Keychron came out with a new keyboard, but they branded it under a new name and called it the Lemokey P1. The keyboard looks exactly like other Keychron keyboards, but this one is built for gaming. It is a 75% budget keyboard that starts at $109. You can get it barebones(without keycaps and switches) or fully assembled, and there is also a pro version.
Review
The Lemokey P1 is a 75% keyboard that has 3 finishes, Carbon Black, Navy Blue, and Space Silver. It has a CNC Aluminum body and Cherry PBT Keycaps. The weight on the back is nice and makes the keyboard pretty hefty, the back of the keyboard has a mirror-polish finish, and the gasket performance is nice.
I don’t like that the case is dull and doesn’t have any good colors. Also, the case picks up fingerprints very easily, and you will have to clean it almost every day if you want it spotless. Keychron keycaps are hard to get used to, but the Lemokey P1 has double-shot Cherry Profile keycaps, which are at least better than the normal Keychron keycaps.
The stabilizers are disappointing, they are not pre-lubed, which, in 2024 is embarrassing for Keychron. You can get three switch options, the Keychron Super Red, Super Banana, and Super Brown. The Super Bananas are the best of these and feel good to type on. The board is hot-swappable, it is compatible with 3-pin and 5-pin switches, and it has south-facing LED’s. The RGB also looks very good with these LEDs, especially when you use non-shine through keycaps.
The software is actually very good. Similar to other Keychron keyboards, you can use the Lemokey P1 with VIA and QMK. But then the Lemokey P1 also has a web app, that starts up right after you plug in your keyboard, it doesn’t require any downloads, and it is surprisingly perfect. The wireless performance of the keyboard with the USB dongle is also very good.
Modding the Lemokey P1 will be a pain as you have to take out some keycaps and screws to take apart the board. Keychron has also added a force-break mod to absorb vibrations. Under the PCB, you have PET film, IXPE foam, sound-absorbing foam, another PET foam, and another sound-absorbing foam. You can remove these as you please to make your keyboard sound the way you want it to.
What’s in the box
- Lemokey P1
- 2.4 GHz USB Dongle
- 2 Screwdrivers
- USB-C Cable
- Keycap Puller
- Extra Keycaps
- Hex Key
Verdict
The Lemokey P1 is a decent budget keyboard, but it doesn’t stand out among the other budget keyboards we have reviewed. It could have gotten some better colors, and some more switch options would have been nice. Its wireless performance is good, and its software is outstanding. If you aren’t going to be modding the Lemokey P1, then you shouldn’t get it. The Chilkey ND75 is in this price range, and it is way better and more unique than most budget keyboards, so you should consider it when buying a new keyboard.
