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Head to head · Prices checked Oct 21, 2026

8BitDo Retro87 vs Pulsar Xboard MS

Get the Pulsar Xboard MS for the 8,000 Hz polling rate and sound dampening.

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 Retro87

Pulsar Xboard MS

  • Connection

    Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired

    Wired

  • Max polling rate

    1,000 Hz

    8,000 Hz

  • Case material

    Aluminum, Plastic

    ABS

  • Mount style

    Top Mount

    Gasket Mount

  • Sound dampening

    No

    Yes

KeebFinder scores

How we score
  • 8BitDo Retro87
  • Pulsar Xboard MS
Performance
63
85
Build quality
53
63
Productivity
73
85
Customizability
68
69
Portability
76
61

What they share

  • Layout size: 80%
  • Hot-swappable
  • Knob
  • Plate material: Aluminum
See every spec side by side

Full specs

8BitDo Retro87 vs Pulsar Xboard MS specs

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

9 of 22 specs differ

8BitDo Retro87

Pulsar Xboard MS

Typing & switches

Switch options

Clicky
—

Hot-swappable

Yes
Yes

Mount style

Top Mount
Gasket Mount

Sound dampening

No
Yes

Layout

Layout size

80%
80%

Layout standard

ANSI
ANSI

Ergonomics

Standard
Standard

Knob

Yes
Yes

Display

None
None

Connectivity & battery

Connection

Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Wired

Max polling rate

1,000 Hz
8,000 HzBetter

Battery

4,000 mAh
Wired only

USB-C

Yes
Yes

Build & materials

Case material

Aluminum, Plastic
ABS

Plate material

Aluminum
Aluminum

Keycaps

ABS
PBT

Weight

1,100 g
—

Dimensions

46 x 169 x 376 mm
—

Backlight

RGB
RGB, south-facing

Firmware & software

N-key rollover

Yes
No

Mac & Windows

Yes
Yes

Extras

Released

2024
2025

Where to buy

Compare prices

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

Lowest price across stores, Amazon excluded.

  • MechkeysCN

    In stock
    $109Visit
  • AmazonGlobal

    Check price
    ~$109Visit
  • WhatGeekCN

    Out of stock
    $139Visit
  • MKUS

    In stock
    $110Visit
  • AmazonGlobal

    Check price
    ~$110Visit

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