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Head to head · Prices checked Nov 7, 2026

Keychron V1 vs Lemokey L1 HEWired vs Wireless Gaming

Choose the Keychron V1 for a budget-friendly, customizable wired typing experience, or the Lemokey L1 HE for premium wireless gaming with magnetic switches.

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Quick verdict

Which one should you get?

Get the

Keychron V1

Wired

Build quality in the top 5% of 75% boards under $50.

If you want

  • Available in multiple ISO layouts including UK, German, French, and Nordic
  • South-facing RGB LEDs prevent interference with OEM and Cherry profile keycaps
  • Double-shot OSA PBT keycaps resist oil and shine

Rules this board out

  • South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.

Get the

Keychron Lemokey L1 HE

Wireless Gaming

Build quality in the top 10% of 75% boards under $300.

If you want

  • Full metal body (aluminum and metal) for robust, premium feel
  • Gateron double-rail magnetic switches with 0.1 mm adjustable actuation and rapid trigger
  • Tri-mode wireless (Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, wired) with a 4000mAh battery for up to 100 hours of use

Rules this board out

  • Magnetic switches only. Standard MX switches will not fit.
  • North-facing LEDs. Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the switch housing.
  • No ISO layout. ISO-DE, UK, and other ISO variants are not offered.

Bottom line

If you want a budget-friendly wired keyboard for typing, customization, and modding, the Keychron V1 is the clear choice. If you are willing to spend more for a premium wireless gaming experience with magnetic switches, adjustable actuation, and rapid trigger, the Lemokey L1 HE is the better investment. The V1 offers more switch options and a lower price, while the L1 HE delivers top-tier gaming performance in a metal case.

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.

Keychron V1

Keychron Lemokey L1 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

  • Connection

    Wired

    Bluetooth, Wired, 2.4 GHz

    Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency

  • Max polling rate

    8,000 Hz

    1,000 Hz

    Higher polling helps competitive FPS and does nothing for typing

  • Case material

    ABS, Plastic

    Aluminum, Metal

KeebFinder scores

How we score
  • Keychron V1
  • Keychron Lemokey L1 HE
Performance
91
93
Build quality
89
86
Productivity
98
97
Customizability
98
95
Portability
64
83

What they share

  • Layout size: 75%
  • Hot-swappable
  • Knob
  • QMK
  • VIA
  • Sound dampening
See every spec side by side

Best for

What will you mostly use it for?

The Lemokey L1 HE dominates gaming with magnetic rapid trigger and wireless low-latency performance, while the Keychron V1 wins for office and content creation due to its quieter typing experience and lower price. For travel, the L1 HE's wireless flexibility and battery are clear advantages, but modding enthusiasts will prefer the V1 for its wider switch compatibility and barebone options. Programming is a tie because both offer full QMK and VIA customization.

For gaming

Pick the Keychron Lemokey L1 HE

  • Gateron double-rail magnetic switches with adjustable actuation points from 0.2 to 3.8 mm
  • Dynamic Rapid Trigger and Snap Click for faster competitive response
  • Ultra-low latency 2.4 GHz wireless with 1000 Hz polling rate
  • Full metal body provides stable base for intense gaming sessions

Full specs

Keychron V1 vs Lemokey L1 HE specs

Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.

16 of 29 specs differ

Keychron V1

Keychron Lemokey L1 HE

Typing & switches

Switch options

Clicky, Linear, Tactile
Clicky, Linear, Magnetic, Tactile

Hall effect (magnetic)

No
Yes

Rapid trigger

No
Yes

Hot-swappable

Yes
Yes

Mount style

Gasket Mount, Plate Mount, Tray Mount
Gasket Mount

Sound dampening

Yes
Yes

Screw-in stabilizers

Yes
Yes

Layout

Layout size

75%
75%

Layout standard

ANSI, ISO, ISO-DE, ISO-ES, ISO-FR, ISO-Nordic, ISO-SW, ISO-UK, JIS
ANSI

Ergonomics

Standard
Standard

Knob

Yes
Yes

Display

None
None

Media keys

Yes
No

Connectivity & battery

Connection

Wired
Bluetooth, Wired, 2.4 GHz

Max polling rate

8,000 HzBetter
1,000 Hz

Battery

Wired only
4,000 mAh

USB-C

Yes
Yes

Build & materials

Case material

ABS, Plastic
Aluminum, Metal

Plate material

Polycarbonate, Steel
Aluminum

Keycaps

ABS, PBT
PBT

Weight

995 g
1,977 g

Dimensions

18 x 149 x 329 mm
33 x 370 x 146 mm

Typing angle

4°
5°

Backlight

RGB, south-facing
RGB, north-facing

Firmware & software

QMK

Yes
Yes

VIA

Yes
Yes

N-key rollover

Yes
Yes

Mac & Windows

Yes
Yes

Extras

Released

2022
2025

For EU buyers

ISO layouts by store

Which stores sell ISO-DE, UK, and the other regional layouts.

