About Razer Mechanical Keyboard

A fully immersive gaming experience does not only rely on PC specs, peripherals also play an important part. A highly responsive, sturdy, and durable keyboard is one key consideration of gamers. There are principally two types of gaming keyboards – mechanical and membrane. Mechanical keyboards were first used in the 1980s for the sole purpose of typing but their tactility, speed, and durability have proven them to be also efficient in gaming. Mechanical keyboards have a distinct key-feel as compared to membrane keyboards which tend to get mushy over time. Moreover, mechanical keyboards have a longer lifespan and provide more direct feedback to the user than membrane keyboards.

In 2010, Razer marked another first in history by introducing Razer BlackWidow, the world’s first gaming mechanical keyboard. Since then, Razer has been pushing innovation to raise the gamer’s experience to the next level.

Razer Mechanical Switches

Mechanical switches are the main and most important component of mechanical keyboards. To have more control over the performance, stability, and durability of the switches, Razer decided to develop their mechanical switches. The Razer Mechanical Switches were first embedded in the BlackWidow in 2014. Today, the Razer BlackWidow family has three variants of mechanical switches – green, yellow, and orange.

• Razer Green Switch. The green switch is Razer’s classic mechanical switch. It has a tactile and clicky feel, which means users can feel a bump and can hear a distinctive click sound with each keypress.
• Razer Orange Switch. The orange switch is tactile but silent. Like the green switch, users can feel a bump with each keypress but unlike the green switch, the clicky sound is absent.
• Razer Yellow Switch. Razer’s yellow switch is linear and silent. Users won’t feel any bump and won’t hear any clicking sound. It’s also faster than the green and the orange switches with only a 1.2mm actuation point and 0mm reset point.

Aside from the key-feel, other attributes make each switch distinct from the other as summarized in the table below.

Razer BlackWidow

The Razer BlackWidow is a family of sturdy, robust, and well-built gaming keyboards equipped with Razer Mechanical Switches. This iconic keyboard has gone through enhancements and innovations since its introduction in 2010 to meet the demands and needs of gamers. With two sizes available, users can choose between a full-sized, feature-rich keyboard or the tenkeyless variety which is more portable with a compact form factor. There are currently 16 keyboards in the BlackWidow family each with different features and designs that would suit every gamer’s needs. Read on to discover the astonishing features that come with this legendary keyboard.

RGB Backlighting 

Keyboard backlighting is a feature that makes gaming keyboards alluring. Each switch of the BlackWidow is individually lit.  The keyboard is powered by Razer Chroma RGB with over 16.8 million customizable color options and 150 Chroma-integrated titles to choose from. To make the colors brighter and more vivid even in a well-lit environment, Razer started using transparent casing in their latest editions of the BlackWidow. With dynamic lighting effects and more vibrant colors, gamers can personalize the gaming keyboard and can have a more immersive gaming experience.

Superior Durability

Razer’s mechanical keyboards are built to last for years with a lifespan of 80 million keystrokes. To increase each keycap’s durability, Razer adopted the doubleshot molding process where the lettering is molded into the structure as opposed to being printed. This ensures that the lettering will not wear off even after millions of keystrokes. Furthermore, the keycaps have tough, extra-thick walls to withstand prolonged and repeated use in addition to dust and liquid protection. The enhanced Doubleshot ABS keycaps are currently installed on the Razer BlackWidow V3 and Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro. Complementing the rugged keycaps is the keyboard’s robust casing. With the top frame’s Aluminum construction, the BlackWidow is indestructible despite intense, regular use.

Extra Features 

Razer has integrated extra features in selected editions of the BlackWidow family, allowing gamers to control their entertainment settings with ease. The Razer BlackWidow Elite comes with extended controls in the form of a Multi-Function Digital Dial and media keys located in the top right corner of the keyboard. These provide easy access to media-specific functions such as adjusting the volume and changing tracks which are also fully customizable via Razer’s configuration software, Razer Synapse 3.

The Razer BlackWidow V3 likewise comes with a multi-functional digital roller and a media key-set which can be used for play, pause, and track skipping and for volume and brightness controls. The roller can also be reprogrammed through Razer Synapse 3 for a slew of other functions such as page scrolling and lighting controls.

On the other hand, Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro sports media buttons and a circular wheel in the top-right corner of the keyboard. The three-round buttons are for play, back, and forward, while the circular wheel is for volume control with a mute button sitting at its center. These are also programmable through Razer Synapse 3.

Aside from the media control features, Razer also included ergonomic wrist rest with a padded leatherette cushion. The soft padding lets the wrists rest comfortably relieving pressure and fatigue over long gaming periods.

Connectivity Modes

All the BlackWidows are wired save for one model. Razer recently decided to cut the cord and combined Hyperspeed 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth wireless technology in Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro. Armed with the latest wireless technology, users can expect smooth, low-latency gaming with the Blackwidow’s productivity edition. There’s no need to worry when the battery goes low, it can still be used while charging using the detachable USB-C cable.

Razer has made history by releasing the world’s first mechanical gaming keyboard but it didn’t stop there. Always a leader in the gaming market, Razer is known for game-changing and award-winning innovations across its products. The legacy Razer BlackWidow continues to evolve with increased durability, stability, and reliability with every new release. Combined with advanced technology and amazing features, the world-renowned gaming keyboard will always be on every gamer’s list of the bests.