Keychron has been making waves recently, refreshing many of its iconic keyboard designs with updated firmware, different switch choices, and improved sound dampening materials. Now, they are unveiling two new Hall-effect gaming keyboards to compete with Wooting for the top spot in the gaming market.
New Models Introduced
The new keyboards are the Keychron Q6 HE, which features a standard 100% layout with a number pad, and the Lemokey P1 HE, offering a 75% layout that strikes a better balance between size and usability.
Key Differences
Although the Lemokey P1 HE’s more compact design sets it apart from the Q6 HE, the two models share several similarities at first sight. Both keyboards are constructed with aluminium plates and cases, but the silicone bean gasket mounts in the Lemokey P1 may feel a bit firmer compared to the softer silicone strips in the Q6 HE. Aesthetically and ergonomically, they diverge significantly. For example, the Lemokey P1 HE is equipped with shine-through Cherry keycaps, allowing for more vibrant RGB customization than the Q6 HE, which lacks shine-through keycaps. Additionally, locating shine-through keycaps for the Q6 HE can be tricky, as the south-facing RGB tends to look dimmer and less consistent when paired with shine-through caps designed for north-facing key arrangements.
Keycap Profiles
The Q6 HE features OSA (OEM Spherical Angled) keycaps, which are noticeably taller than the Cherry profile seen on the P1 HE. While these keycaps may offer a more comfortable typing experience and deeper sound, they might not provide the same level of comfort for gaming as the Cherry profile keycaps on the P1 HE do.
Both models, however, share the Gateron’s double-rail magnetic switches, which require a moderate actuation force of 40 gf and max out at 60 gf. These switches paired with Hall-effect sensors enable both keyboards to deliver all the gaming features expected from Hall-effect designs, such as rapid triggering, adjustable actuation points, dynamic keystrokes, and SOCD. These characteristics are also present in our recent reviews of the Wooting 80 HE and Glorious GMMK 3 Pro HE.
Connectivity and Performance
In contrast to the Wooting 80 HE, the new Keychron and Lemokey Hall-effect keyboards do not support 8,000 Hz polling, opting instead for wireless connectivity with a maximum of 1,000 Hz polling in 2.4 GHz mode. Nevertheless, this polling rate is still on par with the Wooting 60 HE, ensuring that both the Keychron and Lemokey keyboards perform well in gaming scenarios.
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