Keychron K8 Max vs Lemokey L3Steel or Gasket?
Choose the K8 Max for a lighter, more affordable 80% board, or the L3 for its aluminum gasket-mount build and programmable knob.
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from$124at MK
4.8 (10)4.8 · 10 reviews
from$194at Keychron
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron K8 Max
Build quality in the top 5% of 80% boards under $150.
- Three connection options are listed: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and wired.
- Steel plate, sound dampening, and screw-in stabilizers are included in its listed feature set.
- Hot-swappable switches and QMK and VIA support enable key and switch customization.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
Get the
Keychron Lemokey L3
Knob
Build quality in the top 5% of 80% boards under $200.
- The CNC-machined aluminum case, gasket mount, and PC plate distinguish its construction.
- A programmable knob and macro keys add customizable controls.
- The barebone version lets buyers supply their own keycaps and switches.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- Missing ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-CH. The other board is sold in those layouts.
Choose the K8 Max if lower weight, multimedia keys, and a lower price tier are the priorities. Choose the L3 if you want an aluminum gasket-mount board with a programmable knob, macro keys, and a barebone option. Both retain wireless 2.4 GHz connectivity, QMK support, and hot-swappable switches.
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 K8 Max
Keychron Lemokey L3
Case material
ABS, Aluminum, Steel
Aluminum
Mount style
PCB Mount, Plate Mount
Gasket Mount
Knob
No
Yes
Weight
1,308 g
1,976 g
Heavier boards stay planted and lighter ones travel
Layout standard
ANSI, ISO, ISO-CH, ISO-DE, ISO-SW, ISO-UK
ANSI, ISO, JIS
ISO and JIS exist so regional layouts fit
- Keychron K8 Max
- Keychron Lemokey L3
- Performance
- 8082
- Build quality
- 8788
- Productivity
- 9497
- Customizability
- 9196
- Portability
- 7676
- Layout size: 80%
- Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
- Hot-swappable
- Battery: 4,000 mAh
- Max polling rate: 1,000 Hz
- Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Tactile
What will you mostly use it for?
The K8 Max has the clearer advantage for carrying between locations, and its multimedia keys and lower weight suit straightforward office use. The L3's knob and macro keys give it an edge for customizable workflows, while its barebone option and gasket construction make it more appealing for hands-on customization. Gaming is a close match on the listed wireless polling and rollover features. Both support key remapping and hot-swappable switches.
It's a tie
- Both list a 1000 Hz polling rate and 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity.
- Both support hot-swapping and N-key rollover.
- The L3 adds a programmable knob and macro keys, while the K8 Max lists multimedia keys.
Keychron K8 Max vs Lemokey L3 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
9 of 27 specs differ
Keychron K8 Max
Keychron Lemokey L3
Switch options
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Sound dampening
Screw-in stabilizers
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Knob
Display
Media keys
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 K8 Max
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-CH
In stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-CH
Out of stockDoes not ship to you
Keychron Lemokey L3
Keychron
ISO
In stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO
In stockDoes not ship to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO
Out of stockDoes not ship to you
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 K8 Max vs Lemokey L3: your questions
The K8 Max has a steel plate and is lighter, while the L3 has a CNC-machined aluminum case, PC plate, and gasket mount. The L3 also adds a knob and macro keys.
The K8 Max is listed at 1308 g, compared with about 1976 g for the fully assembled L3. The K8 Max is the more manageable choice if weight matters.
Both list 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity and a 1000 Hz polling rate. Both also list Bluetooth and wired connectivity.
Yes, the L3 has an aluminum rotary encoder that Keychron says can be assigned to keys or macros, including volume and zoom controls. The K8 Max lists multimedia keys but no knob.
Both list hot-swappable switches. Keychron describes support for most 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style switches on each keyboard.
The L3 is offered in a barebone version and has a modular design, gasket mount, and PC plate. Both keyboards support QMK and hot-swappable switches, so either allows switch and keymap customization.
The fully assembled L3 includes keycaps and switches. The barebone version does not include either, according to the product listing.
Both list QMK and VIA support. The L3 vendor page describes using VIA with a downloaded keymap JSON file, while Keychron lists QMK and VIA support for the K8 Max.
The K8 Max is listed as 359 mm wide and weighs 1308 g, while the L3 is listed as 401 mm wide and about 1976 g. Both are 80% layouts with Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz connectivity.
Both use PBT keycaps. The K8 Max vendor description specifies double-shot PBT in an OSA profile, while the L3 uses Cherry-profile double-shot PBT keycaps that are not backlight shine-through.
Both list a 4000 mAh battery. Keychron lists up to 190 hours for the K8 Max, and the L3 vendor page lists up to 200 hours with backlighting off.
The K8 Max lists multimedia keys and weighs less, which may suit buyers seeking a lighter board with direct media controls. The L3 offers a programmable knob and macro keys for buyers who prefer customizable controls.
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