The Razer BlackWidow V4 Professional 75%, the brand’s latest innovation, has finally arrived, boasting a plethora of enhancements that set it apart from its non-professional counterpart. Equipped with an innovative Command Dial and vibrant OLED display, this device seamlessly communicates with your PC at an impressive 4,000Hz polling rate while boasting an astonishing 2,100-hour battery life from a single charge.
While the reason behind prolonged battery life in a desktop PC gaming keyboard remains unclear, its impressive achievement is undeniable.
The latest Razer contender vying for a position among our top-rated gaming keyboards boasts innovative features, including hot-swappable switches, Razer’s proprietary HyperSpeed wireless technology, and seamless connectivity via Bluetooth 5.1.
The brand-new board builds upon the success of its predecessors, the BlackWidow V4 75% and BlackWidow V4 Professional, which we found to be an impressive offering that skillfully balances being a straightforward, high-speed gaming keyboard (at a non-laughable price) with providing numerous customization options that many keyboard enthusiasts now demand. The BlackWidow V4 Professional’s 75% keyboard upgrade significantly elevates performance, but introduces an unexpected twist.
The Professional stands out for its cutting-edge OLED display screen and intuitive Command Dial, introducing a new standard in photography experience. The rotary encoder’s dial lies at the center of the board, distinct from its placement on the Superb GMMK 3, where it is angled downwards to rest against the side. Through intuitive adjustments to a dial and corresponding button, users can fine-tune settings for features like polling rates, lighting effects, energy-saving options, volume control, zoom capabilities, and display selection, among others.
On the flip side of the board lies a feature that enables seamless switching between 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections, allowing you to swiftly toggle between controlling your computer, gaming console, smartphone, or tablet without delay.
The 4,000Hz polling capability is accessible via the 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connection; however, using the wired Ethernet connection limits it to a maximum of 1,000Hz. Although the concept appears unusual in isolation, its peculiarity becomes even more striking when considering the Professional model’s sole wiring, which surprisingly enables up to 8kHz polling. Razer further complicates its product portfolio with the release of the Razer Viper V3 Hyperspeed, prompting us to scrutinize this latest addition.
The V4 Professional 75% keyboard will arrive standard with Razer’s tactile orange switches, rather than their more commonly preferred linear options among many enthusiasts. While the BlackWidow boards lack analog switches with Razer’s touted Snap Faucet technology for swift counter-strafing, this omission is worth noting. This distinctive trait remains exclusive to the Razer Huntsman keyboard alone.
Despite being cutting-edge, per-key backlighting ensures durability; the keycaps, crafted from robust PBT plastic, can withstand the test of time. The audio’s sound dampening capabilities are enhanced by the presence of two layers of foam and a “tape-enhanced printed circuit board,” which is achieved through the strategic placement of adhesive-backed tape on the backside of the PCB to effectively absorb high-frequency noise.
While the board’s impressive 2,100-hour battery life is achievable, it requires enabling the energy-saving mode, which disables lighting, the OLED display, and pauses communication with Razer’s Synapse software to achieve this remarkable feat. While a relatively affordable polling price may be feasible, the exact figure remains unspecified by Razer. Typically, when all components are activated, users can expect battery life to range from approximately 50 to 200 hours, depending on the specific use case.
The Razer BlackWidow V4 Professional 75% keyboard is now available for a hefty price tag of $299.99 (€349.99), making it a significant investment considering its lack of analog key features and limited premium customizations.
Explore another top-tier option by taking our Drop CSTM80 evaluation, where you can also delve into the uproar surrounding the Razer Snap Faucet CS2’s recent ban.
