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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Compared To Other Keyboards
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 One 2 and the Varmilo VA87M are quite different. While the Varmilo is a TKL keyboard, our unit of the Ducky is full-size, though there are smaller versions available as well. Also, even though the Varmilo scores higher for gaming, the Ducky actually performs better because it has lower latency. The Ducky has macro-programmable keys and lets you create custom profiles and store them on its onboard memory. Both keyboards are available in various switch options. The Ducky that we tested doesn't have backlighting, but there are variants that do.
The Ducky One 2 RGB TKL and the Varmilo VA87M are very similar. The main differences are that the Ducky has lower latency, macro-programmable keys, and software for customization. Both keyboards are available in a wide variety of Cherry MX switches.
The Varmilo VA87M and the Durgod Taurus K320 are both wired TKL mechanical keyboards. The Varmilo has lower latency for gaming, but it doesn't have macro-programmable keys or customization software, which the Durgod does. Our Durgod unit doesn't have backlighting, but you can get a variant that does. They're each available in a variety of Cherry MX switches.
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.
Test Results
The Varmilo VA87M is a small, TenKeyLess keyboard that shouldn't take up much space on your desk.
The Varmilo VA87M's build quality is excellent. The switches are housed on a metal plate, and the rest of the frame is made of durable plastic with no signs of flex. It has PBT keycaps that have a fine texture to them but still feel smooth. The keys are stable, especially the space bar. The key symbols are printed on with dye sublimation, which in theory should last over a decade, but we don't test for this. The feet are covered in a cheap-feeling rubber and can collapse on themselves easily when you slide the keyboard. That said, the keyboard has enough grip and weight to prevent this from happening too often. If you'd like a TKL keyboard with better build quality, check out the Drop ENTR.
The Varmilo VA87M has acceptable ergonomics. It naturally sits at a four-degree incline, and it provides two incline settings. It doesn't come with a wrist rest, but you may not need one due to the keyboard's relatively low profile.
The Varmilo VA87M has two backlight options available, 'Always On' or 'Breathing' mode. You can adjust the brightness and the 'breathing' speed through the appropriate hotkeys. There are some variants without backlighting.
This keyboard's stock keycaps don't have shine-through legends, and you can't read the keycap legends in a dark environment.
For reference, we've taken a photo of this keyboard with the W, A, S, and D keys replaced with shine-through keycaps that you can see here.
The Varmilo VA87M is a wired-only keyboard comes with a basic rubber-coated cable and connects via Mini-USB.
The Varmilo VA87M is wired-only and can't be used wirelessly.
The Varmilo VA87M doesn't have too many extra features and lacks macro-programmable keys. The 'Windows Lock' key is accessed via the hotkey FN+'Windows', preventing you from accidentally minimizing your game. If you want a similar keyboard with macro-programmable keys, check out the ASUS ROG Strix Scope TKL.
Our unit has Cherry MX Red switches, but it's also available in various Cherry MX switches. The Reds are linear, so they don't provide tactile feedback. They have a short pre-travel distance and don't need much force to actuate, resulting in a light and responsive typing experience. If you're looking for a similar TenkeyLess keyboard that's hot-swappable, check out the Drop CTRL.
The typing experience is excellent. Our unit uses Cherry MX Red switches, but it's available in a variety of different switches. Despite linear red switches being better suited for gaming, they're comfortable enough to type on and don't result in an increase in typos. The PBT keycaps feel nice to the touch. All the keys are stable, especially the spacebar. The keyboard is quiet enough to not disturb anyone around you but also makes a faint click when a key has been actuated.
Typing is quiet and shouldn't bother those around you. It's likely louder with Cherry MX Blue switches, but we haven't tested them.
The Varmilo VA87M has decent latency. It should be okay for most desktop tasks and casual gaming, but it might not be good enough for competitive gamers.
This keyboard doesn't have any customization software. If you want a keyboard that has companion software, consider the Durgod Taurus K320.
Everything works as intended on Windows, but several function keys, including the 'Print Screen,' 'Scroll Lock,' and 'Pause Break' buttons, work differently on macOS and Linux.
