Head to head · Prices checked Oct 30, 2026

8BitDo Retro vs Varmilo VPM87 Koi

Get the 8BitDo Retro for hot-swappable and knob.

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Hot-swappable

from$119at Mechkeys

from$132at MK

Quick verdict

Which one should you get?

Get the

8BitDo Retro

Hot-swappable

Build quality in the bottom 40% of 80% boards under $150.

$119 at Mechkeys

Get the

Varmilo VPM87 Koi

Build quality in the bottom 25% of 80% boards under $150.

Rules this board out

Switches are soldered. Swapping them means soldering.
South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.

$132 at MK

What actually differs

The differences that matter

Skip the 40-row spec sheet. These are the specs that change how each board feels, sounds, and fits your desk.

8BitDo Retro

Varmilo VPM87 Koi

Connection
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Wired
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Hot-swappable
Yes
No
Switch changes without soldering
Case material
Aluminum, Plastic
Plastic
Mount style
Top Mount
Plate Mount
Knob
Yes
No

KeebFinder scores

How we score

8BitDo Retro
Varmilo VPM87 Koi

Performance: 49
66
Build quality: 53
49
Productivity: 63
57
Customizability: 56
48
Portability: 73
55

What they share

Layout size: 80%
Switch options: Clicky
Plate material: Aluminum
Keycaps: PBT

See every spec side by side

Full specs

8BitDo Retro vs Varmilo VPM87 Koi specs

Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.

11 of 22 specs differ

Spec

8BitDo Retro

Varmilo VPM87 Koi

Typing & switches

Switch options

Clicky

Hot-swappable

Yes

Mount style

Top Mount

Plate Mount

Sound dampening

Yes

Layout

Layout size

80%

Layout standard

ANSI

Ergonomics

Standard

Knob

Yes

Display

None

Media keys

Yes

Connectivity & battery

Connection

Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired

Wired

Battery

2,000 mAh

Wired only

USB-C

Yes

Build & materials

Case material

Aluminum, Plastic

Plastic

Plate material

Aluminum

Keycaps

PBT

Weight

1,050 g

—

Dimensions

47 x 170 x 377 mm

—

Backlight

None

White, south-facing

Firmware & software

N-key rollover

Yes

Mac & Windows

Yes

Extras

Released

2023

2024

Where to buy

Compare prices

Live prices from the stores we track, cheapest in-stock offer first.

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8BitDo Retro3 stores