Customer Ratings & Reviews

good keyboard, easy to setup, pairs will with other razer products!

If you are looking for a premium compact gaming keyboard, then this should definitely be on your list of candidates. When first opening the box, this keyboard comes across as heavy for its size, and it has a very solid feeling. The key caps are actually the best that I have ever used. They have an extremely nice textured feel that is unlike anything that I have ever used before. While the keycaps are replaceable, I can’t imagine that there are any keycaps on the market that would feel better. One thing to know about this keyboard is that it is only available with one set of switches, which are Razer’s own “orange” switches, which seem closest to Cherry brown switches. Whether this is good or bad is entirely subjective. I am not an FPS gamer, and my tasks tend more towards the RPG genre and coding/office type tasks. For me, these keys are great. I tend to slightly prefer the “blue” clicky switches, but these switches still feature a nice feel, but without so much noise. Note that these are mechanical switches, not optical or hall-effect. I happen to not be a fan of the feel of hall-effect switches, so I am happy with this decision. Optical switches might have been a nice touch in that they should be immune from dust, but since these switches are hot-swappable (and even come with three spare switches), I am completely satisfied. On the other hand, if you really want this keyboard, you can easily replace every switch in a matter of minutes, but this would obviously introduce extra cost. The connection options abound, with the choices being a USB-C cable (also necessary to charge the battery), the included wireless dongle, and up to three separate BlueTooth devices. The dongle is actually rather large, and is just a small block with a USB-C female port in the back that you can plug a cable into. It is NOT the small USB-A type that can be stored in the keyboard. Using the wireless adapter, you can get up to a 4 KHz polling rate, but the funny thing is that you only get 1 KHz when using a direct cable connection. However, anything past 1 KHz is lost in the land of diminishing returns, so I don’t consider this to be a disadvantage. But the star of this show is the OLED display in the upper-right corner of the board, and the associated rotary wheel. It does come with some defaults, but in order to fully customize it, you will need the Razer Synapse software. Thankfully, Synapse seems relatively lightweight and snappy to use. I have only tried a few brands (Asus, CoolerMaster, and Logitch), and so far this is one of the nicest keyboard software packages that I have used. Given how some of the competition makes software that can bring a high-end PC to its knees just adjusting keyboard settings, this is a very low bar to set, but it is still nice that Razer gives you something usable. You also have the option of installing the Chroma software to control the lighting, but I am not much of an RGB type of guy, so I just set a static color and call it a day. But once you do have the software installed, there are a few preset uses for the display (see attached screenshot). While they are sensible, the act of changing what the scroll wheel does is kind of fiddly, as you have to tap the side button to switch between usages of the display/wheel combo. This switching takes your eyes off of your monitor, and can take several presses to cycle through to the setting that you want. I found this to be somewhat cumbersome, so I generally just leave it set to control my volume and mute settings. The screen defaults to a video of a spaceship moving around and shooting things, but I am more practical, so I have it set to just showing keyboard status. Another useful option is showing three pages of customizable info showing various CPU/GPU usages and temperatures. Of note is that the Synapse software can also enable the “snap tap” mode where the “A” and “D” keys can only register one of the two, and the most recent button wins. This is a great feature for FPS games, but be aware that some games (I’m looking at you, Counter Strike 2) consider this CHEATING and you can get BANNED for using this feature, so be careful before you enable it. As great as this keyboard is, there are a few things that are less than ideal. The first, obviously, is the price. This thing is VERY well built, and that costs money. But you are also getting an OLED display that I have found to be nice, but hardly essential. I do not know how much the OLED added to the cost, and only you can determine if this excellent keyboard is worth the price. Another issue that I found is that the USB-C jack is set deep into the back of the case. I like to use a right-angle cable with my keyboard, but I don’t think that a right-angle cable exists that can fit. For most people, this is not a big deal. The final flaw is the size. This is a very well-built machine, but it is also a bit chunky (see attached photos for comparisons to other keyboards). I have never used a wrist rest with my keyboards before, but this keyboard is thick enough where I have to use the wrist rest (as nice as it is) to get the keyboard at a comfortable level in relation to my hand. If you are used to using a wrist rest, then you won’t even notice a difference. So, overall, this is an excellent but expensive keyboard. I am very happy with the quality, but the value proposition will be VERY subjective based on what you are looking for in terms of features

I was excited to get my hands on the new Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% Wireless Gaming Keyboard, coming from last year's model, the BlackWidow V4 75% Wired version and seeing all the upgrades Razer has put into this Pro version, I had to try it out. Razer has set a new benchmark for its V4 model, with adding wireless connectivity, an OLED screen while also keeping the design in mind for gamers and productivity. This keyboard blends functionality, customizability, and Razer's signature gaming flair into a sleek, versatile keyboard. The 75% layout is perfect for those who want a balance between space-saving and functionality. The keyboard has an aluminum top plate that feels very sturdy and premium. It comes with a magnetic wrist rest, that just adds that much needed comfortability when typing and long game sessions, and I wish more gaming companies would add this to their keyboards. The keyboard is hot-swappable, which allows users to easily change switches without soldering, adding to its customizability. Razer’s Orange mechanical switches provide a nice tactile feedback with a solid click actuation, making them suitable for both gaming and typing. That being said, I know these switches are not for everyone with a slight click when actuating the key press. I personally love this for everyday typing, but can see where some of those sweaty mouse and keyboard gamers might not love that. The keys are double-shot PBT keycaps that are durable and resistant to fading, ensuring longevity, along with being shine through, so you can see the RGB through all the keys. The V4 Pro comes with Razer’s “Snap Tap” which can be turned on in the Synapse app and this setting prevents the selected keys from registering simultaneously, overriding the former’s held-down key with the latter. This is a cool feature for quick movements in first person shooter games, but just know this might get you flagged in certain games like CS:GO, as companies are deciding if this feature is considered “cheating”. The V4 Pro keyboard adds wireless connection this year, offering both Bluetooth and a low-latency 2.4 GHz Razer HyperSpeed dongle wireless connection. I love this feature in that I only need one keyboard on my desk. So, when I’m using my work laptop, I can have that connected to Bluetooth and have my gaming PC connected to the HyperSleep dongle. This allows me to easily switch back and forth between the two with just sliding the connection switch in the top left corner of the keyboard. Battery life is impressive, with claims of lasting up to 2100 hours in Low power mode and lasting up to 40 hours with RGB lighting and the OLED turned on. My only real nitpick is that the HyperSpeed dongle is a female USB-C dongle and not a Male USB-C. So, you can not plug the dongle directly into your computer and have to plug it into the provided USB-C cable and then plug that cable into your computer, which adds some clutter to your desk space The standout addition to the V4 Pro is the customizable OLED screen in the top-right corner of the keyboard and offers some cool customizations, such as Real-time Stats where it displays system performance data like CPU and GPU temps. Custom Animations with Razer themed animations for a personalized touch. Media Controls where you can control volume, skip tracks or pause videos. Scroll wheel, which allows you to scroll vertically or horizontally, which I found very useful for when navigating Excel spreadsheets horizontally. Then switching between apps and lighting brightness adjustments, just to name a few. Though at the moment the OLED screen is limited to what Razer offers in the Synapse app and no 3rd party integration at the moment. The OLED screen is a nice little quality of life addition, so you’re not always having to use Synapse for controlling certain things. Pros and Cons Pros Compact yet functional: The 75% layout saves desk space without sacrificing essential keys. Hot-swappable design: Makes customization effortless. OLED display: Adds both functionality and a wow factor. Wireless versatility: Dual wireless modes and excellent battery life. Premium build quality: Aluminum frame and durable shine through PBT keycaps. Razer Synapse integration: Extensive customization options. Tactile switches: Ideal for gaming and work. Cons Price: At a premium price point, it may not be accessible for all. Limited OLED integrations: While innovative, the OLED screen's compatibility with 3rd party apps and games could expand further. No dedicated macro keys: May be a drawback for those who like or productivity users. Wireless Dongle: Dongle needs to be plugged into a cable and can’t be plugged into the PC Razer Synapse integration: Having to download another software constantly running in the background in order to get all the features out of the keyboard. Overall, The Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% Wireless is a great refresh from the V4 Wired keyboard for gamers and professionals seeking a compact, customizable, and feature-rich device. The addition of the OLED screen, and wireless connection flexibility make it a standout option in a crowded market. While the premium price may deter some, the quality and functionality justify the investment especially for those who have a two computer setup with work and gaming, I highly recommend this keyboard.

