Razer BlackWidow Chroma V2: Esports Gaming Keyboard – Ergonomic Wrist Rest – 5 Dedicated Macro Keys – Razer Green…

After using a membrane keyboard for about seven years, I decided to get this one as a my first mechanical. I was skeptical about why everyone always was crazy about them but after using this for a while, I understand the hype now.With that being said, it took a couple of days to get used to the key placement since I’ve never used a keyboard with macro keys. It isn’t an issue anymore like it was initially. The lighting is very nice but I do think there needs to be some sort of improvement on the secondary icons on keys being more distinguishable since the main key function is lit up but not the secondary function. It’s not so much a problem if you already know where those keys are but for someone not familiar with which keys have what secondary function, you may need to use this keyboard in an area with good lighting. There is an option to make lights brighter or more dim through the software, Synapse, but I found that making the lights brighter only makes the secondary functions even more difficult to see. It’s a matter of preference though and it doesn’t particularly bother me, but I can see and understand why people don’t like it. I also have noticed that if I have my colors set to white on static lighting, quite a few keys on the numpad will randomly turn blue. When I change to something more distinguishable, like red, they don’t light up at all and it takes some adjusting until it is fixed. I am not sure if other colors have this issue of random keys changing color or refusing to light up unless you tinker with the software a bit and, while it is a pretty small complaint, I don’t think it’s too much out of the question to expect it to work properly. (I bought this keyboard refurbished, which should mean any issues were fixed before it was resold) Although it could just be a software issue and not an issue with the keyboard itself. I don’t think this keyboard deals with static colors as well as it does the random lighting effects you can choose in the software.Typing on the green switches is comfortable. I don’t know if I would suggest getting the green switches if you’re in close proximity to anyone who wouldn’t want to hear you clicking and clacking away when you’re typing but they feel nice to type on. I’m not as familiar with mechanical keys in how they are meant to sound but the spacebar has a far deeper click than the normal keys in terms of the sound.The included wrist rest is a great feature and is very comfortable to use. Easy to remove and put back on with a pretty strong magnet that doesn’t fall off even through picking the keyboard up by the sides. As long as you aren’t jerking it around or picking it up as quickly as you can, it shouldn’t fall off and I haven’t felt it move side to side through any use.It is fairly heavy compared to the old Razer Lycosa I was using before. While I know it is likely because there is more to it, the build quality feels great and sturdy. It has a sort of textured hard plastic and doesn’t feel cheap by any means.Overall, I personally enjoy this keyboard quite a bit. Beyond some strange design choices in the key functions being on the top, rather than the bottom, as most keyboards do, this isn’t such a big deal if you are using it with lighting enabled (which everyone likely is). I think the secondary functions should be more easily seen either with a brighter finish or by just allowing them to also be lit up. One thing I think would be especially cool is if the lighting would switch for any keys that had a secondary function when using shift or the function key to show the secondary function of a key. Just an idea but could be a cool feature in the future.The USB and audio pass through jacks are on the right side of the keyboard. For most people, the right side is already occupied by where your mouse and pad would be. While I don’t personally use them, I think putting them on the back would have been a much better placement for anyone who would intend on using them.Take my criticisms with a grain of salt since this is my first mechanical keyboard I have used and some things I brought up (the spacebar sounding a bit more clunky than other keys) are either similar across all mechanical keyboards or is just natural to sound different due to the spacebar being much longer of a key. Some quality of life improvements could be made like the slight lighting issues and visibility of secondary function keys but I don’t think that is a reason to not buy this keyboard as they are very slight and personal taste issues. If you know what keys do what already, this shouldn’t bother you since you wouldn’t need to be looking at the keys regardless. If you are relatively inexperienced with typing/gaming, I would only suggest you have sufficient lighting wherever you are going to use this keyboard so you can see those functions if need be.I think if you have the money to spend and don’t mind any issues I brought up, this is a pretty solid choice overall.Edit: Through online searches, I found a firmware update that fixes the numpad lighting issue. Now, there seems to be an issue with the numpad flashing once in a while. It is not a huge issue and only lasts for a second, at most, but it is still an issue regardless. Razer does not publicly provide firmware updates and seemingly will only give them to you through contacting them and them giving you a link if they determine you need to update your firmware. Synapse only provides driver updates and updates for the Synapse software, itself. I am unsure of why Razer is holding their firmware updates away from being publicly available so be aware that you will likely need to contact them or do some deep digging online for someone who will provide the firmware update for you.

