If there were ever a computer peripheral that evolved more and more over the years, the keyboard would likely be a top choice. There is generally a keyboard for everyone ranging from various sizes, layouts, switch types, etc. When it comes to gaming keyboards, Razer is often one of the most known companies in the market. Now in its 4th generation, Razer’s Blackwidow keyboard has recently hit shelves, packing a number of great features and a premium price tag. Will it be your next keyboard?
Unboxing Razer products is always a very pleasant experience, as their vibrant lime green boxes always stand out amongst other companies. In the box, you find the keyboard, a magnetic wrist-rest, a braided USB Type A to USB Type C cable, and an extra I always enjoy seeing, company-branded decals. I do wish more companies would further enhance their product unboxings, and it makes your product purchases feel just that little bit more enjoyable.
Looking at the Razer Blackwidow V4, it feels very premium and well-built in my hands. The build quality of Razer products I have used over the years has always been very top-notch, even if they cost more than competitor products. The braided cable also further enhances that feeling of quality, as plastic or rubberized coatings on keyboard cables often feel cheap and tend to show more wear and tear over time.
“Looking at the Razer Blackwidow V4, it feels very premium and well-built in my hands.”
The Razer Blackwidow V4 is a full-size keyboard with media keys, a volume wheel, and even six programmable macro keys. The keyboard I reviewed was equipped with Razer’s Green Switches, which are supposed to make a clicky sound and provide a tactile response when typing. The keystrokes sounded like I was typing on an older typewriter, which I found a little too loud for my taste. However, many other friends and family members said they enjoyed the sound, so those who want a quieter typing experience may want to take a look at Razer’s Yellow Switches.
Noise aside, the keystrokes were very comfortable, and I was able to quickly adapt to typing on the Blackwidow V4 with minimal errors. While the actuation point was a bit deeper than other keyboards I have used in the past, partly because I am used to very shallow keyboards, I did not find this too much of an issue in my adjustment period.
With extended use, Razer’s inclusion of a cushioned leatherette wrist rest made these sessions much more comfortable and ergonomic. I found this exceptionally nice during my longer gaming sessions or when I found myself typing out longer documents.
For those hardcore gamers, setting up macro keys to enhance your gameplay is another feature Razer has chosen to include on the Blackwidow V4. While I never found myself needing them, having the flexibility of having them should I ever choose to use them came is something I found quite handy.
“For those hardcore gamers, setting up macro keys to enhance your gameplay is another feature Razer has chosen to include on the Blackwidow V4.”
Something I did find myself using a bunch was the built-in media controls and volume. As someone who listens to a lot of music and plays a lot of videos when on my computer, I found myself constantly utilizing the volume wheel to adjust my music or the pause/play button when it was time to take a quick break or time to step away from the computer for a few minutes.
Of course, what is a Razer product without Razer adding its usual load of RGB lighting? Razer does not disappoint in this aspect on the Blackwidow V4 and delivers an abundant amount of customizability. From selecting one of Razer’s many different RGB patterns to setting up keys individually to making your own colour scheme to suit each game or program, the possibilities are almost endless.
My time with the Razer Blackwidow V4 was certainly enjoyable. The Blackwidow V4 was very comfortable to type my documents or emails on, while allowing me to control my media playback in the background. Playing around with the RGB’s endless array of settings was also a lot of fun. While I found the keystrokes to be a bit loud for my taste, this in no way takes away from the Razer Blackwidow V4, nor does it affect how I feel about it.
