Keychron Lemokey P1 Pro Review: A Master-Class Gaming Keyboard

I’ve all the time been offended by the surplus of gaming keyboards. They sometimes tout options that require pointless CPU utilization, cluttered layouts, and gauche aesthetics. Keychron’s Lemokey P1 Pro keyboard proved to be the reduction I used to be in search of, trimming this fats and putting the stays in a show-stopping aluminum case.

Keychron Lemokey P1 Professional

75% wi-fi mechanical gaming keyboard in an aluminum body with cherry double-shot PBT keycaps.

Execs

• Keys are tactile and responsive
• Aluminum casing gives model and safety
• Intensive customization choices
• Nice 2.4 GHz wi-fi and battery life

Cons

• RGB clashes with visible design
• Net-based customization instruments could be a problem

Value and Availability

The Lemokey P1 Professional prices $129 and is available in three colour variants: carbon black, navy blue, and area silver. Wired-only and barebones (with out keycaps) variations can be found for cheaper costs. You may also select between purple, brown, and banana switches (my evaluate unit used the latter).

Contained in the field are additional keycaps, a USB-A to USB-C cable, a 2.4Ghz receiver, an adapter to attach the receiver to the cable, a keycap-switch puller, a hex key, and a set of alternative gasket silicon grains. There’s additionally a laminated quick-start information that highlights the keyboard’s core options.

Massive Consolation in a Small Bundle

As a 75% keyboard, the Lemokey P1 Professional sacrifices the numpad and a handful of rarely used keys in change for its compact dimension. For customers who don’t want these lower choices, the result’s a simplified typing expertise that saves desk area.

The core issue I’ve commonly had with 75% keyboards is that the structure cramps my arms. Nonetheless, the Lemokey P1 Professional couldn’t really feel extra pure because of the flat, spaced-out design of its cherry profile double-shot PBT keycaps. They supply simply sufficient curvature to make urgent every key ergonomically satisfying however can help you simply slip fingers between keys with out getting caught on concave edges (one thing crucial for gaming). It’s a seamless typing expertise that not solely retains your muscle reminiscence however makes it really feel smoother than ever.

A significant a part of this typing really feel is the gasket mount design that provides a cushioned contact to each press whereas dampening the notoriously loud mechanical keyboard sound. It’s under no circumstances silent; you continue to get that satisfying clack with each press, only one with a markedly extra managed, much less reverberating punch. This measured emphasis on each keystroke is the extent of mastery Keychron hangs its hat on, and it exhibits.

As Lemokey is Kechron’s gaming-focused model, it’s no shock that this keyboard is fine-tuned for comfy play. For instance, when utilizing WASD controls, it’s straightforward to faucet the nook of adjoining keys for fast actions or attain the Shift and Crtl keys together with your pinkie, which naturally rests on them. Whereas the keyboard doesn’t have adjustable angles, I discovered it to take a seat on the excellent angle for each efficiency and wrist consolation.

Additionally of observe is the dial-shaped knob that controls quantity and RGB results. It’s such a pure solution to modify settings on the fly that I’m hard-pressed to return to perform keys or touch bar sliders. However extra importantly, it’s addictively clicky; I’d typically make small quantity changes for the only goal of tactile bliss. Whereas loads of keyboards have comparable dials, this one stood out for its construct high quality.

Banana Switches Are My Suggestion

Everybody may have their very own opinions on what key switches they like, however for my cash, the banana switches in my Lemokey P1 Professional gave it a flexible edge when gaming. They’re an ideal center floor between versatile actuation factors and velocity. It’s, subsequently, a slight disgrace that there’s no solution to customise the actuation factors of keys; although I used to be content material with Keychron’s configuration, choices are all the time appreciated.

Customization Works, however With Caveats

Keychron emphasizes customization of its keyboards, and the Lemokey P1 Professional isn’t any exception. Nonetheless, the corporate hasn’t improved on the elements it has persistently did not ship.

Replacing keycaps and switches with the included tool is as straightforward as frivolously pulling them out or softly urgent them again in. That is excellent for fixing any components that will turn into faulty. Don’t anticipate a lot out of the additional keycaps packed in, although. They’re principally colour swaps or for very area of interest use instances, equivalent to stand-ins for the PlayStation button symbols. A 75% keyboard doesn’t depart you a lot room to make use of these to start with, so that you would possibly need to contemplate a bigger mannequin for those who want these keys.

