The full-size Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro won our attention earlier this year with gorgeous RGB lighting, passthrough ports, and a superb typing feel thanks to its in-house-designed mechanical switches. Now, just six months later, Razer is back with the BlackWidow V4 75% ($189.99), the company’s first hot-swappable mechanical keyboard. Packed with the functionality that makes the BlackWidow V4 Pro such a standout, the new keyboard omits the number pad in exchange for a compact footprint and new Orange tactile mechanical switches that provide one of the most satisfying typing experiences we’ve enjoyed on a gaming keyboard. Though its price takes a painful bite, we can’t help but praise Razer’s latest arachnid, and it earns our Editor’s Choice award.
The BlackWidow Strikes Again
Though the Razer BlackWidow V4 75% has fewer keys than a tenkeyless (TKL) keyboard, it's slightly bigger than other TKL keyboards we've reviewed (like the NZXT Function Mini TKL and the Corsair K70 RGB TKL), measuring 1.5 by 6.1 by 12.6 inches (HWD). And at 3.4 pounds, it’s a bit heavier, too, although gamers often prefer a heavier keyboard when the action gets heated.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)Design-wise, the baby board shares the BlackWidow V4 Pro’s design sensibilities, including its full-height doubleshot PBT keycaps with translucent lettering, per-key RGB illumination, dedicated media keys, and even a mini volume roller. It drops the number pad, as expected, but it also drops the USB passthrough and command dial, useful features that don't take up much room and are included with the V4 Pro. A slight slope at the bottom of the keyboard fits the magnetic leather wrist rest. Underneath the board, you’ll find two feet that give the keyboard just a bit of height.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)If the differences between the full-size and 75% versions stopped here, the V4 75% would at the very least capture the interest of gamers looking for a smaller keyboard. But they don't: The new board comes with a few more positive changes you can feel. The keyboard makes use of a gasket-mounted plate made of FR4, a glass-reinforced epoxy laminate. This gives it a flexible, softer typing feel while maintaining the satisfying pop you expect from a mechanical keyboard. Also, lubricated stabilizers help reduce any rattling sounds while providing smoother key travel, and two layers of sound-dampening foam reduce unwanted reverberation.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)Now, all of this is enough to provide an exceptional typing experience, but in an effort to bridge the gap between gamers who aren't well-versed in keyboard minutiae and mechanical keyboard enthusiasts who game only occasionally, Razer takes things two steps further. The first is the keyboard’s hot-swappable design, which allows users to swap sockets and implement switches in either 3-pin or 5-pin configurations. You’re not limited to Razer’s switches, either—the board is brand-agnostic, so you’re free to swap in and out switches from other makers, too.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)Even if you’re not interested in performing surgery on a keyboard in the name of customization, Razer’s new Orange switches will definitely hold you over. They are quite simply some of the best mechanical key switches we’ve encountered this year. Tactile and quiet, the Orange switches have a 2mm actuation point, a 3.5mm full travel distance, and a 50g actuation force—a perfect combination for an immaculate typing feel.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)The second feature that keyboard aficionados will appreciate is far more subtle: the “tempest” mod. It is a fairly new mod circulating among keyboard enthusiasts, making use of painter's tape or masking tape, applied in layers to the back of the PCB board inside the chassis. The reason? To create a cleaner, more muted sound. You can't see it from the outside, of course, but the BlackWidow V4 75% comes already tape-modded using a thick fire-retardant tape, saving gamers the trouble of performing the modification themselves.
It's Not About The Size, It's How You Use It
As with other Razer products, the Razer Synapse app is what handles the keyboard's software customization features. The app allows users to control RGB lighting, macros, and a ton of other options across five onboard profiles. The Chroma Studio enables you to create and edit your own lighting effects, which you can then apply to all supported Razer Chroma-enabled devices, and even link them to specific games. Synapse isn't always the easiest platform to navigate, but it's undoubtedly one of the most fleshed-out.
(Credit: Razer)Notably, the V4 75% has a polling rate of 8,000Hz. Polling rate refers to the speed at which your device sends your keystrokes or other inputs to your PC. Higher rates are becoming increasingly common in “pro” gaming keyboards, like the Corsair K70 MAX RGB Magnetic Mechanical Gaming Keyboard. A rate of 1,000Hz means that information is sent to the keyboard once per millisecond, while 8,000Hz means it’s getting sent eight times more frequently. The most hardcore among us will appreciate higher rates, especially when playing competitive multiplayer games, but it’s probably not something casual gamers have to keep in mind.
Verdict: A Small Board That's Worth a Big Investment
All of these features culminate in the asking price of $190 (or $200 for the white variant, set to release in mid-September). That's cheaper than the V4 Pro but still high for a compact keyboard. If you’re on the hunt for a cheap keyboard, you’ll be better served by options like the Drop Entr Mechanical Keyboard. And while we were skeptical that the V4 75% is worth the price at first, it turns out that the typing experience is just sublime, far better than what most gaming keyboards we've reviewed this year can offer. Razer’s brand of switches are some of the best in the business, even rivaling switch leader Cherry. And when you factor in the perks of hot-swappable keys alongside the board’s feature set, you’ve got a keyboard that is worth the asking price if you like to tweak things at a per-switch level.
The V4 75% omits some features, along with a quarter of a full-size keyboard. But what it maintains—and what it improves—is what takes this tiny BlackWidow over the finish line, even besting the V4 Pro in some respects. We loved typing and gaming with this keyboard, and despite the size reduction, the keyboard doesn’t have the learning curve of an even-smaller 60% board. So as long as you like trimmed key layouts and don't mind big prices, you'll find the Razer BlackWidow V4 75% to be one of the best gaming keyboards on the market.