Magicforce has a similar backlit keyboard with doubleshot keycaps, metal plate and Gateron Browns on Amazon for $63... so apart from this Varmilo's metal case, are there any other differences for the extra $100? (w/shipping)
FranciscoThis has PBT keycaps - as opposed to the ABS magicforce provides &the font is a hell of a lot better.
This also has a full aluminum case, as opposed to the mostly plastic one the Magicforce has.
DukeDimwitYup... I changed the Magicforce keycaps :-) The only thing I don't like about the MagicForce is the backlight goes off after about 10 mins if you're not typing. Otherwise, it feels great, solid, well made.
FranciscoI have both the VA68M with Gateron Red and the MagicForce with Gateron Reds. They don't even feel like they are in the same category even though they have the same layout. The MagicForce feels like you are typing on a $60 keyboard. It's light, case is made of a thin plastic. If you type a lot, they keyboard kind of moves a little and has a squishy feeling to me. I am a pretty hard typist so that could be part of the problem. But with the VA68M. The case is pretty heavy and the feet do not allow the board to move at all. The case also has collapsible feet for those that do not like the keyboard raised.
The keycaps on the MF are not very good. They are basically the same Doubleshot keycaps that you find on the Corsairs. I replaced them with Tai-Hao Hawaii so I could be thinker PBT caps. That helped the feel of the board a lot. The caps on the VA68M are thick, PBT, I did not feel the need to replace them.
FranciscoI have the MF68 with Gateron Greens. It isn't bad, but it is noticeably lower quality than my Varmilo VA87MR. I also have Varmilo PBT caps on the MF68, which really helps.
If I were in the market for a new board I would definitely jump on this VA68M, though. I love the layout.
FranciscoIts by far my favorite keyboard and i have 12 mech keyboards
Dec 8, 2016
LevelSteam
Dec 9, 2016
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FranciscoI agree. I have 5 mech boards including the Magicforce 68 and it's probably my favorite, despite it being by far the cheapest board I've ever bought. The stock keycaps are rubbish but having swapped them for some Votex shine-through doubleshot PBTs I've found it to be fantastic.
I was thinking about getting in on this drop to have a similar board with MX Clears but I decided to just grab a MF68 kit off of aliexpress and build it myself :)