Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75%: Two-minute evaluate
The Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% is the model’s new top-of-the-line wi-fi gaming keyboard, that includes hot-swappable mechanical switches and a number of connectivity choices.
It cuts a fairly formidable determine, with its angular, slab-like physique conveying its gaming intentions. The RGB lighting additionally helps on this regard, and the bars across the backside edges are a very good contact, boasting simply the correct amount of opulence. Despite this, it isn’t as heavy or as unwieldy as you may assume, and its compact format makes it simple to get together with.
The BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% additionally comes with a leatherette wrist relaxation that places these on even the best gaming keyboards to disgrace, because of its ornate design and plush cushioning for max consolation. It may appear too thick at first, however you’ll probably adapt rapidly as you sink into it.
A small OLED show is positioned within the high proper nook of the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75%, managed through a button on the facet of the keyboard and a scroll wheel, which could be set to carry out numerous features, similar to adjusting the amount and switching app home windows to call just a few (additional features can be found through Synapse, Razer’s peripheral software program). Other keyboard settings can be found through this show, though the choice is kind of restricted. But general, it’s simple to make use of and works fairly nicely.
The BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% is suitable with Synapse 4. During my time with it, I did expertise just a few technical hitches, together with faulty battery readouts and failed firmware updates. However, these points ultimately went away with updates and restarts, and I had little bother thereafter.
When working because it ought to, Synapse 4 provides some helpful customizations, with a plentiful number of binds and shortcuts for each the keys and the scroll wheel. Everything is nicely introduced and simple to navigate.
The BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% actually shines, although, in terms of the enterprise of gaming. The Gen-3 Tactile mechanical switches are snappy but damped simply sufficient to make them satisfying to make use of. The compact format and indented doubleshot PBT keycaps are safe and simple to press too. However, in the event you’re not pleased with the inventory setup, the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% is hot-swappable, permitting you to decide on your personal switches and keycaps to fit your preferences.
Typing can be a nice expertise on the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75%, and the plush wrist pad provides loads of help. My solely minor grievance is the fairly shallow six diploma angle offered by the ft, however this nonetheless didn’t compromise consolation ranges for me.
Connectivity between Bluetooth and a pair of.4GHz modes is straightforward, though I didn’t discover a lot enchancment when utilizing the included HyperPolling Wireless Dongle, which elevates the polling charge most to 4K. Handy keyboard shortcuts additionally permit you to swap effortlessly between three Bluetooth linked units, which makes the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% very versatile if in case you have plenty of programs to maneuver between.
Battery life on the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% is sweet, however nothing spectacular. I discovered it might final a few days of various use, switching between the varied wi-fi modes. Charging from empty to full takes over two hours in my estimation, which is a mean efficiency.
There’s no denying that the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% is a really well-made and very worthy gaming keyboard. But whether or not it’s price that sizable asking worth is debatable, particularly when you think about others, such because the Razer Huntsman V2 Analog and Steelseries Apex Pro, provide gorgeous analog efficiency for much less. However, for the mechanical purists, it’s actually the cream of the crop.
Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% evaluate: worth and availability
- $299 / £299 / AU$499
- Available now in Black
- Top-end of the market
The BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% prices $299 / £299 / AU$499 and is offered now in a single coloration: black. In the field you get a USB-C-to-A cable, the HyperPolling Wireless Dongle, a key cap puller, and three spare switches.
The BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% sits atop Razer’s gaming keyboard lineup when it comes to worth. It’s costlier than the superb Huntsman V2 Analog, the perfect gaming keyboard proper now in our view. Unlike the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75%, the analog functionality means that you would be able to set the actuation level simply so. However, it isn’t hot-swappable just like the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75%, so that you’re caught with the optical switches, and it’s wired solely.
Other high-profile rivals within the premium sector are additionally cheaper. The Steelseries Apex Pro TKL Wireless Gen 3, as an example, is a standout board that additionally options analog switches, and prices $269 / £259 (about AU$456).
Value: 2 / 5
Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75%: specs
| Layout | TKL |
| Switch | Razer Mechanical Switches Gen-3 (Tactile) |
| Programmable keys | Yes |
| Dimensions | 13 x 6.3 x 1.6 inches / 329 x 160 x 40mm |
| RGB or backlighting | Yes (customizable) |
| Response time | Not said |
Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75%: design and options
- Thick physique
- Supremely engineered
- Synapse 4 suitable
The BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% is a reasonably unremarkable wanting gaming keyboard from the entrance, however a three-dimensional view reveals simply what a monolithic slab this keyboard actually is. The format is compact, though the keys are nonetheless spaced nicely sufficient aside to make them simple to make use of, even in the event you’re as clumsy as me.
There’s some RGB lighting for the keys and strips operating alongside the underside edges, which does assist to make its look extra elaborate.
The BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% comes with a wrist relaxation, which is far more plush and padded than lots of these provided by its rivals. In reality, I assumed it was too thick at first, because it raises your arms increased than ordinary. However, you do sink into it, and after a short time I acclimatized. The two-stage ft assist to get a extra snug place, though neither setting raises the board that top in comparison with different keyboard ft.