I have been looking for a gaming keyboard just like this one for a while now. Normally I try to stay with a wired keyboard to avoid lag or delay, but in my experience with recent keyboards this should no longer be a concern. This is definitely the case for the Blackwidow Pro v4 75%. I love everything about this keyboard, and you get just about any feature you could possibly think of. I use my PC setup mainly for work, but I invest in it for gaming. So while I do want a good responsive keyboard to use during my gaming sessions, I also want to make sure that my keyboard is a joy to use while I am using it for work. I really enjoy using this keyboard for work. The typing experience is amazing. I like the Razer Orange Tactile Mechanical Switches they are using here. That combined with the Doubleshot PBT Keycaps make the actual process of typing comfortable. The keys have just enough travel, and I am able to comfortably maintain a fast typing speed with minimal errors. I had to go on to Razer’s website to check why the keyboard sounded so good, besides the mechanical switches. I think it also has to do with the overall build of the deck as well. You get a couple of foam as well as some tape that is used to give the keyboard a sound profile that sounds very satisfying. I recommend going online and checking for videos of the keyboard being used so you can hear how great the keys sound. You are able to hear it for a few seconds on Razer’s website. Ok, ok. So the build quality and sound profile are great, but why is this the must have gaming keyboard? You get an extremely fast 4k Hz wireless connection as well as being able to connect 3 devices with Bluetooth 5.1 built in to the keyboard. You are also able to just connect wired directly to the PC with the high quality wrapped USB-C cable. I was not able to notice any kind of delay in input when I used the Bluetooth and 4k Hz wireless adapter. I charged it up the first day I got it and it was able to last easily over a week without needing to be topped up again. I was fortunate that I started using this over our Thanksgiving break so I had some quality time setting it up and really getting some long gaming sessions in. Everything ran smoothly, and you get the Razer Synapse software to help you customize the keyboard to your liking even customizing key inputs. Speaking of customization; this is a Razer keyboard so I feel like saying that the keyboard has RGB lighting is obvious. So while you get the typical lights and customization on the actual keys, you also get 2 light strips that run down the right and left side of the keyboard so splash some light along your desk as well. I love the soft glow it gives the desk around the keyboard. The next thing that is really stunning is the little OLED screen you have on the top right corner of the keyboard. At first I thought this was a little gimmicky, but after a week of using it I can say it is actually quite convenient. You get a wheel and side button near the wheel that really lets you use that little screen for things like track or volume adjustments, brightness adjustments, and audio meter or a little GIF animation when in standby. I have been using it mainly to keep the track info displayed while I am working and listening to my music. They really have thought of just about everything you could want in a high end keyboard. After being amazed by everything else about this keyboard, it was a nice surprise to see that the very soft, subtle, and comfortable wrist pad connects to the keyboard with magnets. The magnets aren’t super strong so you won’t have to struggle to separate them, but it also never slides around. The wrist pad stays right in place. This would be the keyboard I would recommend to everyone. You get so many customization options, from lighting to key assignment, and they OLED screen gives you more control of the PC and what is playing on it. Add that to the fact that the keys are a joy to use and the sound is very satisfying, and I would be hard pressed to recommend any other keyboard. This should be top of your list.

