Keychron V1 vs Varmilo VA21M Numpad75% vs Numpad
Choose the Keychron V1 for a complete 75% keyboard with customization, or the Varmilo VA21M when you specifically need a standalone numpad.
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4.8 (63)4.8 · 63 reviews
from$44at Keychron
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from$46at MK
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron V1
75%
Build quality in the top 5% of 75% boards under $50.
- 75% layout with a knob and multimedia keys.
- Hot-swappable sockets support 3-pin and 5-pin switches.
- QMK and VIA support, with a programmable knob configurable through Keychron Launcher.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- No numpad.
Get the
Varmilo VA21M Numpad
Numpad
Build quality in the bottom 15% of Numpad boards under $50.
- Dedicated numpad layout for numeric input.
- Dye-sub PBT keycaps with a dark grey theme, according to the vendor listing.
- Vendor listing offers Cherry switch options including Silent Red, Silent Black, Blue, Brown, Red, Black, Silver, and Clear.
- Switches are soldered. Swapping them means soldering.
- No ISO layout. ISO-DE, UK, and other ISO variants are not offered.
- Numpad only. This is not a full keyboard.
Choose the Keychron V1 if you need one compact keyboard for general typing and want hot-swap switches, QMK support, or a programmable knob. Choose the Varmilo VA21M when you already have a keyboard and specifically want a dedicated numpad with PBT keycaps. Their layouts are the deciding difference: these products are not substitutes for the same role.
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.
Keychron V1
Varmilo VA21M Numpad
Layout size
75%
Numpad
Hot-swappable
Yes
No
Switch changes without soldering
Case material
ABS, Plastic
Plastic
Switch options
Clicky, Linear, Tactile
Clicky, Linear, Silent, Tactile
Mount style
Gasket Mount, Plate Mount, Tray Mount
Plate Mount
- Keychron V1
- Varmilo VA21M Numpad
- Performance
- 9155
- Build quality
- 8948
- Productivity
- 9851
- Customizability
- 9843
- Portability
- 6568
- Connection: Wired
What will you mostly use it for?
The V1 is the clear fit when you need a primary keyboard for gaming, programming, or creative work. It also takes the office pick because its compact full layout and remapping features cover more than numeric entry. The VA21M’s role is narrower: its numpad format can suit someone seeking a separate number-entry pad. For travel, the choice depends on the task, since both are wired and serve different layout needs.
Pick the Keychron V1
- The V1 is a full 75% keyboard, while the VA21M is a numpad rather than a complete gaming keyboard.
- The V1 lists a 1000 Hz polling rate and south-facing RGB; the VA21M has no RGB listed.
Keychron V1 vs Varmilo VA21M Numpad specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
16 of 26 specs differ
Keychron V1
Varmilo VA21M Numpad
Switch options
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Sound dampening
Screw-in stabilizers
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Knob
Display
Media keys
Connection
Max polling rate
USB-C
Case material
Plate material
Keycaps
Weight
Dimensions
Typing angle
Backlight
QMK
VIA
N-key rollover
Mac & Windows
Released
ISO layouts by store
Which stores sell ISO-DE, UK, and the other regional layouts.
Keychron V1
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW
In stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-FR, ISO-ES
In stockDoes not ship to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW
In stockDoes not ship to you
Varmilo VA21M Numpad
No ISO layout at the stores we track.
Compare prices
Live prices from the stores we track, cheapest in-stock offer first.
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Lowest price across stores, Amazon excluded.
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Keychron V1 vs Varmilo VA21M Numpad: your questions
Yes. The Keychron V1 has a 75% layout, while the Varmilo VA21M is a numpad-only product.
The VA21M is a standalone numpad, not a complete typing keyboard. Its ANSI numpad layout is intended for numeric input.
The V1 is the practical choice as a gaming keyboard because it has a 75% layout and lists a 1000 Hz polling rate. The VA21M is a numpad, so it cannot replace a full keyboard for gaming.
Yes. The V1 has hot-swappable sockets that support 3-pin and 5-pin switches, and Keychron says switch changes do not require soldering. The VA21M’s switches are soldered.
No. The VA21M’s switches are soldered, so replacing them requires soldering. The vendor listing shows multiple Cherry switch options for the product.
No. The V1 uses a 75% layout and its compatibility notes specify that it has no numpad. The VA21M is a dedicated numpad if you need separate numeric keys.
The V1 lists both QMK and VIA support, and the vendor describes QMK and Keychron Launcher features for remapping and macros. The VA21M does not list either feature.
Yes. The V1’s aluminum rotary encoder can be assigned to keys or macros through Keychron Launcher. The vendor gives examples including zoom, volume, brush size, and selecting video clips.
The V1 is listed with several ISO layout variants, including UK, German, French, Spanish, and Nordic. The VA21M is listed as ANSI and has no ISO layout options.
No. Both products are listed as wired-only. The V1 uses USB-C connectivity, while the VA21M is also specified as wired.
The V1’s fully assembled version includes double-shot OSA-profile PBT keycaps, which the vendor says are not shine-through. The VA21M listing describes dye-sub PBT keycaps with a dark grey theme.
The VA21M is the dedicated numpad option, making it suitable when you want numeric keys separately from your main keyboard. The V1 is a 75% keyboard and does not include a numpad.
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