Razer hasAsus in its sightswith the Black Widow V4 Pro 75 % radio . Asus kicked off a revolution among thebest gambling keyboardswith the release of its Azoth , and Razer is finally responding with an updated version of its Black Widow Pro . You get the 75 % form factor , an enthusiast - grade internal expression , wireless , and the power to swap in whatever central switch you want . What ’s not to love ?

Quite a bit , it turns out . The Black Widow V4 Pro 75 % is a adept keyboard , make no misunderstanding , but it also arrives at the repugnant damage of $ 300 . It just does n’t murder the soft touch for that much money . Razer has the specification , it has the feel , and it surely has the RGB , but I ca n’t justify the Black Widow V4 Pro 75 % Wireless give its asking price .

A disappointing first impression

My first impression of the Black Widow V4 Pro was n’t great , and that principally comes down to Razer ’s own switch . After try the partisan - level feature of this keyboard — more on those next — I expected a empyreal typing experience right away , specially when Razer is asking $ 300 for this keyboard . That ’s not what I find .

This keyboard come with Razer ’s third - generation tactile switch , and they are n’t bang-up . For starters , analogue options reign supreme especially among gamers , but even among most mechanically skillful keyboard fancier . Razer ’s switches have a hollow clap to them that , although practiced than a play keyboard like theCorsair K70 Pro , is still far behind the out - of - the - box look of something like theKeychron Q1 HE .

With a keyboard this expensive , first impression are important .

The other topic concerns build quality . Razer boasts about an aluminum top case for the Black Widow V4 Pro , which I assumed meant a top shell similar to theAsus ROG Azoth . Razer ’s definition of a “ top case ” is distinctly different than what I expected . The keyboard is mostly build out of plastic , short of a thin layer of aluminum that ’s laid over the top . In a time when a keyboard like theGMMK 3exists , I ’m scratching my mind as to why Razer chose charge card for a $ 300 keyboard .

With a keyboard this expensive , first impressions are important . As I ’ll dig into in the next section , you may make the Black Widow V4 Pro a much nicer keyboard , and no little part of that is because of the excogitation choices Razer made internally . Externally , however , it feels like Razer turn off quite a few corners for the cost it ’s charging .

One expanse where Razer did n’t disregard any street corner is the wrist rest . Razer admit a charismatic faux leather carpus rest that ’s very comfortable to use . It ’s crack plump , and it never slid around during intense typing academic session . The Black Widow V4 Pro may not feel bounty on the digit out of the box , but it certainly feel premium on the wrists .

Enthusiast flourishes

Although I do n’t love the mostly shaping construction and the switches are n’t my favourite , the Black Widow V4 Pro really adjust you up for achiever if you adjudicate to replace the switches . This is a hot - swappablemechanical keyboard , and it accepts any 3 - thole or 5 - pin maxwell switch . I cast in some WS Morandi permutation , which are a grueling linear switch that come with factory lubrication , and the Black Widow V4 Pro immediately became a much nicer keyboard .

It ’s no surprisal that the switch made a huge difference . Like most keyboards in this price range , Razer chose a gasket setting for the Black Widow V4 Pro , which suspends the shift plate between sets of silicon gasket . It feels much better for typing and play than a traditional top mount . Razer also includes three layer of sound dampening in the keyboard , which makes a humanity of remainder for the sound — theAsus ROG Strix Scope II 96is a will to that .

Those two factors are n’t unique , but Razer has a few elements that are . First , Razer is using FR4 for the switch plate . FR4 is a laminate fabric that ’s chop-chop becoming the go - to option for enthusiast - ground level mechanical keyboards . It ’s soft than aluminum but grievous than polycarbonate , make it a keen , cost - effective choice for producing the downhearted - pitchedthockthat mechanically skillful keyboard partisan are after .

In addition , Razer basically did a mag tape mod . If you ’re unfamiliar , a popular mod for mechanical keyboards is to place painters or mask tape recording on the back of the PCB , which is shockingly good at absorb high - pitched frequency . Razer is doing something exchangeable , just without painters tape recording — patently Razer take to abide by “ laws ” or something .

Mainstream sensibilities

Although Razer made plenty of enthusiast choices under the hood , there are a lot of component of the Black Widow V4 Pro that only a mainstream brand like Razer could pull off . First , wireless . You get 2.4GHz , Bluetooth , and a USB - atomic number 6 connection , but Razer offers up to a 4,000Hz wireless polling rate through its dongle . It ’s the same dongle you ’ll find on theViper V3 Pro , which is a squatty USB - C twist that enable such a high polling rate .

You also get an OLED exhibit , follow on the heel of the Asus ROG Azoth andAzoth Extreme . Razer includes a few dissimilar options for the display . you may display a exposure or GIF , including one you upload , or you may select between keyboard information , organisation information , or an audio visualiser . In addition , Razer include a handful of screensavers for when the OLED time out . I stuck with a GIF , extract up the keyboard entropy by holding theFunctionkey instead .

