Keychron V1 vs Lemokey X175% Custom vs 80% Budget
Choose the Keychron V1 for its superior customizability and build, opt for the Lemokey X1 only if your budget is extremely tight and you need a basic TKL.
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4.8 (63)4.8 · 63 reviews
from$44at Keychron
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from$34at Keychron
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron V1
75% Custom
Build quality in the top 5% of 75% boards under $50.
- Gasket mount design for a more cushioned and dampened typing feel compared to a traditional tray mount.
- Programmable aluminum rotary knob for custom keybinds and macros like volume or zoom.
- Supports both 1000 Hz and 8000 Hz polling rates for reduced gaming latency.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- No numpad.
Get the
Keychron Lemokey X1
80% Budget
Build quality in the top 15% of 80% boards under $100.
- Very low price point of $34, making it one of the most affordable programmable mechanical keyboards.
- 80% TKL layout provides dedicated function and arrow keys for immediate usability.
- Features 14+ red backlighting modes with shine-through keycaps for easy key visibility.
- 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.
- No numpad.
For the vast majority of users, the Keychron V1 is the clear recommendation due to its vastly superior customizability, gasket mount, programmable knob, and higher feature set. The Lemokey X1 is only worth considering if your budget is extremely constrained and you require a basic, functional TKL keyboard with QMK/VIA support. The V1 justifies its higher cost with tangible benefits across gaming, productivity, and modding that the X1 cannot match.
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 X1
Layout size
75%
80%
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
Mount style
Gasket Mount, Plate Mount, Tray Mount
Tray Mount
Knob
Yes
No
- Keychron V1
- Keychron Lemokey X1
- Performance
- 9171
- Build quality
- 8980
- Productivity
- 9893
- Customizability
- 9878
- Portability
- 6457
- Connection: Wired
- Case material: ABS, Plastic
- Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Tactile
- QMK
- VIA
- Sound dampening
What will you mostly use it for?
The Keychron V1 is the winner across all use cases due to its superior flexibility, build quality, and features. It consistently provides better options for gaming with its higher polling rate, for office work with its compact layout and knob, and for modding with its gasket mount. The Lemokey X1 is only viable for users who prioritize the absolute lowest cost and need a no-frills TKL board. In every category considered, the V1 offers significant advantages that justify its higher price.
Pick the Keychron V1
- Offers a higher 8000 Hz polling rate option for lower latency.
- Includes a programmable knob that can be mapped for in-game volume or zoom controls.
- South-facing RGB avoids interference with thicker keycap profiles used by some gamers.
- Gasket mount design may provide a more cushioned feel during long sessions.
Keychron V1 vs Lemokey X1 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
14 of 26 specs differ
Keychron V1
Keychron Lemokey X1
Switch options
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Sound dampening
Screw-in stabilizers
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Knob
Display
Media keys
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 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 X1
No ISO layout at the stores we track.
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 V1 vs Lemokey X1: your questions
The Keychron V1 is better for gaming because it offers a higher optional 8000 Hz polling rate, which can lead to lower input latency. It also has a programmable knob for quick in-game adjustments and a gasket mount that can provide a more comfortable feel during extended sessions.
No, the Lemokey X1 does not come with a volume knob. Its vendor description only lists a standard 80% TKL layout without a knob. In contrast, the Keychron V1 includes a programmable rotary encoder knob that can be used for volume control or other custom functions.
Yes, both keyboards support 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style switches and use standard keycap stems, so Cherry MX keycaps are physically compatible. However, on the Lemokey X1, north-facing LEDs can cause interference with Cherry profile keycaps, whereas the V1's south-facing LEDs avoid this issue.
The Keychron V1 generally provides a better typing feel due to its gasket mount design, which offers more flex and sound dampening compared to the Lemokey X1's basic tray mount. The V1 also uses screw-in PCB stabilizers, which are more stable than the X1's plate-mounted stabilizers.
Yes, the Lemokey X1 is fully programmable. It supports QMK and VIA firmware, allowing users to remap every key, create macros, and configure backlighting. The vendor description notes that its VIA code is pending GitHub approval, requiring a manual JSON file import for recognition.
Both keyboards feature an ABS plastic case and a steel plate. The Keychron V1 also offers a polycarbonate plate option, which the X1 lacks. Additionally, the V1 comes with screw-in PCB stabilizers, while the Lemokey X1 uses plate-mounted stabilizers.
The Keychron V1 has a smaller footprint in terms of length at 329 mm, compared to the Lemokey X1's length of 357 mm. Despite having a slightly wider width (149 mm vs. 129 mm), the V1's 75% layout is more compact overall and takes up less desk space than the X1's 80% TKL layout.
Yes, the Keychron V1 is available as a barebones DIY kit, which does not include switches or keycaps. The vendor description lists 'Barebone Knob' and 'Barebone' options. This is not an option for the Lemokey X1, which is only sold as a fully assembled unit.
The Lemokey X1 features north-facing red LEDs with over 14 different backlight modes, including effects like flashing, breathing, and static. It uses shine-through ABS keycaps to enhance the visibility of the red lighting, as stated in the vendor description.
Yes, the vendor description for the Lemokey X1 mentions an 'Acoustic Foam Mod' that includes sound-absorbing foam and case foam. The Keychron V1 is noted to have 'Sound Dampening' as a feature, though specific foam mod accessories are not detailed in its description.
The Keychron V1 is more suitable for programming due to its higher customizability score, QMK/VIA support, and a programmable knob that can be mapped to specific coding actions. Its gasket mount and polycarbonate plate option also allow for more tailored typing feel, which some programmers may prefer.
Yes, the Keychron V1 is designed for both Mac and Windows users. It comes with a system toggle switch and includes additional keycaps for both operating systems. Its vendor description also highlights that users can save two different layouts, one for each system.
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