Prior to buying this keyboard i was actually able to test the Corsair K70 keyboard at Bestbuy, and a god-aweful logitech that was utter garbage. Thankfully the K70 i tested had cherry brown, which was comparable to the razer orange i bought. After about an hour of testing on two separate occasions, manically mashing away at both I walked away feeling pretty good about the razer both times. The k70 had a HORRIFIC space bar that felt like utter garbage, and looked like a child’s toy. The razer on the other had was sleek, smooth, with a great typeface on the keys that was aesthetically placed to look professional.There’s something to be said about razer orange switches when compared to cherry brown. Orange felt not only smoother, but softer when letting go fo the switch. After my hours of testing i started to notice that when you let up on a cherry brown, it feels lose and little awkward, but the oranges were sturdy yet made less noise when aggressively un-pressing a key. Although they felt NEARLY identical, the oranges both times I tested felt solid and smooth, with just the right amount of softness to minimize noise and maximize comfort.Originally i set out to get a cheap keyboard, just to suite my needs, but after testing the blackwidow V2 with orange switches I knew i had to have it. Sleek design, comfortable typing, professional appearance, and convenient macro buttons (that I am starting to get the hang of.) Razers software for changing keycolors is Ui/Ux friendly and super easy to use and programable keys. I’ve said this before, but ill say it here razer is the apple of the gaming market with their branding and appearance. There’s nothing more classy out there… which we pay the price tag for but Id rather look professional than XxG4m3rxX.

I’m a 60 year old man. I haven’t done any gaming since Doom 3 was released. But what I am is a writer and a nocturnal animal to boot. I took a leap with this keyboard and the orange switches after my MS Comfort keyboard died (okay, was murdered by a glass of iced tea). I have always looked askance at product reviews that say gamers only. I always scan gamer tech for an opportunity to get the most powerful or useful device. I’m a 80 wpm touch typist and I can tell you my fingers fly as fast and move on more keys than your average gamer.The orange switches are a little louder, though not too much more than my Comfort Keyboard’s which itself got complaints from clients during speakerphone conference calls. But I know I don’t sound like a steno pool from the 60’s, so I’ll need to figure that one out. I’m thrilled with the key spacing and actuation force. I can type with a very light touch. From a feel perspective, I can’t remember a keyboard that performed better. Maybe that high end IBM Selectric I used in college. But this is sweet.I can’t wait for nightfall, because as I said, I’m a nocturnal writer and the warm cheery glow of the backlit keys is what drew me to wired, backlit keyboards in the first place. I don’t need a lot of fancy color schemes, but when time and deadlines allow, I’ll play around. Why not? I’m going to see if the macros will map to some basic, boring Windows commands. That would be useful.So far I love it, I told myself if I didn’t I’d just resell it to a gamer I know. But I’m keeping this baby. From a writer who takes his keyboard as seriously as a gamer does.

First things first, Amazon did a great job packaging and delivering this to me after a failed delivery on different keyboard, kudos to them.For the price, I expected at least either PBT double shot keycaps and/or a full aluminum frame. You get neither. Personally, I would’ve liked an open aluminum frame keyboard, far easier to clean. I’ve gotten bits and things inside of the frame and been having to either remove keys or flip it upside down and blow it with a can of compressed air. The original keycaps have only been used for barely over a month and have already shown signed of wearing out, smoothing out and feeling terrible to type on. I had to buy PBT keycaps to replace them, which is a good $30 good investment regardless.It does feel sturdy, however, rather bulky and clunky at times. Using the stands at the bottom feel redundant since it’s already such a large keyboard. Luckily it comes with its own wrist rest, which are, outside of the switches, the highlight. Very high quality there. It’s certainly a nice keyboard to work on.Onto the keys. I’ll just straight up say it. Unless you’re completely into the Razer green switches, do not get this keyboard. Particularly, if you’re into tactile clicky switches, then Razer greens are your best option. Razer Green > Outemu Blue > Cherry Blues. My attempt at buying an outemu blue keyboard was problematic so I went with this keyboard.Conclusion. While I’m satisfied, I expected more. There’re quite a few things that this keyboard should’ve had. Such as a key puller. This keyboard is so minimalistic on what what it wants to deliver, but other keyboards can do pretty much the same at better qualities or better price. This is still my main keyboard however because the Razer green switches are my favorite and no other keyboard delivers on this feel.