Lemokey X3 review: Not the king of budget keyboards

You don’t need to break the bank to get one of the best mechanical keyboards, as has been proven by the likes of the Lemokey X1. But its sibling, the X3, fails to do the same.

The X3 is a full-size wired mechanical keyboard that costs just $49, and the hot-swappable version for $10 more — making it a very attractive budget choice for gamers and typists alike. It offers excellent gaming performance and a typing experience to rival even the most expensive keyboards. And with its user-friendly companion software, you can customize the RGB or red backlighting. But this keyboard is far from perfect, and it struggles from some fatal flaws that make me hesitant to spend even $50 on it.

For all the deets, read my full Lemokey X3 review.

Editor’s note: This review will cover both the hot-swappable and non-hot-swappable versions of the Lemokey X3 as the keyboards are mostly the same. We’ll point out the key differences along the way.

Lemokey X3 review: Specs

Lemokey X3 review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? A full-size wired mechanical keyboard with red or brown switches
• Who is it for? For gamers and typists on a budget
• How much does it cost? The Lemokey X3 is available for $49 / £55, but you’ll need to spend an extra $10 for the hot-swappable variant
• What do we like? Great typing and gaming performance, user-friendly software, customizable backlighting, and the fact that it’s hot-swappable
• What don’t we like? The keycaps feel cheap and the keyboard has a flimsy construction that feels like it could break at any moment

Lemokey X3 review: The ups

For a budget keyboard, the Lemokey X3 is great for both gaming and typing, it’s hot-swappable (for a few more dollars), it’s got cool customizable backlighting, and the companion software is intuitive.

Hot-swappable

Keyboards that are hot-swappable really catch my eye, because you can easily mod them. You can change the switches without worrying about de- and re-soldering them to the PCB. And a hot-swappable keyboard that doesn’t cost hundreds of dollars? Even better.

When I reviewed the Lemokey X1 ($36), one of my two gripes with it was that it wasn’t hot-swappable, as we’ve seen cheaper keyboards like the MageGee Sky87 ($29) allowing you to replace the switches. The Lemokey X3 is available in hot-swappable guise, if you’re willing to fork over 10 extra dollars as it will cost you $59. This isn’t a bad deal at all, and the X3 could be a compelling choice for modding beginners and enthusiasts — especially if you want a keyboard that delivers on the typing and gaming fronts too.

Typing experience

As someone who writes for a living, there are certain things I look for in a keyboard. What do the keys sound like? How do they feel under my fingertips? Is the keyboard comfortable? And will all these factors help me conjure up 1,800 words in a day? Thankfully, the Lemokey X3 checks all the right boxes.

I tested the brown tactile switches with the classic clickity-clackity sound, but they don’t sound very loud so the keyboard can be used in the office without disturbing your coworkers. Even though the X3’s keycaps feel a little cheap (more on this soon), they still feel decent enough to type on.

A typist test taken on 10fastfingers.com confirmed how good this keyboard really is. As can be seen above, the X3 fared very well.

Gaming performance

The Lemokey X3’s gaming performance is similar to the X1’s. Both keyboards have a 1,000Hz polling rate, ensuring no latency issues for casual or competitive gaming. Similarly, the actuation point — the amount of force required to press down on a key — isn’t specified by Keychron. This is typically between 1.5mm and 4mm, and the lower the actuation point, the better the gaming keyboard.

Even without knowing the keys’ actuation points, the X3 is a solid gaming keyboard. Its anti-ghosting technology ensures that key presses are accurately registered, and in the right order. This is important in competitive games like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive where one wrong key press can result in death. I had no issues playing CS:GO with the X3, and its performance was on par with the X1, as I’d expected.

The full-sized layout of the X3 does make it slightly difficult to move your mouse around freely, as you sometimes need to in the likes of Red Dead Redemption 2 and Lies of P. While I needed to keep my arms far apart to maneuver my mouse and man the keyboard, I was pleased with the X3’s overall performance.

Companion software

With Quantum Mechanical Keyboard (QMK) support, the Lemokey X3 can be customized via web-based software: the Lemokey Launcher. The keyboard should be compatible with the VIA web app too but at the time of writing, VIA didn’t recognize the X3. But Lemokey Launcher works without any hiccups. My work-sanctioned MacBook Air M2 doesn’t allow for third-party software to be installed, so I love that I can simply open the app in my browser.

