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Lemokey L5 HE 8K: Two-minute review
The Lemokey L5 HE 8K is a gaming keyboard with Hall effect analog switches and an 8K polling rate – two factors designed to whet the appetites of serious players. The austere design isn’t complimented well by the dated design of the translucent outer keys, coming across a tad desperate in its attempt to appeal to games.
With that monolithic appearance comes a seriously heavy chassis, thanks to the aluminum construction. Some may prefer the extra stability this heft provides, but it’s certainly not as easy to move around as some of its rivals.
Perhaps because of this weight, the L5 HE 8K has no fold-out feet. I thought this would cause ergonomic issues, but thankfully the body isn’t too thick, and the keys are slightly tilted forward too, which makes typing and WASD positions more comfortable, even without a wrist rest – which is just as well, since it doesn’t come with one.
Rather than the standalone software that many of the best gaming keyboards come with, Lemokey has a web app for customizing the L5 HE 8K. This runs well for the most part, although I did experience a few UI issues, some of which required a refresh. Some might not like the idea of having to run a peripheral tool in a browser, either.
Once it’s working, though, it provides plenty of tweaking options, especially for the analog functionality, allowing you to make full use of those Hall effect switches. In addition to Rapid Trigger, single-key multi-input and snap action features, there’s also controller emulation, allowing you to replicate the analog behavior of triggers and joysticks.
In practice, this works well – to an extent: the precision offered by the analog keys is no match for that of an actual controller. The movements aren’t smooth enough, and I found that presses didn’t offer enough resistance to provide adequate control. This is true of analog performance more generally, as the Hall effect switches in the L5 HE 8K just aren’t as smooth or as precise as some of the best analog keyboards out there.
In other performance-related areas, though, the L5 HE 8K does better. The keys rebound quickly, allowing for rapid movements, and I found the concave nature of the key layout comfortable – two aspects that help with both gaming and typing. I wasn’t fond of the back-tilt of the space bar, though, as it resulted in hits on its edge rather than its top.
The L5 HE 8K is undeniably expensive, eclipsing many of its rivals. The SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3, for instance, is slightly cheaper, and while it lacks quite the same number of analog adjustments, it makes up for it with its superlative performance and build quality.
Lemokey L5 HE 8K review: price and availability
- $220 (about £175 / AU$346)
- Available now for backers
- Same price as the best analog keyboards
The L5 HE 8K will cost $220 (about £175 / AU$346) and is set for general release some time between April and May this year. However, it’s available now for Kickstarter backers at the discounted price of $199. It comes with a braided USB-C-to-C cable (with a USB-A adapter included), a keycap puller, spare screws and rubber fixings, and screwdrivers.
This makes it about the same price as the SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3, already a pricey keyboard. However, it’s about the best analog keyboard I’ve experienced when it comes to performance. There’s also a wireless variant which is naturally more expensive, but the difference isn’t huge. It does miss out on a few analog tweaks that the Apex Pro Gen 3 has, though, such as controller emulation, and lacks the same 8K polling rate.
If you want a more budget-friendly alternative in the analog sector, the Turtle Beach Vulcan 2 TKL Pro isn’t a tempting proposition. Like the L5 HE 8K, it too offers gamepad emulation, although this isn’t as refined as I would’ve liked; Lemokey’s implementation is slightly better.
Value: 2.5 / 5
Lemokey L5 HE 8K review: specs
|
Layout |
75% |
|
Switch |
Analog (Hall effect magnetic) |
|
Programmable keys |
Yes |
|
Dimensions |
13 x 5.9 inches / 329 x 150mm |
|
RGB or backlighting |
Yes (customizable) |
Lemokey L5 HE 8K review: design and features
- Dated looks
- Very heavy
- Web app for customization
The L5 HE 8K is reasonably understated, although some of the outer keys adopt a translucent design with some kind of tech-based sigil, which looks outdated and gives the sense that Lemokey is pandering to a gamer stereotype. Thankfully, this look is kept to a minimum.
The sharp angles of the body add to its industrial aesthetic too. It’s also very heavy, thanks to the aluminium body, which at least makes it durable and very sturdy, although some will find this level of heft unnecessary.
It’s also reasonably thick, but not as substantial as some other gaming keyboards. It lacks feet and wrist support, but thanks to the slight forward tilt of the keys, I could still get a comfortable hand position.
The included cable is braided, but doesn’t feel particularly premium, and it’s not as long as some others, which may be a problem for desktop users depending on their setup. At least the USB-C port is angled upwards, which is a small but convenient design feature, as it makes it easy to locate and use.
The L5 HE 8K can be customized using Lemokey’s web app, which opens in a browser. As you would expect for a keyboard with Hall effect switches, there are various adjustments for the analog functionality. You can set the actuation distance between 0.10mm and 3.35mm, selectable via a slider offering increments of one hundredth of a millimeter.
You can also toggle Rapid Trigger mode, again via a slider offering the same increments, although the range dynamically changes depending on your actuation distance settings. What’s more, you can also split the trigger and reset distances, allowing you to adjust their sensitivity independently, which not every analog rival to the L5 HE 8K offers.
