Keychron expands magnetic switch line and rolls out budget V1 8K keyboard

Keychron has broadened its magnetic switch portfolio with the Ultra‑Fast Lime series, adding Banana tactile and Silent Banana tactile switches, plus a Silent Red linear option. All three switches travel 3.5 mm, are pre‑lubed, and use an N‑pole Hall‑effect magnet configuration. They are priced at $29.99 for a 110‑unit pack and feature actuation forces of 30 gf, with the Silent Red and Lime linear variants bottoming out at 55 gf and the Banana tactile variants at 50 gf.

In parallel, the company refreshed its V1 line with the V1 8K wired mechanical keyboard, now featuring an 8,000 Hz polling rate, per‑key and mix RGB lighting, and a web‑based Keychron Launcher for customization. The 75% layout includes 82 keys, double‑shot PBT keycaps, and ABS plastic construction with a metal knob, weighing 2.19 lb. Priced at $74, the V1 8K is positioned as an affordable, high‑performance option, though it lacks a wireless version and exhibits slight body flex.

Both releases underline Keychron’s focus on delivering feature‑rich, low‑cost mechanical keyboard solutions for typing and gaming enthusiasts.