Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro Wireless Gaming Keyboard Review: Specification And Price

 Introduction

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Sometimes, the best wireless keyboard is a small and compact one. This is great for people who travel a lot, use different computers, or have limited desk space. But what if you want all the cool features of a full-sized mechanical keyboard without the wires?

The Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro, which costs $230 at the moment, offers many of the fantastic features found in top gaming keyboards. It comes with a complete set of media buttons, colorful RGB lighting, and a comfortable wrist support. But the best part is, it's wireless! You can connect it to your computer using a 2.4 GHz USB dongle, Bluetooth 5.0, or even charge it with a braided cable. This keyboard is perfect for gamers who want everything without the hassle of wires.

Specifications

Type of Switches: You can choose between Razer Green or Razer Yellow switches.

Keyboard Lighting: It has RGB lighting for each individual key.

Built-in Memory: You can store up to 4 different profiles on the keyboard.

Media Control Buttons: Yes, it has buttons for controlling media playback.

Wireless Connectivity: You can connect it using a 2.4 GHz USB Type-A dongle (Razer HyperSpeed), Bluetooth, or a regular USB Type-A cable.

Detachable Cable: The cable is detachable and is a USB Type-A to USB Type-C connection, and it's also braided.

Extra Ports: There are no additional ports on this keyboard.

Key Caps Material: The key caps are made of doubleshot ABS.

Build Material: It has an aluminum top plate and a plastic base.

Configuration Software: You can customize settings using Razer Synapse 3 software.

Dimensions (Length x Width x Height): It measures 17.7 x 9.8 x 1.7 inches (450.7 x 248.4 x 42.3mm).

Weight: The keyboard weighs 3.1 pounds (1,423g).

Pros And Cons

 Advantages

1. The Doubleshot keycaps have a high-quality feel and are resistant to smudges.

2. The multi-function dial and media keys provide a satisfying user experience.

3. The wrist rest included with the keyboard is of premium quality.

Disadvantages

1. It comes with a high price tag.

2. The keyboard can be finicky when the battery is running very low.

3. There are no macro keys available.

4. The RGB lighting is heavily reliant on software.

Design 

The BlackWidow V3 Pro has a similar appearance to many of Razer's other keyboards. You can see this in features like the eye-catching media dial and the sleek snake logo on the keyboard's underside, along with the comfortable leatherette wrist rest that comes with it. In general, it has a straightforward, all-black design with a robust aluminum top plate and a plastic base. Most of the keyboard's visual appeal comes from its RGB lighting, which Razer has always done well, but they've taken it a step further by introducing transparent versions of their mechanical switches to enhance the LED illumination.

To enhance the RGB lighting, the font on the keycaps strikes a nice balance between being serious and fun. The rounded, friendly loops and slender letters give it a light-hearted feel, especially with features like "Caps" and "Shift" written in lowercase letters, which keeps things playful without looking silly. The slim font also helps the RGB lighting stand out against the black, double-shot ABS plastic keycaps. These keycaps look and feel almost as premium as PBT and are resistant to fingerprint smudges, even after a week of heavy use, although the aluminum top plate doesn't share the same resistance.

The RGB lighting shines through between the well-spaced keys, creating a vibrant glow even at brightness settings as low as 20%. It's worth noting that you can adjust the RGB brightness and turn it off directly on the keyboard. Additionally, by holding FN, Ctrl, and 1-7, you can cycle through various RGB presets.

One standout feature is the volume wheel, which adds a touch of style. However, considering the keyboard's price, some users might have expected more. For example, the wireless Logitech G915 Lightspeed keyboard, with its brushed aluminum top plate, matching volume wheel, and soft-touch buttons, gives off a more expensive and distinctive appearance at first glance. The Razer RGB logo, while expected, is positioned in a way that intersects with the aluminum top plate and is obscured by textured plastic, which detracts from the subtle aluminum finish and blurs the snake emblem.

Nevertheless, many gamers will appreciate the keyboard's potential for understated elegance, and it still includes premium features. The wrist rest, which the Logitech competitor lacks, is well-padded. Unlike many freebie wrist rests made of flimsy plastic, this one holds its own. While it may not offer the same luxurious and cooling memory foam, it's comfortable, and the leatherette material feels pleasant against the wrists.

Similar to the wired Razer Huntsman Elite, the BlackWidow V3 Pro features a stylish volume wheel with RGB illumination, tactile feedback, a frosted center that can be pressed in, and a bold protruding design on the keyboard's side. Adjusting the wheel changes the volume in two-step increments and provides a DJ-like feel. Additionally, the wheel functions as a programmable button. The three accompanying media buttons also stand out and have a smooth plastic finish. However, the symbols on them can be challenging to read, especially in well-lit environments. Similarly, the icons below the navigation keys are also somewhat difficult to distinguish.

