Varmilo APT108 Sea Melody vs VPM108 Chang'eWireless vs Aesthetic
Choose the APT108 Sea Melody for modern features and flexibility, or the VPM108 Chang'e for its unique, fixed aesthetic.
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Which one should you get?
Get the
Varmilo APT108 Sea Melody
Wireless
Build quality in the top 30% of 100% boards under $200.
- Triple connectivity with wired USB-C, Bluetooth 5.1, and 2.4 GHz wireless.
- Hotswap PCB compatible with VIA/QMK for easy switch changes and remapping.
- Includes dedicated multimedia keys and N-key rollover (NKRO).
- Magnetic switches only. Standard MX switches will not fit.
- North-facing LEDs. Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the switch housing.
Get the
Varmilo VPM108 Chang'e
Aesthetic
Build quality in the bottom 40% of 100% boards under $200.
- Unique, intricate artistic theme with dye-sub PBT keycaps featuring lunar phases and cultural motifs.
- Includes a silicone sound dampening pad for a quieter typing experience.
- Shares practical design elements like a 2-step kickstand and 3-way cord channel.
- Switches are soldered. Swapping them means soldering.
The Varmilo APT108 Sea Melody is the recommended choice for most users seeking a modern, functional full-size keyboard. Its wireless versatility, hotswap capability, and software support provide long-term value and customization. Only choose the Varmilo VPM108 Chang'e if its specific artistic theme is your primary purchase driver and you are willing to forgo modern connectivity and customization features.
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 APT108 Sea Melody
Varmilo VPM108 Chang'e
Hall effect (magnetic)
Yes
No
Adjustable actuation helps in games and not in normal typing
Hot-swappable
Yes
No
Switch changes without soldering
Case material
ABS
Plastic
Switch options
Linear, Tactile
Clicky
VIA
Yes
No
GUI remapping without compiling firmware
- Varmilo APT108 Sea Melody
- Varmilo VPM108 Chang'e
- Performance
- 8448
- Build quality
- 6450
- Productivity
- 8555
- Customizability
- 8053
- Portability
- 5342
- Layout size: 100%
- Mount style: Plate Mount
- Sound dampening
- Keycaps: PBT
What will you mostly use it for?
The APT108 Sea Melody is the clear winner for practical, performance-oriented use cases like gaming, office work, programming, and modding due to its wireless options, hotswap PCB, and programmability. Its advantages in travel are slight, given both keyboards' large size. The VPM108 Chang'e's primary appeal is for content creators or collectors who prioritize its fixed, artistic design over technical features, resulting in a tie for that specific use case.
Pick the Varmilo APT108 Sea Melody
- The APT108 offers a 1000 Hz wired polling rate for lower latency, which the VPM108's specifications do not mention.
- It provides N-key rollover (NKRO) for simultaneous key presses, a feature not listed for the VPM108.
- The availability of linear switch options may be preferred for gaming over the VPM108's clicky-only switch type.
Varmilo APT108 Sea Melody vs VPM108 Chang'e specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
9 of 21 specs differ
Varmilo APT108 Sea Melody
Varmilo VPM108 Chang'e
Switch options
Hall effect (magnetic)
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Sound dampening
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Display
Media keys
Connection
Max polling rate
USB-C
Case material
Plate material
Keycaps
Backlight
VIA
N-key rollover
Mac & Windows
Released
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Varmilo APT108 Sea Melody vs VPM108 Chang'e: your questions
No, the Varmilo VPM108 Chang'e is a wired-only keyboard according to its product listing. It does not offer Bluetooth or 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity.
Yes. The Varmilo APT108 Sea Melody features a hotswap PCB, allowing you to change mechanical switches without soldering. It is compatible with standard MX-style switches.
The APT108 Sea Melody is better suited for gaming. It specifies a 1000 Hz polling rate in wired mode and N-key rollover for reliable simultaneous key presses, features not mentioned for the VPM108 Chang'e.
No. The APT108 Sea Melody has per-key RGB backlighting. The VPM108 Chang'e has single-color white LED backlighting, which is used to highlight its themed keycap designs.
The product listing for the VPM108 Chang'e does not mention any software support for key reprogramming, such as VIA or QMK. It appears to be a pre-configured, non-programmable board.
The core difference is functionality versus aesthetics. The APT108 Sea Melody is a feature-rich board with wireless, hotswap, and programmability. The VPM108 Chang'e is a themed, wired-only board focused on its unique artistic design without those modern features.
Both keyboards include internal sound dampening. The APT108 Sea Melody uses a double-layer silicone sound absorption pad, while the VPM108 Chang'e uses a silicone sound dampening pad. The specific acoustic results may vary.
Both keyboards use dye-sublimated PBT keycaps, which are durable and resistant to shine. The VPM108 Chang'e's keycaps are specifically themed with intricate, multi-colored 5-side dye-sub printing for its artistic design.
Yes, the vendor listing for the APT108 Sea Melody confirms compatibility with Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems.
The product metadata for the Varmilo VPM108 Chang'e lists only a Clicky switch type. The vendor page shows options for various Varmilo EC switches, which are a type of silent tactile switch.
Only the APT108 Sea Melody has dedicated multimedia keys. The characteristics for the VPM108 Chang'e explicitly state "Multimedia Keys: No."
Yes, both the Varmilo APT108 Sea Melody and the VPM108 Chang'e include a 2-step kickstand for adjustable typing angles, according to their vendor descriptions.
Not sold on either?
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