Introduction



In 2023, gaming companies are taking keyboard customization seriously, especially in terms of physical customization. The Razer BlackWidow V4 75% may not seem extraordinary at first glance (it actually resembles a smaller version of the BlackWidow V4 Pro), but it's Razer's first gaming keyboard that allows you to change the switches easily.

The BlackWidow V4 75% is a wired mechanical gaming keyboard with a compact 75% layout and a removable padded leather wrist rest. For keyboard enthusiasts, it features an aluminum top plate, a hot-swappable PCB, and a design that dampens sound with two layers of foam. For gamers, it offers N-key rollover, polling rates up to 8,000 Hz, and vibrant RGB lighting that you can customize for each key, including side underglow.

You can get the BlackWidow V4 75% in black right now with Razer's orange tactile switches for $189.99. If you prefer a white version, it will be available in mid-September for an additional $10 ($199.99). Razer is also selling packs of 36 individual mechanical switches (orange/tactile, green/clicky, yellow/linear) for $24.99 each, but keep in mind that the keyboard comes with orange switches pre-installed.

Razer BlackWidow V4 75%


Specifications



Type of Switches: Razer Orange (They feel bumpy when pressed)
Keyboard Lighting: Each key can glow in different colors, and there are lights on the sides too.
Built-in Storage: Yes, you can save up to 5 different settings.
Media Controls: Yes, there are buttons for adjusting the volume, and there's a roller for it.
Gaming Mode: Yes, you can activate a special mode for gaming.
How to Connect: You can plug it in using a USB-C cable.
Extra Ports: There are no additional ports on this keyboard.
Key Material: The keys are made of double-shot ABS plastic.
Build Material: The top part of the keyboard is made of aluminum.
Software: It uses Synapse 3 software for customization.
Size: It's about 12.6 inches long, 6.1 inches wide, and 0.94 inches thick (or 321mm x 155.5mm x 24mm).
Weight: It weighs about 1.8 pounds (or 815 grams).
Price: The cost is $189.99, which was the same at the time of the review.
Release Date: This keyboard was released on August 17, 2023.

Pros And Cons


Advantages:

1. Sounds better than Razer's other keyboards.
2. You can change the switches easily; it works with 3- and 5-pin switches.
3. It has a high polling rate of up to 8,000 Hz.

Disadvantages:

1. It might seem a bit dull overall.
2. The media keys are only partially customizable.
3. There might be some noise from the stabilizers.

Design 


The BlackWidow V4 75% keyboard may remind you of a smaller version of the BlackWidow V4 Pro. It doesn't have the fancy triple-side underglow like the V4 Pro, and the underglow doesn't extend to the wrist rest when you connect it. However, the new V4 75% has a similar overall design. It's built tough with a black ABS plastic body and a matte black aluminum alloy top plate. The media keys and roller are made of machined metal.

This keyboard has a compact 75-percent layout, which is a bit smaller than a TKL layout. It has a single column of four navigation keys, whereas TKL keyboards have a three-column, two-row cluster of six. Many 75-percent keyboards leave some space between the main keys, arrow keys, and navigation keys, but the V4 75% puts them all close together. This makes the keyboard a tad shorter at 12.6 inches (321mm) compared to the Asus ROG Azoth at 12.83 inches (326mm). It's a bit wider, measuring 6.1 inches (155.5mm), thanks to a slope at the bottom for the wrist rest.

Despite its sturdy build, it's not too heavy, weighing 1.8lbs (815g). It's lighter than the Azoth but a bit heavier than the SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Wireless. On the bottom, there are four rubber grips to keep it from sliding, and it has two sets of flip-out feet, giving you extra height options of 6 degrees or 9 degrees at the back.

The BlackWidow V4 75% comes with Razer's doubleshot ABS keycaps. They're full-height, lightly textured, and have primary legends that light up and secondary legends printed in white. While they worked fine during testing, it's worth noting that Razer's ABS keycaps tend to wear down fairly quickly. Even after six months of occasional use with the BlackWidow V4 Pro, some of the keycaps have become shiny. This is a common issue with ABS keycaps, but it seems to happen a bit faster with Razer's keycaps.

