Lemokey X0 keypad assessment: An incredible add-on for any PC gamer

The keyboard that’s finest for typing isn’t the one which’s finest for gaming. That’s why I really like little facet keypads, just like the Razer Tartarus. I really like them a lot that I chopped a GameSir one up so I may add in higher switches and a much bigger battery, as a result of there aren’t any first rate wi-fi choices. 

However greater than 100 bucks for what’s primarily half a keyboard is loads, particularly in the event you’re unsure that you just’ll be as obsessive about the shape issue as I’m. Enter the Lemokey X0, a funds choice that’s rapidly change into one among my favourite devices of the 12 months. 

As I stated, that is mainly half a keyboard, meant for use together with your left hand solely. It’s additionally reasonably low cost — and I say that with none insult — at $33. However at that impulse-buy value, I’d suggest it for almost any PC gamer who makes use of a keyboard regularly. 

Single-hand design

The X0 consists of six rows of keys chopping off on the F5 column. It provides a few modifiers and an outsized, cross-shaped Area key. Beneath all of that it has an enormous, strong, rubberized pad in your palm. It additionally options mechanical switches (once more, reasonably low cost ones) and keycaps (ditto), one thing that’s slightly laborious to seek out on this extraordinarily area of interest kind issue. A non-removable USB-A cable, pink LED lights, plus compatibility with Lemokey/Keychron’s on-line programming software spherical out the options. 

Michael Crider/Foundry

The utility of this type of gadget must be apparent. They’ve been round in a single taste or one other for over 20 years — I feel the Belkin N50 SpeedPad was the unique, ultimately morphing into the Razer Tartarus I discussed earlier. They’re a devoted left–hand-only keyboard, meant to be a extra targeted and ergonomic software than your typical full-sized keyboard, whereas nonetheless letting your proper hand deal with mouse duties. 

(Sadly there’s actually no strategy to make this work in the event you use your left hand for the mouse, and I say that sincerely, since I’m a lefty. Perhaps strive a full cut up keyboard design and a wrist relaxation.) 

Michael Crider/Foundry

I genuinely love this format, and I’ve been utilizing one thing prefer it since I transitioned from console to full PC gaming in faculty. Not solely is it a lot simpler to place a smaller gamepad for extra cozy and ergonomic gaming, it lets me preserve a full devoted keyboard that’s targeted on typing. Which, as somebody who writes all day lengthy to place meals on my desk (normally subsequent to the keyboard), is an enormous deal. 

Not a lot competitors

I’ve tried lots of these items. I wouldn’t say that the X0 is the perfect — that goes to my personalized GameSir pad, with the mechanical (and discontinued) Razer Orbweaver in a distant second. However among the many low cost ones I’ve tried, the X0 shines shiny as the perfect of the bunch. 

By way of format it’s precisely what most PC avid gamers need, a devoted replica of all of the keys you’re more likely to attain together with your left hand. The one exception is the double Fn buttons to broaden programming choices, and the area bar, which isn’t actually a bar. Just like the Tartarus and the traditional Logitech G13, it repositions the area enter to extra naturally match the positioning of your thumb. 

There is a crucial omission right here: a D-pad. That’s a function that initially drew me to the Belkin-slash-Razer designs, as a strategy to wean myself off of console-style motion. And it nonetheless persists in some trendy offshoots, just like the Azeron. However talking as an enormous fan of this class I’m okay with its omission, particularly on a funds machine. When you’re used to the much more versatile WASD enter for many shooters and first-person video games, I feel you’ll agree. 

Michael Crider/Foundry

Lemokey (nee Keychron, for its non-gaming dad or mum firm) went with brown tactile switches on my assessment unit. They’re not the perfect on this planet, however they’re mild and snappy, definitely ok for me to rise up to hurry in Fortnite immediately. 

Notice that the X0 can be accessible with pink linear switches, although you gained’t be swapping them out. That’s an okay sacrifice for a funds machine, particularly when just about every part else on this value vary omits mechanical switches solely. You can even use normal mechanical keycaps on this pad, although sizing is perhaps difficult for the prolonged T, G, and V keys. When you’re okay with legends not matching up, it’s straightforward to seek out them on a full-sized set. 

Michael Crider/Foundry

Lengthy classes with the X0 have been snug, much more so than a typical gaming keyboard — although once more, I ought to level out that this can be a kind issue I choose anyway. I may use slightly extra cushion within the palm relaxation, and I want there was a strategy to modify the angle (I lifted up the proper facet of my customized board with keyboard toes), however it’s nonetheless much more snug than anything I’ve used shortly. 

Programmable…however not a lot

The X0 might be programmed with Keychron’s browser-based GUI, which I like to recommend, or QMK, which I don’t. (Sure, mechanical keyboard followers, wag your finger of disgrace at me.) It’s simple and blatantly impressed by VIA, which isn’t a nasty factor, masking nearly every part you would want with out overcomplication. This consists of as much as three sub-layers, although none are literally programmed with any alternates from the get-go. You possibly can modify the keypad’s red-only lighting…although I don’t actually see the attraction. My solely huge change is remapping Caps Lock to M for simply mentioning a map in shooters.

Right here I’ll level out the one huge drawback with the X0 from my perspective: Each QMK and Keychron’s on-line software lack the flexibility to bind particular format profiles or macros to the operating recreation or program. You could possibly conceivably program the 4 layers for 4 totally different video games, after which manually swap between them. However that’s numerous work and tweaking, for one thing that’s nonetheless pretty restricted — for instance, the Keychron software has no strategy to program in mouse buttons or scroll wheel instructions. 

Michael Crider/Foundry

That is, frankly, a bummer, and I’ve pointed it out on earlier gaming keyboards from Keychron and Lemokey. Program-based presets are one of many core options I take into account important for a gaming keyboard, and it will make sense to supply them right here. However I’m inclined to forgive the absence, if not neglect it solely, for a budget-focused design. I made the identical concession for the G.Talent KM250, which stays my go-to decide for a funds gaming keyboard. 

When you should have programable profiles that activate with a recreation or program, the Razer Tartarus is correct there…for greater than triple the worth, and with far fewer keys. And it’s price mentioning that not one of the different alternate options under the $100 mark provide that recreation profile choice. 

An incredible impulse purchase for PC avid gamers

So yeah, I’d be joyful to suggest this little gadget for anybody who needs a main typing keyboard and a gaming keyboard, and may’t discover one which works for each of them. Notice the constraints of the software program and the shape issue — I doubt a Starcraft professional could be okay primarily chopping their rapid keys in half, for instance. 

Michael Crider/Foundry

However at the same time as an experiment, it’s undoubtedly definitely worth the $33 asking value. When you prefer it and wish to go additional you’ll be able to step as much as the Tartarus, or take into account the ReDragon K585 if you’d like one thing wi-fi. 

Within the meantime, I’ll wait patiently for somebody (Lemokey, possibly you people?) to make a wi-fi model of this gadget that comes with an enormous battery, a pleasant steel physique, and hot-swap switches. One thing tells me I’ll be ready for a protracted, very long time.