The Black Widow V4 Pro does n’t have dedicated culture medium keys , but it does n’t necessitate them .

Alongside the OLED show , you get the Command Dial . you may roam it in either direction to line up your volume , or constrict it to mute your sound recording . A consecrated button below the Command Dial allow you to change what it does , however . you could use it to access medium controls , line up your brightness , substitution between apps , and even scroll webpages .

The Black Widow V4 Pro does n’t have give media keys , but it does n’t necessitate them . Razer wrap up up a lot of functions that would ordinarily be reserve for extra Florida key or special hotkeys into the Command Dial . And the Black Widow V4 Pro is much soft to get around as a result .

No one does RGB like Razer

Razer always makes a big dither about how groovy its RGB is , and for good reason . The Black Widow V4 Pro look unbelievable . It ’s not just that there ’s RGB — we have lot of that — it ’s how suave the RGB is . The light reflects off the FR4 plate to wash out the keyboard in color . The translation of the light through the primal detonating machine legends is everlasting . And the two light strips that invade the edge of the keyboard are perfectly diffused so you never pick up on a unmarried LED .

It ’s not just the tone of the RGB with Razer — it ’s how you’re able to customise it . As you ’d expect , you get per - key adjustment , a across-the-board reach of predetermined consequence , and multiple layers to adjust through Razer Chroma . I do n’t go crazy with RGB for my peripherals , but even Chroma feel inviting . It has the power of Corsair iCue without being as overwhelming . And you may stack away your profiles onboard so you may take several different lighting effect with you .

For a party so associated with RGB , you expect this level of customization . Where Razer really endure out is how it ’s able to integrate RGB with other devices and apps . Razer wrap all of this up in Chroma Connect , but there are two aspects of the integration . First , there are integrations with other RGB accessories , such as lights from Govee , Philips Hue , Nanoleaf , and Lifx , as well as PC element .

The second aspect is app support . slews of game have specific presets for Razer Chroma , include statute title likeCyberpunk 2077 , Ghostrunner 2 , Hogwarts Legacy , andDiablo IV.Most of these secret plan not only have a specific ignition preset but they also include essence that are triggered by in - game action . Your keyboard scrambles when you ’re hacked inCyberpunk 2077,and it breathe red when gloomy on health inDiablo IV.Even better , these presets are automatic — when you start up the game , it ’ll take over for your play session and return to your normal lighting upshot after .

Abysmal battery life

Although the Black Widow V4 Pro looks unbelievable when it ’s washed in RGB inflammation , it comes with one major downside : electric battery life . With the OLED screen set to 50 % , the RGB prepare to 70 % with dumb color cycling , and a 1,000Hz polling rate , I ’m just capable to make it a full day with the keyboard . It dies in as little as 10 hours .

I kept the Black Widow V4 Pro 75 % plug in most hours of the daytime .

Obviously there are ways to meliorate the battery spirit . you could dim all the firing or turn it off altogether , as well as set fast-growing sleep modes . It ’s just difficult to free that as a right use case for a wireless keyboard . This is a keyboard washed in RGB and packing an OLED display , and if you ’re not going to use them , you ’re throwing money away . The kicker here is that Razer offer the Black Widow V4 Pro 75 % in a pumped up version for $ 170 , which , short of the OLED video display , is identical to this wireless version .

On top of the low battery life , the keyboard takesforeverto load . On the daytime I ’m writing this reexamination , I woke the keyboard up with 5 % battery left . After secure it in and using it for about five hour , it just barely went above 50 % . You ’d have more of a charge if you were n’t actively using the keyboard , but between the long boot time and limited battery living out of the logic gate , I go along the Black Widow V4 Pro 75 % plugged in most time of day of the day .

Just too expensive

A mean solar day late and a buck more , the Razer Black Widow V4 Pro 75 % Wireless just is n’t deserving the money . you’re able to pick up the Asus ROG Azoth for about $ 190 these days , which matches what Razer is offering here point - for - decimal point , minus the FR4 plateful . And , if you do n’t mind stag for some more niche options , keyboards like theMeletrix Boog75offer an especial feel for much less money .

Do n’t get me wrong — judge the keyboard on its own deservingness , it ’s really pretty good . The experience out of the box is n’t corking , but Razer is offering a solid groundwork to build a in high spirits - end keyboard with your own switches and key caps . Assuming you may settle for subpar battery life , the Black Widow V4 Pro 75 % Wireless is a enough keyboard .

But do n’t grease one’s palms it right now . If you ’re interested , wait until it goes on a steep cut-rate sale — I would n’t spend more than $ 200 if you ’re taste to get your money ’s worth .