I suppose it's somewhat poetic that the all-new Razer DeathStalker V2 Pro, which replaces the original DeathStalker Ultimate from ten years ago, launches at the exact same price the predecessor did. $250 was a massive amount of money to swallow in 2012, and remains the same in 2022 in a world with an ever-diminishing disposable income. This is Razer's new flagship keyboard and the cost no doubt is based on similar options from other mainstream competitors, and admittedly I do see the feature set appealing to many. Indeed, this is likely going to be my next living room HTPC keyboard to replace the Logitech CRAFT I've been using for a while now. I am just not sure I would have paid full price myself though!

A big part of my feelings towards the DeathStalker V2 Pro is certainly the price point, but there are small things here and there that keep it from being an extremely solid offering in my books. The switches, which clearly based off the still new Razer Optical Gen-2 Linear switches, are unique in offering integrated sound dampeners, which do reduce downstroke noise if you are sensitive to it. But the stem and housing here are not as well executed to where the switches don't feel as smooth, and the lack of any lubrication doesn't help either. The thin ABS keycaps also make for a somewhat mushy typing experience with those silicone pads in the switches, although admittedly they do sound pleasant to the ears.

Overall, this is certainly a solid offering and a half outside of those niggles, especially when considering that everything packed into a low profile build. The relatively massive 4200 mAh combined with fast charging makes for a keyboard that is very easily usable wirelessly, and the multiple connection options further sweeten the deal. Note the pros list above outweighing the cons too, and an impressive Razer Synapse software experience further helps. I do want Razer to get rid of those "recommendations" for good, however. If you are in the market for a low profile gaming keyboard that you wish to use wired or wirelessly, I would say this will be a good fit for you. Most others would want to consider all options and decide accordingly, and perhaps also wait and see whether the clicky switch option or the wired-only, less expensive DeathStalker V2 is a better fit for you.