Lemokey L1 HE evaluation | Macworld

Finest Costs In the present day: L1 HE

If Apple’s Magic Keyboard isn’t fairly hitting the spot for you, branching out into the world of mechanical keyboards is commonly wager. The Lemokey L1 HE is a premium possibility with a price ticket to match, nevertheless it’s overflowing with high-end options that promise to raise your typing expertise.

Let’s begin with the side that’s most obvious while you first unbox this keyboard: its phenomenal weight. It’s constructed like a tank, with an all-aluminum chassis and barely a strip of plastic in sight. It tipped the scales at a smidge over 2 kg (slightly below 4.5 lbs), and chances are high it’s the heaviest keyboard you’ll ever use. There’s no want to fret about it shifting round your desk in day-to-day utilization–this factor is staying put, it doesn’t matter what.

Alex Blake/Foundry

Not solely that, however the added heft brings an actual sense of sophistication to the L1 HE. There’s completely no bend or flex within the physique wherever you look. It’s so robust, the truth is, that it might most likely survive a nuclear blast and nonetheless come up smiling.

Battery life is first rate. When examined in Bluetooth 5.2 mode and with backlighting on full brightness, the complete battery was at 60 % after 20 hours of utilization. Lemokey says it’s best to stand up to 100 hours of juice from its 4,000mAh battery when the backlighting is at its lowest setting, or 18 to twenty hours when backlighting is full. Given our drop of 40 % after 20 hours with lighting turned all the way in which up, you would possibly have the ability to exceed Lemokey’s numbers. Whereas RGB lighting isn’t for everybody, the default wave sample is tasteful. With 22 presets to select from, you’re certain to search out one thing you want.

Alex Blake/Lemokey

The L1 HE is available in a 75 % format, which primarily chops off the numpad and loses a fistful of bonus keys for good measure. It affords the usual QWERTY keys and a perform row, alongside just a few extras (Delete, Insert, Web page Up, Web page Down, Residence, however no Finish). This does make the keyboard extra compact and travel-friendly, though that’s offset considerably by the addition of 4 giant macro keys and, most clearly, the unimaginable weight.

Lemokey is the gamer-focused sub-brand of keyboard maker Keychron, and one factor this agency has at all times been good at is guaranteeing its keyboards work with each macOS and Home windows layouts. Within the Lemokey L1 HE, you get swappable macOS and Home windows keycaps within the field (in addition to many extras, together with a keycap puller, screws and a screwdriver, a USB-C to USB-A adapter, and extra), plus the power to vary layouts on the fly, so the macOS Command perform is mapped to the proper key mechanically, for instance. Many Keychron boards have a bodily change for this, however sadly the L1 HE forces you to do that with the Lemokey Launcher app. That slows issues down, and a bodily change can be preferable for those who’re typically flipping between macOS and Home windows.

Alex Blake/Foundry

On the left-hand aspect of the keyboard are 4 programmable macro keys, which might be set utilizing Lemokey’s Launcher companion app (extra on that in a bit). Above them is a customizable curler (set to regulate system quantity by default) and a flip change for altering between Bluetooth, wired and a couple of.4GHz modes. The curler is textured and agency, if just a little heavy in motion, whereas the flip change clicks satisfyingly in use.

Lemokey has carried out one thing fascinating with the keycaps on the L1 HE by utilizing two totally different approaches. You get double-shot PBT caps for many keys, whereas accents (just like the Enter, Backspace, Shift and Caps Lock keys) are fashioned out of clear polycarbonate plastic. The top result’s a combined bag and definitely gained’t be to everybody’s style. Whereas the PBT caps are barely textured and immune to finger oils, the clear keycaps decide up (and maintain onto) smudges extremely simply. They’re additionally daubed with garish “gamer” thrives that aren’t precisely Apple’s aesthetic (fortunately, Lemokey does a number of different colour choices). And since their legends are printed on (versus the PBT caps, which have the legends molded into the keys), they’ll ultimately put on off.