TLDR Most Razer products have left me wanting. While not bad, they often didn’t have anything to stand out from the competition, especially when you factor in my much-despised Synapse 3 software. With the BlackWidow 4 and the new Synapse 4, Razer seems like it has brought out a whole new product line, rather than just refinements to its existing products. SET-UP Oh, Synapse. It has been a love/hate relationship with me. Honestly, Razer wants me to love it, but I’ve always hated Synapse. Synapse software has always sucked, in my opinion. Slow, resource intensive, and confusing. Synapse 4 is a total rewrite of the software. It is markedly improved in nearly every way. Of my 3 biggest dislikes, 2 of them have been addressed and rectified. The new Synapse 4 is now multi-threaded and much less resource consuming. It is quick to load, and changes are immediate. My system no longer seems to struggle with the app. Synapse 3 was just a hot mess. No matter what computer I used it on, it was slow, bloated, and buggy. No matter what PC I installed the software on, the app was laggy and a memory hog. Razer has done a very good job at addressing the shortcomings. My only real complaint left of the Synapse software is that it is still confusing. Razer’s competitors are much less confusing and more cohesive. But Razer should be applauded for attempting to rework the Synapse ecosystem. But, for me, there are still too many modules that need added for full functionality and to make basic changes like lighting control, but it is better. Kudos to Razer for attempting to address the issues. USE My son and I have both been using a 65% keyboard for some time now. While he seems to prefer a more compact keyboard for gaming, I find that 65% feels just a little too cramped for my tastes. For me, 65% keyboards are just too small, especially when typing. I often over reach keys and therefore have numerous misspellings. I know that the BlackWidow is technically only 10% larger, but it is just enough. It feels more spacious and maybe it's just my imagination, but it doesn’t feel near as cramped and uncomfortable. It strikes a great balance between a traditional full-size keyboard and a mini gaming keyboard, feeling just right. I have multiple receivers plugged into the front USB ports on my gaming desktop. From XBox controller receivers to 2.4GHz dongles for a competitor’s mouse and keyboard. My current 65% gaming keyboard is an exercise in frustration and patience. No matter if it’s connected via Bluetooth or the 2.4 dongle, I often get skipped keystrokes and/or repeated keystrokes. While not as noticeable gaming, typing is frustrating and challenging. I’m not sure how Razer did it, but I haven’t experienced these issues with the BlackWidow. ZERO. Regardless of whether I’m connected via the Razer dongle or Bluetooth, typing and gaming have been issue free. I have their dongle connected in the exact port that I had my previous keyboard dongle plugged into and with the additional receivers in their same ports, as well. Razer’s communication protocols are top notch. There really isn’t anything not to like about the new BlackWidow. Razer’s new keys are super smooth with a satisfying click. However, note that they are either not dampened or minimally dampened, so they are considerably louder than the competition. But muting a mechanical switch often leads to a sense of mushiness. Not with the BlackWidow, they are mechanical, smooth, precise, and proud of it. I wasn’t sure how I would like the new OLED display. I have another gaming keyboard with a display, but it serves little more than being a useless gizmo. The BlackWidow’s OLED display is not a useless gizmo. Customizable in the Synapse software, there are several options available that determine its functionality. For me, the most important, is that the display can be programmed to display system vitals. I normally use a competitor’s standalone product for this. Sitting above my keyboard providing real-time system information, usually when testing laptops and desktops. The new Black Widow has rendered it obsolete. With a few easy customizations in the Synapse software, I can pick from a number of options to scroll through. Now, while gaming, I have my GPU, CPU, and system vitals continuously scroll through the display. AWESOME!! Accompanying the OLED display is what Razer calls the Command Dial. It is a multi-function dial, programmable through Synapse, that can be used to control items like volume, OLED brightness, backlighting brightness, track selector, etc. It’s compact and easy to use. Most importantly, once set up, you don’t have to use Synapse to change its function. A quick push on the dials cycles it through the pre-programmed modes of your choosing. Slick! NEGATIVES First. There are 3 ways to connect they keyboard to a PC. Bluetooth, 2.4GHz via the supplied dongle, or hardwired. However, Razer’s dongle is does not have a built-in male USB-A or USB-C connector, thereby requiring a USB cable to connect it. Razer only includes 1 USB cable with keyboard. While it is sufficient, I would like to see a short 6” or so, cable added in the package for the dongle. I understand that if you are using the supplied USB cable for the keyboard, you don’t need the dongle, but it would be nice to have a short cable to keep from unplugging the dongle to hook the cable to keyboard for use or for charging. Two. Many of the useful keyboard settings are only available via the Razer dongle and become inoperable while using Bluetooth. For example, you cannot get your system vitals via a Bluetooth connection on the OLED display, nor can you make changes to the display while connected via Bluetooth. In a perfect world, these things would be available regardless of connection protocol. Furthermore, when powering off the computer and/or switching between Bluetooth and 2.4GHz, Synapse does not carry over the last setting applied to the OLED display. Like I said earlier, I like it to monitor system vitals, but when switching to Bluetooth, it defaults to what I call the “Defender animation”. If I switch back to the 2.4GHz dongle, it keeps the Defender animation & I must go into Synapse and reselect the information icon to get it to change back, even though it is still showing as the active widget. Third. While improved, the Synapse software is still confusing. There are just too many modules and pages to go through to fully customize your keyboard. Razer has set up their Synapse software to control a multitude of devices. I get it. Unlike other manufacturers, Razer divides their software into what you want to change. Say, lighting. You have to navigate to the Chroma studio to change color. On the plus side, you can make changes to all Razer products on that landing page, but I prefer to have each product broken down into their own sections, like the competition. Not really a negative, more of a personal preference for me. FINAL THOUGHTS Really my negatives of the BlackWidow are just nit-picking. What I would want in a perfect world. The BlackWidow is a great product. The typing experience is top-notch. I’ve done this whole review switching between Bluetooth and 2.4 and haven’t had a single hiccup. This was never possible with my current keyboard. Most of my complaints regarding the older Synapse software have been addressed, and Razer has done a very good job with the software re-write. Razer fans will appreciate the familiarity of the Synapse interface but should be extremely pleased with the improvements under the hood. Excellent work Razer. The BlackWidow v4 is an excellent product. Not only do the mechanical keys feel great, but the keyboard also has a high-end, premium look and feel. The keyboard is just big enough to be comfortable, without the added bulk and size of a true full-size. Battery life is good and can be increased even more by slowing the polling rate or by connecting via the included Bluetooth 5.1 protocol. After many hours of gaming and writing reviews, I’m still over 70%. If you are looking for an excellent gaming keyboard that can be just as satisfying at a workstation, the BlackWidow 4 can easily do double duty and should be on your short list of options. The typing experience is first rate, and the Razer communication protocols are impeccable even in a crowded 2.4GHz environment. Razer has upped their game with the BlackWidow 4 and Synapse 4. Whether you are a current Razer customer or looking at getting into the Razer ecosystem, you won’t be disappointed. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

BlackWidow V4 Pro with hyperpolling wireless charging nice device and a beauty ❤️

Love the keyboard so small smooth keyboard overall

My first thoughts after opening the keyboard is wow, it is bulky and heavier than other keyboards. The doubleshot PBT keys have a nice textured surface feel to them. The clickiness of the keys is a little loud for my liking (Razer’s orange tactile mechanical switches) but each key registers nicely while typing. After powering it on, wow it looks beautiful! From the glow around the keys, to the simple font of the letters on the keys, the lighting on the sides of the keyboard, and the rich display of the OLED screen, it truly gives off a premium look and feel. To finish off the great aesthetic look, the included leatherette wrist rest feels nice and has a carbon fiber looking finish. It is soft, smooth, and not too firm to where it doesn’t provide enough support. In my opinion, it is comfortable. Lastly, to top it off, it is also magnetic and fits snug on the angled lower part of the keyboard. If one wasn’t provided though, the keyboard would feel a little uncomfortable to use without it due to how tall it is. Now for connecting it to my computer. Installing the drivers and software on my Windows computer was a breeze. I connected the wireless hyperpolling dongle to my computer with the included cable and it automatically detected the correct drivers and prompted me to install Razer’s Synapse and Chroma software. What I did find odd was that it wasn’t your standard USB dongle. A separate cable needs to connect to it (Razer did include one) and then to the computer, versus others where it's a small USB dongle. Other than the odd wireless dongle, I found using the software and OLED screen settings to be straightforward. Before getting into everything you can do with the OLED screen, I did want to go into the keyboard build. The keyboard includes a tape mod (a fire-retardant tape on the PCB), screwed-on stabilizers, Razer Orange Tactile mechanical Gen-3 switches, and a few other layers within the keyboard (I will stick to talking about only these three for the sake of longevity). While a tape mode can easily be installed on keyboards, Razer decided to make it even easier and pre-installed it (no masking tape required!). According to Razer, it is used to help absorb some of the higher frequencies as keys are pressed down and helps provide a fuller, richer sound profile. In my opinion, it does ever so slightly sound different from other mechanical keyboards I’ve used and doesn’t resonate as much when typing. As for the screwed on, pre-lubricated stabilizers, I found each of the larger keys (space bar, enter, shift, so on) pressed down evenly and is something less I needed to worry about for my keyboard down the road. If after trying the keyboard you would like to switch them out, the plate used under the keys supports plate-mounted stabilizers. And last but not least, the keycaps and switches are removable and can be switched out with 3 or 5 pin switches. Razer even includes a keycap and switch removal tool with the keyboard. The feature that makes this keyboard stand out is definitely the OLED screen. From being able to adjust the keyboard’s brightness, volume, and your current audio track to adding GIFs and seeing CPU/GPU temps, it can be useful. To the right of the screen, there is a clickable scroll wheel and button that can be used to adjust several computer and keyboard settings such as previously mentioned. Compared to other keyboards where you would need to open the keyboard software to make certain changes, it's nice to be able to make them on the go from the small OLED screen. On the other hand, a gimmicky (but very fun) option to use the OLED screen is to display a GIF! Razer already has a few preinstalled and you have the option to add your own through their Synapse software. I personally loved this and so did my kids! It is another great way to personalize your keyboard. To add your own, I recommend using a GIF with an aspect ratio of 21:9 (width being 3 times the height) or close to that ratio. I was able to find a tool online to resize my GIFs and they worked out well. Another feature that I personally found useful was the ability to assign modes for hotkey templates depending on the app you’re using and can be switched with a key combo (Fn + Alt keys). Up to 6 modes can be customized via Razer’s Synapse software and can be useful for the type of work you’re doing. I found this especially useful when using Photoshop and video editing where I use certain hotkeys for certain tools and edits and can change back to my default, “every day” mode and can use another set of hot keys. To top it off, you can also record your own macro on the fly and save it to your keyboard. Now for the downsides. This keyboard is tall and bulky and in my opinion, should be one you leave home versus one you use on the go. Like I previously mentioned, without the included wrist rest, after using it a while it will begin to feel uncomfortable. While it can be said that it is bulky due to the number of layers the keyboard has, it left me wishing that there would be an additional storage slot for its accessories. There isn’t a space to attach its wireless hyperpolling dongle to it nor to store its cable. Another downside is that the wireless dongle only works for this keyboard, not another Razer device like a mouse. Lastly, I also found that while Razer promotes the keyboard having a 2100 hour battery life, this is only the case while it is in power saving mode. I found that with the default lighting effect (50% brightness, color changing effect throughout the keyboard), OLED screen casually on (40% brightness), and 1k Hz polling rate, it decreased by about 20% after 2-3 hours of regular use. Now to conclude this feature filled presentation. I have read many comments that have argued the price, but in my opinion, the two largest features this keyboard has are its add-ons (the layers of foam, stabilizers, tape mod, and so on) and the OLED screen. And if you don’t care about anything other than the OLED screen, well, this is a keyboard in a category of its own because of it. I would recommend this keyboard to anyone looking to have a keyboard with all of the included extras and not wanting to install them on their own. Also, for those wanting to have a flashy OLED screen with their favorite GIF to show off on their keyboard. Can you live without it? Like many things, yes, but this keyboard is truly a top notch piece of hardware anyone can enjoy using and looking at, in my opinion.

