Thursday, April 18th 2024

Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Line With Analog Optical Switches Gen-2 Unleashes Precision

In the competitive world of gaming, where every millisecond counts, the tools you wield can make the difference between defeat and victory. Every keystroke matters.
At Razer, we've always been at the forefront of innovation, pushing the envelope to deliver the ultimate gaming experience. Our latest achievement, the Huntsman V3 Pro line of esports gaming keyboards, is equipped with the revolutionary Razer Analog Optical Switches Gen-2, featuring Rapid Trigger and Adjustable Actuation, epitomizing our commitment to cutting-edge technology.

Zero Debounce Delay: A Leap in Keyboard Technology
Optical Switches have set a new standard in the gaming world, transcending the limitations of traditional Mechanical Switches by eliminating debounce delay. This means the signal is sent instantly when you actuate the key, thanks to the light-based actuation mechanism of Optical Switches, enabling a level of performance that's unparalleled in the gaming sphere.
Rapid Trigger and Adjustable Actuation: The Next Frontier
Our journey in switch innovation started in 2018 with the launch of the Razer Huntsman and Huntsman Elite, introducing gamers to Razer Optical Switches. We redefined the boundaries of precision and speed, allowing pros to take their games to the next level.

We continued pushing forward and broke new ground yet again in 2019, with the Razer Tartarus Pro, introducing the world to Razer Analog Optical Switches. This groundbreaking technology combined analog input, adjustable actuation, and dual-step actuation, redefining the gaming landscape.

But we didn't stop there. The Huntsman V3 Pro line advances this legacy, setting new standards with Razer Analog Optical Switches Gen-2. These switches offer Rapid Trigger with up to 0.1 mm sensitivity and a fully-adjustable actuation throughout the entire key travel of 0.1 mm - 4.0 mm, surpassing traditional Hall-Effect Magnetic Switches in both precision and reliability.

The Distinction Between Light and Magnetism
As the name suggests, while both offer Rapid Trigger capability, Hall-Effect Magnetic Switches and Analog Optical Switches operate on fundamentally different principles.

Hall-Effect Magnetic Switches depend on a magnetic field detected by a sensor on the PCB, which can be influenced by temperature and external magnetic forces.

Analog Optical Switches have none of those drawbacks. By harnessing the properties of light, exceptional precision and accuracy can be achieved and maintained, no matter the condition of the environment. Furthermore, every single switch on every Razer Huntsman V3 Pro is calibrated at the factory-level to ensure gamers get the most precise performance.

Tested by Pros. Endorsed by Pros.
Feedback is paramount when it comes to the designing of the next keyboard for Esports Pro Players. With our latest Huntsman V3 Pro line, we did exactly that. Esports Pro Players demand keyboards that can match their rapid gameplay and provide customizable control with features like faster actuation, higher precision and complete control with their keyboards. As a result, most mechanical gaming keyboards out there simply didn't cut it any longer.

Hundreds and thousands of hours were poured in the prototyping phase, and it was only through countless feedback and constant improvements, that we were able to achieve the sweet spot with our Analog Optical Switches Gen-2, capable of Rapid Trigger of up to 0.1 mm sensitivity, and Adjustable Actuation through the full travel distance of 0.1 mm - 4.0 mm. In addition, every Huntsman V3 Pro is calibrated at the factory, ensuring top-tier precision and performance out of the box.

Esports Pro Players now have a keyboard that can react instantaneously to every swift movement they make and are able to fully customize a keyboard with varying actuation points for different keys - a feat that wasn't possible previously with Mechanical Switches featuring fixed actuation points.

The Optical Latency Advantage: Peak Gaming Performance
Our Optical Switches not only redefine switch technology but also offer significant advantages in latency. Rigorous testing on the Huntsman V3 Pro line armed with our Analog Optical Switches Gen-2 has shown an astounding average of just 1.7 ms ensuring your gameplay remains uninterrupted and responsive, even in the most intense gaming sessions.

To achieve this number, the following hardware equipment and testing methodology were used.

Hardware
  • Oscilloscope
  • USB Protocol Analyzer
  • Solenoid
  • Laptop
  • Test Keyboard
Steps
  • Set the actuation point to the shallowest setting on the Test Keyboard and enable Rapid Trigger
  • Set Rapid Trigger to the highest sensitivity setting
  • Position Solenoid tip on the surface of the keycap with Test Keyboard on a flat surface
  • Ensure Test Keyboard is connected only to the USB Protocol Analyzer
  • Configure USB Protocol Analyzer to trigger upon actuation
  • Ensure Laptop is connected only to the USB Protocol Analyzer with Channel 1 connected to the Solenoid and Channel 2 to the USB Protocol Analyzer
  • Initiate testing
With the resulting waveform recorded and saved, the difference between the trigger of the Solenoid and the key press report from the USB Protocol Analyzer is the resulting true latency, devoid of any additional latency induced by the OS and/or PC software.

