Keychron C1 Pro vs Lemokey X18000 Hz vs Budget TKL
Choose the Keychron C1 Pro if you want a faster 8000 Hz polling rate and more durable PBT keycaps; choose the Lemokey X1 if you need a lower price point and prefer a steel plate with a red backlight.
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4.8 (10)4.8 · 10 reviews
from$50at MK
No reviews
from$34at Keychron
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron C1 Pro
8000 Hz
Build quality in the top 10% of 80% boards under $100.
- Features an 8000 Hz polling rate, adjustable down to 125 Hz, providing the lowest latency in wired keyboards.
- Comes with durable PBT keycaps that resist oil and fading better than ABS.
- Uses south-facing RGB LEDs, allowing interference-free use with Cherry profile aftermarket keycaps.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
Get the
Keychron Lemokey X1
Budget TKL
Build quality in the top 15% of 80% boards under $100.
- Has a steel plate that provides a firmer and more stable typing feel.
- Comes with shine-through double-shot ABS keycaps and a red backlight for better visibility in low light.
- Includes pre-lubed Keychron mechanical switches (excluding clicky variants) for smoother typing out of the box.
- Switches are soldered. Swapping them means soldering.
- North-facing LEDs. Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the switch housing.
- No ISO layout. ISO-DE, UK, and other ISO variants are not offered.
Your choice depends on what matters most: for faster input speeds just pick the C1 Pro because only it features an 8000 Hz polling rate alongside PBT keycaps and south-facing RGB. If you like a firmer typing platform and a lower price, the Lemokey X1 with its steel plate and red backlight is a solid wired alternative. Both keyboards are hot-swappable and fully programmable via QMK and VIA, so either way you get great customization.
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 C1 Pro
Keychron Lemokey X1
Hot-swappable
Yes
No
Switch changes without soldering
Max polling rate
8,000 Hz
1,000 Hz
Higher polling helps competitive FPS and does nothing for typing
Knob
Yes
No
Weight
830 g
837 g
Heavier boards stay planted and lighter ones travel
Layout standard
ANSI, ISO, ISO-DE, ISO-ES, ISO-IT
ANSI
ISO and JIS exist so regional layouts fit
- Keychron C1 Pro
- Keychron Lemokey X1
- Performance
- 9171
- Build quality
- 8280
- Productivity
- 9893
- Customizability
- 9178
- Portability
- 5757
- Layout size: 80%
- Connection: Wired
- Case material: ABS, Plastic
- Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Tactile
- Mount style: Tray Mount
- QMK
What will you mostly use it for?
The Keychron C1 Pro wins in gaming, modding, and content creation thanks to its 8000 Hz polling rate, south-facing RGB, and PBT keycaps. The Lemokey X1 takes the lead for programming due to its firmer steel plate and optional acoustic foam. For office, travel, and general use, both keyboards tie because they share the same layout, sound dampening, and platform compatibility. The C1 Pro is the better choice for users who prioritize speed and customization, while the Lemokey X1 offers value with a robust build.
Pick the Keychron C1 Pro
- Offers a maximum polling rate of 8000 Hz, adjustable from 125Hz, for ultra-low latency compared to the Lemokey X1's fixed 1000 Hz.
- Features south-facing RGB LEDs that do not interfere with Cherry profile keycaps, providing better lighting for gaming setups.
- Uses PBT keycaps, which are more resistant to wear from intense gaming sessions than ABS keycaps.
Keychron C1 Pro vs Lemokey X1 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
11 of 25 specs differ
Keychron C1 Pro
Keychron Lemokey X1
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
ISO layouts by store
Which stores sell ISO-DE, UK, and the other regional layouts.
Keychron C1 Pro
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-ES, ISO-IT
In stockDoes not ship to you
Keychron Lemokey X1
No ISO layout at the stores we track.
Compare prices
Live prices from the stores we track, cheapest in-stock offer first.
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Lowest price across stores, Amazon excluded.
Keychron C1 Pro vs Lemokey X1: your questions
The Keychron C1 Pro offers a higher maximum polling rate of 8000 Hz, which can be adjusted down to 125 Hz, providing lower latency for competitive games. The Lemokey X1 is fixed at 1000 Hz, which is still very responsive but not as fast as the C1 Pro.
Yes, both the Keychron C1 Pro and the Lemokey X1 are hot-swappable, supporting both 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style switches from brands like Cherry, Gateron, and Kailh. This allows you to customize the typing feel without soldering.
Yes, both keyboards support VIA software for key remapping and macro programming. However, the Lemokey X1's vendor notes that its VIA code is pending approval on Github, so you may need to download a JSON keymap file and use the 'Design' tab for initial setup.
The Keychron C1 Pro uses PBT keycaps, which are known for better oil resistance and durability, keeping their texture longer. The Lemokey X1 uses double-shot ABS keycaps, which are more prone to developing a shiny surface over time but offer a different feel and are backlit.
Yes, both the C1 Pro and the Lemokey X1 feature a system toggle switch and support Windows, macOS, and Linux. They also include keycaps designed for both operating systems, making switching between platforms easy.
The Keychron C1 Pro has south-facing RGB LEDs with white or RGB backlight options, designed for better illumination with non-shine-through keycaps. The Lemokey X1 has north-facing red LEDs with over 14 red lighting effects, including flash and breathe modes.
Both keyboards include sound dampening materials: the C1 Pro uses advanced sound absorbing foam with EPDM foam and a silicone bottom pad, while the Lemokey X1 includes an acoustic foam mod. Either can be a good choice for a quieter environment, depending on the switch type chosen.
No, the weight is nearly identical, with the C1 Pro at 830 grams and the Lemokey X1 at 837 grams. Both have comparable dimensions as well, so they are equally portable for travel.
Yes, both keyboards support web-based configurators: the C1 Pro works with Keychron Launcher, and the Lemokey X1 works with both Keychron Launcher and Lemokey Launcher. These web tools allow customization without downloading or installing files.
The Lemokey X1 has three cable routing grooves on the bottom case, allowing you to direct the cable out of the left, right, or center. The C1 Pro does not feature this cable management option, making the Lemokey X1 better for tidy desk setups.
Yes, both the Keychron C1 Pro and the Lemokey X1 are listed as compatible with Linux. Their QMK firmware and web-based Launcher also support Linux, macOS, and Windows.
No, both keyboards have an 80% tenkeyless layout, meaning they do not include a dedicated number pad. They come with keycaps for the main typing area, function row, arrow keys, and navigation cluster.
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