So far, my experience with the Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% Wireless Orange Switch Gaming Keyboard has been absolutely incredible. I love this keyboard so much! If you're considering it, I highly recommend downloading the Razer Chroma app to unlock its full potential. The app allows you to customize everything, from the vibrant RGB lighting to the OLED screen and its functions. Just 30 seconds of typing, and you’ll notice the exceptional quality. The doubleshot keycaps have a subtle texture that feels perfect under your fingers, adding a level of precision to each keystroke that’s hard to describe—it just feels right. The response time is flawless; I haven’t experienced any lag or delay. The versatility of connection options is another standout feature. Whether you prefer wired, 4K wireless, or Bluetooth 5.1, this keyboard delivers. You can connect up to three devices via Bluetooth, making it ideal for multitasking. The magnetic wrist rest was a pleasant surprise. Initially, I thought it was gimmicky, but after trying it, I never type without it. It’s comfortable, easy to attach, and makes long sessions a breeze. The RGB lighting is top-notch, as expected from Razer, and endlessly fun to play with. My kids absolutely love the vibrant colors, and I enjoy customizing it to match my PC setup. And the sound—oh, the sound! It’s out of this world. Typing or gaming, the crisp and satisfying clack is so pleasing. It’s a bit loud, but in the best way possible. I even brought it to work, and five coworkers came over just to check it out! What really sets this keyboard apart are the two unique features: the Razer Snap Tap and the OLED Command Dial. Snap Tap is a literal game-changer. It lets you prioritize input between assigned keys—in my case, the A and D keys for lightning-fast movement in FPS games. It’s incredibly responsive, with zero lag. The OLED Command Dial is another standout. You can customize the screen through the Chroma app to display cool visuals like system info, emotes, a screensaver, or even a rocket shooting asteroids (which it has out of the box). The dial itself is versatile, allowing you to control volume, brightness, zoom, scroll, switch apps, and more. It’s a small feature that packs a ton of functionality. If you’re in the market for a slightly smaller keyboard and don’t need a number pad, this is the one you’ve been waiting for. Razer truly knocked it out of the park with the BlackWidow V4 Pro. It’s not just a keyboard—it’s an experience! Highly recommended.

Here’s the thing. The price on this thing is insane. Therefore, I’ll be judging it harshly. As being nearly $100 more than any other premium keyboard it’s gotta have the goods. While it certainly does have a lot of features. It does not justify its price point. Which is out of control. But if you can get over the price point. It certainly is a very nice keyboard. WHAT I LIKE: - 4K wireless polling. - The way the keys feel are great. Really strong tactile click. It also has a good sound to it in general. But spacebar still gives too much of a ping. Lubing the stabs helped. But I’ll also have to probably add some foam to the inside of the spacebar. But otherwise feels and sounds good. But not as good as I would expect at this price point. - Responsive for gaming. Can play to the top of my ability with it. Not quite as nice as my Wooting 80HE with hall effect switches. - Enthusiast/Custom keyboard features are nice (gasket mounted FR4 plate, tape-enhanced PCB, sound dampening foam, screw in stabs). Also, well done. But not perfect, which again for the price is disappointing. - RGB lighting is excellent with per key RGB lighting. I don’t think anyone does it better than Razer. Side lighting is a nice touch that I enjoy too. Doesn’t get as bright as the normal wired version. - OLED screen is a neat feature. That allows you do a lot more customization options on the fly. Include (switch apps, zoom, volume, track selection, OLED brightness, lighting brightness). The dial feels great. If on volume or RGB pressing it will mute or turn off RGB. Button below that allows you to switch through the different modes. Is something that I actually use on a regular basis. - Textured doubleshot PBT keycaps. I personally prefer doubleshot ABS. As they are a bit smoother. Where these have a rougher texture. But are more resistant towards finger oils and shininess secondary to that. But don’t let as much light through. - Hot swappable for 3 or 5 pin switches. They are north facing which I know some people dislike. - Uses Synapse 4 NOT 3. I like this version better than previous ones. But many people do not like Razer Synapse. As it can be a moody software. It still is. But a lot less than previous versions. I mostly used it without the software. As there are plenty of shortcuts for lighting and other things so you don’t really NEED the software. 5 onboard profiles. - Like that it has functionality for wired, wireless, and Bluetooth. Dislike how it does not natively support MacOS. While it works on Mac (as I’m typing this up with a Mac + this keyboard) you can’t switch windows and alt functionality (unless if you have a profile for it made on a windows PC? as synapse isn’t support on Mac. Didn’t try that but may work?). With how big Razer is and how expensive this keyboard is that is not acceptable. - Support “snap tap” if that is your jam. - I like that the display goes through different information like CPU%, CPU Temp, and same with GPU and date and time. Very cool feature. But I think that requires Synapse to be open. - Great for gaming, typing, and casual use. - Lightweight. But can be bad too as it makes it feel cheaper. - Bluetooth 5.1 is appreciated. - 75% form factor is my favorite. Has all the keys I need in a lot smaller footprint. WHAT I DISLIKE: - 4K wireless polling, but only 1K polling when plugged in. Why? Especially at this price point. Should be able to get 8K when plugged in. - I also own the wired variant. It has key chatter issues. Where even if I change out the switch, I still get double or triple presses. Which I think is a problem with the actual board itself instead of the switch. I hope that was fixed on this more expensive version. - For the price would have expected hall effect switches (which Glorious does offer around the same price point). But Hall Effect switches tend to not feel or sound as good as mechanical switches. Making this switch probably a better choice for most users. Also, no optical switches. But again, that would have dramatically reduced battery life. Making their decision a good one. - No white color option. - Magnetic wrist rest is nice. But not as nice as other boards I’ve tried from Razer as it has less padding and feels more like puffed air instead of memory foam. Which are a lot less expensive. The magnetic function works but isn’t as nice as the others as well. - 21-hour battery life for all the bells and whistles is to be expected. But can get a lot better with FN+ ESC as it activates power saving where it disables the chroma RGB lighting, OLED screen, command dial, and limits the board to 1,000 Hz netting you 2100 hours in an IDLE state. Which makes it a lot more competitive with the competition. - Larger footprint in size and depth than the wired version. But holds more features and a battery so to be expected. - Unbelievably expensive. I do NOT think the price justifies what you get. - Recessed USB-C port is frustrating. Needs to be wider to fit all USB-C. Instead, very narrow only fitting certain ones. - It sounds good, but not $300 good. Other boards that are like $100 feel and sound better. Raddle with space bar is frustrating. Also, for how much padding and everything it has, is still quite a loud keyboard. To the point it would likely distract others in the same room. - With the upgraded 4k dongle it requires you to have a USB cord plugged into it which then plugs into your laptop or desktop. There is no small dongle to plug directly into your laptop.