Although the BlackWidow V3 Pro is wireless, it doesn't necessarily make it travel-friendly. It maintains the same size as a typical full-sized wired keyboard, measuring 17.7 x 9.8 x 1.7 inches and weighing 3.1 pounds. 

Wireless Experience

While the keyboard may not be convenient to carry around, Razer simplifies the process of connecting it to multiple PCs. It features a sturdy switch on the left side, making it simple to switch between different systems without accidentally hitting it. You have the option to connect via the 2.4 GHz dongle, Bluetooth, or the detachable, braided USB-C cable. I also managed to successfully connect the keyboard to up to three Bluetooth devices and switch between them by pressing FN and 1, 2, or 3. This makes the keyboard a viable, albeit slightly heavier, choice for productivity or using it in the living room.

In contrast to many other wireless gaming peripherals, you can control the BlackWidow V3 Pro with software when it's paired with your PC via Bluetooth. However, after using the keyboard in Bluetooth mode for 13 hours while also using a wireless mouse, the keyboard suddenly disconnected three times. Each disconnection occurred after a few minutes of inactivity. Your experience may vary, and it could have been an issue with my computer, but I never encountered this problem when using a Logitech G915 TKL's Bluetooth connection with the same PC (and my mouse's Bluetooth connection remained stable).

For gaming, it's recommended to use the HyperSpeed dongle connection. Razer claims that it offers up to a 25% speed boost compared to "any other wireless gaming technology," as certified by the TUV SUD certification institute. The connection remained reliable in gaming scenarios, even when I used my best wireless mouse and occasionally a 2.4 GHz headset. However, I did experience some lag when the battery life dropped to 3% or lower. At this point, the keyboard enters a low battery mode that dims and causes erratic RGB lighting, resulting in 1-2 second delays before registering my key presses.

Typing Experience

The BlackWidow V3 Pro has two types of mechanical switches: Razer Green, which are tactile and clicky, and Razer Yellow, which are linear and silent. The Razer Green switches have a total travel of 3.5mm and actuate at 1.2mm with 45G of force. Razer updated the Razer Yellow switches with non-removable silicon dampeners to make them quieter. Our review unit has Green switches, which are similar to Cherry MX Blue switches in terms of being loud.

Razer's Green switches have a 4mm total travel and actuate at 1.9mm with 50G of force, making them slightly lighter and quicker to actuate compared to Cherry Blues (4mm total travel, actuating at 2.2mm with 60G). In a side-by-side comparison, they feel similar, but Cherry's switches require more force to press. Both switches have a noticeable bump, but the Razer Greens seem to bounce back over that bump more energetically. If you like Cherry MX Blues or similar switches, you should enjoy Razer Greens.

However, it's important to note that these switches are quite loud. When you press the actuation point, you hear a crisp, plastic-like click, followed almost immediately by the keycap returning to its position. Despite the BlackWidow V3 Pro's aluminum top plate, there isn't much of an echoing sound, unlike some other keyboards such as the SteelSeries Apex Pro. 

But, like many mechanical keyboards, the spacebar is notably louder. It produces a solid "thock" sound when bottomed out. Meanwhile, larger keys like the backspace key create a more resonant "thud" that can overpower the click noise of the switches and quickly return to their position. Typing on this keyboard can make your "home office" sound like the only place in your apartment with a tin roof, getting pelted with raindrops of various sizes.

One of the standout features of the BlackWidow V3 Pro is its keycaps. The doubleshot ABS keycaps feel and look premium, offering a satisfying level of texture that becomes apparent upon close inspection. They are so well-crafted that they might be mistaken for PBT keycaps. While PBT plastic keycaps have even more texture, these doubleshot ABS keycaps come remarkably close and are much better at resisting fingerprint smudges compared to standard ABS keycaps found on many other mechanical keyboards.

The combination of clicky and lighter switches, high-quality keycaps, and well-spaced and shaped keys contribute to efficient and enjoyable typing. On the typing test at 10fastfingers.com, I achieved an average speed of 125.7 words per minute (WPM) with 97.6% accuracy, compared to my usual 115 WPM with 98% accuracy. The increase in speed can be attributed to the snappiness of the keys and the satisfying clacking sound that keeps you motivated.

Gaming Experience

The BlackWidow V3 Pro performed really well in gaming. I used Razer's HyperSpeed dongle for gaming because it's supposed to give a better, delay-free connection compared to Bluetooth.

When playing MMO games, it was exciting to press different combinations of keys. The keys were spaced nicely, making it easy to know which key I was pressing without looking away from the screen. However, Razer's Green switches are quite noisy, and this noise can be distracting, especially when there are loud explosions and laser shots in the game. If your teammates can hear the noise, they might have some thoughts about it too.

