Razer Updates The BlackWidow Chroma Keyboard: New Ergonomics And Switch Choices
by Brett Howse on January 24, 2017 11:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Accessories
- Gaming
- Keyboard
- Razer
- Chroma
- Mechanical Keyboards
The Razer BlackWidow keyboard has been around since 2010, and it is one of Razer’s most popular gaming keyboards. Today Razer is announcing an updated version of this keyboard, which adds more choices for their buyers.
The first may seem like a small thing, but they’ve added a magnetically attached wrist rest, similar to some of their other models like the Razer Ornata. Those who prefer a wrist rest can leave it attached, and those who prefer a smaller keyboard can take it off. I’ve not used this model, since it is just announced, but the magnetic attachment of the wrist rest on the Ornata seems to hold it securely. This is a nice value-add for Razer, and should please many buyers.
Their big news though is that the BlackWidow Chroma V2 now comes with a third keyboard switch option, in the new Razer Yellow switch. Razer started manufacturing their own keyboard switches in 2014, and they currently offer both a Green and Orange model, and both offer a tactile feedback. The new Razer Yellow switch is a linear, and silent design, and features a reduced travel distance. Razer says this shorter throw allows for faster key presses, and a quieter design should be welcome news to many people who want a mechanical keyboard with a bit less noise.
The Green switches have a 50 gram actuation force, whereas the Orange and Yellow both have a lighter 45 gram actuation force, and all Razer mechanical switches are rated for an 80 million keystroke lifespan.
As with most Razer products, the BlackWidow V2 features Razer’s Chroma lighting, with individually backlit keys offering 16.8 million colors per key, as well as the Chroma effects powered by their Synapse software. It also features 10 key roll-over anti-ghosting, and offers fully programmable keys with on-the-fly macro recording options. The USB keyboard features 1000 Hz polling, a braided USB cable, and a USB pass-through and 3.5 mm 4-pole audio pass-through jack.
Despite the included wrist rest, the new BlackWidow V2 Chroma keyboard has a price that is unchanged from the previous model, and select models are shipping now for U.S. $169.99 / EU €199.99.
Source: Razer
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Stuka87 - Tuesday, January 24, 2017 - link
I have two Black Widow Stealths (pre-chroma), would be curious as to how the yellow switches feel.Chaitanya - Tuesday, January 24, 2017 - link
Even I want to know how those yellow switches compare to Red from Cherry/Kailh. I am using Gigabyte K85 with Kailh reds and pretty satisfied with it.Flunk - Tuesday, January 24, 2017 - link
Kailh makes the switches for Razer (although Razer claims they're a different variant than the normal Kailh ones).I've got a keyboard with Razer orange at work and one with Cherry MX browns at home, they feel the same to me.
mrvco - Wednesday, January 25, 2017 - link
I've been shopping for a quality mech for my gaming PC and ended up buying a Leopold FC750R w/ Cherry MX Pinks (aka Silent Reds)... great switch, especially w/ the Leopold's incredible build quality.The Razer Yellows sound like a hybrid of Cherry MX Reds or Pinks and their Speed switch.
SmCaudata - Tuesday, January 24, 2017 - link
I'm really interested in this. I personally like laptop keyboards due to travel, but most of them suck as far as feel and what not. A shorter travel mechanical may be just perfect for me. I have the slim Logitech USB keyboard now and like it, but the lack of n-key (10-key) rollover makes certain games annoying since it will decide to randomly ignore a jump or something due to too many keys being down already.Michael Bay - Wednesday, January 25, 2017 - link
Just what are you playing that demands such a key mashing?Even in the heyday of Q3 and UT your bog standard 5$ keyboard was enough press-wise, the choice was about tactile preferences.
mrvco - Wednesday, January 25, 2017 - link
As far as I can tell the real issue is (or was) with ghosting where pushing two or more keys simultaneously is somehow registered as a key that you didn't press or no key at all. Nowadays NKRO (or at least enough keys as to not matter) and Ghosting seem to be ubiquitous features on all but the cheapest boards and even less of an issue for Keyboard+Mouse gaming, as opposed to using your keyboard to play music in keyboard / synthesizer software.fanofanand - Tuesday, January 24, 2017 - link
Does the awful synapse software still come for free? Will it still cause all sorts of driver crashes? Hopefully they still have the wonderful feature where their USB keyboards don't work in the bios? I love my razer mouse but my Tarantula was the worst keyboard purchase I have ever made. It was the worst peripheral purchase I ever made. Having to login to Razer's software just to use basic functions of the keyboard, no way.Stuka87 - Tuesday, January 24, 2017 - link
I have two Black Widows (two different systems), one is a 2011, one is a 2014. Both work in the BIOS/EFI for the systems they have been connected to (four in total), I have never had the driver crash, I actually like the synapse software as it means my settings are identical on both systems without me having to do anything, and has overall been a good experience.GalaxyWide - Tuesday, January 24, 2017 - link
The only issue I have with Synapse is that the click/button heat map tracking function broke a game I was trying to play, and I had to disable it. And also the constant updates...but both are mostly just annoying.