Head to head · Prices checked Nov 11, 2026

GDK Lab KV1 vs Varmilo Sword68 Ariel

Get the GDK Lab KV1 for the 5,000 mAh battery and via. Get the Varmilo Sword68 Ariel for sound dampening.

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Battery

GDK Lab KV1

[In Stock] KV1-65% Mechanical Keyboard Barebone Kit

from$169at Velocifire

Compare 2 stores

Sound dampening

Varmilo Sword68 Ariel

from$180at MK

Compare 2 stores

Quick verdict

Which one should you get?

Get the

GDK Lab KV1

Battery

Build quality in the top 25% of 65% boards under $200.

$169 at Velocifire

Get the

Varmilo Sword68 Ariel

Sound dampening

Build quality in the bottom 50% of 65% boards under $200.

Rules this board out

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.

$180 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.

GDK Lab KV1

Varmilo Sword68 Ariel

Battery
5,000 mAh
4,000 mAh
A larger battery means fewer cables during the day
Mount style
Gasket Mount
Plate Mount
VIA
Yes
No
GUI remapping without compiling firmware
Sound dampening
No
Yes
Layout standard
ANSI, ISO
ANSI
ISO and JIS exist so regional layouts fit

KeebFinder scores

How we score

GDK Lab KV1
Varmilo Sword68 Ariel

Performance: 58
57
Build quality: 77
63
Productivity: 56
69
Customizability: 75
61
Portability: 86
89

What they share

Layout size: 65%
Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Hot-swappable
Case material: Aluminum

See every spec side by side

Full specs

GDK Lab KV1 vs Varmilo Sword68 Ariel specs

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

8 of 22 specs differ

Spec

GDK Lab KV1

Varmilo Sword68 Ariel

Typing & switches

Hot-swappable

Yes

Mount style

Gasket Mount

Plate Mount

Sound dampening

Yes

Layout

Layout size

65%

Layout standard

ANSI, ISO

ANSI

Ergonomics

Standard

Display

None

Connectivity & battery

Connection

Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired

Max polling rate

1,000 Hz

—

Battery

5,000 mAhBetter

4,000 mAh

USB-C

Yes

Build & materials

Case material

Aluminum

Plate material

—

FR4

Keycaps

—

PBT

Weight

1,760 g

—

Dimensions

17 x 313 x 113 mm

—

Typing angle

8°

—

Backlight

None

RGB, south-facing

Firmware & software

VIA

Yes

N-key rollover

Yes

Mac & Windows

Yes

Extras

Released

2024

For EU buyers

ISO layouts by store

Which stores sell ISO-DE, UK, and the other regional layouts.

GDK Lab KV1

Velocifire
ISO
In stockShips to you

Varmilo Sword68 Ariel

No ISO layout at the stores we track.

Where to buy

Compare prices

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

Prices in USD are converted to your currency and can change at any time. KeebFinder may earn a commission when you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you.

Lowest price across stores, Amazon excluded.

GDK Lab KV12 stores