The Varmilo VA87M is a decent mechanical keyboard. It has an excellent build that's made of durable plastic, with the switches supported by a metal plate. It comes in a wide variety of colors and many different switch types; the unit we tested has Cherry MX Red switches. The typing quality is excellent, as the PBT keycaps feel nice to touch, and the linear switches provide a responsive gaming experience. That said, its latency is a bit high for a wired keyboard, which might be a dealbreaker for professional competitive gamers. Despite not having a wrist rest, it's comfortable to use overall and shouldn't cause any fatigue. Unfortunately, there are no macro-programmable buttons or companion software to customize settings.
Our Verdict
The Varmilo VA87M is a good keyboard for gaming. The Cherry MX Red switches on our unit have a short pre-travel distance and don't need a lot of force to actuate. However, its latency is a bit high, which might disappoint competitive gamers. Unfortunately, there's no companion software, and you can't program any macros.
- Excellent build quality.
- White backlight.
- Available in various Cherry MX switches.
- No companion software.
- No macro-programmable keys.
- Latency might be too high for competitive gamers.
The Varmilo VA87M is a wired-only keyboard and can't be used with a mobile device.
The Varmilo VA87M is good for office use. The ergonomics are just mediocre because it doesn't have a wrist rest, but typing should feel comfortable and painless. The typing quality is excellent overall, and you can get the keyboard with your preferred type of Cherry MX switches. It has a great build, with Dye Sub PBT keycaps that feel amazing to type on.
- Excellent build quality.
- White backlight.
- Available in various Cherry MX switches.
- Some keys don't work on macOS and Linux.
The Varmilo VA87M is decent for programmers. It provides an excellent typing experience, and it's available in various Cherry MX switches. Ergonomics are only mediocre, as it lacks a wrist rest, but it shouldn't cause any fatigue or pain. Unfortunately, there are no macro-programmable buttons, and since you can't use it over Bluetooth, it can't pair with other devices.
- Excellent build quality.
- White backlight.
- Available in various Cherry MX switches.
- No companion software.
- No macro-programmable keys.
- Some keys don't work on macOS and Linux.
The Varmilo VA87M is bad for use with a home theater PC. It lacks wireless connectivity, which means you need to run a cable from the couch to your computer. On top of that, there's no trackpad, so you need a separate mouse for navigation. On the upside, it has backlighting, which is great for gaming in the dark.
- Excellent build quality.
- White backlight.
- Available in various Cherry MX switches.
- No companion software.
- Wired-only
- No trackpad.
Changelog
- Updated Jun 21, 2023: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.2. This update introduces new Backlight Features and Backlight Clarity test boxes. We've also added a new Switches test box, added additional test comparisons to our Hardware Customizability test box that we introduced with our last Test Bench. For an in-depth look at our changes, you can see our full changelog here.
- Updated May 31, 2023: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.1. This update adds several new tests addressing Hardware Customization, Macro Keys And Programming, and Wireless Mobile Compatibility. We've also added new objective evaluations to the Typing Noise test, and we've simplified several tests and removed several others that were no longer relevant. For an in-depth look at all our changes, you can see our full changelog here.
- Updated Mar 23, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
- Updated Sep 25, 2020: Review published.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the Varmilo VA87M with Cherry MX Red switches in the CMKY color variant, but it's also available in a variety of different switches and colors. Most models of this keyboard should be available in a variety of color schemes and Cherry MX switches, including Red, Silent Red, Blue, Brown, Silver, and Speed Silver.
| Color | Switch | Lighting |
|---|---|---|
| CMKY | Cherry MX Red, Silent Red, Blue, Brown, and Speed Silver | White LED |
| RGBY | Cherry MX Red, Black, Blue, Brown, Black, Silent Black, and Clear | White LED |
| RGBK | Cherry MX Red, Black, Blue, Brown, Black, Silent Black, Silent Red, Clear, and Speed Silver | White LED |
| Summit White | Cherry MX Red, Silent Red, Blue, Brown, and Speed Silver | White LED |
| Moonlight | Cherry MX Red, Blue, Brown | White LED |
| Sakura | Cherry MX Red, Silent Red, Blue, Brown, and Speed Silver | None |
| Koi | Cherry MX Red, Silent Red, Blue, Brown, and Speed Silver | None |
| Sea Melody | Cherry MX Red, Silent Red, Blue, Brown, and Speed Silver | None |
| Panda | Cherry MX Red, Blue, Brown, Silent Red, Silent Black, Silent Red, Clear and Speed Silver | White LED |
| Mac | Cherry MX Red, Black, Blue, Brown, Black, Silent Black, Clear, and Speed Silver | White LED |
| Forest Fairy | Cherry MX Red, Blue, Brown, Black, Silent Black, Clear, and Speed Silver | None |
| Beijing Opera | Cherry MX Red, Blue, Brown | None |
You can see the label of our unit here.
Popular Keyboard Comparisons
The Varmilo VA87M is a wired, mechanical TenKeyLess (80%) keyboard with great build quality. Like many keyboards on the market, it's available in a wide variety of colors and switches, and some models include white LED backlighting. Unfortunately, it doesn't have programmable keys or software support. For other options, check out our recommendations for the best RGB keyboards, the best gaming keyboards, and the best mechanical keyboards.
The Ducky MIYA Pro and the Varmilo VA87M are very similar. The main difference is that the Varmilo is a TKL, while the Ducky is 65%. Also, the Ducky has macro-programmable keys and customization software. You can get both keyboards in various switch types.
The Varmilo VA87M and the HyperX Alloy FPS Pro are almost identical in feature and performance. The Varmilo feels better built because it has PBT keycaps, and it's available in more switch options. The Varmilo has white backlighting, while the HyperX's is red.
The Obinslab Anne Pro 2 and the Varmilo VA87M are very different. The Obinslab is a compact 60% wireless keyboard, while the Varmilo is a wired TKL. The Obinslab is better for gaming because it has lower latency. Also, it has macro-programmable keys and software for customization.
The Ducky One 2 Mini V1 and the Varmilo VA87M are both wired mechanical keyboards, but the Ducky has a 60% layout, while the Varmilo is a TKL. The Ducky has macro-programmable keys and customization software, which the Varmilo lacks. Both keyboards are available in multiple switch options.
Test Results
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