimensions
Typing angle
Backlight
QMK
VIA
N-key rollover
Mac & Windows
Released
ISO layouts by store
Which stores sell ISO-DE, UK, and the other regional layouts.
Keychron B40
No ISO layout at the stores we track.
Keychron LemoKey P1 HE
Input Gear
ISO-DE
Out of stockShips to you
Keychron
ISO-DE
Out of stockShips to you
Compare prices
Live prices from the stores we track, cheapest in-stock offer first.
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Keychron B40 vs LemoKey P1 HE: your questions
The B40 is a low-profile Alice keyboard with quiet scissor keys and dedicated macro keys. The P1 HE is a metal 75% keyboard with Hall Effect magnetic switches, adjustable actuation, and Rapid Trigger.
The P1 HE is the stronger gaming fit because its magnetic switches support adjustable actuation, Rapid Trigger, and Dynamic Keystrokes. It also lists a 1000 Hz polling rate in wired and 2.4 GHz modes.
Keychron describes the B40's scissor keys as quiet and positions its Alice layout for long-time office users. It also has five dedicated macro keys and a customizable knob.
The B40's switches are soldered, so replacing them requires soldering. Its compatibility rules also limit it to low-profile switches and keycaps.
The P1 HE is hot-swappable, but its sockets support Gateron double-rail magnetic switches only. Standard MX switches and other magnetic switch types are not compatible.
Both keyboards list Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz connectivity as well as wired operation. The P1 HE lists a 4000 mAh battery and up to 100 hours of working time, while the B40 lists an 800 mAh battery and up to 330 hours in 2.4 GHz mode.
The B40 weighs 595 g, while the P1 HE weighs 1630 g, making the B40 the lighter option. Both have 75% layouts and wireless connectivity.
The P1 HE is listed with ANSI, ISO, and ISO-DE layout options. The B40 is listed as ANSI and does not offer ISO variants.
The P1 HE uses Cherry-profile double-shot PBT keycaps, but its compatibility rules warn that Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the switch housing with north-facing LEDs. Check the specific keycap fit before replacing the included set.
The P1 HE supports hot-swappable magnetic switches, QMK, VIA, and the Lemokey Launcher web app for remapping and macros. The B40 offers Keychron Launcher configuration and five macro keys, but its switches are soldered.
Both models list a knob. The B40 vendor description says its knob can control volume, brightness, and zoom, while the P1 HE supports customizing the knob function through its web app.
The P1 HE has RGB backlighting with 22 listed preset options. The B40 is listed as non-backlit and does not have RGB.
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