Ajazz AK820 Pro vs Varmilo Minilo98 ProBudget Screen vs Premium Layout
Choose the Ajazz AK820 Pro for a compact, feature-packed budget option, or the Varmilo Minilo98 Pro for a premium, full-layout keyboard with deep customization.
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4.6 (256)4.6 · 256 reviews
from$55at Epomaker
90-day lowLowest price in 90 days
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from$155at Varmilo
Which one should you get?
Get the
Ajazz AK820 Pro
Budget Screen
Build quality in the bottom 50% of 75% boards under $100.
- Includes a customizable 0.85-inch TFT screen for system info and visuals.
- More affordable price point for a feature-rich, gasket-mounted keyboard.
- Lighter weight (810g) and more compact 75% layout for portability.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- No ISO layout. ISO-DE, UK, and other ISO variants are not offered.
- No numpad.
Get the
Varmilo Minilo98 Pro
Premium Layout
Build quality in the top 20% of 98% boards under $200.
- 98% layout includes a full numpad while maintaining a relatively compact form factor.
- Supports QMK and VIA for extensive key remapping and macro programming.
- Vendor-listed construction includes multiple foam layers (Poron, IXPE) and silicone for sound dampening.
- Magnetic switches only. Standard MX switches will not fit.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- Compact full-size layout. The numpad is present, the gaps of a full-size board are not.
Your budget and need for a numpad are the primary deciding factors. The Ajazz AK820 Pro delivers exceptional value, packing a gasket mount, triple-mode connectivity, and a unique TFT screen into a portable 75% form. If you can work without a numpad and want to save money, it's a compelling choice. The Varmilo Minilo98 Pro justifies its higher price with a premium 98% layout, unparalleled QMK/VIA programmability, detailed sound-dampening construction, and low-latency performance, making it ideal for power users and professionals.
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.
Ajazz AK820 Pro
Varmilo Minilo98 Pro
Layout size
75%
98%
Hall effect (magnetic)
No
Yes
Adjustable actuation helps in games and not in normal typing
Case material
ABS, Aluminum
Copper, Metal, Plastic
Switch options
Linear
Silent
Knob
Yes
No
- Ajazz AK820 Pro
- Varmilo Minilo98 Pro
- Performance
- 6174
- Build quality
- 6674
- Productivity
- 8288
- Customizability
- 7289
- Portability
- 7955
- Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
- Hot-swappable
- Battery: 4,000 mAh
- Mount style: Gasket Mount
- Sound dampening
- Keycaps: PBT
What will you mostly use it for?
The Varmilo Minilo98 Pro is the stronger choice for productivity-focused tasks like office work and programming, thanks to its numpad, extensive language support, and advanced QMK/VIA firmware. It also holds an edge for gaming due to its specified low-latency performance. The Ajazz AK820 Pro wins for travel due to its lighter weight and more compact 75% form factor. For modding, the Varmilo's detailed sound-dampening construction and open firmware give it the advantage, while content creation is a tie between the Ajazz's visual screen and the Varmilo's macro capabilities.
Pick the Varmilo Minilo98 Pro
- The Varmilo Minilo98 Pro lists a 1000 Hz polling rate and 1ms latency for competitive play.
- Its listed Hall Effect switch compatibility can offer advanced features for gaming.
- The Ajazz AK820 Pro's vendor page confirms a 1000 Hz polling rate in wired/2.4G modes, but does not specify a latency figure.
Ajazz AK820 Pro vs Varmilo Minilo98 Pro specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
14 of 26 specs differ
Ajazz AK820 Pro
Varmilo Minilo98 Pro
Switch options
Hall effect (magnetic)
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Sound dampening
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Knob
Display
Media keys
Connection
Max polling rate
Battery
USB-C
Case material
Plate material
Keycaps
Weight
Dimensions
Backlight
QMK
VIA
N-key rollover
Mac & Windows
Released
ISO layouts by store
Which stores sell ISO-DE, UK, and the other regional layouts.
Ajazz AK820 Pro
No ISO layout at the stores we track.
Varmilo Minilo98 Pro
Varmilo
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-FR, ISO-ES
In stockShips to you
Compare prices
Live prices from the stores we track, cheapest in-stock offer first.
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Lowest price across stores, Amazon excluded.
Ajazz AK820 Pro vs Varmilo Minilo98 Pro: your questions
The Varmilo Minilo98 Pro is generally better for office work. Its 98% layout includes a full numpad for data entry, and it offers extensive ISO layout support for many European languages. It also includes dedicated Mac OS keycaps and a physical switch to change connection modes easily.
The vendor page for the Ajazz AK820 Pro lists downloadable drivers for different regional versions. However, there is no mention of support for advanced, open-source firmware like QMK or VIA, which are featured on the Varmilo Minilo98 Pro for deep key remapping.
Yes, both the Ajazz AK820 Pro and the Varmilo Minilo98 Pro are hot-swappable. Their product listings confirm they support both 3-pin and 5-pin mechanical switches, allowing you to change switches without soldering.
The Ajazz AK820 Pro is more portable. It weighs 810g compared to the Varmilo's 1000g, and its 75% layout is significantly narrower (327mm vs 388mm). Both have the same 4000mAh battery and wireless connectivity, but the Ajazz's smaller size is easier to pack.
According to its technical specifications, the Ajazz AK820 Pro has a 1000 Hz polling rate in both wired and 2.4GHz wireless modes. In Bluetooth mode, the polling rate is listed as 125 Hz.
Yes. The Varmilo Minilo98 Pro is compatible with macOS and Windows. Its vendor description states you can press Fn+Tab to switch systems, and it comes with two additional keys and four Mac OS keycaps in the box.
The Varmilo's product description details a layered gasket mount construction. It includes a PC plate, plate Poron foam, an IXPE switch pad, PCB, PCB Poron foam, and bottom silicone, all aimed at reducing typing noise and improving acoustics.
The Ajazz AK820 Pro features a 0.85-inch TFT screen. According to the manufacturer, it can display customizable visuals, battery status, date and time, connectivity mode, operating system, and backlight effects.
The Varmilo Minilo98 Pro has specifications that suggest stronger gaming performance. It explicitly lists a 1000 Hz polling rate and 1ms ultra-low latency. The Ajazz also has a 1000 Hz rate in certain modes, but the Varmilo emphasizes its low-latency chip and Hall Effect switch compatibility.
Both keyboards use PBT keycaps, but they have different profiles. The Ajazz AK820 Pro uses OEM profile keycaps, while the Varmilo Minilo98 Pro uses Cherry profile keycaps. The Varmilo also highlights its keycaps are 1.5mm thick with a dye-sub printing method for its ISO layouts.
According to its tech specs, the Varmilo Minilo98 Pro comes with the keyboard, a manual, a USB-C cable, a key/switch puller, a 2.4GHz dongle, extra keycaps (including Mac and ISO language sets), and a dust cover.
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