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  1. Table of Contents
  2. Top
  3. Main Differences
  4. Design
    1. Dimensions
    2. Build Quality
    3. Ergonomics
    4. Hardware Customizability
    5. Backlight Features
    6. Backlight Clarity
    7. Cable & Connector
    8. Wireless Versatility
    9. Macro Keys And Programming
    10. Extra Features
    11. In The Box
  5. Typing Experience
    1. Switches
    2. Keystrokes
    3. Typing Quality
    4. Typing Noise
    5. Latency
  6. Software and Operating System
    1. Configuration Software
    2. Computer Compatibility
    3. Wireless Mobile Compatibility
  7. Comments

Ducky One 2 vs Varmilo VA87M

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Ducky One 2
Varmilo VA87M

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated Nov 19, 2024 02:03 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.2

Updated Jun 21, 2023 03:22 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Ducky One 2 Picture
Varmilo VA87M Picture

Variants

  • One 2 (Blue LED)
  • One 2 (Bon Voyage)
  • One 2 (Horizon)
  • One 2 (Midnight)
  • One 2 (RGB)
  • One 2 (Skyline)
  • One 2 (White Edition)
  • One 2 (White LED)
  • VA87M (Beijing Opera)
  • VA87M (CMKY)
  • VA87M (Forest Fairy)
  • VA87M (Koi)
  • VA87M (Mac)
  • VA87M (Moonlight)
  • VA87M (Panda)
  • VA87M (RGBK)
  • VA87M (RGBY)
  • VA87M (Sakura)
  • VA87M (Sea Melody)
  • VA87M (Summit White)

Our Verdict

Ducky One 2

Varmilo VA87M

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.

0 

Check Price

Blue LED
One 2
Amazon.com
Beijing Opera
VA87M
Amazon.com
Bon Voyage
One 2
Amazon.com
Forest Fairy
VA87M
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Skyline
One 2
Amazon.com
Moonlight
VA87M
Amazon.com
White Edition
One 2
Amazon.com
White LED
One 2
Amazon.com
 
 
 
Sea Melody
VA87M
Amazon.com
 
Summit White
VA87M
Amazon.com
Read more

Main Differences for
Gaming

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

7.3
8.0

Backlighting 
 

0.0
6.5

Software & Programming 
 

6.1
0.0

Keyboard Compatibility 
 

7.2
10

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

Ducky One 2 Top Picture
Varmilo VA87M Top Picture

Size 
 

Full-size (100%)
TenKeyLess (80%)

Height 
 

1.5" (3.8 cm)
1.4" (3.5 cm)

Width  

17.5" (44.5 cm)
14.0" (35.6 cm)

Depth 
 

5.3" (13.4 cm)
5.2" (13.3 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

N/A
N/A

Weight 
 

2.39 lbs (1.083 kg)
2.22 lbs (1.008 kg)
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

8.0
8.5

Build Quality Close Up  

Ducky One 2 Build Quality Close Up
Varmilo VA87M Build Quality Close Up

Keycap Material  

PBT
PBT
Show Text 

Ergonomics 
 

6.5
6.0

Side Picture  

Ducky One 2 Side Picture
Varmilo VA87M Side Picture

Curved/Angled 
 

Straight
No

Split Keyboard 
 

No

Key Alignment 
 

Staggered

Minimum Incline 
 

Medium Incline 
 

N/A

Maximum Incline 
 

11°
12°

Home Row Height 
 

27.8 mm (1.1")

Wrist Rest  

No
Show Text 

Hardware Customizability 
 

6.7

Customizability Overview  

Varmilo VA87M Customizability Overview

Replaceable Cherry Stabilizers 
 

Yes

Stabilizer Fixation 
 

Plate-Mounted

Spacebar Stabilizer Size 
 

6.25u

Size Of Right Mod Keys 
 

1.25u

Hot-Swappable Switches 
 

No

Switch Stem Shape 
 

Cherry MX Style

Switch PCB Socket 
 

Soldered

North-Facing Cherry MX Interference 
 

No

Backlight Features 
 

0.0
6.5

Backlighting Picture  

Ducky One 2 Backlighting Picture
Varmilo VA87M Backlighting Picture

Brightness Max  

Ducky One 2 Brightness Max
Varmilo VA87M Brightness Max

Backlighting  

No
Yes

Brightness Min  

Ducky One 2 Brightness Min
Varmilo VA87M Brightness Min

White Shot 
 

Ducky One 2 White Shot
Varmilo VA87M White Shot

RGB 
 

No

Per-Key Backlighting 
 

No
Yes

Effects 
 

No
Yes

Software Controllable 
 

No
No

Color 
 

No Backlighting

Color Mixing 
 

No Backlighting
Show Text 

Backlight Clarity 
 

4.0

White Shot  

Ducky One 2 White Shot
Varmilo VA87M White Shot
Show Text 

Cable & Connector  

Connectivity  

Wired
Wired

Detachable 
 

Yes (Wired Only Keyboard)
Yes (Wired Only Keyboard)

