Best Varmilo Keyboards 2026: EC Switches, Art-Series Keycaps & the VA87M/VA88M Trap

Quick Answer: The best Varmilo keyboard for most people is the VA108M V2 (roughly $129-235 depending on colorway and switch) — a 108-key full-size board with 100% PBT dye-sub keycaps and Cherry MX switches. Want a cheaper, genuinely hot-swappable entry point instead? The Minilo65 (about $109-129) is the budget 65% pick. Typists chasing Varmilo’s own switch feel should look at the MA Series V2 (about $124-155), built around Varmilo’s EC electro-capacitive switches, and anyone wanting a modern wireless flagship should check the Sword68 (about $134-180).

Varmilo has built its reputation on two things most mainstream keyboard brands don’t chase: intricately themed art-series keycap sets, and its own EC (electro-capacitive) switch technology as an alternative to Cherry MX. But thin US distribution and real import-tariff exposure mean pricing swings harder here than on brands with a direct US warehouse, and the model-naming conventions hide at least one genuine trap. Here are the five Varmilo boards worth knowing in 2026.

The VA87M vs VA88M trap, decoded

• VA87M = 87-key ANSI (US) layout. The standard US keyboard shape most American buyers expect.
• VA88M = 88-key ISO (UK/EU) layout, with an extra key beside Enter and a reshaped left Shift — one more physical key than the VA87M, not a newer or better tier.
• The model number alone doesn’t tell you which one a listing ships. Confirmed via UK-market retailers listing the VA88M and US-market retailers listing the VA87M under near-identical product photography.
• This isn’t a generation gap — both are current, both use the same Cherry MX switch options and Step Sculpture 2 keycap profile. Buying the wrong one means an incompatible physical layout, not a downgrade.

If you see a Varmilo listing with an “88M” model number and you’re in the US, double-check it’s not an ISO import before ordering.

Best Varmilo keyboards at a glance

Varmilo, by the numbers

• Varmilo’s own EC V2 Daisy switch is rated at 35gf actuation force, 45gf terminal force, 2mm actuation travel and 4mm total travel (per Varmilo’s own switches-parameter spec sheet) — a genuinely different profile from a standard Cherry MX switch, not just a rebrand.
• US orders face a real import tariff unless the specific SKU ships tax-free from Varmilo’s Walnut, CA warehouse — standard tariff-paid delivery runs 15-25 days, or a $20 DHL handling fee gets tariff-unpaid delivery from the China warehouse in about 3 days (per Varmilo’s own shipping policy).

1. Varmilo VA108M V2 — Best Overall

Kitting out a desk fleet with matching import boards? A free Amazon Business account unlocks quantity discounts and tax-exempt purchasing, which helps offset Varmilo’s wider price swings across colorways.

The VA108M V2 is the board most enthusiasts mean when they recommend Varmilo — a full-size 108-key layout with genuinely premium dye-sub PBT keycaps and the switch choice of mainstream Cherry MX, rather than a from-Cherry variant. Price varies hard by colorway (plain colorways sit toward the bottom of the range, art-series prints push it toward $235), so check the specific listing before assuming the low end. For a wider field of full-size boards outside one brand, see our best full size mechanical keyboard guide.

2. Varmilo Minilo65 — Best Budget

The Minilo65 is the easiest way into genuine Varmilo build quality without committing to solder-only Cherry MX or the pricier EC boards — and it’s one of only two boards in this roundup with real hot-swap sockets. If a 65% footprint with hot-swap flexibility is the priority over Varmilo’s art-series looks, this is the pick. For more budget-focused options across other brands, see our best budget mechanical keyboard guide.

3. Varmilo MA Series V2 — Best Unique Switch

The MA Series V2 stands apart from the rest of this list because it isn’t a Cherry MX keyboard at all — it’s Varmilo’s own take on capacitive switching, with a documented 35gf actuation / 45gf terminal-force spec on the Daisy variant. Just don’t assume you can swap switches later: unlike Varmilo’s newer EC V3 switch generation, the boards currently sold under the MA Series V2 name are soldered. Compare it against our linear vs tactile switches guide for how capacitive switches differ from both.

4. Varmilo Sword68 — Best Modern/Wireless

The Sword68 is Varmilo catching up to what hot-swap, wireless-first brands like Keychron and NuPhy have offered for years, in a genuinely premium aluminum case. It’s the newest board in this roundup and the only compact one with wireless — a real departure from the wired, solder-only classics the brand built its name on. See our best wireless mechanical keyboard guide for how it stacks up against the wider wireless field.

5. Varmilo Beijing Opera (art series) — Best Themed/Collab

The Beijing Opera is the board to buy if the art-series keycaps are the actual draw rather than raw performance — check carefully which generation a listing is selling, since the older and current versions carry a real $60-90 price gap for visually similar keycap sets. For the rest of the art-series-adjacent accessory market, our best pbt keycaps guide covers standalone keycap sets across brands.

How to choose a Varmilo keyboard

• Confirm ANSI vs ISO before buying. The VA87M/VA88M naming trap is real — check the specific listing’s layout, not just the model number.
• Don’t assume EC switch means hot-swap. Only the Minilo65 and Sword68 currently ship with genuine hot-swap sockets; the MA Series V2’s EC switches are soldered.
• Expect wider price swings than mainstream brands. Thin US distribution and real tariff exposure mean Varmilo’s own store, Amazon, and specialty retailers can disagree meaningfully on price — check more than one source.
• Decide if the keycap art or the switch tech is the actual draw. The Beijing Opera series sells on keycap artwork; the MA Series V2 sells on EC switch feel. They’re not the same buying decision.

The bottom line

The Varmilo VA108M V2 (roughly $129-235) is the best all-round Varmilo keyboard of 2026 — a full-size board with genuinely premium dye-sub PBT keycaps and mainstream Cherry MX switch choice. Want something cheaper and actually hot-swappable? The Minilo65 (about $109-129) is the budget pick. Typists chasing a different switch feel than Cherry MX should look at the MA Series V2 (about $124-155) and its EC electro-capacitive switches, and anyone wanting a modern wireless flagship should check the Sword68 (about $134-180). Drawn in by the artwork instead? The Beijing Opera series (about $114-213 depending on generation) is Varmilo’s signature collab format — just confirm which version a listing ships. For the full field beyond one brand, start with our best mechanical keyboard roundup.