While playing Borderlands 3, I once again liked the resistance provided by the textured keycaps. They kept my fingers in place on the keys, preventing them from slipping and allowing me to quickly move to a different key when dealing with hordes of enemies. If you need to press the same key rapidly, the linear version of this keyboard would be beneficial. However, the Razer Green switches quickly return to their original position to assist with fast input.

Razer's included wrist rest deserves a special mention. It helped me stay comfortable and focused on the game, allowing me to play for longer periods. Other features that gamers will find useful include n-key rollover and the ability to record macros on the fly. However, if you're comparing this keyboard to Logitech's G915 Lightspeed, you'll notice the absence of extra G keys.

Battery Life

I turned up the brightness of the keyboard's RGB lighting to the maximum level and alternated between a rainbow wave or a static color, depending on what I was doing. Right out of the box, it's set to turn off automatically after 15 minutes of not being used. With these settings, the keyboard I was testing managed to stay powered for a little over 14 hours before needing a recharge. I could have made the battery last longer if I allowed the RGB lighting to dim when the keyboard wasn't in use for 1-15 minutes. Razer gives you the option to do this, unlike Logitech's wireless competitor, which claims 30 hours of battery life with the RGB lighting at maximum brightness but dims it automatically when not in use.

I didn't have enough time to fully test the keyboard's battery life with a Bluetooth connection before my review was due. However, after using it for 13 hours via Bluetooth with the RGB lighting still set to maximum brightness and the same settings as mentioned earlier, my BlackWidow V3 Pro had 18% battery remaining.

The issue, as mentioned earlier, arises when the battery life drops to 3%. At this point, the keyboard starts behaving unpredictably. The RGB lighting flickers between a faint rainbow wave, dim static colors, and completely off. Even worse, there's a noticeable delay in registering keypresses, especially the first one after a period of inactivity. The Synapse software also stops recognizing the keyboard as a connected device. Razer explained to me that this is all due to the keyboard entering a low-power mode, but it certainly makes the keyboard frustrating to use. Of course, once this problem starts, it's easy to resolve by plugging in the keyboard's removable USB-C cable and getting back to work.

Razer claims that the BlackWidow V3 Pro can last up to 192 hours on a single charge if you don't use the RGB lighting. However, if you decide to turn on the RGB lighting, the estimated battery life drops significantly, ranging from 5 to 25 hours. Razer has provided the following chart to give you an idea of how long the keyboard is expected to last based on different RGB lighting settings.

Features and Software

The BlackWidow V3 Pro keyboard comes with a lot of features, but it relies heavily on the Synapse 3 software. This might not be a big problem because Synapse is detailed and simple to use.

You can store up to four profiles on the keyboard itself, but the RGB lighting settings for each profile won't work without the software running. To create these profiles, you also need the software. So, if you want any RGB lighting beyond the default seven options, you have to keep Synapse running. Sometimes, the software had trouble changing RGB settings, even though Synapse indicated otherwise. RGB lighting is a nice extra, and it would be better if it worked without needing an app for troubleshooting.

With Synapse, you can adjust the brightness of the RGB lighting (you can also do this without the software) and customize how it behaves to save battery life. There are 10 preset RGB lighting options in the software, including a rainbow wave and RGB that matches your screen's colors or reacts to audio. For those who are really into RGB, you can create your own individual key settings using the Razer Chroma Studio within the software.

You can switch between the keyboard's onboard profiles by pressing the FN and Menu keys. Besides the onboard memory, you can create profiles specifically for certain games and other applications.

Synapse also allows you to customize almost every key, except for the Windows key and the right FN key. Even the four media keys can be reprogrammed, including the volume wheel. Razer's Hypershift feature doubles the functionality – when you hold down the right FN key, every key can perform an extra function. Razer has made it easy to program various tasks, such as opening programs, using Windows shortcuts, and creating macros. You can also record macros on-the-fly with this keyboard.

Bottom Line

The Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro lives up to Razer's reputation for top-notch gaming. Even though it connects wirelessly, it's just as reliable as a wired keyboard, as long as the battery isn't almost dead. With its double-shot keycaps, entertaining media wheel, and well-crafted wrist rest, the keyboard tries its best to justify its high price.

However, I would appreciate the ability to link RGB settings to profiles saved in the keyboard's onboard memory. Given its cost, having some macro keys like the Logitech G915 Lightspeed would be useful, even though the Logitech keyboard is $20 more expensive than our reviewed product (at the time of writing). Logitech's wireless gaming keyboard also offers a quiet tactile switch option that the BlackWidow V3 Pro lacks, but it's only available with low-profile switches.

If you're looking for a full-sized wireless keyboard that has everything a wired mechanical keyboard offers, along with software, RGB lighting, and luxurious features like per-key RGB and advanced media controls that enhance the gaming experience, it's tough to find a better option than the BlackWidow V3 Pro.

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