Typing sound and really feel

The typing really feel is among the most necessary components to contemplate when shopping for a keyboard. If it’s not comfy to make use of, it gained’t final lengthy at your desk. Sadly, this keyboard lacks any form of peak adjustment, and that resulted in a level of discomfort after solely a brief interval of typing. I finally received used to it, however the lack of peak adjustment means its ergonomics are sub-par. Presumably the system is simply too heavy for flip-out legs, however maybe another possibility is feasible (stackable magnets are utilized by rival merchandise, for instance). The shortage of a wrist relaxation can be a contact disappointing, particularly contemplating the sky-high value.

In lots of different methods, although, the Lemokey L1 HE is excellent to kind on. My evaluation unit got here with Gateron’s Nebula switches below every key. Their linear nature means there’s no tactile bump or click on as they’re actuated, which is ideal for gaming (the place fast presses are required) however can result in finger pressure from “bottoming out” the keys for those who’re typing all day. Fortunately, that wasn’t an issue in testing, and whereas typists would possibly favor tactile switches, the Nebula linears are nonetheless a robust possibility.

Alex Blake/Foundry

These switches come pre-lubed for smoother movement and in addition characteristic magnetic Corridor impact tech versus a extra conventional mechanical change construction. What this implies is that they use an electromagnetic area to actuate with every key press. As a result of this avoids bodily contact, they need to final for much longer than normal options. Their magnetic nature additionally means you may customise the actuation level to your liking, which means you may kind whereas urgent as shallowly or as deeply as you need.

If the switches aren’t doing it for you, you may take away them and swap them out for one thing else. Lemokey says you’ll want to make use of appropriate Corridor impact magnetic switches, although.

Any keyboard connoisseur is aware of {that a} board’s sound is nearly as necessary as its really feel, and right here the Lemokey L1 HE comes up trumps once more. It brings a thocky sound that’s deeply satisfying while you’re firing off sentences at a speedy clip. That’s thanks partially to the a number of layers of froth and sound-dampening supplies that scale back the vibrations as you kind. It’s price noting that the House bar produces a barely totally different sound to the opposite keys, which can or is probably not an issue for you.

Whereas it’s a terrific system for typists, the Lemokey L1 HE can be loaded with gamer-pleasing options. That features a speedy set off mode that repeatedly actuates with out requiring every key to be absolutely launched, a Snap Click on characteristic that enables two keys to be alternated in fast succession, an analog mode that allows fine-grained management somewhat than binary on/off statuses, and extra. You possibly can even program keys to carry out totally different duties relying on how far you press them. And for those who use the board in its wired or 2.4GHz modes, you get a 1,000Hz polling charge, which supplies the form of low-latency strikes that may give you an edge throughout gameplay. With macOS more and more changing into a critical gaming vacation spot, these are worthy options to have.

Many of those additions should be enabled utilizing the Lemokey Launcher, which is an internet app somewhat than a standalone program. You possibly can run it on each macOS and Home windows, and it supplies a reasonably intuitive method to customise your keyboard. Though some options may very well be just a little clearer, it’s a comparatively painless method to create macros, allow gaming instruments, remap keys, and extra.

In case you’re out for a premium mechanical keyboard that pulls virtually no punches, the Lemokey L1 HE is a worthy contender. Its comfy switches, high-end options and quite a few high quality touches make it a top-notch possibility for discerning typists. However be ready to pay for the privilege.

Do you have to purchase the Lemokey L1 HE?

Given its $240 price ticket, the Lemokey L1 HE isn’t an impulse purchase for most individuals. That mentioned, it’s filled with high-end options that can profit typists and avid gamers alike, from its hot-swappable Corridor impact switches and clean acoustics to its large customizability and compatibility with each macOS and Home windows layouts. In case you’re out there for a premium keyboard that doesn’t scrimp on options, it needs to be in your shortlist.