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Head to head · Prices checked Nov 7, 2026

Varmilo MA V2 vs VPM87 Beijing Opera

Choose the VPM87 Beijing Opera for its aluminum plate, or the MA V2 if you prefer its listed north-facing white LEDs.

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Quick verdict

Which one should you get?

Get the

Varmilo MA V2

Build quality in the bottom 20% of 80% boards under $150.

If you want

  • 80% ANSI layout with clicky switches and wired-only connectivity.
  • PBT keycaps and white north-facing LEDs.
  • USB-C, N-Key Rollover, and multimedia keys.

Rules this board out

  • Switches are soldered. Swapping them means soldering.
  • North-facing LEDs. Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the switch housing.

Get the

Varmilo VPM87 Beijing Opera

Build quality in the bottom 25% of 80% boards under $150.

If you want

  • Aluminum plate paired with a plastic case.
  • 80% ANSI layout with clicky switches and wired-only connectivity.
  • PBT keycaps, white LEDs, USB-C, and N-Key Rollover.

Rules this board out

  • Switches are soldered. Swapping them means soldering.

Bottom line

Pick the VPM87 Beijing Opera if its aluminum plate and red-and-white keycap color listing suit your priorities. Choose the MA V2 if you prefer its listed north-facing white LEDs, but check keycap clearance if you plan to use Cherry-profile caps. Both are wired, clicky 80% keyboards with soldered switches.

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.

Varmilo MA V2

Varmilo VPM87 Beijing Opera

  • Backlight

    White, north-facing

    White

    RGB for looks and low light rather than speed

  • Released

    2023

    2024

KeebFinder scores

How we score
  • Varmilo MA V2
  • Varmilo VPM87 Beijing Opera
Performance
64
66
Build quality
48
49
Productivity
70
71
Customizability
51
53
Portability
59
59

What they share

  • Layout size: 80%
  • Connection: Wired
  • Case material: Plastic
  • Switch options: Clicky
  • Mount style: Plate Mount
  • Sound dampening
See every spec side by side

Best for

What will you mostly use it for?

The two keyboards are closely matched for gaming, office work, programming, and travel, with the same core layout, wired connection, and clicky switch type. The VPM87 Beijing Opera gets the edge for modding because the MA V2 has a specific north-facing LED compatibility caveat, though both require soldering to swap switches. Its aluminum plate is also a concrete differentiator for buyers who value that construction detail. Neither model has a clear travel advantage based on their shared wired-only setup and 80% layout.

For gaming

It's a tie

  • Both use a wired connection and clicky switches.
  • Both list N-Key Rollover and an 80% ANSI layout.

Full specs

Varmilo MA V2 vs VPM87 Beijing Opera specs

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

2 of 17 specs differ

Varmilo MA V2

Varmilo VPM87 Beijing Opera

Typing & switches

Switch options

Clicky
Clicky

Mount style

Plate Mount
Plate Mount

Sound dampening

Yes
Yes

Layout

Layout size

80%
80%

Layout standard

ANSI
ANSI

Ergonomics

Standard
Standard

Display

None
None

Media keys

Yes
Yes

Connectivity & battery

Connection

Wired
Wired

USB-C

Yes
Yes

Build & materials

Case material

Plastic
Plastic

Plate material

—
Aluminum

Keycaps

PBT
PBT

Backlight

White, north-facing
White

Firmware & software

N-key rollover

Yes
Yes

Mac & Windows

Yes
Yes

Extras

Released

2023
2024

Where to buy

Compare prices

Live prices from the stores we track, cheapest in-stock offer first.

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Lowest price across stores, Amazon excluded.

FAQ

Varmilo MA V2 vs VPM87 Beijing Opera: your questions

The VPM87 Beijing Opera lists an aluminum plate, while the MA V2 metadata does not list a plate material. The MA V2 is specifically listed with north-facing white LEDs, which have a Cherry-profile keycap compatibility caveat.

Yes, both are listed as 80% keyboards with an ANSI layout. The vendor descriptions also identify both as tenkeyless models.

No hot-swap feature is listed for either keyboard, and both compatibility rules say the switches are soldered. Changing switches requires soldering.

The MA V2 has north-facing LEDs, and its compatibility rule warns that Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the switch housing. That warning is not listed for the VPM87 Beijing Opera.

Both are listed as wired only. The MA V2 includes USB-C in its extra features, and the VPM87 Beijing Opera's vendor listing specifies a USB-C keyboard connection.

The VPM87 Beijing Opera lists an aluminum plate. The MA V2 metadata does not specify a plate material.

Yes, both are listed with white lighting. The MA V2 is specifically described as having north-facing LEDs, while the VPM87 listing identifies white LED backlighting without that direction detail.

Both are wired 80% ANSI keyboards with clicky switches and N-Key Rollover listed. The supplied specifications do not establish a meaningful gaming distinction between them.

Both vendor descriptions mention routes for the cable to exit from the left, right, or middle underneath the keyboard. The VPM87 listing calls this a three-way cord channel.

Yes, sound dampening is listed for both. The MA V2 vendor description specifies silicone pads between the PCB and positioning plate, while the VPM87 listing specifies double silicone sound-dampening pads.

Both product metadata entries list Mac/Win support. The vendor listings also identify Mac and Windows compatibility for each model.

Both product metadata entries list multimedia keys. The VPM87 Beijing Opera vendor description refers to preset multimedia keypress combinations, while the MA V2 vendor listing confirms multimedia keys.

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