Software program customization is obtainable via internet apps, be they the Lemokey-branded one or an open-source various like VIA. All of them perform identically, providing the power to remap any key (together with the knob), create macros, and modify the RGB colour and sample. Once more, a 75% keyboard doesn’t offer you a lot room to play with, so this isn’t the best product line to personalize, and choices which may’ve been extra helpful like altering the actuation level of keys are absent. These internet apps are additionally finicky and have traditionally been liable to pairing points, unreliable efficiency, and bugs.

That is all to say that customization needs to be thought-about an added bonus for the Lemokey P1 Professional, not a purpose to purchase it.

A Look of the Future

In case you’re something like me, most main model gaming keyboards look low-cost for his or her hefty worth tags. The Lemokey P1 Professional is the antithesis of this.

Its silver aluminum case strikes me as one thing you’d see on the management panel of a spaceship in a science fiction present, or a flashy synthesizer that stands out amongst a band’s devices (the amount knob within the high proper nook drives this dwelling). Sitting right down to sort on the keyboard had my thoughts reeling of all these fantasies it conjures. It’s the primary product on this sector that’s ever captured my creativeness like this, leading to a real intangible that elevated my consumer expertise greater than anyone function may.

Aluminum additionally makes excellent sense for a gaming keyboard because it wants to take care of its integrity amidst all the important thing slamming. You don’t want to fret about put on and tear right here, and if something does go unsuitable, changing switches and keycaps is straightforward. By this identical measure, this sturdy, premium keyboard can be profoundly heavy. Don’t mistake its dimension for any sense of portability.

Not a Keyboard for RGB Aficionados

If colourful, flashing lights are your factor, the Lemokey P1 Professional isn’t going to impress you. The massive keycaps largely obscure the south-facing RGB configuration and in the end solely spotlight the body’s innards. This runs counter to all the things I praised concerning the keyboard’s innate visible enchantment. In different phrases, it feels as if Keychron solely included this function out of a way of obligation. As I discover RGB lights distracting, I used to be completely happy to show off this function altogether, however I’d have walked away disenchanted if I used to be an aficionado.

There is a backlighting-related ingredient mishap that’s value mentioning: the purple glow across the caps lock key that signifies if the perform is lively. It’s barely seen from any angle to the purpose that it would as nicely not exist. It is a stunning oversight from an organization that fixates on small particulars.

High-Notch Wi-fi Connectivity

Like different Keychron choices, the Lemokey P1 Professional has three connectivity modes: wired, Bluetooth, and a pair of.4 GHz. An analog change on the again of the keyboard permits customers to change between them.

Wired is what you’d anticipate: join the USB-C twine to the again of the keyboard, and also you’re good to go. The six-foot twine is lengthy sufficient that it shouldn’t have any bother reaching any close by laptop. You’ll want to make use of this mode for those who plan to customise your keyboard.

What you’re extra possible to make use of is the two.4 GHz mode, which connects to a USB-A receiver plugged into both your laptop or the USB-C twine through an included adapter. This latter choice permits you to place the receiver near the keyboard to assist mitigate disruption. Assuming nothing in your setup interferes with the connection, this mode sports activities the identical 1,000 Hz polling charge because the wired mode, making it an equally responsive solution to play. Whereas you may even see some gaming keyboards sport an 8,000 Hz polling charge, this requires more CPU usage for no tangible improvement. 1,000 Hz is all you want, and the Lemokey P1 affords that.

The Bluetooth mode permits for connections to 3 totally different units that may be swapped between with a easy key mixture. The swap between units is instantaneous, although the 90 Hz polling charge means this shouldn’t be your main method of utilizing the keyboard. The delay is noticeable, particularly coming off one of many different two modes.

The 4000 mAh battery is noteworthy. It may maintain a cost for upwards of 100 hours, so that you received’t want to fret about charging this keyboard typically.

Ought to You Purchase the Keychron Lemokey P1 Professional?

In case you’re available in the market for a keyboard (gaming or in any other case), it’s best to completely contemplate the Lemokey P1 Pro. I’ve by no means loved utilizing a 75% keyboard extra given its comfy structure, arresting visible design, and top-class wi-fi connectivity. It punches above its weight for its worth level.

Keychron Lemokey P1 Professional

75% wi-fi mechanical gaming keyboard in an aluminum body with cherry double-shot PBT keycaps.