The Razer Blackwidow V4 Pro 75% is Razer’s moonshot of a keyboard for the small form factor fans. The Pro builds on the earlier release of the Blackwidow V4, which was a premium wired version. The Pro retains the features from the wired version and brings wireless functionality and more onboard controls and a display. The V4, like other Razer products, is supported by Razer’s Synapse software. This is my second Razer keyboard – I also have a Huntsman V3 Pro TKL which I like a lot. I have used many Razer products over the years and for the most part they have been pretty reliable and work well. As far as keyboards go I typically trend towards tactile key switches, but I have no problem cycling over to linear if it comes up. The V4 Pro comes with Razer’s Gen 3 hotswappable Orange switches. These are premium tactile switches, which was a welcome sight. I’ve been using tactile switches for 10 years like the Cherry MX browns and Logitech’s GX brown. Compared to typing on the Logitech switches, Razer’s Orange is a clear departure from that experience. The biggest thing I noticed was how much quieter the Orange switches are in comparison. The Cherry and Logitech switches have a much more pronounced keystroke sound. The feel is also a little softer, but not in a spongy way. The bottom of the switch travel lands softer than the other speed/linear/tactile switches I have used. However, they are pretty close in terms of actuation force required. The Orange switches have a 50g actuation force, 3.5mm of full travel, and a 2mm actuation point. In comparison the GX browns have the same 50g actuation force, a shallower travel depth of 3.2mm, and shallower actuation point at 1.5mm. A lot of this will then come down to personal preference on your switch characteristics. One thing to note though is the switches can be swapped out with any 3 or 5 pin switch available on the market. You are not tied to Razer switches, so anyone looking to dip their toes into customized keyboards could certainly use this as a solid starting point. Battery life on the keyboard varies greatly depending on your settings. I switched into 2.4 wireless mode with 4K polling, RGB brightness maxed out, and the OLED on. With these setting I saw the battery drop 40% half over an 8 hour work day. Obviously that isn’t the most efficient usage of the battery life, but its still much lower than I would expect. Per Razer, dialing back the settings with the power saving mode nets you over 2000hrs on one charge. Typical usage for me would see that battery last a week before charging. Design The layout is a tenkeyless design with full sized keys. The spacing is as compact as you would expect on a 75% layout. The top right of the board is occupied by the OLED display of function wheel. There are no real dedicated macro buttons, but you can co-opt an existing key to perform a macro within the Synapse software. The wheel is joined by a side button that cycles the functions – you can use it as a volume controller, track adjuster, zoom wheel, etc. I prefer to use it as a volume wheel, but there are other functions you can set it for within Synapse. As far as the construction of the board it appears Razer is very proud of the extra steps it took to appeal to the custom board crowd. The keys are now doubleshot PBT instead of the cheaper ABS. The top layer of the board is made of ~2mm thick black anodized aluminum that wraps from the front edge to the backside of the chassis. The sides appear to be plastic with and RGB underglow that adds a nice little touch. Inside the stack of components should appeal to keyboard tinkerers. The keys bottom out of the white gasket mounted FR4 plate, which provides a satisfying tap when the key lands. Sandwiched between the FR4 board and the PCB is a layer of foam to dampen the clacking keys down the sides in one contiguous piece. The PCB itself has a factory tape mod, further reducing any wayward noise, and has screw mounted stabilizers for the larger keys. These come pre-lubed with Krytox GPL 205g0. Another layer of foam then sits between the PCB and the ABS chassis bottom, which further reduces sound transfer and provides an added heft. The keyboard packs a couple of additional features. The USB-C cable is detachable – which makes sense for a wireless cable keyboard. The cable is then used to plug the wireless receiver in when moving to wireless 2.4 mode. The keyboard also contains onboard memory to store profiles. This would be useful for anyone looking to swap the board between systems especially with the wired/2.4 wireless/Bluetooth connectivity. Speaking of Bluetooth connectivity, the board supports connections for 3 different Bluetooth devices. The included palm rest is magnetic, so it nicely latches onto the front of the keyboard frame. The ergonomics of the design are solid. The wrist pad has a generous squish, which I greatly prefer over the firmer pad on the Hunstman V3 Pro. With the size of the keyboard being as compact as it is, there are no awkward reaches for keys or key combinations. The keyboard sits at a slight incline with the feet folded in. The angle can adjust by flipping the feet into 1 of 2 positions. I prefer a greater angle so I flipped up the taller feet. Adjustments, Lighting, and Synapse Fresh out of the box you can plug in the USB C cable and start off in wired mode. To get the wireless dongle setup I needed to fire up Synapse and go through a few updates. After a system restart the wireless is ready to go. You can make a few adjustments without getting into Synapse, but its very limited. Synapse unlocks all of the settings available to this keyboard. If you already have Razer peripherals then you have probably messed with Synapse, and for the most part it works well. I have a couple of Razer items connected to the software – AIO cooler, headset, and mouse. I also have my ASUS graphics card connected (via ASUS Aura plug-in) in order to control its LED’s. Synapse then uses the Chroma plug-in to change and sync the lighting profiles. With the software you can configure lighting for the whole keyboard or do per-key lighting. The lighting itself is clear and as bright as you could want it – or you can completely turn it off and save some battery life. I prefer to have an RGB wave, but that’s just me. There’s not much to change or adjust within Synapse as far as switch behavior. You can adjust the overall polling rate up to 1KHz on wired and 4KHz on wireless, and enable Snap-Tapping. Your main controls will come down to creating/assigning custom key macros. I made a few just to try it out, and it worked just fine. The screen has its own section in Synapse to control its animation and function set. The software allows you to select or deselect different wheel functions, so you will only cycle through functions you will use. There are several premade animations as well as a system monitor screen, which I found useful. You can also create your own animation by uploading a gif of your choice. I had the hardware monitor chosen only to find the display now shows an Imposter twerking – thanks kids. Apparently, the options are endless. Usage I started out on wired to give the keyboard a chance to charge up. I got a fell for the keys while doing some work and typing out a document. The soft key feel to a minute to adjust to as I am used to the hard/clacky stop on my other keyboards. The layout also required a little bit of an adjustment even when coming from the Hunstman V3 Pro TKL. I made several typing errors while acclimating to the tighter spacing, but I eventually got used to it after about 15-20 minutes of typing. Jumping over to gaming wasn’t as much of a hurdle because I’m mostly on WASD/arrows/Space. The biggest thing I have noticed has been the quietness – the key clacking, while still there, has been knocked way down. Hammering away at the keys does not create a cacophonous sound that echoes through my basement. I jumped into my favorite casual game, which is Portal 2. It’s one of the few games that I’m proficient with WASD that still requires accurate keying. Compared to the Huntsman’s 40g actuation the, the 50g certainly feels heavier, and it helped me avoid some miss-keys. The 2mm actuation depth balances out the heavier key with a faster trigger point, so my keying speed still felt fast. Overall it was a solid keyboard experience for me. After I played a few other games I turned the reins over to my partner’s teenage son. He plays quite a bit of TF2 and Geometry dash with the latter being a lot of rapid hammering on the space bar. From a parent’s perspective, the quieter keys were greatly appreciated. The volume of noise is massively reduced, and all without taking a performance hit. I am also thankful for the hot swappable switches in case he blows out another switch. He did note the higher actuation force and shallower actuation point caused him to adjust his timing a bit in Geometry Dash. He liked the softer landing on the FR4 plate, and said it was a welcome improvement and made for a better overall feel. Overall The Blackwidow V4 Pro 75% is exceptionally well-made and comes with a plethora of tweaks and features that should appeal to keyboard tinkerers. The hotswappable switches, layers of sound attenuation, and premium feel to the keys leads to a better than average experience. This keyboard is certainly priced at a premium level, but it performs great and I see no real downside to it. Buyers will just need to make sure that the price is worth it to them

This Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% Wireless Orange Switch Gaming Keyboard is Hot Swappable. Razer has done it again and created one of the best gaming keyboards ever. This keyboard is so customizable that the possibilities are endless, and I love that. Razer does not disappoint when it comes to putting everything in the box that you need for your new keyboard. In the box you get the Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% Wireless Orange Switch Gaming Keyboard, Razer HyperPolling Wireless Dongle, USB Type A to Type C cable, 2-in-1 keycap and switch puller, 3 spare Razer Orange Tactile Mechanical Switches, Product Guide, the magnetic plush wrist rest. The keyboard has a great feel to it, is very sturdy, and if perfect for gaming, productivity, or for creators. It just feels great to the touch. The keys are Razer Orange Tactile Mechanical Switches and are hot swappable. The keys are not hard to remove and swap out at all, and the tool provided by Razer makes it very simple. Setup: This keyboard is excellent right out of the box. The fun comes when you start customizing the colors with the software. The OLED Screen, Dial and Mode Button are at the top right of the keyboard. The mode button you will find on the right side. These will allow you to control the volume, switch apps, zoom in/out, control the OLED brightness, and switch tracks. This is a super cool feature to have. Razer even lets you customize the OLED screen with your own image via the Razer software. The only downside is that Razer doesn't allow this feature to stay on all the time. It turns off after a certain amount of time, and that is a bummer. I can understand it will run the battery down faster, but it still looks really cool when it is on. The really cool looking thing is the Chroma RGB lights. This keyboard is fully customizable right down to the key, with the Razer Synapse and Razer Chroma software. You can link the keyboard to the games through the software and set up customization for each individual game. The backlight is customizable as is each individual key. You can use premade patterns, or you can make your own. You can also set it to move with the music of the game, movie, video, or music you are watching, playing or listening to. Build quality is excellent. You will find that this keyboard build is up there with the high-end keyboards. I can't find anything about this keyboard that I do not like.

I have the full size Blackwidow v4 Pro keyboard and this version is just like it but smaller. This version also has an OLED display on the top right of the keyboard. By default, it displays a side scrolling spaceship flying through the skies and shooting down alien spaceships. The display is smooth. Pressing the Function button displays 6 different information. You can check if your Windows key is disabled while gaming, it displays how your keyboard is connected (wired, wireless, or Bluetooth), it displays your battery life in percentage. There is a volume control there, but it does not tell you how loud or low it is. It tells you + or – as you use the scroll button to adjust. Pushing the volume scroll button will mute and unmute the volume. The display is also customizable. It comes with four designs, and you can upload your own as GIF animation file. You can also record your own macros. This keyboard supports multiple connections as mentioned above. You can connect up to three Bluetooth devices. You can switch between those devices using the Function + 1,2,3 buttons. There is a slider on top of the keyboard to switch between the three different connections. It includes a wireless dongle. They claim up to 4000 Hz polling rate while on wireless. I do not know how to measure that, but I do not notice any lag when typing or playing games. I can charge the keyboard while connected wirelessly which is convenient. I am currently typing this review at 2% battery remaining and it is charging with no issues. It includes a USB-A to USBC cable and is detachable. It uses Razer Chroma RGB lighting. It is bright. Even the bottom of the keyboard has lights. You can change different light patterns. It also includes tools to swap keycaps. I really like this keyboard. The OLED screen is nice. Typing on it feels great. It has orange tactile switches. The synapse software can be improved. It is a bit overwhelming and can be confusing. It is still a good keyboard.

The Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% Wireless Gaming Keyboard distinguishes itself with an integrated OLED display and Command Dial, providing users with intuitive control and customization directly from the keyboard. This feature enables monitoring of system information and adjustment of settings without diverting attention from tasks or gameplay. Connectivity is robust, featuring Bluetooth 5.1 support for stable wireless connections across multiple devices. The keyboard facilitates seamless multitasking by allowing users to switch effortlessly between three paired devices. Pre-loaded with Razer's Orange Tactile Gen-3 Mechanical Switches, it delivers a satisfying tactile response suitable for both gaming and typing. Razer demonstrates confidence in the product's durability by offering a comprehensive two-year warranty. Users have praised the keyboard for its excellent key feedback and sturdy build quality, noting that it remains stationary during intense use. The texture of the keys do seem to be a bit rough compared to others and can be noticeable over longer periods of use. Additionally, features like the OLED screen and high polling rates can lead to reduced battery life, necessitating more frequent charging. Furthermore, the keyboard lacks USB passthrough functionality, which could be a drawback for users who rely on this feature. The OLED screen is monochrome, and some users might prefer a color display for enhanced visual feedback. In summary, the Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% Wireless Gaming Keyboard excels in connectivity, customization, and build quality. While it has some minor drawbacks, its performance and features make it a compelling choice for those seeking a high-end gaming keyboard.

