The Lemokey L4 enters a crowded market with the hope of setting itself apart by nailing both premium build quality and high-level performance for both office tasks and gaming. With its TKL (tenkeyless) layout, range of connectivity options, and premium materials, the L4 has a good chance of winning my favor, but how has it fared during my weeks of testing? Here is my review.
A good first impression
Out of the box, the L4 immediately impresses with its overall weightiness. The CNC-machined aluminum frame feels incredibly robust while also being stylish. For my review, I was provided the Carbon Black version, which I think looks fantastic, though I’m also happy to see the other two colors, Navy Blue and Space Silver. The silver version in particular looks super clean and would fit in with a lot of brighter, more minimalist-focused setups.
Users have three options when it comes to connecting the L4 to their system: Bluetooth 5.2, 2.4 GHz wireless, or USB-C. While I used the L4 in wired mode 99% of the time, since I was sat at my desk, I also used it in 2.4 GHz wireless to test the latency performance in games. I was impressed, though I’d still opt for a wired connection in anything competitive.
Great starting point
Though the included pre-lubed Keychron Super Red switches work really well – there’s also Super Brown and Super Banana available – users can swap out switches thanks to the hotswappable PCB. No soldering is needed.
For those who want to further customize the lighting of the L4, the optional Lemokey app allows for RGB tuning, key remapping, and macro personalization.
Room for improvement
Though the L4 certainly looks a treat with its sleek metal frame, the RGB lighting is a bit of a letdown, at least with the included keycaps. The south-facing LEDs don’t shine through the keycaps very well, which might disappoint some users. However, for those like myself who disable RGB at every opportunity, this will be a non-issue.
When looking at objective faults, the L4’s lack of a volume knob may be a dealbreaker for some, as could be the fixed typing angle of the board.
Disclosure: Review sample provided by Lemokey.
Final Verdict
At $214 for a fully assembled model, the Lemokey L4 has a high price that is partly justified by its incredible build quality. However, some feature limitations may cause some potential buyers to hesitate. With that said, I’ve been impressed by what the L4 is capable of and, if the layout and color is tempting you, then this keyboard can deliver a great experience for both work and play.
Positives and Negatives
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Premium aluminum build
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Multiple connectivity options
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Hotswappable switches
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Customizable via software
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Stylish color choices
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Great for work and gaming
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A little pricey
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Weak RGB with stock keycaps
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Typing angle and no volume knob may be deal-breakers
