RAZER BLACKWIDOW V4 PRO 75% WIRELESS HOT-SWAPPABLE GAMING KEYBOARD REVIEW

One of the leaders in gaming peripherals have just launched their latest game changing device, the Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% Wireless Hot-Swappable Gaming Keyboard that aims very high. Does it hit the mark? Read on! Given the popularity of their corded BlackWidow v4 (tenkeyless) 75% keyboard and the vogue of wireless mice and keyboards at the moment, it’s understandable that Razer have literally cut the cords – however  not performance, thanks to their Razer HyperSpeed and HyperPolling wireless technology.

The new BlackWidow V4 PRo 75% Wireless Gaming Keyboard also screams gamer with its appearance and although it looks Razer with its aesthetics, once the RGB lighting is enabled with its myriad of effects, it takes on a whole new life or lives actually. As part of your gaming artillery it has textured doubleshot PBT keycaps for exceptional durability, including optimization for improved backlit illumination which feels good for typing, actually great for typing.

Speaking of typing, the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% Wireless Gaming Keyboard sounds great and doesn’t have that hollow sound when the keys are pressed. This is due to the gasket-mounted FR4 plate (reduces metallic pinging noises), tape-enhanced PCB (absorbs sound), lubricated stabilizers with Krytox™ GPL 205g0 and two layers of sound dampening foam.

The switches on this keyboard are tactile and quiet (Razer Mechanical Switches Gen 3 Orange) which delivers subtle feedback through the actuation moment for precise and instant feedback which makes it ideal for competitive and FPS gaming. Also, for those that want to change the switches, it comes with a 2-in-1 keycap and switch puller that is compatible with both 3 or 5-point switches which makes this BlackWidow hot-swappable!

As its a 75% form-factor sized keyboard, it is more compact than full-size keyboards but you still get the function keys plus their dual use, the Razer Command Dial and a customisable built-in OLED display. The OLED is super cool because it can display messages, graphics, animation and even PC statistics such as CPU temperature.

Another useful feature is the Razer Command Dial with 1 dedicated side button that although is used as a volume knob, it offers other functionality such as zoom, swap between apps and track selection. Although there are 6 standard options (volume, OLED brightness, lighting brightness, switch apps, zoom & settings) for the OLED, you can add more via the Synapse software. I also like that animations stay loaded on the keyboard memory which is great for travel.

Besides the 4K HZ Wireless (ultra-low latency) connectivity via the dongle which is ultra-fast, it also provides Bluetooth 5.1 Connectivity and of course USB-C corded option, including charging. On the back of the keyboard is the USB-C port plus a switch that allows you to swap between connection modes, including feet to raise and slightly angle the BlackWidow – it doesn’t slip either. If you need a wrist rest for comfort, it comes with an ergonomically magnetic plush leatherette one that easily snaps onto the keyboard.

What about battery? Your mileage will vary as it is dependent on a number of factors. However there is a Power Saving Mode (FN + ESC) that disables Chroma RGB, OLED, Command Dial and locks the keyboard to 1000Hz for up to 2100 hours. If you are using a 1000Hz polling rate with RGB lighting at medium level, you will be able to get 20+ hours for wireless which we easily achieved and was up to 25 hours at one point. However, at 4K with RGB enabled, you’ll be charging the board daily to ensure you don’t come unstuck with a depleted battery, especially for long gaming sessions. Fortunately, you can hold down the FN button to see the battery level on the OLED.

Unboxing Gallery

As you can see, the Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% Wireless Hot-Swappable Gaming Keyboard is well-packed and comes with everything you need, including a high quality USB-C cable.

I also like the military-like look of the Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% Wireless Hot-Swappable Gaming Keyboard which feels rugged and more importantly, can take a whopping as you fight in your virtual worlds.

Colours

The Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% Wireless Hot-Swappable Gaming Keyboard has all the colours of the rainbow and probably every colour from the multiverse thanks to its Razer Chroma RGB lighting, including a plethora of effects such as breathing and customised ones. Illumination is also per-key, including 2-sided underglow.

The Setup

Setting up the new BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% Wireless Hot-Swappable Gaming Keyboard is super simple and Razer make the process quite flawless. Once it was connected to our PC and the software downloaded and installed, we were ready to go. Although the keyboard works out of the box, you need to install the Razer apps to get the most out of the keyboard which allows you to fine-tune the device. It also has hybrid on-board storage for up to 6 profiles.

Razer App

The apps from Razer are one of the best in the business that are not only well-designed but fast and easy to navigate in just a few clicks. The Synapse software also allows you to to “sync” with other devices in relation to its RGB lighting that really makes your entire gaming rig pulsate together.

Gaming

The polling rate of the corded variety of the previous model of the BlackWidow V4 is 8000Hz which means your computer is updated 8000 times a second which is insane. The wireless variety of the the widow is 4000Hz that is still insane. It also has N-key rollover (handles simultaneous keystrokes) & Anti-ghosting (interprets multiple keys at same time) that with the tactile switches and as mentioned, makes it ideal for FPS and competitive gaming.

Titles such as Space Marines 2, Call of Duty Modern Warfare III, Doom Eternal and Dead Space and Helldivers 2 all worked a treat on the Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% Wireless Hot-Swappable Gaming Keyboard with each key delivering a satisfying press. I also had no issues at either 4000Hz or even 1000Hz for that matter – but I’m sure eSport professionals would crucify me for that comment.

Final Thoughts?

Power to the free and power to the wireless! The new Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% Wireless Hot-Swappable Gaming Keyboard provides excellent wireless connectivity with fast performance. It’s compact, fast and is everything you need to add to your keyboard artillery as you take on the virtual enemies. Additionally, it’s sturdy, looks great, has easy to navigate apps (including using the OLED) and if you have the coin, it will be worthy part of your gaming rig. On the flipside, it is expensive due the complexity and layers of the build…

… as you can see, it’s not your “standard” wireless gaming keyboard. Further, if you’re looking to run it at 4K wireless with all the bells and whistles of RGB, this will greatly reduce your battery but we gamers asre as crafty lot, so I’m sure you’ll work something out, especially if you’re a Razer fan.

Recommended!

For more information on the Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% Wireless Hot-Swappable Gaming Keyboard, please visit https://www.razer.com/gaming-keyboards/razer-blackwidow-v4-pro-75.

PRICE & AVAILABILITY

Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75%
$499.95 AUD / $599.95 NZD
Pre-orders available now exclusively at Razer.com and RazerStores.
General Availability: Razer.com, RazerStores & Authorized Resellers – Starting from 25 September 2024