The Razer BlackWidow V4 was announced in July to be one of Razer’s new top-of-the-line gaming mechanical keyboards for 2023. The model stands out due to its sturdy construction, bright lighting and softer, quieter type of switches.
Design
The BlackWidow V4 is a large, full-size keyboard, measuring 47 cm long and 15 cm deep, not including the detachable wrist rest. This makes the peripheral a good choice for those who have a lot of space in their setup, but it can be a problem on smaller tables.
It looks really nice when the RGB lights are on. The user can customize the color palette through the proprietary Razer Synapse software, customizing lighting by patterns, such as pulse effects, waves, fire, blinking, breathing, static color, etc.
It is worth emphasizing that this is a mechanical keyboard and, because of this, it has higher keys, visible switches and a use more aimed at gamers.
Construction
In addition to its beauty, the BlackWidow V4 is a very heavy mechanical keyboard, weighing around 1.1kg. This is due to its superior structure made from 5052 aluminum alloy, which gives the device a feeling of robustness and prevents it from moving involuntarily while playing.
The downside is the keycaps made of ABS plastic. Even though they have a good texture when pressed, a product in this category should have keys made with superior quality PTB plastic.
The size of the keycaps is standard, ideal for general use. They can be removed with a specific key and inserted effortlessly.
Resources
As it is a large keyboard, the Razer BlackWidow V4 has enough space to accommodate a series of extra functions. On the left side there are six macro keys customizable by Synapse. They can be used as commands during the game or quick access keys for applications, the browser, performing tasks and so on.
On the right end, the company inserted four multimedia buttons: pause/playback, forward, backward and mute. They can be useful, but the RGB lighting is only around them and not on the symbols, making identification difficult. Above them is the metal scroll bar, which is used to quickly increase or decrease the volume.
The connection to the computer is made via a USB-A cable on one end, which is plugged into the PC, and USB-C on the other end, inserted into the peripheral. The cable is 1.9 meters long and is a paracord type, very resistant and does not tangle easily.
Usability
Just like any mechanical keyboard, the BlackWidow V4 has a learning curve to get used to. Overall, it’s a friendly keyboard for new users who have never used a mechanical model.
The ergonomics are good, as the height of the keys follows the industry standard and has a slightly concave and inclined surface. To improve this experience, Razer ships a soft, rubberized wrist rest that attaches to the keyboard body magnetically.
Usage experience
The Razer BlackWidow V4 is a keyboard designed for gaming and does very well at it. The 8,000Hz polling rate creates a practically instantaneous response when pressing a key and the model is 100% anti-ghosting. The low input lag recorded is perfect for the competitive scenario in online shooters, for example.
This is due to the mechanical switches. The model used in our tests is the yellow linear type, which has a smoother and very silent displacement. If we were to compare it to other brands, it would be close to a brown switch.
For typing, the BlackWidow V4 doesn’t do so well precisely because that’s not its purpose. It is possible to work and write long texts, but be prepared for wrong clicks due to the rapid activation of the keys.
Software
The peripheral works best with Razer Synapse software. It is possible to customize lighting, game modes, macros, key mapping and save all settings in different usage profiles.
Direct competitors
In Brazil, the Razer BlackWidow V4 has limited availability, but the BlackWidow V4 Pro is already available at some retailers for R$2,499 due to some extra features. The predecessor, the BlackWidow V3 Pro, has reductions in macro and multimedia keys, but costs around R$1,500. The main external competitor is the Corsair K100, which maintains the scroll bar, wrist rest and above-average construction, costing around R$2,100.
🛒Buy the Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro on Amazon
🛒Buy the Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro on Mercado Livre
🛒Buy the Corsair K100 RGB at Magazine Luiza
Razer BlackWidow V4: is it worth it?
The Razer BlackWidow V4 is worth it for gamers who want professional equipment for the competitive scene. The model has great construction, lighting and response time. For those looking for a mechanical keyboard aimed at typing, the BlackWidow V4 is not worth it.
However, the difficulty in finding this peripheral makes the recommendation complicated, mainly because the closest model is the BlackWidow V4 Pro, priced at R$2,400.