The Never-Ending Quest for Innovation
At Razer, our innovations are driven by the needs and aspirations of the gaming community. The Huntsman V3 Pro line is more than just a series of gaming keyboards; it's a commitment to pushing the boundaries of what's possible, ensuring that gamers and esports pros have the best tools to achieve victory. We remain committed to innovation, driven by our community's needs and aspirations, always striving to deliver the exceptional.

Stay tuned for more innovations, as we continue to push the boundaries of what's possible in gaming technology and redefine the gaming landscape unlike any other.

For more on the Razer Huntsman V3 Pro line of esports gaming keyboards, please visit Razer.com.
Source: Razer
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55 Comments on Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Line With Analog Optical Switches Gen-2 Unleashes Precision

#1
Fungi
Pricing is 60% at $180, TKL at $220, full at $250. Not bad at all, especially if the latency is as shown. I'm assuming the 1.8ms is Wooting and the one saying [boosted mode] is some model with polling rate settings?
Posted on Reply
#2
ZoneDymo
great, but imagine buying anything from Razer in 2024, or 2023, or 2022.....or like at all ever...well maybe in the early early EARLY days
Posted on Reply
#3
wNotyarD
ZoneDymogreat, but imagine buying anything from Razer in 2024, or 2023, or 2022.....or like at all ever...well maybe in the early early EARLY days
If the price and feature set of a particular product are competitive, there's no reason not to. I have no qualms with either my mouse or keyboard.
Posted on Reply
#4
Daven
ZoneDymogreat, but imagine buying anything from Razer in 2024, or 2023, or 2022.....or like at all ever...well maybe in the early early EARLY days
My friends also don’t like Razer too but I love my Razer keyboard and mouse mat. I feel like hating on Razer is somehow related to showing you are a true gamer in some way. But I’m curious to know why you don’t like their products.
Posted on Reply
#5
Gucky
I don't think they will age well.
Having the mechanism unprotected, dirt and grime will eventually go into the switches and mix with the grease.
Posted on Reply
#6
Nater
ZoneDymogreat, but imagine buying anything from Razer in 2024, or 2023, or 2022.....or like at all ever...well maybe in the early early EARLY days
What's the alternative?
Posted on Reply
#8
bonehead123
DavenBut I’m curious to know why you don’t like their products.
Probably because most of them are crap....yea they look & feel nice & work fairly well...for about 6-12 months, then they mostly go poopoo.....And their "customer service" should be rebranded to "Customer-NO-service" as their RMA process is comical run-around of unrelated questions, non-applicable remedies, and googly or AI-created/scripted responses, and the clowns they have answering their phones & emails can barely compose a comprehendable sentences with more than 5 words...

Shall I continue ?

FYI, my statements above are the result of my experiences with their stuff over the past 5 years, so take it for what you will.....
What's the alternative?
Seriously.... there are like 1000+ other mfgr's of KB's, rodents and other peripherals....a lot of which are far better than Razzero in quality, price & durability....
Posted on Reply
#9
Nater
bonehead123Seriously.... there are like 1000+ other mfgr's of KB's, rodents and other peripherals....a lot of which are far better than Razzero in quality, price & durability....
I was looking at the Basilisk V3 Pro. I "upgraded" to a MX Master 3S coming off of a G700s that I've had for nearly a decade, but that thing eats a AA NiMH battery in less than a day, and destroys them in a few months.

But I got back into Warzone and quickly realized something was off. I never noticed till now that the Master 3S only has a 125Hz polling rate. And it doesn't work wired, which is annoying as hell.

The no brainer is getting a G502X, but I'm very hesitant as myself and my kids burned out 3 G502 Hero's in less than a year. There's a reason they go on sale for $35 and they've sold 50,000+ on Amazon - they're JUNK.

What other mice come close to the V3 Pro and G502X+ in features/fit/function?

My Corsair keyboard is also freaking terrible. Keycaps just fall off in the middle of gaming. Also had horrible quality issues with they're lower end headsets, so I've crossed them off my brand list.
Posted on Reply
#10
Fungi
amazing how eager people are to discount entire brands (or support, it goes either way)
Razer has put out fine products like the viper mini, orochi v2, deathadder series in general, seiren mics, blackshark headsets, gigantus mousepads (are affordable), and so on. They also definitely put out incredibly questionable things and/or ridiculously priced things, but that's no reason to not give them a chance.

