Keyboards these days are as much an expression of your lifestyle as an input device. Knowing this, Varmilo has for years now conceptualized various themes for keyboards. It has since gone further by adding desk mats for various themes, recognizing that these are a popular way to rack in some money without much effort with the themes and art designs already done anyway. The more things go down the form over function route, the harder it is to remain objective over things that are just not quantifiable. After all, what may appeal to me may not to you. The MA87 Beijing Opera we saw before epitomized this nearly perfectly, and the MA108 Forest Fairy is arguably a much tamer product in that regard. Adopting a green and white color scheme in general, with color splash accents and other designs on the keycaps, the keyboard aims to take inspiration from wildlife and the tranquility in a forest. Varmilo did what I expected in color-coordinating the keyboard cable, but went the extra mile in engraving the case all around to get practically close to the texture and finish of bark without changing the color scheme and still keeping it a keyboard rather than a Datamancer creation.

The color scheme may be the most divisive here, with a brighter green than you might expect based on some vendor photos of the VA108 Forest Fairy—the older version using Cherry MX switches without LEDs. Not that the LEDs do much as the keycaps are opaque and do not float, so you barely get any white edge lighting between the keycaps. The replacement keycaps are better visual indicators of when Caps Lock, Scroll Lock, or Num Lock are active, though, so I can appreciate that. Breathing mode is the only other lighting effect and doesn't do anything for me personally. The primary difference, or update if you want to consider it as such, with the MA108 Forest Fairy is the use of the company's new electrostatic capacitive EC V2 switches, which themselves are updated versions of the older Varmilo EC switches.

It's not easy to make your own switches any day of the year, even more so when you are not just using someone else's molds for the more traditional mechanical switches. Electrostatic capacitive switches are still rarely used today, mostly because they tend to be expensive with the increased number of parts and associated quality control, and if my keyboard sample is anything to go by, getting them this uniform is to be applauded. My previous experience with the EC Rose V2 was impressive for a medium-high force linear switch, and the new EC Ivy V2 tactile and clicky switch used here trumps it for me. I want deliberate actions for typing and gaming, and tactile switches are typically my go-to there. While there is no tactile-only Varmilo EC V2 switch yet, the EC Ivy V2 does the job when the clicky feedback is only a positive and not a negative. The switches and stabilizers are pre-lubed. There is sound dampening foam between the bottom plastic panel and PCB. The tactile bump is magnificent, as is the sound signature when typing on these. I would have liked a heavier peak force, but this is a better Cherry MX Blue in practice. I like this switch a lot, and the Forest Fairy theme complements it nicely.

There is a lot going on here, including some innovative designs and implementations, and it is actually less expensive than the MA87 Beijing Opera too, which does takes things up another notch in terms of fit, finish, and included goodies. Many will deem $153 a lot for what is mostly a basic keyboard. There are some pre-programmed functions which add to the user experience; however, many other keyboards do the same, if not better, for a lower cost. You are getting the Varmilo MA108 Forest Fairy for two things only: You like the theme and want to use the Varmilo EC V2 switches. I've mentioned before how both tick positively for me, and with that in mind, I happily recommend it for others with a similar mindset while acknowledging the novelty of the keyboard design and EC Ivy V2 switches.