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Head to head · Prices checked Nov 12, 2026

FE 21.3 Helios 88 vs Velocifire Virtual 87

Get the Velocifire Virtual 87 for qmk and via.

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Quick verdict

Which one should you get?

Get the

FE 21.3 Helios 88

Rules this board out

  • No ISO layout. ISO-DE, UK, and other ISO variants are not offered.

Get the

Velocifire Virtual 87

QMK

Build quality in the top 10% of 80% boards at any price.

Rules this board out

  • South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.

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.

FE 21.3 Helios 88

Velocifire Virtual 87

  • Mount style

    Top Mount

    Gasket Mount

  • Weight

    2,400 g

    1,700 g

    Heavier boards stay planted and lighter ones travel

  • QMK

    No

    Yes

    The deep option when you want to remap every key

  • VIA

    No

    Yes

    GUI remapping without compiling firmware

  • Layout standard

    ANSI

    ANSI, ISO

    ISO and JIS exist so regional layouts fit

KeebFinder scores

How we score
  • FE 21.3 Helios 88
  • Velocifire Virtual 87
Performance
47
72
Build quality
56
82
Productivity
49
77
Customizability
49
91
Portability
44
70

What they share

  • Hot-swappable
  • Case material: Aluminum
See every spec side by side

Full specs

FE 21.3 Helios 88 vs Velocifire Virtual 87 specs

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

9 of 18 specs differ

FE 21.3 Helios 88

Velocifire Virtual 87

Typing & switches

Hot-swappable

Yes
Yes

Mount style

Top Mount
Gasket Mount

Screw-in stabilizers

No
Yes

Layout

Layout size

—
80%

Layout standard

ANSI
ANSI, ISO

Ergonomics

Standard
Standard

Display

None
None

Connectivity & battery

Connection

—
Bluetooth, Wired

Max polling rate

—
1,000 Hz

Battery

—
5,000 mAh

Build & materials

Case material

Aluminum
Aluminum

Plate material

Aluminum, CarbonFiber, FR4, Polycarbonate, POM
FR4

Weight

2,400 g
1,700 g

Typing angle

8°
6°

Backlight

None
RGB, south-facing

Firmware & software

QMK

No
Yes

VIA

No
Yes

Extras

Released

2025
2025

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.

For EU buyers

ISO layouts by store

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

FE 21.3 Helios 88

No ISO layout at the stores we track.

Velocifire Virtual 87

Listed on the product, not split by store: ISO.

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