Direct competitors to this product in particular (analog rapid trigger keyboard) would be the Wooting keyboards for performance (I'm assuming that's their target anyways if they're Competitor A), the classic Steelseries Apex Pro, and the more affordable Polar/Drunkdeer/etc keyboards which TPU has reviewed earlier
Posted on Reply
#11
Nater
Fungiamazing how eager people are to discount entire brands (or support, it goes either way)
Razer has put out fine products like the viper mini, orochi v2, deathadder series in general, seiren mics, blackshark headsets, gigantus mousepads (are affordable), and so on. They also definitely put out incredibly questionable things and/or ridiculously priced things, but that's no reason to not give them a chance.

Direct competitors to this product in particular (analog rapid trigger keyboard) would be the Wooting keyboards for performance (I'm assuming that's their target anyways if they're Competitor A), the classic Steelseries Apex Pro, and the more affordable Polar/Drunkdeer/etc keyboards which TPU has reviewed earlier
I know I know. But I go the opposite way as well. Everyone shits on the Asus tax, but goddamn it, I love their mainboards, and their Strix line of GPU's are almost always tip top. Their latest line of PSU's (Aura) set the bar. I hate their prebuilts and accessories.

Sennheiser is gold to me. I just got an Epos H3Pro Hybrid wireless headset a while back. No complaints at all.
Posted on Reply
#12
Fungi
NaterI was looking at the Basilisk V3 Pro. I "upgraded" to a MX Master 3S coming off of a G700s that I've had for nearly a decade, but that thing eats a AA NiMH battery in less than a day, and destroys them in a few months.

But I got back into Warzone and quickly realized something was off. I never noticed till now that the Master 3S only has a 125Hz polling rate. And it doesn't work wired, which is annoying as hell.

The no brainer is getting a G502X, but I'm very hesitant as myself and my kids burned out 3 G502 Hero's in less than a year. There's a reason they go on sale for $35 and they've sold 50,000+ on Amazon - they're JUNK.

What other mice come close to the V3 Pro and G502X+ in features/fit/function?

My Corsair keyboard is also freaking terrible. Keycaps just fall off in the middle of gaming. Also had horrible quality issues with they're lower end headsets, so I've crossed them off my brand list.
Tons of great new mice released in the past few years. TPU has a lot of great reviews and measurements
Pulsar, Lamzu, and some other brands have gained a lot of recognition while we've also gotten some surprise hits from cheaper Chinese brands like Darmoshark.
Posted on Reply
#13
Space Lynx
Astronaut
wNotyarDIf the price and feature set of a particular product are competitive, there's no reason not to. I have no qualms with either my mouse or keyboard.
the newest Wooting keyboard is same price and far superior in quality and software, and has a strong community making analog gaming compatible
Posted on Reply
#14
wNotyarD
Space Lynxthe newest Wooting keyboard is same price and far superior in quality and software, and has a strong community making analog gaming compatible
So what you're saying is the Razer option is not competitive, thus making it a reason not to get it. Were it competitive, what would your reason be?
Posted on Reply
#15
Space Lynx
Astronaut
wNotyarDSo what you're saying is the Razer option is not competitive, thus making it a reason not to get it. Were it competitive, what would your reason be?
yeah, would need to be a lot cheaper than the Wooting for it to even be considered imo. especially a big company like that, def has a high markup. I'd rather support Wooting at that price point.
Posted on Reply
#16
Daven
Space Lynxyeah, would need to be a lot cheaper than the Wooting for it to even be considered imo. especially a big company like that, def has a high markup. I'd rather support Wooting at that price point.
I’m not sure Wooting would be too happy to know its customers only buy from them as long as they don’t get too big. Kinda defeats the purpose of starting a business. Likewise I doubt Razer sees their business size as a failure.
Posted on Reply
#17
Beginner Macro Device
My only Razer experience was using a "waterproof" mechanical keyboard that died of exposure to water.
Posted on Reply
#18
Space Lynx
Astronaut
DavenI’m not sure Wooting would be too happy to know its customers only buy from them as long as they don’t get too big. Kinda defeats the purpose of starting a business. Likewise I doubt Razer sees their business size as a failure.
nah that's not what I meant, sorry I did not word it well.