It’s additionally extra trendy than many different rests too, because of its premium leatherette materials with a refined herringbone sample. It connects to the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% magnetically with simply the correct amount of pressure, making it simple to take away but robust sufficient to stay safe.
The doubleshot PBT keycaps are flippantly textured and really feel premium to the contact. The similar goes for the inventory Gen-3 Tactile mechanical switches, though since this can be a hot-swappable keyboard, you may change them in the event that they aren’t to your liking.
Nestled within the high proper nook of the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% is a small OLED show. This can be utilized to point out GIFs and make sure changes, which could be accessed by holding a button on the facet of the board. There are just a few settings obtainable, although, together with these for the RGB results and the polling charge (with a 4K most when utilizing the included HyperPolling Wireless Dongle).
Tapping the facet button cycles by as much as six presets for the scroll wheel performance; it may be used to regulate the amount, swap between apps, and zoom out and in, with inward clicks of the wheel having associated features too.
The BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% is suitable with Synapse 4. During my time with this software program, I did expertise just a few glitches, such because the battery indicator giving false readings and the tab for the keyboard itself disappearing from the window. Also, firmware updates failed quite a few occasions, however after just a few updates and restarts, it labored extra easily.
Synapse provides the same old customizations, together with key rebinds, however the scope for these is giant. You can map mouse buttons, in addition to quite a few Windows and media shortcuts (greater than many different peripheral software program provide) to the keys and even to the scroll wheel. There’s additionally the Hypershift function, which lets you add a second layer of binds by urgent the Hypershift button, designated to a key of your selecting.
Design & options: 4 / 5
Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% evaluate: efficiency
- Fantastic inventory switches
- Great for gaming and typing
- Average battery life
Gaming with the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% is a joyful expertise. Razer’s Tactile mechanical switches are snappy with low journey and damped simply sufficient to permit for gentle but satisfying and managed presses, typical of the best mechanical keyboards. The keys are mildly indented, once more providing the appropriate steadiness between safety and ease of use.
When it involves typing, that snappy but damped really feel is an actual boon, offering loads of suggestions and bounce for flitting across the keys with ease. However, the aforementioned thickness of the wrist pad created a considerably unfamiliar typing place for me, however once more I rapidly tailored and located it very snug thereafter.
The numerous connectivity modes all work fairly seamlessly too, though I can’t say I observed a lot enchancment when utilizing the 4K polling charge provided by the HyperPolling Wireless Dongle. Switching between the two.4GHz/ HyperPolling and Bluetooth modes is pretty fast, though I did discover that there was a slight delay, and a key press was required to activate the board after switching to a brand new system.
There are additionally three Bluetooth profiles obtainable, that are conveniently accessible through the fn key and quantity keys 1-3. Again, switching this approach to management quite a few units works rapidly and constantly.
The battery depleted after a few days of various use, as I switched between the varied wi-fi modes (Bluetooth, 2.4GHz and the HyperPolling Wireless Dongle). This isn’t a very spectacular efficiency, and neither is the two-plus hour charging time from empty. However, neither determine is trigger for grievance, both.
Performance: 4 / 5
Should I purchase the Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75%?
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Value | The BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% is about as costly because it will get; different flagship gaming keyboards are lower than this, but provide related efficiency ranges. | 2 / 5 |
| Design and options | The BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% is constructed to a tee, and even the included wrist relaxation is about pretty much as good because it will get. Synapse 4 has just a few small points, although. | 4 / 5 |
| Performance | The switches and keycaps are masterful, and nice for typing too. But because it’s not an analog board, the actuation factors aren’t adjustable. | 4 / 5 |
| Overall | Aside from just a few hiccups with the Synapse software program, there’s not a lot improper with the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75%. Its construct high quality and efficiency are enviable, however its astronomical price ticket is tough to swallow, particularly when different standouts with analog switches are cheaper. | 4 / 5 |
Buy it if…
Don’t purchase it if…
Also think about
| Header Cell – Column 0 | Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% | SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Wireless Gen 3 | Razer Huntsman V2 Analog |
|---|---|---|---|
| Layout | TKL | TKL | TKL |
| Switch | Mechanical (Tactile) | Analog (Hall-effect magnetic) | Razer Analog Optical Switches |
| Programmable keys | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dimensions | 13 x 6.3 x 1.6 inches / 329 x 160 x 40mm | 14 x 5 x 1.7 inches / 355 x 129 x 42mm | Not said |
| RGB or backlighting | Yes (customizable) | Yes (customizable) | Yes (customizable) |
How I examined the Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75%
- Tested for over week
- Used for gaming, productiveness, searching
- PC gaming for over a decade
I examined the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% for over every week, throughout which period I used it for gaming, working, and common searching.
I performed video games together with Counter-Strike 2 and S.T.A.L.Ok.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, FPS titles that take a look at the responsiveness, accuracy and ergonomics of keyboards nicely. I made certain to make use of all of the completely different connectivity strategies, from wired and Bluetooth modes to the HyperPolling Wireless Dongle.
I’ve been PC gaming for over 10 years, and have sampled many keyboards over that interval. I’ve additionally reviewed quite a few gaming keyboards of various sizes, swap varieties, and worth tags.