Razer BlackWidow V4 75%



On the top right corner of the BlackWidow V4 75% keyboard, you'll find a volume roller and two media keys. These buttons are made of strong metal. What's interesting is that the media key on the right, with a mute symbol on it, can be changed to do different things using Razer's Synapse 3 software. However, the media key on the left, with a simple circle symbol, can't be changed. It's set to play or pause when you press it once, skip to the next track when you double-tap it, and go back to the previous track when you triple-tap it.

The BlackWidow V4 75% keyboard also comes with a removable wrist rest. This wrist rest is covered with soft leather-like material and has a textured surface. It looks like a smaller version of the wrist rest that comes with the BlackWidow V4 Pro keyboard, but it's simpler. Unlike the V4 Pro, this wrist rest doesn't have a connection to light up the keyboard from below because the V4 75% only has lights on the sides, not on the bottom.

In the box, you'll also find a 6.5-foot (2-meter) USB-C to USB-A cable that you can attach and detach from the keyboard. Plus, there's a tool that helps you remove keycaps and switches if you ever need to.

Typing and Gaming Experience


The BlackWidow V4 75% is a wired gaming keyboard that's 75-percent in size. It has N-key rollover, which means it can handle multiple key presses at once. The keyboard also boasts a polling rate of up to 8,000 Hz, making it very responsive. It uses Razer's third-gen orange tactile mechanical switches. 

What sets this keyboard apart is its tape-enhanced hot-swappable PCB. This means you can change the switches without soldering, and it accepts both 3- and 5-pin switches. It also has a gasket-mounted design with two layers of dampening foam to reduce noise.

The BlackWidow V4 75% uses Razer's third-gen orange tactile mechanical switches. These switches have an actuation force of 50g, an actuation point of 2mm, and a full travel distance of 3.5mm. They provide a mild tactile bump but are relatively quiet. They are similar to Cherry MX Brown switches but slightly heavier. Razer's switches are durable, rated for 100 million keystrokes, and compatible with most third-party keycaps.

Typing on this keyboard feels good, especially if you're used to mainstream gaming keyboards. The tactile switches and gasket-mounted plate create a springy yet quiet typing experience. However, some minor stabilizer rattle can be noticed in certain keys, although this is not a major issue. Overall, it sounds better than most mainstream gaming keyboards.

In terms of gaming performance, the BlackWidow V4 75% does well with no latency or lag. However, if you prefer smooth and lightweight linear optical switches, the tactile bump and slightly heavier actuation force of the orange switches might be a bit tiring.

The keyboard has a default polling rate of 1,000 Hz, but you can increase it to 8,000 Hz using Razer's Synapse 3 software. Since it's a wired keyboard, there are no concerns about battery life. However, using the highest polling rate may impact the frame rate in CPU-bound games, although this wasn't noticeable in testing.

In summary, the BlackWidow V4 75% is a solid gaming keyboard with responsive switches and customizable options, making it a good choice for gamers and keyboard enthusiasts.

Features and Software 


The BlackWidow V4 75% keyboard is easy to use right out of the box, and you can customize it using Razer's Synapse 3 software. Even though I'm not a fan of Synapse 3, I didn't dislike it as much this time because there aren't as many things to change on this keyboard.

With Synapse 3, you can change the keys (you have two layers, thanks to Razer's "HyperShift" feature), adjust how fast the keyboard responds, and set up the RGB lighting for each key and the side glow. You can choose from preset effects or get really fancy with Razer's advanced Chroma Studio. I mentioned earlier that you can sort of customize the media keys. You can program the roller (up and down) and the mute key (just one press), but you can't change what the play/pause key does.

It's a bit strange that you can't program the mute key the same way you can program the play/pause key. Maybe Razer will fix that in one of their future Synapse 3 updates.

 The Bottom Line 

The Razer BlackWidow V4 75% keyboard is a solid option for Razer's first hot-swappable keyboard, but it has some drawbacks. I'm a bit disappointed with its appearance, as it looks quite plain for Razer's debut in this new category. The all-black design doesn't excite me. Additionally, it's limited in customization options. You can't choose different switches or keycaps, and the white version costs more (even though it's just $10 extra).

However, at $189.99, it's one of the better-sounding gaming keyboards available. Personally, I prefer the sound of the Asus ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wireless, which is also priced at $179.99. But if you want a smaller keyboard than a full-size one, the BlackWidow V4 75% is a good pick.


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