Software

There is no dedicated software driver support for the Varmilo MA87M at this time—all functionality is hardware based. As such, I have chosen to combine the Software and Performance pages into one.

Performance

The Varmilo MA87M keyboard supports N-key rollover USB, which tested successfully using Aqua's test. Switch Hitter confirmed no chatter with these keys either, and as is usually the case with mechanical keyboards these days, the right Windows keys is replaced by an Fn key.


When first powered on and connected, the LEDs onboard the MA87M light up white. Aside from the two replacement indicator keycaps, the keycaps are not backlight compatible, so the lighting is situated more between the keycaps. It is useless functionally and will only work as a form of accentuation. Fn + right arrow toggles through a static light or breathing mode, and the Fn + up/down arrows either changes the brightness in static mode or effect speed in breathing mode. Should you prefer it, Fn + X turns the lighting off entirely.

In addition to these lighting controls, there are a few other pre-programmed functions aboard the MA87M. The manual goes over these, and keep in mind that some are specific to other models, such as the MA108M. Those that do apply include being able to switch over to macOS mode with the usual macOS Fn row secondary functions, turning off the Win key, enabling the Menu function if needed, and swapping Caps Lock and L. CTRL, in addition to the safety blanket of a software reset. Adjusting to the TKL form factor of the MA87M will not take a long time if you are used to a full-size keyboard since it is only missing the numpad. Varmilo even sells a matching Bluetooth numpad if you wish to have one, though it is at the moment available with Cherry MX switches only.


Let's talk switches since that is another new thing. If you have read my keyboard reviews here, you will have noted that the vast majority use mechanical switches. These, as mentioned on the previous page, use metal stem contacts for actuation and reset, wherein metal pieces physically touch each other. Switch makers have improved on the reliability of these switches throughout, including the metal stems by using gold cross-point contacts to reduce oxidation-related issues. In recent years, we have had other means of actuation, including optical switches and electrostatic capacitive switches. It is in the latter that Varmilo is showcasing their EC V2 switches, the second iteration of their EC switches from before. These switches, as the name suggests, rely on a contact-less electrostatic capacitance generated by electric field induction. This means switch lifetime is theoretically much higher, and you can decouple actuation from actuation feedback. Varmilo has three linear EC V2 switches out, and a fourth tactile and clicky switch in the making.


My sample uses the EC V2 Rose, which we will delve into more here. With a rated actuation of 55 gf at 2 mm travel and a termination force of a whopping 75 gf at 4 mm, it is their heaviest EC V2 switch. So the closest Cherry MX offering to this would be the MX Black, though as seen above, the EC V2 Rose is lighter throughout its force-travel diagram. That said, the EC of the EC V2 is a big part of the typing experience. Indeed, even the most ardent Cherry MX fan would admit that the MX Black is not on top of most popularity lists, and even the much more popular MX Red and MX Speed (Silver) have had people feel the "scratchiness" of stem travel. I will say that the newer Cherry MX batches with their increased rated lifetime of 100 M keystrokes do feel fine in use, but these EC V2 switches are oh so smooth! Since all you do is move a metal stem slightly away from the switch as it is depressed, and the metal pieces don't touch each other anymore, the only resistance you feel comes from the spring itself, especially as the spring in the EC V2 Rose is heavier.

Varmilo says they tested a bunch of switch materials and lube for each specific switch option, and the wall design around the stem was also incorporated to use with their thicker PBT switches for minimal wobbling. They also market specifically chosen Japanese springs and flat metal prongs to minimize any scratching or scraping. So what does this mean with my keyboard sample using the EC V2 Rose switches? For one, I did enjoy typing and gaming all the more. The heavier spring makes actions more deliberate once you get used to it, especially with MOBA games such as Dota 2, wherein I want to really use keyboard shortcuts for specific actions. Using it for FPS gaming was not as enjoyable, contrary to what Varmilo themselves recommend, as I'd rather use a lighter switch for quicker single/double-tapping. I subjectively prefer PBT keycaps either way, so this combination worked out wonderfully for me. I am curious to try out the other switches in full keyboards, however, as single-switch samples only go so far.


As always, the sound of a keyboard is based on more than just the switch type. So when comparing sound clips, consider the keyboard as a whole. In this case, I have provided above an example sound clip of me typing on the Varmilo MA87M Beijing Opera keyboard sample at ~95 WPM as it comes out of the box with the Varmilo EC V2 Rose switches. For context, you can find sound clips from other keyboards here, including those with linear switches. Also, having tested a random set of twenty switches using a tension gauge, I can confirm that the average actuation force was pretty much 55 gf (54.91 +/- 0.03 gf), which backs their claims of all the R&D done in uniformity, as does the typing experience itself.