Keychron LemoKey P1 HE vs Pulsar PCMK V2 HEWireless vs Wired Gaming
Choose the Keychron P1 HE for a premium, wireless, and highly customizable experience, or the Pulsar PCMK V2 HE for a wired keyboard focused on maximum polling rate at a lower cost.
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5.0 (1)5.0 · 1 reviews
from$169at Keychron
No reviews
from$135at MK
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron LemoKey P1 HE
Wireless
Build quality in the top 5% of 75% boards under $200.
- Tri-mode connectivity (Bluetooth, 2.4GHz, wired) with a 4000mAh battery.
- Full aluminum metal case with a gasket mount and multiple acoustic foam layers.
- Extensive firmware support via QMK, VIA, and the Lemokey Launcher web app.
- 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.
- No numpad.
Get the
Pulsar PCMK V2 HE
Wired Gaming
Build quality in the top 35% of 80% boards under $150.
- Very high 8000Hz polling rate with a stated 0.125ms latency for wired gaming.
- Lower cost than the Keychron P1 HE.
- Vendor description notes a 3-stage sound dampening foam and silicone case lining.
- Magnetic switches only. Standard MX switches will not fit.
- No ISO layout. ISO-DE, UK, and other ISO variants are not offered.
- No numpad.
Your priority dictates the choice. For a premium, versatile keyboard you can use anywhere with extensive customization, the Keychron P1 HE is worth the higher cost. If your setup is permanently wired, you play latency-sensitive competitive games, and you want to spend less, the Pulsar PCMK V2 HE delivers on its core performance spec. Consider the P1 HE an investment in a flexible, high-end tool, and the PCMK V2 HE a specialized gaming instrument.
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 LemoKey P1 HE
Pulsar PCMK V2 HE
Layout size
75%
80%
Connection
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Wired
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Max polling rate
1,000 Hz
8,000 Hz
Higher polling helps competitive FPS and does nothing for typing
Case material
Aluminum, Metal
Aluminum, Plastic
Switch options
Clicky, Linear, Magnetic, Tactile
Magnetic
- Keychron LemoKey P1 HE
- Pulsar PCMK V2 HE
- Performance
- 9398
- Build quality
- 8863
- Productivity
- 9776
- Customizability
- 9661
- Portability
- 8161
- Hall effect (magnetic)
- Rapid trigger
- Hot-swappable
- Sound dampening
- Plate material: Aluminum
- Keycaps: PBT
What will you mostly use it for?
The Keychron P1 HE wins in most categories due to its superior connectivity, build, and customization features. It is the clear choice for office work, programming, travel, modding, and content creation. The Pulsar PCMK V2 HE takes the lead specifically for competitive gaming where its extreme 8000Hz polling rate is the primary concern, and a wired-only connection is acceptable.
Pick the Pulsar PCMK V2 HE
- The Pulsar PCMK V2 HE has an 8000Hz polling rate with 0.125ms latency, higher than the P1 HE's 1000Hz.
- Both keyboards feature rapid trigger and adjustable actuation points for Hall Effect switches.
- The Pulsar's vendor description highlights a 3-stage sound dampening foam and silicone case lining for acoustics.
Keychron LemoKey P1 HE vs Pulsar PCMK V2 HE specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
12 of 28 specs differ
Keychron LemoKey P1 HE
Pulsar PCMK V2 HE
Switch options
Hall effect (magnetic)
Rapid trigger
Hot-swappable
Mount style
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 LemoKey P1 HE
Input Gear
ISO-DE
Out of stockShips to you
Keychron
ISO-DE
Out of stockShips to you
Pulsar PCMK V2 HE
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 LemoKey P1 HE vs Pulsar PCMK V2 HE: your questions
The Pulsar PCMK V2 HE has an 8000Hz polling rate. The Keychron P1 HE has a 1000Hz polling rate in its 2.4GHz and wired modes, and 125Hz in Bluetooth mode.
Yes. The Keychron P1 HE supports tri-mode connectivity, including Bluetooth 5.2, 2.4GHz wireless, and wired USB-C. It includes a 4000mAh rechargeable battery for cordless operation.
Yes, according to the vendor specifications, the Pulsar PCMK V2 HE is listed as Mac compatible. It uses a standard USB-C connection.
The Keychron P1 HE is designed for a premium typing experience. It uses a gasket mount design with acoustic foam, EPDM foam, and PET film dampening, housed in a full aluminum case. The Pulsar uses a plate mount with its own 3-stage foam in a plastic case.
Yes, both keyboards are hot-swappable. However, the Keychron P1 HE is only compatible with Gateron double-rail magnetic switches. The Pulsar PCMK V2 HE's PCB accepts both north and south pole facing magnetic switches.
Both have configuration software. The Keychron P1 HE uses the open-source QMK and VIA firmware, plus the Lemokey Launcher web app. The Pulsar PCMK V2 HE uses Pulsar's proprietary Bibimbap web-based software for keymapping and RGB control.
Both keyboards come with PBT keycaps. The Keychron P1 HE includes double-shot PBT keycaps in a Cherry profile, with shine-through or non-shine-through options. The Pulsar PCMK V2 HE comes with dye-sub double-shot PBT keycaps.
No. The vendor description and specifications for the Pulsar PCMK V2 HE do not mention a knob. The Keychron P1 HE includes a programmable aluminum rotary encoder.
The Keychron P1 HE has a full aluminum metal case. The Pulsar PCMK V2 HE has a transparent plastic case with an internal aluminum alloy plate.
The Keychron P1 HE has a more compact 75% layout and is wireless, making it easier to move between devices. However, at 1800g, it is significantly heavier than many portable keyboards. The Pulsar is wired and larger (80% TKL), making it less convenient to transport.
Yes, both are Hall Effect keyboards with adjustable actuation points. The Keychron P1 HE allows adjustment from 0.2mm to 3.8mm. The Pulsar PCMK V2 HE allows adjustment from 0.1mm to 4.0mm.
Yes, both the Keychron P1 HE and the Pulsar PCMK V2 HE list rapid trigger as a feature in their specifications and vendor descriptions.
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