Lemokey really made an impression on me with its P1 HE keyboard. At just $170, it offers features and customization that are hard to come by at that price. You get not only Hall-effect switches and great sound but also a sturdy aluminum frame, which are rare finds under $200. The P1 HE quickly became my go-to keyboard, so I was eager to get my hands on its soon-to-be-released sibling, the $210 L5 HE 8K. After a successful Kickstarter campaign, Lemokey plans to ship this model to backers in May. For those who supported the campaign, the price is $199, although it’ll retail at $210 later.
At first glance, you might think the L5 HE is just like the P1 HE that’s been sitting on my desk. The layout is the same 75%, and it also sports Hall-effect switches and a detachable USB-C cable — almost a mirror image of the P1 HE. However, the standout feature of the L5 HE, which accounts for its higher price, is its 8,000 Hz polling rate. This is a significant leap from the 1,000 Hz rate that the P1 HE and many other keyboards offer.
On paper, having a higher polling rate should translate to quicker input registration and faster response times — definitely positive features. But when I put the L5 HE and P1 HE side by side, I didn’t notice a significant performance difference. Plus, the L5 HE’s 8K polling rate is only functional in wired mode, which is a bit of a letdown if you plan on using the P1 HE’s wireless capabilities.
There are some slight visual tweaks to the L5 HE, but I wouldn’t call them improvements. Among these is a small RGB light strip in the base and some uniquely designed keycaps for the modifier keys.
For everyday use, switching from the P1 HE to the L5 HE feels nearly seamless. The L5 HE utilizes the same web-based configuration tool, allowing for customization of key inputs, switch actuation points, and RGB lighting adjustments. You can dial down the polling rate if desired, but honestly, I can’t figure out why anyone would.
Like the P1 HE, the L5 HE is relatively straightforward to modify. Six small screws hold it together, and you don’t need to remove the switches for minor adjustments to the PCB. While the L5 HE sounds okay, I personally think the P1 HE has the edge in acoustics straight out of the box.
Lemokey provides tiny silicone dampeners with the L5 HE to tweak the keyboard’s sound profile by placing them along the PCB’s contact points. However, this process is a bit of a hassle due to the dampeners’ small size and their tricky positioning. While it’s great to have the option, it’s cumbersome, and I wish Lemokey had just refined the acoustics more from the start.
My main gripe with the L5 HE 8K is its striking resemblance to the P1 HE, making the higher price hard to justify. In fact, the P1 seems like a better deal, with its Hall-effect switches and extensive customization options, plus Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless capabilities. While some users might appreciate the visual changes and increased polling rate, I find it tough to recommend shelling out an additional $30 for these questionable upgrades.
