Razer Updates Its Successful BlackWidow Chroma Keyboard

[Raevenlord]

Building on the success of their BlackWidow Chroma mechanical keyboard, Razer has definitely gone towards the "if it isn't broken, don't touch it" kind of approach, with some evolutionary yet welcome changes taking place with their revised version. First up, there's the addition of a magnetic (and thus attachable and removable at will) wrist rest. Second, the addition of a new switch option: the new Razer Yellow, which promises a silent, linear design, with a shorter travel distance when compared to Razer's Orange and Green switches. These yellow switches carry a 45 g actuation force, being rated for up to 80 million keystrokes.





Unchanged BlackWidow features on this V2 version include Razer's Chroma lighting (which boasts individually backlit keys at 16.8 million colors per key), with Chroma effects powered by Razer's Synapse software. 10 key roll-over anti-ghosting and fully programmable keys with on-the-fly macro recording options are present, with the keyboard featuring 1000 Hz polling, a braided USB cable, a USB pass-through and a 3.5 mm 4-pole audio pass-through jack.

As to pricing, the revised BlackWidow Chroma V2 will come in at the exact same price of its predecessor: $169.99 and €199.99.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[Tekelectric]

This seems cool and all but aren't there better keyboards for the price nowadays? Also, I don't know if I can trust Razer's build quality since their products tend to breakdown fairly quick in my experience.

 

[Luka KLLP]

This seems cool and all but aren't there better keyboards for the price nowadays? Also, I don't know if I can trust Razer's build quality since their products tend to breakdown fairly quick in my experience.

Kind of a lottery I think. I have my current Razer gear for three years now and they are still good as new. But yeah, if I'd want to buy a high price-high performance keyboard right now I'd probably just go for a Corsair

 

[Zakin]

Plenty of much better keyboards, for many years since before the Blackwidows, even RGB lit. Razer/Corsair are grossly marketed so everyone thinks they are the thing to get. They aren't, they're some of the bottom tier, especially in their price ranges.

 

[ZoneDymo]

only thing I have to say about this is, thats one comfortable solid looking wrist support bar

 

[AsRock]

Razer never again unless it's dam cheap and these are nothing but shocking with their $169.99 and €199.99 price tags.

only thing I have to say about this is, thats one comfortable solid looking wrist support bar

Yes that is nice but ooOO sweaty wrists and heavy gaming ewww you going end up with some sort of rash. So no thanks.

 

[bug]

I simply don't see how I can justify €200 for a keyboard when a decent keyboard can be had for €15.
Plus, nobody builds the keyboard I'd some premium for anyway. So I'm good.

 

[AsRock]

I simply don't see how I can justify €200 for a keyboard when a decent keyboard can be had for €15.
Plus, nobody builds the keyboard I'd some premium for anyway. So I'm good.

Then clearly you don't have needs \ high requirements.

 

[bug]

Then clearly you don't have needs \ high requirements.

What needs would those be? I play Path of Exile or Shadow Warrior just fine on my cheap keyboard. I also code just fine with it. I can insert a USB stick in it without having to reach for the desktop case and I can do the same with my headphones. What else would I require from a keyboard?

I would enjoy some lighting, true, but I'm not paying €100+ for that.

 

[AsRock]

I don't know what you require, but some require more. Some like having the feeling of the old day's under there fingers were more keyboards were micro switched.

Main reason is programmable, being left handed a lot of a games are not fully configurable even new game not just console ported ones, and even then can be problematic ( looking at you Bethesda Softworks ) even the The Witcher 3 was issue's too. Another would be Sleeping Dogs were you can configure the keys but not the arrow keys, some games you cannot use the numpad at all.

And don't just change hands it's a very poor thing to say as the idea is partly flawed.

 

[bug]

I don't know what you require, but some require more. Some like having the feeling of the old day's under there fingers were more keyboards were micro switched.

Main reason is programmable, being left handed a lot of a games are not fully configurable even new game not just console ported ones, and even then can be problematic ( looking at you Bethesda Softworks ) even the The Witcher 3 was issue's too. Another would be Sleeping Dogs were you can configure the keys but not the arrow keys, some games you cannot use the numpad at all.

And don't just change hands it's a very poor thing to say as the idea is partly flawed.

Fair enough, but is all the above worth €200? You can get programmable keyboards for $25. Probably a decent one for $40-50.

 

[AsRock]

Fair enough, but is all the above worth €200? You can get programmable keyboards for $25. Probably a decent one for $40-50.

A crappy membrane keyboard, a good one will set you back a a fair bit even more so with fully supported shift\enter keys and not those silly bar supports that allow the key to bend.

I would never spend over $200 on a keyboard and if i spent any thing near it it would have to be absolutely perfect for a lefty with extra keys to boot.

 

[Rictorhell]

What is the recommended, high-quality mechanical keyboard of choice, with programmable keys and rgb lighting, for an equivalent price to this keyboard?

 

[Tekelectric]

What is the recommended, high-quality mechanical keyboard of choice, with programmable keys and rgb lighting, for an equivalent price to this keyboard?

I mean there's plenty to choose from. I've heard Corsair's K95 is pretty good and Logitech's G910 seem pretty damn good too. Do you need extra macros? If not, there are other keyboards like this without them that have programmable keys like the Corsair Strafe or Rosewill's RGB Cherry MX keyboards. Just pick from a decent brand with a switch that you think will suit you

 

[Dimi]

What is the recommended, high-quality mechanical keyboard of choice, with programmable keys and rgb lighting, for an equivalent price to this keyboard?

I don't think i have programmable keys but i'm using the CM Masterkeys Pro L RGB with Brown MX switches and i'm very happy with it so far. I got it for 120 euro. Full keyboard layout.

If you don't need the fancy RGB then you could go for a Steelseries 6Gv2, its like 60 euro.

 

[Prima.Vera]

No volume control/sleep/ power buttons on that price? Pfff...

 

[buildzoid]

No volume control/sleep/ power buttons on that price? Pfff...

There are functions tied to the F keys that do all of those