Varmilo Minilo98 Pro vs Monsgeek M2Wireless or Aluminum
Get the Varmilo Minilo98 Pro for Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, silent switches, or ISO layouts, and choose the Monsgeek M2 for its CNC aluminum case and DIY kit with screw-in stabilizers.
KeebFinder may earn a commission when you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Which one should you get?
Get the
Varmilo Minilo98 Pro
Hall effect
Build quality in the top 5% of 98% boards under $200.
- Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless alongside wired USB-C connectivity.
- Silent switches and a 4000mAh battery.
- ANSI and multiple ISO layout options, with PBT keycaps.
- 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.
Get the
Monsgeek M2
Build quality in the top 10% of 96% boards under $150.
- CNC aluminum case in a DIY barebones kit.
- Screw-in stabilizers and a PC positioning plate.
- The vendor includes extra Teflon pads and tape for optional modifications.
- 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.
- Compact full-size layout. The numpad is present, the gaps of a full-size board are not.
Choose the Minilo98 Pro if you want wireless modes, silent switches, a battery, or ISO layout choices. Choose the Monsgeek M2 if a CNC aluminum case, DIY barebones format, and screw-in stabilizers matter more. Both list gasket mounting and QMK/VIA support, so those features alone do not separate them.
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.
Varmilo Minilo98 Pro
Monsgeek M2
Layout size
98%
96%
Hall effect (magnetic)
Yes
No
Adjustable actuation helps in games and not in normal typing
Connection
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Wired
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Case material
Copper, Metal, Plastic
Aluminum
Switch options
Silent
Linear
- Varmilo Minilo98 Pro
- Monsgeek M2
- Performance
- 8580
- Build quality
- 8187
- Productivity
- 8895
- Customizability
- 8994
- Portability
- 5546
- Hot-swappable
- Mount style: Gasket Mount
- QMK
- VIA
- Sound dampening
What will you mostly use it for?
The Minilo98 Pro is the more flexible pick for gaming, office work, and travel when wireless options, silent switches, or ISO layouts matter. The M2 is the stronger match for hands-on customization, with its DIY format, aluminum case, and screw-in stabilizers. Programming is a close call because both list QMK/VIA support and a compact full-size layout. For content creation, the Minilo98 Pro has the more varied connection options and includes multimedia keys.
Pick the Varmilo Minilo98 Pro
- The Minilo98 Pro supports 2.4 GHz and wired connections, while the M2 is wired only.
- The Minilo98 Pro lists a 1000 Hz polling rate.
Varmilo Minilo98 Pro vs Monsgeek M2 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
11 of 26 specs differ
Varmilo Minilo98 Pro
Monsgeek M2
Switch options
Hall effect (magnetic)
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Sound dampening
Screw-in stabilizers
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
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
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.
ISO layouts by store
Which stores sell ISO-DE, UK, and the other regional layouts.
Varmilo Minilo98 Pro
- Go to Varmilo
Varmilo
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-FR, ISO-ES
In stockShips to you
Monsgeek M2
No ISO layout at the stores we track.
Varmilo Minilo98 Pro vs Monsgeek M2: your questions
Yes. Its listed connection modes are Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and wired USB-C, and it has a 4000mAh battery.
No, the M2 is listed as wired only, with Type-C wired connectivity. Choose the Minilo98 Pro if Bluetooth or 2.4 GHz is required.
The Minilo98 Pro is listed with silent switches, and Varmilo offers Kailh Prestige Silent switches for it. The M2 is listed with linear switches, but its listing does not identify them as silent.
Yes, its listed layout standards include ANSI and several ISO variants. Varmilo describes a default Swedish ISO layout and replacement keycap sets for additional European languages.
No. The M2 is listed as ANSI only, and ISO-DE, UK, and other ISO variants are not offered.
The Monsgeek M2 is a DIY barebones kit with a CNC aluminum case and screw-in stabilizers. Its vendor also describes extra Teflon pads and tape for optional modifications.
The Minilo98 Pro compatibility notes specify magnetic switches only, so standard MX switches will not fit. Check switch compatibility before buying replacements.
The M2 vendor says its hot-swap sockets accept Cherry, TTC, Outemu, Gateron, and other 3- or 5-pin mechanical switches. The product metadata also lists hot-swap support.
Both keyboards list QMK and VIA support in their product metadata. The Monsgeek vendor page separately says that a version does not support QMK/VIA, so confirm the specific M2 version before purchase.
The Minilo98 Pro is listed at 1000 g, while the Monsgeek M2 is listed at 1960 g. The Minilo98 Pro is the lighter option based on those listed weights.
Both have compact full-size layouts with a numpad, according to their compatibility notes. Those notes also say the layouts omit the gaps found on a full-size board.
Both are listed with south-facing LEDs. Their compatibility notes warn that shine-through legends stay dark and that some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
Not sold on either?
Still torn?
Answer a few quick questions and the keyboard finder ranks 2,000+ boards by how you will actually use yours.