Razer is one of the most well-known brands when it comes to gaming peripherals and accessories. Since their founding in 2005, they have consistently produced high-quality products catered specifically to gamers.
The Razer BlackWidow line of mechanical gaming keyboards has been popular for over a decade thanks to its sleek aesthetics, robust feature sets, and proven performance. The newest addition, the BlackWidow V4 Pro with linear Yellow mechanical switches, continues this legacy with flair.
Contents
Design and Build Quality
From the moment you unbox it, the Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro makes an impression with its minimalist matte black design and aircraft-grade aluminum top frame.
This rigid metal construction gives the keyboard a sturdy, premium feel and long-lasting durability to withstand hours of intense gaming. The keyboard connects via a detachable USB-C cable when wired, or through a small USB dongle for lag-free wireless connectivity.
The keycaps are made of durable ABS plastic in a doubleshot molding process, allowing for brighter, long-lasting RGB backlighting. The font is a custom Razer typeface, and secondary functions are clearly indicated.
The full 104-key American ANSI layout includes dedicated media controls and a volume wheel in the upper right. There is also a row of programmable macro buttons along the left side. An ergonomic wrist rest attaches magnetically for added comfort.
Overall, the design choices and high-quality materials of the BlackWidow V4 Pro make it feel like a premium product built to last. No compromises were made on the construction or look of this flagship keyboard.
Features for Gaming
In terms of features, the BlackWidow V4 Pro is geared towards gaming. It comes equipped with Razer’s proprietary linear Yellow mechanical switches. These have a light 40g actuation force and short 1.2mm actuation point for fast, responsive key presses.
This allows you to tap keys quickly and register your inputs faster than the competition. There is also a subtle tactile bump during actuation to provide typing feedback.
For even more customization, the fully programmable keys let you create macros on-the-fly or rebind any key to adapt to different games. There are also dedicated media controls including play/pause, skip track, and mute, as well as a volume wheel for quick audio adjustments.
The per-key RGB lighting can be customized down to individual keys. Effects like spectrum cycling, reactive triggering, and wave patterns liven up your setup. You can store up to 5 lighting profiles onboard thanks to the keyboard’s hybrid onboard memory and cloud storage system.
This allows you to use your custom settings on any computer by syncing to Razer Synapse 3.With these gaming-centric features, the BlackWidow V4 Pro offers extreme flexibility whether you play MOBAs, MMOs, FPS games, or anything in between.
Performance and Testing
In testing, the BlackWidow V4 Pro delivers extremely responsive and reliable performance even during intense gaming sessions. The light Yellow switches allow for rapid actuation and reset to keep up with fast key presses and multiple button holds like when movement and abilities are mapped separately. There were no signs of key chatter or input drops during stressful gameplay moments.
Thanks to Razer HyperSpeed wireless technology, the wireless latency is almost indistinguishable from a wired connection. The keyboard uses an adaptive frequency hopping mechanism to find the most interference-free channel for the 2.4Ghz wireless dongle.
This prevents any lag, latency or dropouts which is critical for gaming. Battery life is excellent as well thanks to Bluetooth modes for normal use, lasting over 200 hours on a full charge. The keyboard helpfully warns you when the battery is low.
The Yellow switches provide a uniquely smooth, linear key press compared to clicky Blue or tactile Green switches. They have a nearly identical 1.2mm actuation whether pressing softly or bottoming out hard, and reset extremely quickly after actuation for fast key presses. While the sound profile is quieter than clicky switches, there is still a satisfying thock sound when bottoming out. The minimal pretravel distance helps register key presses quickly.
For gaming this speedy, smooth, quiet linear switch is ideal. The low actuation force doesn’t tire the fingers even after marathon gaming sessions. The short actuation point helps make split-second reactions and combo moves easier compared to other mechanical switches.
Comparison to Other BlackWidow Models
The BlackWidow line contains several other variants worth comparing. Other models equipped with optical switches like the Huntsman V2 Pro have even faster actuation for maximum speed. However they lack some features of the BlackWidow. There are also models like the BlackWidow V3 Pro which boast dual LCD side screens for app integrations and notifications.
The other main difference lies in the mechanical switch types offered. The Yellow linear switches on the V4 Pro provide a quieter, smoother experience than clicky Green or tactile Orange switches found on other models. The Greens offer a more pronounced audible and tactile click during actuation. But they may be too loud or stiff for some.
The V4 Pro hits a nice balance by using light yet responsive Yellow switches. It retains all the core features of the BlackWidow line without compromising on performance or quality. So unless you specifically desire advanced side screens or optical switches, the V4 Pro represents the pinnacle of Razer’s mechanical gaming keyboard offerings.
Features
Some of the excellent features of this keyboard include:
- Per key Razer Chroma RGB backlighting with dozens of effects and layers
- Onboard memory to save up to 5 lighting profiles
- Media keys and volume wheel
- Detachable plush wrist rest
- Dedicated gaming mode to disable Windows key
Pros
- Sleek and compact design
- Satisfying linear Yellow switches
- Bright customizable backlighting
- Onboard profile storage
- Comes with a plush wrist rest
Cons
- Expensive
- Non-standard bottom row limits keycap options
- No USB passthrough
Conclusion
With its aircraft-grade aluminum frame, doubleshot keycaps, Yellow mechanical switches, RGB effects, and wealth of gaming-focused features, the Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro stands out as a top-tier wireless mechanical gaming keyboard. Both the design and performance are geared towards gaming with unique touches like the hybrid memory system.
The linear Yellow switches provide a responsive, smooth experience whether gaming or typing. The minimal actuation force doesn’t fatigue fingers and helps register inputs quicker. Combined with the durable construction, wireless freedom, and extensive customization options, the BlackWidow V4 Pro is arguably Razer’s most advanced mechanical gaming keyboard yet.
For these reasons, the BlackWidow V4 Pro is an outstanding choice for any gamer but especially ideal for fans of FPS, MOBA, and MMO genres where speed and tactile feedback are king. While the $229.99 price tag is quite steep, for a high-end wireless mechanical keyboard packed with features it is justified. Overall the V4 Pro carries on the BlackWidow legacy with authority as Razer’s new gold standard mechanical gaming keyboard.
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