The name "Razer BlackWidow v4 Pro 75%" is quite a mouthful.  I finally figured out the 75% part, it does not have the keypad to the right to make it 75% the size of a full keyboard. It's considered a mechanical gaming keyboard.  Taking it out of the box the first thing you notice is that this 75% of a keyboard is still hefty, weighing in at 2 lbs 3 oz (35 oz or 1kg).  As soon as you plug it in to charge it, you see just how pretty it's full color LEDs are.  At the top right there is a B/W OLED display.  This display cycles throught 6 separate selectable Command functions (Volume, Track, OLED Brightness, Back Lighting Brightness, Switch Apps and Zoom).  The OLED also displays the status of Cap Lock, Gaming Mode, Current Profile # (1-5), USB Connected, Battery Level and Cmd Dial selection.  Quite a bit of information.  The keyboard goes to sleep if no key has been hit (or dial turned) for 1 to 2 minutes. During this delay an alien invaders type game is displayed on the OLED the status of various functions (Bluetooth # connected, Volume Level, Battery Level).  The backlighting is quite exceptional and the light shined throught the keys so the keys are actually illuminated not just back lighted.  I installed the Razer's Synapse 4 software which also installs the Razer Chroma App and (optionally the Razer Cortex app). But I got this for the "real" keyboard, and real key travel. The pre-key travel (the amount you can depress the key before it registers) is a bit more than 1mm and full key travel is 3.6mm. And to be able to program macros and to have profiles for various games.  The Macro creation is done throught the Synapse 4 app or via keyboard key sequence (fn+alt). The key sequence loads onboard memory with the key sequences (5).  The app allows you to store an unlimited number key sequences in your Razer cloud account, and load them into the specified profile number. The keyboard also allows you to customize the keyboard by changing switches.  There is a tool to remove the keycap and a tool to remove the key switch.  You can acquire additional keys throught razer.  I hooked the keyboard up to 3 seperate computers via bluetooth (Windows, macOS and Android).  Pairing went very easily, but switching from to another sometimes required the switch function (fn+1,fn+2,fn+3 to be done more than once).  To change the assignment, hold the fn key and number down for 5 seconds.  Anytime the keyboard comes back to life the pairing is displayed on the OLED display and the 1,2 or 3 key flashes base on the connection in use (pretty neat).  There are 10 predefined Chroma effects (Off, a static color, breathing, color cycling, wave, reactive, starlight, ripple, wheel and fire) any of these can be selected via the fn+ctl+# key sequence.  The Chroma App allows substantial additional customization.  These different patterns can be stored in your Razer cloud.  From there they can be loaded to the keyboard. From Windows 11, I could not tell the difference between a hardwired USB connection and the Bluetooth connection. I suspect this was due to using BT 5.3, but not positive.  Both were very responsive, and under both I could overrun the keyboard buffer (miss keystrokes if hit too quickly), although this was more difficult than I thought it would be given the length of the key travel.  The amount of sound dampening is very good.  It's not like my clickety old Cherry keyboard.  It has very low and consistent latency making it very high performance for gaming. You can rest your fingers on "fire" or "move" buttons with some pressure waiting for action. On some keyboards, like most laptops, any pressure on the keyboard is registered as a press. That's where this keyboard shines.  Adding a good deal of quietness is a huge bonus (IMHO). Per key backlighting can be defined via their app so you can color your keys for each game being played (although you have to program this on your own - a one time setup). The OLED can apparently be user programmed from the Synapse app, I didn't try doing this.  I'm quite impressed by the aesthetics and functionality of this keyboard.  I look forward to using it for years to come.

If you’re a hardcore gamer looking to step up your gaming with the latest and greatest keyboard, look no further than Razer’s latest Blackwidow V4 Pro 75% true 4K Hz wireless and Bluetooth mechanical keyboard. Even if the customizable RGB aesthetics and built-in OLED screen were enough to initially catch your eye, the vastly customizable keyboard combined with Razer’s software packs more technology into it you never knew you needed until now. Among those features I would like to highlight include Razer’s latest hot-swappable design preloaded with their Gen-3 Orange Tactile Switches compatible with 3 or 5-pin switches allowing you to quickly swap them out for custom ones for your chosen feel and sound. I even love the feel of the buttons themselves that have more of a rough feel to the fingertips and not the smooth finish. Upon first look and perhaps the most stand out aesthetic feature of the Blackwidow V4 is the insane customizable OLED display featured on the top right of the keyboard. Within Razer’s software and in conjunction with the adjacent command dial and OLED, they can be used for a plethora of customization options including volume adjustment, photoshop brushing, video scrubbing, etc. You could literally tinker with these features alone for quite some time, which is what I did before simply settling on the OLED displaying one of the pre-loaded moving images included in their software’s library of choices and the wheel controlling my speaker’s volume. Syncing the RGB colors with all my other Razer peripherals was very easy as well and really brings life to the whole set up. Being a longtime fan of anything Razer makes for gaming also has its benefits including the flawless integration of additional peripherals into my already stacked collection including their Viper Pro gaming mouse, Nommo Pro Speakers and Thunderbolt Dock all which are seamlessly pair within their customizing software making Razer a one stop shop for all things gaming. This also makes it convenient to customize all their settings within their Razer’s software versus having to go through different software for each peripheral. I would recommend going the same route with Razer products to anyone in the market for PC and gaming peripherals including investing in their latest top of the line Blackwidow Pro gaming keyboard.

This is my first Razer keyboard after owning some of the other brands such as Steel Series, Logitech, and Corsair. This is my first custom keyboard as well (have used full sized, TKLs, low profile, and magnetic before). So far this has been my favorite keyboard so far. The switches were good when I used them for a couple weeks. They worked good for both typing and for gaming as long sessions. I am more of a linear switch persons, so I ended up switching the switches out for a set of linear switches. Using the provide key and switch puller, it was pretty easy to replace the switches and only took me about 10 minutes. The new linear switches also made the keyboard sound very nice with a nice "thock" that sounds very pleasant to the ears. The 65% keyboard layout also works well for me. I have use all the other variants, but as I do not use a lot of the other keys all the time a 65% layout was perfect for me. This does come down to personal preference though and what you desire. The OLED screen does work nice and has a lot of functionality with the wheel for what you can see and do. You can toggle the things you can do on and off in the razer software. I mainly just use it though for volume control and playback. Some of the keyboards that have older versions of firmware just make sure you download the lastest version of firmware from razer's site as when I received my keyboard there was some issues with the volume showing the incorrect level and it would randomly switch screen on me. The newest firmware fixed this for me right away.

