The Lemokey P1 HE ditches the Hall-effect tax for keyboards

Keychron makes great yet affordable keyboards that balance function, minimalist looks, and quality. It’s making waves with its new $169 Hall-effect gaming keyboard called the P1 HE, which it recently launched under its gaming arm Lemokey. The company name might sound like a joke, but Keychron’s DNA is apparent in the P1 HE, which offers superb acoustics and build quality. Not only that, its Hall-effect analog switches set it apart at this price, as does its extensive support for modifications.

What’s most impressive about the P1 HE is how close it comes to dethroning one of the most popular Hall-effect keyboards, the Wooting 80 HE, while being $30 cheaper. Sure, the Wooting has it beat with its 8,000 Hz polling rate (versus the P1 HE’s more standard 1,000 Hz), but Lemokey’s option has a customizable media knob, plus it’s easier to find in stock (Wooting makes its keyboards in batches, so it’s a tougher sell if you need something now).

In terms of form factor, the P1 HE is a compact 75% keyboard that should appeal to gamers who prefer a minimalist aesthetic. The P1 HE only has two models available off the shelf: black or white. The good news is, if you don’t like how it looks, you can customize almost everything about it. Just like other models from Keychron and Lemokey, the P1 HE can be easily disassembled and rebuilt with a wide variety of aftermarket keycaps, cases, and other components. The only things you need to keep are the PCB, battery, and switches. Being able to swap components is nice, especially if you want to trim a few grams off its hefty 3.5-pound weight.

If you haven’t had your hands on a Hall-effect keyboard, here’s the rub: Just like in controllers, Hall-effect switches in keyboards rely on magnets instead of moving parts to determine your inputs. They yield smoother action, not to mention the components will last longer. And with the P1 HE’s analog switches, you can customize the distance that each switch needs to travel to activate and deactivate an input (these are called actuation points). As such, this kind of keyboard tech has become popular among competitive gamers who want their actions to register with virtually no delay.

I don’t think the adjustable actuation points will sell casual gamers on the P1 HE. However, with the right adjustments, you might be able to out-strafe your opponents with a clearly noticeable advantage over conventional keyboards. I’m not saying that this will immediately propel you into platinum-ranked matches of Marvel Rivals, but it may give skilled players the edge over the competition.

At first, I didn’t think I’d be able to notice the difference between analog and mechanical switches, but after spending some time with the P1 HE, I’m not sure I want to go back. Unless you’re someone who gets hung up on the tactile feel of a switch, or who needs that audible click, there’s a good chance you’ll feel the same way. The action on analog switches simply feels more responsive, and even just typing on a daily basis outside of gaming feels smoother.

Some less obvious features of the P1 HE include a 1,000 Hz polling rate, in addition to Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity. The built-in 4,000 mAh battery offers more than enough juice to keep you gaming for a few days without having to recharge. While the P1 HE has a lot in common with Keychron’s Q1 HE, it’s worth noting that you can’t configure its settings using the same browser-based VIA software. Lemokey has its own web application you can use. It’s equally streamlined, and I like that it doesn’t require downloading an app.

The Lemokey P1 HE has quickly become my go-to recommendation for anyone looking for an affordable entry point to analog gaming keyboards. It’s also just a good gaming keyboard in general, thanks to its accessible price point, wide range of features, and high-quality build. The race is on for another company to beat the P1 HE, which is a tall order given that it packs in so many features while undercutting most other options.

The Lemokey P1 HE keyboard is available on the Lemokey website. It was reviewed using a retail unit provided by Lemokey. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links. You can find additional information about Polygon’s ethics policy here.