Keychron V1

  • Keychron

    ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW

    In stockShips to you

  • Keychron (DE)

    ISO-DE, ISO-FR, ISO-ES

    In stockDoes not ship to you

  • Keychron (DE)

    ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW

    In stockDoes not ship to you

Keychron Lemokey L1 HE

No ISO layout at the stores we track.

Where to buy

Compare prices

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

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.

Lowest price across stores, Amazon excluded.

Keychron V14 stores

FAQ

Keychron V1 vs Lemokey L1 HE: your questions

The Lemokey L1 HE is better for competitive gaming because it features Gateron double-rail magnetic switches with adjustable actuation points from 0.2 to 3.8 mm, dynamic rapid trigger, and a 2.4 GHz wireless connection with 1000 Hz polling rate. The Keychron V1 uses standard mechanical switches with a 1000 Hz wired polling rate, but lacks the advanced gaming features of the L1 HE.

Yes, both keyboards are hot-swappable. The Keychron V1 supports 3-pin and 5-pin MX mechanical switches, giving you a wide range of choices. The Lemokey L1 HE is hot-swappable but is only compatible with Gateron double-rail magnetic switches sold on the Keychron and Lemokey websites.

Both keyboards can be used out of the box without software for basic typing and gaming. However, to fully customize key mappings, macros, and RGB lighting, you need to use the Keychron Launcher web app for the V1 or the Lemokey Launcher web app for the L1 HE, both of which work in Chrome, Edge, or Opera browsers.

The Lemokey L1 HE has a better build quality due to its full metal body (aluminum and metal), which provides a robust and premium feel. The Keychron V1 uses an ABS plastic case with a steel plate, which is lighter and less expensive but not as durable or premium as the L1 HE's construction.

No, the standard Keychron V1 is wired-only with a Type-C USB connection. It does not have Bluetooth or 2.4 GHz wireless. If you need wireless, you would need to look at the Keychron V1 Max version, which supports 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth, as mentioned in the vendor description.

The Lemokey L1 HE comes with Cherry profile double-shot PBT keycaps. These keycaps are durable, oil-resistant, and wear-resistant. The version available at launch uses shine-through keycaps for RGB backlighting, and a non-shine-through version is said to be coming soon.

Both keyboards support Mac and Windows with a system toggle and include extra keycaps for both operating systems. The Keychron V1 is designed with Mac users in mind and has a 4 degree typing angle, which some Mac users may prefer. The Lemokey L1 HE also supports macOS but has a 5 degree angle.

The Lemokey L1 HE has a 4000mAh rechargeable li-polymer battery that provides up to 100 hours of wireless use with the backlight off. Charging takes around 5 hours via the USB-C port.

Yes, both keyboards are compatible with Linux. The Keychron V1 uses QMK open-source firmware, and the Lemokey L1 HE also uses QMK firmware. The Lemokey Launcher web app is compatible with Linux as it works in Chrome, Edge, and Opera browsers.

The Keychron V1 uses screw-in PCB stabilizers, which are more stable and easier to replace than plate-mounted stabilizers. The Lemokey L1 HE uses plate-mounted stabilizers with reinforced sidewalls for improved stability. Both are designed for smooth typing on larger keys, but screw-in stabilizers are generally preferred for modding.

No, the Keychron V1 is only available with an ABS plastic case. The color options include Frosted Black (translucent), Carbon Black (non-transparent), and Shell White. If you want an aluminum case, you would need to look at higher-end Keychron models like the Q series.

No, the Keychron V1 does not support rapid trigger. This feature is exclusive to the Lemokey L1 HE with its magnetic switches, which can detect and repeat keystrokes based on travel distance rather than fixed actuation points.

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