Wooting just offers superior software experience for analog gaming compatibility.
Posted on Reply
#19
Guwapo77
GuckyI don't think they will age well.
Having the mechanism unprotected, dirt and grime will eventually go into the switches and mix with the grease.
This isn't true... I own the HuntsmanV2 going on 3 or 4 years now. Absolutely the best keyboard I have ever owned. Until I bought this keyboard, I would replace my keyboards every 1-2 years, but this one, I have no desire to replace it. Once it is no longer functional, I'll buy whatever version of Huntsman is available.
NaterI was looking at the Basilisk V3 Pro. I "upgraded" to a MX Master 3S coming off of a G700s that I've had for nearly a decade, but that thing eats a AA NiMH battery in less than a day, and destroys them in a few months.

But I got back into Warzone and quickly realized something was off. I never noticed till now that the Master 3S only has a 125Hz polling rate. And it doesn't work wired, which is annoying as hell.

The no brainer is getting a G502X, but I'm very hesitant as myself and my kids burned out 3 G502 Hero's in less than a year. There's a reason they go on sale for $35 and they've sold 50,000+ on Amazon - they're JUNK.

What other mice come close to the V3 Pro and G502X+ in features/fit/function?

My Corsair keyboard is also freaking terrible. Keycaps just fall off in the middle of gaming. Also had horrible quality issues with they're lower end headsets, so I've crossed them off my brand list.
My son and I both use the Basilisk V3 and they have performed wonderfully over the past 2 years. Works really well and has lasted longer than any Logitech mouse I have owned. Logitech mice just start falling apart within the first year...it still functions, anything that isn't hard plastic just started wearing out and falling off. The V3 has worked out nicely so far.
Posted on Reply
#20
wNotyarD
Guwapo77This isn't true... I own the HuntsmanV2 going on 3 or 4 years now. Absolutely the best keyboard I have ever owned. Until I bought this keyboard, I would replace my keyboards every 1-2 years, but this one, I have no desire to replace it. Once it is no longer functional, I'll buy whatever version of Huntsman is available.
My feelings precisely. While the G810 I had before was lovely to look at and type/game on, it had burnt leds with less than 6 months of use and unbearable key chattering within one year. While I'm still susceptible to have RGB leds failing, the Huntsman is inherently immune to key chatter and that's been giving me a great deal of peace of mind for two good years already.
Posted on Reply
#21
Cheeseball
Not a Potato
Looking at the specs of these new analog optical 2nd gen switches, they should be technically match or be better than the current hall effect magnet switches (Gateron Lekker).

I can't wait for the incoming Wooting 80HE (with the Lekker L60 V2 switches).
Posted on Reply
#22
ZoneDymo
DavenMy friends also don’t like Razer too but I love my Razer keyboard and mouse mat. I feel like hating on Razer is somehow related to showing you are a true gamer in some way. But I’m curious to know why you don’t like their products.
Mostly really bad quality experiences and also their general "mountain dew-esc" marketing nonsense, its just a bit of a fake brand that does more "wooh we are gamurs yall" and less letting the products talk for themselves.
Posted on Reply
#23
Gmr_Chick
NaterI know I know. But I go the opposite way as well. Everyone shits on the Asus tax, but goddamn it, I love their mainboards, and their Strix line of GPU's are almost always tip top. Their latest line of PSU's (Aura) set the bar. I hate their prebuilts and accessories.

Sennheiser is gold to me. I just got an Epos H3Pro Hybrid wireless headset a while back. No complaints at all.
The thing I don't like about ASUS is their obnoxious "gamer aesthetic" they tend to get carried away with on things like their motherboards and GPUs and peripherals. I can't stand their ROG Eye logo. But the BIGGEST con I hold against them is Armoury Crate, which I'm pretty sure we should just refer to as a virus at this point. It's literally the main reason I avoid ASUS like the plague, and that's very unfortunate because I loved their BIOS and the looks of their Crosshair boards. I said virus earlier because, before I got my X670E Aorus Master, I'd purchased the X670E Hero, which meant having to install Armoury Crate...But things didn't work out with the board and I ended up trading it for the Master. But even after using ASUS' own Armoury Crate Uninstall tool, I've STILL got bits and pieces of it floating around my system - can't get rid of it no matter what I do. Been this way for months.
Posted on Reply
#24
vantila
Does analog optic means that it's not binary and have analog gradual imput like an xbox controller?
Posted on Reply
#25
wNotyarD
vantilaDoes analog optic means that it's not binary and have analog gradual imput like an xbox controller?
Yes.
Posted on Reply
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