Damn, this is a good keyboard.
That was my first real opinion about the Razer Huntsman V2 TKL keyboard after a few days of use. It’s a simple thought, and it’s arguably reductive, but it’s one that’s stuck with me after nearly a month of use. I’m not what one would call an esports fanatic, let alone someone who regularly plays games competitively, but Razer’s latest tenkeyless model in the Huntsman line is still appealing to me. It’s compact design, rock-solid construction, and new sound-dampening foam have earned it a spot in my setup as my go-to keyboard.
Much like its predecessor, the Razer Huntsman V2 TKL features optical key switches as opposed to standard mechanical ones. In short, optical switches use beams of light to complete a circuit and signal that a key has been pressed as opposed to mechanical switches that actuate from physical contact. Razer claims that the V2 line of Huntsman keyboards, including the TKL, feature only 0.2 ms of latency, versus a mechanical keyboard with 2 to 4 ms of latency.
I would wager that most people would not be able to notice a significant difference from a mechanical keyboard, as I certainly was unable to speak of Razer’s claims. Measuring something that moves that quickly is an exercise in futility, because, for all practical purposes, it doesn’t really matter all that much.
At the very least, I found that the Huntsman V2 TKL was not a particularly sensitive keyboard. I rarely had accidental key presses, even if the force required to push down a key was less than other mechanical keyboards I’ve used. Yet the fact that this is a tenkeyless keyboard means that you may be prone to accidental presses due to its design compared to a regular sized keyboard.
While I can’t tell whether the keyboard truly allowed for faster inputs, I can say that the inclusion of sound dampening foam to reduce the noise made by each keystroke is much appreciated. I frequently talk with voice activity enabled on Discord as opposed to push to talk, and friends have commented in the past that my mechanical keyboard is too loud.
Ever since I’ve started using the Huntsman V2 TKL, those complaints have noticeably died down, with friends asking whether I’ve gotten a keyboard as a result. That’s not to say it is silent — it still makes noise when you press keys, after all — but it is noticeably quieter than other mechanical keyboards I’ve used. The acoustics on this keyboard are easily one of the biggest highlights for me.
The same can be said for its design. It’s compact, even for a tenkeyless keyboard, and boasts aluminum construction that makes it feel durable and hefty despite its relatively small size. It’s matte black aesthetic is typical; of Razer products, though beyond a Razer logo placed just above the arrow keys, it doesn’t look over-designed either. The RGB lighting is similarly reserved, accenting the keyboard well without being overly garish.
The keys themselves boast doubleshot PBT keycaps that feel incredible to use. For those unaware, PBT (Polybutylene terephthalate) is a type of plastic that is much more durable and dense compared to ordinary plastic. What this means in practical terms is that PBT keycaps are more resilient and can last for much longer keystrokes. Razer says that this is a 100 million keystroke lifespan — because I do not have years of my life to dedicate to finding out if this is true or not, I’ll take their word for it.
“Razer’s Huntsman V2 TKL is a keyboard that I’m happy to use in my day-to-day life as well as when I’m gaming with friends.”
On the software front, Razer Synapse returns to give users an unparalleled control over their Razer devices. Razer Chroma offers tons of RGB customization, more so than I needed if I’m being honest with you. There are 16.8 million colour options, but I was fine with just setting up a handful for myself. Up to five device profiles can be used to save customization options, including keyboard shortcuts that enable you to create a whole new set of commands that do much to overcome the TKL nature of the keyboard itself.
In addition to the keyboard itself, the Huntsman V2 TKL comes with a wrist rest and a detachable USB-C cable that emphasizes the device’s portability. The wrist rest is a comfortable plush leather, though it doesn’t have magnets that enable it to easily attach itself to the keyboard. As for the cable, it nicely fits into a groove on the back that ensures that it will remain in place without fear of an accidental disconnection.
Razer’s Huntsman V2 TKL is a keyboard that I’m happy to use in my day-to-day life as well as when I’m gaming with friends. For the competitive—minded player, I can see this keyboard being a reasonable purchase for those who want cutting—edge technology at a premium price point. Otherwise, you may have to think a bit before dropping some cash on this keyboard. Know that if you do, however, I don’t think you’ll regret it.