Length  

5.8 ft (1.8 m)
4.7 ft (1.4 m)

Connector (Keyboard side) 
 

USB type-C
Mini USB
Show Text 

Wireless Versatility 
 

0.0
0.0

Bluetooth 
 

No
No

Bluetooth Multi-Device Pairing 
 

No
No

Proprietary Receiver 
 

No
No

Battery Type 
 

No Batteries
No Batteries
Show Text 

Macro Keys And Programming 
 

0.0

Dedicated Macro Keys Count  

0

Onboard Macro Programming 
 

No

Macro Programming With Software 
 

No

Extra Features 
 

Extra Features  

Ducky One 2 Extra Features
Varmilo VA87M Extra Features

Media Keys 
 

Hot Keys
Non-Dedicated

Trackpad / Trackball  

No
No

Scroll Wheel 
 

No
No

Control Knob 
 

No

USB Passthrough 
 

No
No

Numpad  

Yes
No

Windows Key Lock 
 

Yes
Yes

Lock Indicator  

Caps, Scroll & Num lock
No Indicator

Macro Programmable Keys 
 

All
Show Text 

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

Ducky One 2 Bundle Picture
Varmilo VA87M Bundle Picture
Show Text 
Typing Experience

Switches 
 

Wobble Video  

Switch Name 
 

Cherry MX Brown
Cherry MX Red

Switch Type 
 

Mechanical

Feel 
 

Tactile
Linear

Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Key Switches 
 

Cherry MX Brown
Cherry MX Red

Mechanical 
 

Yes

Feel 
 

Tactile
Linear

Operating Force 
 

54 gf
50 gf

Actuation Force 
 

42 gf
50 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

2.1 mm
2.0 mm

Total Travel 
 

4.1 mm
4.0 mm
Show Text 

Typing Quality 
 

9.0
8.5
Show Text 

Typing Noise 
 

9.0
8.1

Typing Sample  

Average Loudness 
 

49.4 dBA

High Pitch Clicks 
 

No

Noise 
 

Quiet
Show Text 

Latency 
 

8.0
7.2

Latency Video  

Latency Wired 
 

8.2 ms
12.8 ms

Latency Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A
Show Text 
Software and Operating System

Configuration Software 
 

Software Picture  

Ducky One 2 Software Picture

Software Tour  

Software Name  

No Software
No Software

Software Windows Compatible 
 

No
No

Software macOS Compatible 
 

No
No

Onboard Memory 
 

Yes
No

Profiles 
 

6+
No Profile

Account Required 
 

No Software

Cloud Sync 
 

No

Macro Programming 
 

Onboard

Ease Of Use 
 

No Software
Show Text 

Computer Compatibility 
 

7.2
10

Windows 
 

Full
Fully Compatible

macOS 
 

Partial
Fully Compatible

Linux (Ubuntu 22) 
 

Partial
Fully Compatible

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Windows, MacOS & Linux

Android  

No
Not Compatible

iOS  

No
Not Compatible

iPadOS  

No
Not Compatible
Show Text 

Wireless Mobile Compatibility 
 

0.0

Android 
 

No
Not Compatible

iOS 
 

No
Not Compatible

iPadOS 
 

No
Not Compatible

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Not Compatible

Check Price

Blue LED
One 2
Amazon.com
Beijing Opera
VA87M
Amazon.com
Bon Voyage
One 2
Amazon.com
Forest Fairy
VA87M
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Skyline
One 2
Amazon.com
Moonlight
VA87M
Amazon.com
White Edition
One 2
Amazon.com
White LED
One 2
Amazon.com
 
 
 
Sea Melody
VA87M
Amazon.com
 
Summit White
VA87M
Amazon.com

Ducky One 2

Varmilo VA87M

Comments

  1. Comparison

Ducky One 2 vs Varmilo VA87M: Main Discussion

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