You can easily remap keys, program macros, update the X3’s firmware, change the red or RGB backlighting, and more. I use a MacBook at work and at home so I used Lemokey Launcher to remap the Win and Alt keys, and even assign features like App Exposé to F3. I’ve struggled with companion software for more expensive keyboards — like Armoury Crate for the Asus ROG Strix Scope II 96 ($179) — so user-friendly software is really a treat.

Customizable backlighting

Speaking of backlighting, the Lemokey X3 comes in two variants. If you’re getting the cheaper non-hot-swappable version, you’ll be stuck with the same all-red backlighting found on the Lemokey X1.

But the hot-swappable X3 comes with RGB lighting. I tested the only-red X3, which gives you access to over 14 effects, and the backlighting looks good. And as aforementioned, you can use Lemokey Launcher to customize the backlighting to your heart’s content.

We’ve seen fancy RGB effects on premium keyboards, such as the Keychron Q6 ($195) and the Epomaker TH80 Pro ($99). These are much pricier than the X3, so it’s quite nice that you can get similar effects at half the price.

Lemokey X3 review: The downs

At just $49, I wasn’t expecting the sturdiest, faultless construction, but the Lemokey X3’s build flaws are too severe to overlook, and there’s no way to sugarcoat them.

Flimsy construction

I praised the Lemokey X1 for its premium construction, and that keyboard was cheaper than the X3. So imagine my surprise when the X3 didn’t feel nearly as well-built. Its plastic body twists significantly, and upon slightly shaking the keyboard I could feel and hear its inner parts moving.

A bigger issue is the X3’s mounting, which doesn’t support the PCB at the extremities — something we found when we took the keyboard apart. This results in the keycaps dipping deep into the board, with the PCB bending, as the keys are pressed. The lack of structural support also means that the PCB is pressing against the foam, which leads to a crackling sound.

Lemokey X3: Faulty construction - YouTube

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We reached out to Lemokey and a representative told us that the X3’s gasket structure “was applied to make this keyboard as flexible as possible for two reasons: 1) users can experience softer and more comfortable typing, and 2) users new to mechanical keyboards can better experience the difference between typing on a mech and membrane keyboards.”

Many users prefer a softer mounting system, but in my opinion, the X3 pushes into the realms of shoddiness. A soft and comfortable typing experience can still be achieved with firmer PCB mounting, plus the inclusion of softer switches and/or varying switch spring lengths. Other Lemokey and Keychron boards manage comfortable typing experiences just fine without bendy PCBs and diving keys. I’m not convinced that a bending PCB recreates a membrane keyboard, either.

This is disappointing to see, even at this price, and makes me question the longevity of the X3. I’m worried I’ll crack the PCB or damage the keyboard if I press the keys too hard!

Cheap keycaps

This brings me to my next point: the cheap keycaps. If you’re used to PBT keycaps, like the ones on the Gamakay LK75 ($129) or the NuPhy Air75 V2 ($119), you won’t like the Lemokey X3’s ABS keycaps.

Of course, PBT keycaps are exclusive to premium keyboards. ABS keycaps are more prone to wear and tear over time, and while you can replace them, it won’t be cost-effective in the long run.

Lemokey X3 review: Verdict

It’s a shame that the Lemokey X3 doesn’t hold up as well as its cheaper sibling, because I thoroughly enjoyed using the X1 and was hoping this would offer a similar experience. Don’t get me wrong, for a budget keyboard, the X3 offers excellent gaming performance for first-person shooters and RPGs alike. Typing on this keyboard is also fun and easy, and its linear switches register key presses accurately. There’s also a hot-swappable version of this keyboard, which, for $59, could attract modding enthusiasts.

But alas, the X3’s design and construction have a few flaws that I’m finding hard to ignore. For starters, its entire construction feels flimsy and fragile. When keys are pressed, I can feel the sound-absorbing foam and even hear it, adding to my anxieties that I’ll somehow damage this keyboard. Its keycaps aren’t the finest either, as they’re made of ABS and can feel cheap to type on.

I’m not expecting longevity out of the X3, but I can recommend it for its typing and gaming capabilities. This isn’t the best budget keyboard, and until I find the right one, I’ll be sticking with the X1 instead.