One of the best aspects of these adjustments – and one few analog keyboard software offer – is the visual indicator, which lets you see exactly where in the switch the actuation point you set is. It also shows the distance of your presses in real time, again to one hundredth of a millimeter, which is very useful for dialling in your preferred settings.
There’s also a bar that moves in tandem with your presses, and changes color to indicate when the key reaches the actuation point. This also allows you to see how your Rapid Trigger settings play out too, although unfortunately there’s no real-time millimeter readout for this.
Other analog adjustments include configuring up to four inputs for a single key, triggered depending on how far you press, and setting the Snap Action, with two options to choose from: Snap Click and Last Key Priority. These, along with controller emulation, amount to a large number of tweaks – more than many other analog keyboards offer.
The web app also offers common customization options too, such as key remapping (with plenty of system shortcuts available), macro creation, three profile slots and RGB lighting tweaks.
The web app isn’t without its issues, though. No doubt there’ll be some gamers who’d prefer a standalone app rather than having to open a browser tab. Also, there were occasions where certain settings failed to work as intended, with minor freezes and lock-ups, and certain text and UI elements failed to render properly. Thankfully, many of these were easy to remedy, and for the most part the web app runs well enough without causing too much frustration or major issues.
Design & features: 3 / 5
Lemokey L5 HE 8K review: performance
- Clicky and responsive switches
- So many analog adjustments
- Not the smoothest action
When gaming, the L5 HE 8K performs reasonably well. The 8K polling rate is sure to peak serious gamers’ interests, as it claims to provide next to no latency, and is a common spec found on the best gaming mouse contenders.
However, I struggled to notice much of an improvement over other gaming keyboards with lower polling rates, but hardcore gamers may well do. But unless you’re on the esport circuit, you’ll likely not require this polling rate boost in a keyboard.
The Hall effect switches are clicky with minimal dampening, which may deter certain gamers and please others. While I generally prefer a more cushioned press, I found them satisfying to use for the most part, if not as smooth as other magnetic switches I’ve experienced. There’s a small amount of resistance to presses – just enough to make hitting predefined actuation points relatively easy – but they rebound very quickly, which was something I liked as it allowed for faster taps.
The gamepad emulation works reasonably well, although the analog gradation isn’t as precise as the best PC controllers; it can be a little jerky at times, no matter how you alter the curve profile. Also, the switches could do with more resistance to provide better feedback and in turn make it easier to control in-game movements, especially those of vehicles.
Typing with the L5 HE 8K is pleasant enough, and it performs better on this front than some other gaming keyboards I’ve used. The concave nature of the key layout is more amenable to typing than I expected, even without wrist support, and that springy rebound helps with speed. It isn’t the quietest around, though, with the space bar being especially noisy.
Speaking of the space bar, its elevated seating and backwards tilt (along with all bottom row keys) meant I regularly hit its edge with my thumb rather than the top, which is less satisfying and more awkward. Some may prefer this positioning, but others will fall into the same camp as me.
Performance: 3.5 / 5
Should I buy the Lemokey L5 HE 8K?
|
Attributes |
Notes |
Rating |
|---|---|---|
|
Value |
The L5 HE 8K competes with the biggest names around at this price, and while it offers more customization options and an 8K polling rate, it doesn’t necessarily offer better performance. |
2.5 / 5 |
|
Design and features |
It’s very heavy and the gamer-style markings on some keys aren’t particularly tasteful. The web app offers plenty of analog tweaks, but it only runs in browsers. |
3 / 5 |
|
Performance |
The clicky switches might not suit everyone, but they perform well, and the analog functionality is good, if not the smoothest around. |
3.5 / 5 |
|
Overall |
The L5 HE 8K sets out to offer premium gaming performance, thanks to its 8K polling rate and Hall effect switches. While there’s plenty of analog functionality, it isn’t the smoothest in action, and at this price, there are better performers. |
3 / 5 |
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
Lemokey L5 HE 8K: Also consider
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
Lemokey L5 HE 8K |
SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Wireless Gen 3 |
Turtle Beach Vulcan 2 TKL Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Layout |
75% |
TKL |
TKL |
|
Switch |
Analog (Hall effect magnetic) |
Analog (Hall-effect magnetic) |
Analog (Hall-effect magnetic) |
|
Programmable keys |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Dimensions |
13 x 5.9 inches / 329 x 150mm |
14 x 5 x 1.7 inches / 355 x 129 x 42mm |
14.5 x 5.5 x 1.5 inches (approx.) / 368.3 x 139.7 x 38.1mm |
|
RGB or backlighting |
Yes (customizable) |
Yes (customizable) |
Yes (customizable) |
How I tested the Lemokey L5 HE 8K
- Tested for several days
- Used for gaming and productivity
- Plentiful keyboard reviewing experience
I tested the Lemokey L5 HE 8K for several days, during which time I used it for gaming, working, and general browsing.
I used it to play Counter-Strike 2, a great test for peripherals as it demands quick and precise movements, and helps to expose any issues with lag that they may suffer from.
I have reviewed many keyboards before, and have been PC gaming for over a decade. I have owned and used a great deal of keyboards in that time, spanning various brands, switch types, and price points.
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lewis.maddison@futurenet.com (Lewis Maddison)