This is about a top-tier a keyboard as you can lay your hands on right now; and yet, strangely, I’m of slightly mixed opinions. On the one hand, it provides what is probably the most indulgent and viscerally satisfying typing experience you’re going to get from a mechanical keyboard, and it certainly *feels* like it rightfully sits at the pinnacle of Razer’s keyboard lineup. So, what does that get you in this case? For starters, the chassis for this TKL keyboard is simply a beast with multiple features and design elements focused on providing absolutely premier keystroke sound & acoustic shaping/dampening. The keyboard mainboard itself is apparently sandwiched in the middle of the frame with rubber gaskets top and bottom and padded with additional layers of foam, plus it tops things off with pre-lubed switches and stabilizers. The bottom of the chassis features rectangular rubber pads at all corners, as well as 2-position risers for a subtle or more pronounced tilt when in use—the front pads are grippy enough that even when elevated on the plastic rear risers, the keyboard did not slide around on my smooth-finish desktop without substantial effort. The USB-C port at the back is DEEPLY recessed into the chassis for superior strain relief on the cable. The plush leather-like wrist rest attaches magnetically to the front of the keyboard—personally, I find using it is a necessity simply due to the height and (reassuringly) chonky build of the keyboard itself. You have three connectivity options with BT, 2.4 wireless via included USB dongle, and a braided USB cable. Battery capacity in wireless mode understandably lags a bit when all features are dialed to 11—you’re likely going to need to recharge it every few days unless you back off some of the sparkles and extra features. Wireless polling comes in at a relatively competitive 4KHz; strangely, wired polling is limited to just 1KHz. The installed Razer Gen3 orange switches offer smooth, near-effortless actuation with just a hint of tactile bump near the top for ultra-quick action. Enthusiasts and competitive gamers will also appreciate the snap-tap and rapid trigger features to increase keystroke frequency by reducing key reset distance, and reduce activation time between competing keystrokes for faster counter-strafing. Razer also provides a keycap/keyswitch puller in the box along with three replacement switches. But if you don’t like anything Razer has packed under the hood, the keyboard is also *entirely* modular so you can hot-swap the Razer Orange switches for any other 3-pin and/or 5-pin switches. Per-key RGB is here along with some bright RGB strip edging at the sides—the resultant RGB illumination is brilliant per Razer’s typically high standards. That RGB shines through the textured double-shot PBT keycaps providing for better longevity and sensory appeal over simple plastic/ABS keycaps (at least, that has been my experience between the two). But the even bigger draw (at least for me) is that the upper right of the keyboard is home to a small OLED screen that is flanked by a command dial that both rotates and depresses. Using the ultra-sensitive function change key next to the command dial, you can cycle through a number of additional capabilities and monitoring/feedback features that include volume control, multimedia track navigation, OLED brightness and RGB brightness control, window/desktop app navigation, windows zoom, and system monitoring. Do you NEED another tiny display on your keyboard—probably not, but it’s convenient, informative, and not so overwrought with additional information and cluttered displays that ultimately prove more distracting or useless than productive and convenient. Like most competition- or enthusiast-grade keyboards, you also have some onboard memory for storage of 5 different keyboard profiles, as well as the ability to record and store an on-the-fly macro. Additional functionality is accessed through the Synapse companion app where you can remap various keys, create and store macros, as well as tailor the RGB for the keyboard and even synchronize it to other Razer RGB-enabled devices. Granted, anyone considering a premium-build, modular keyboard with a price tag as high as this one may likely already have other peripherals connected to the Razer Synapse ecosystem; but if not, just be aware that Synapse can sometimes be a bit of a resource hog. During the past few weeks of business and gaming use, I’ve tracked Synapse consuming anywhere between 500MB to a full gigabyte of RAM or more; however, that performance was also flawless with no bugs, laggy performance, or unexplained crashes…obviously your mileage may vary. In the end, there’s simply a LOT to love about the experience you get behind the keys of the BlackWidow as it provides pretty much anything a real keyboard enthusiast might want out of something that is clearly overbuilt to perform. Sure, there are still nits to pick, the biggest in my mind being that a keyboard commanding such a premium price should probably feature much faster polling, especially in wired mode. Similarly, Razer chose a really odd and somewhat inconvenient dongle configuration. Specifically, instead of a small USB plug-in, the Hyperspeed dongle has a USB-C connection requiring a separate USB cable. I suppose this allows you to snake the dongle closer to the keyboard to reduce the chance of interference or latency, but it also ironically adds cable clutter to your workspace when you put the keyboard in wireless mode. BTW, apparently the BlackWidow’s dongle only works for the keyboard, so you still have to tote around other dongles or adapters for your Razer mouse, headset, etc. I also mentioned before that the rear USB port is deeply recessed. While this does provide strain relief for the cable and connector, it also means you need to use a USB-C cable with a pretty narrow connector shell. Not a big deal, but you might not be able to use just any extra USB-C cable lying around if you need something longer/shorter than (or just a replacement for) the OEM cable that came in the box. A pass-through USB port would also be appreciated, especially for a supposedly TOTL keyboard with a TOTL price tag to match. Finally, the function key next to the command dial is simply WAY too sensitive. It’s not touch-panel sensitive, but the button throw is practically zero as there is virtually no actuation force required…just glancing past it while I was reaching for the command dial was often enough to change the function before I could use the dial to do what I wanted to do. Putting the function-change button behind the command dial, or even just nearby on the backside of the chassis, would dramatically reduce errant actuation during use. But really, these minor quibbles don’t amount to deal-breaking drawbacks in my mind, especially when there is so much else to like about the BlackWidow. The reason I’m of mixed opinion comes down to the value you get for something like this that is built and billed as an enthusiast-grade keyboard from the start. Specifically, anyone with the kind funds and interest for a keyboard this pricey and this capable/well-spec’d probably *does* have some enthusiast-level customizations in mind…change some switches, swap out some stabilizers, new keycaps, etc. While I’m not firmly in that camp, I totally get how that would be a big part of the fun of having a modular keyboard with so many strengths/features/capabilities in the underlying design, build quality, and software support. But that being the case, would a keyboard enthusiast necessarily take the BlackWidow’s otherwise solid chassis and extensive feature set and populate it with Razer’s Orange switches and keycaps that are, admittedly, easy-to-read…but also kind of nondescript in font choice? Possibly not—for example, where are Razer’s own configuration of optical or magnetic/hall-effect switches? And that’s kind of the point. For how the BlackWidow is currently priced, one could just as easily purchase a blank keyboard base and use whatever switches and keycaps they wanted for a totally bespoke peripheral. And sure, you CAN also do that with the BlackWidow, but then you’re essentially losing the initial purchasing power on switches and keycaps you might not have otherwise chosen. So, is the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75 for you—probably maybe. If you absolutely want the best that Razer has to offer, here you go—I have a hard time believing anyone will come away from this BlackWidow keyboard disappointed. And if you like the idea of a custom keyboard but don’t know how or where to start, you could definitely do a lot worse than simply take Razer’s lead by using the BlackWidow as configured out of the box. This would give you top-tier performance right up front with room to grow and trade up to new/different switches and keycaps as you settle on how you want to use your keyboard your way. But, if you are a bit more frugally minded, you might want to consider looking first at what an actual bespoke, enthusiast-level, modular, customizable keyboard would cost and see if the BlackWidow is ultimately the better value or not. Still, I have no problem recommending this keyboard on its own merits—well done, Razer!

I have the original non "pro" version of this keyboard as well, and while this one brings wireless and OLED to the table... I don't know if I would recommend this over the much cheaper sibling unless you absolutely need wireless. The battery life is on the low side for such an expensive keyboard. I would really only say to use this wirelessly if you can live with almost no RGB at all... and your OLED very dim... maybe have the time out on the RGB on a very short timer. It just wants to be plugged in all the time. Very unfortunate because I really love having a wireless desk. Other than that, the great parts are the fact that it is wireless (LOL), the switches are hot swap, so if you dont like the Razer Orange, you can move to something else you like. The keyboard sounds great compared to many other "gaming keyboards" and its well-built overall. The OLED does have a good amount of uses, as you can control just about everything possible through the small dial and the OLED, which means if you dont like Razer Synapse, then you may not need to install it at all! Overall this is a great keyboard, but you will have to have realistic expectations on how long you mind plugging it in for charging. Otherwise, if you have no need for some of these features like the screen or the wireless... and already have the original, keep it. Save some cash.

I’m very happy with this keyboard. The build quality feels solid and the RGB lighting looks great. The keys are responsive and comfortable to type on, whether I’m gaming or just using my computer for everyday tasks. It was easy to set up and works perfectly. Overall, it’s a great keyboard for the price and I would definitely recommend it to others.