Varmilo Minilo98 Pro vs Monsgeek M5Wireless or Aluminum
Choose the Minilo98 Pro for Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless, QMK/VIA, and ISO options, or the M5 for its aluminum case, standard full-size layout, and DIY kit features.
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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, as well as wired connectivity.
- QMK and VIA support for keymap customization.
- ISO layout options alongside ANSI.
- 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 M5
Build quality in the top 10% of 100% boards under $150.
- Aluminum case, with the vendor describing CNC-machined top and bottom covers.
- DIY kit positioning with support for 3-pin and 5-pin switches.
- Standard 100% layout.
- 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.
Get the Minilo98 Pro for Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless, QMK/VIA customization, and ISO layout options. Get the M5 for an aluminum case, a standard full-size arrangement, and its DIY kit approach with 3-pin and 5-pin switch support. Both offer hot-swappable gasket-mount designs, but their layout, connection, and build priorities differ.
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 M5
Layout size
98%
100%
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
Weight
1,000 g
2,600 g
Heavier boards stay planted and lighter ones travel
- Varmilo Minilo98 Pro
- Monsgeek M5
- Performance
- 8575
- Build quality
- 8179
- Productivity
- 8887
- Customizability
- 8979
- Portability
- 5546
- Hot-swappable
- Mount style: Gasket Mount
- Sound dampening
- Keycaps: PBT
What will you mostly use it for?
The Minilo98 Pro has the clearer edge for gaming, office setups, programming, travel, and content workflows, mainly through its wireless modes, QMK/VIA support, ISO choices, and lower listed weight. The M5 remains a compelling modding option for buyers who want an aluminum DIY kit and support for 3-pin and 5-pin switches. Both are hot-swappable gasket-mount boards, so the modding decision depends on whether ready-to-use wireless and keymap tools or a kit-oriented build is more important. Their shared PBT keycaps and south-facing RGB do not differentiate them.
Pick the Varmilo Minilo98 Pro
- The Minilo98 Pro supports a 1000 Hz polling rate in its metadata.
- It offers 2.4 GHz and wired modes, while the M5 is wired only.
Varmilo Minilo98 Pro vs Monsgeek M5 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
12 of 26 specs differ
Varmilo Minilo98 Pro
Monsgeek M5
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.
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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 M5
No ISO layout at the stores we track.
Varmilo Minilo98 Pro vs Monsgeek M5: your questions
Yes. Its listed connection options include Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and wired USB-C. The Monsgeek M5 is listed as wired only.
No wireless mode is listed for the M5, and its connectivity is specified as wired only. The Minilo98 Pro offers Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz in addition to wired use.
The Monsgeek M5 has an aluminum case, and its vendor description specifies CNC-machined aluminum top and bottom covers. The Minilo98 Pro metadata lists plastic, copper, and metal case materials.
Yes. Its feature list includes QMK and VIA support. Varmilo says these tools can be used for key remapping and creating macros, shortcuts, and key combinations.
The Minilo98 Pro is listed with ANSI and multiple ISO variants, and Varmilo describes replacement keycap sets for additional European layouts. The M5 is ANSI only, with no ISO variants listed.
The Minilo98 Pro is the lighter option in the listed specifications at 1000g, while the M5 is 2600g. The Minilo98 Pro also has a 98% layout that Varmilo describes as saving space compared with a normal-size board.
Yes. Both metadata listings include hot-swappable support. Varmilo specifies support for magnetic switches only on the Minilo98 Pro, while the M5 vendor description says its sockets support 3-pin and 5-pin switches.
No. Its compatibility details specify magnetic switches only and say standard MX switches will not fit. For the M5, the vendor describes support for 3-pin and 5-pin switches.
The Monsgeek M5 is listed as a 100% keyboard, and its vendor description calls it a full-size 108-key kit. The Minilo98 Pro is a compact 98% layout that retains a numpad.
Both are listed with south-facing RGB. The compatibility details for each warn that shine-through legends stay dark and that some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
The M5 is explicitly presented by its vendor as a DIY kit, with full-key hot-swap sockets for 3-pin and 5-pin switches. The Minilo98 Pro is listed as pre-built and adds QMK/VIA support for keymap customization.
Yes. It is listed as a 98% layout, and Varmilo describes it as a compact full-size design with a numpad for people who work with numbers. The M5 is also full size, but is listed as 100%.
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