25 March 2023 , 11:00
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The BlackWidow V4 Pro is Razer's next-generation keyboard from its flagship BlackWidow line.
This gaming keyboard is a feature-full typer, which really lives up to the 'Pro' in its name, presenting eight macro keys, full RGB, media keys and even a command dial. All of this is packed into a sleek black design, although it is pretty big and heavy for its size, meaning it isn't the best portable option.
The Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro keyboard comes in at £229.99 / $229.99 / AU$399.95. Although this sounds pretty high, it's at a standard price point for pro-level feature-full keyboards. The Logitech G915 Lightspeed is wireless but presents the same feature set, minus the RGB wrist rest, and comes in at an identical price.
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Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro Design
It's a full-form factor keyboard, boasting five additional macro keys, and when paired with the included RGB wrist rest, it's got quite the footprint. If you don't have a lot of room on your desk, then this likely won't be the typer for you.
Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro side macro keys and keycaps profile. (Jasmine Mannan)And there's more. You also get dedicated media keys on the top right of the backplate, a large scroll wheel and a command dial, which can be programmed using the Razer Synapse software to do pretty much anything. I'm currently using it to swap windows so I no longer have to use alt-tab, which is super handy.
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If this wasn't enough buttons for you, you also get three more macro keys on the left edge of the keyboard, making for a total of eight in total.
The actual build of the keyboard features a lovely black metal backplate and black Doubleshot ABS keycaps. RGB lighting goes all the way around the edge of the keyboard, including the wrist rest, you also get fully customisable lighting on the keys too, which has become a staple factor of the Razer brand.
Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro multimedia keys and volume scroll (Jasmine Mannan)I tested the keyboard with Razer's green switches, which are loud and clicky, giving off a satisfying mechanical sound. If that's not really your style though, you can also pick up Razer yellow switches that are linear, and far quieter, at the cost of feedback.
Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro Features
Although this is a wired keyboard, it uses a detachable USB-C cable. This is useful because if your cord becomes damaged because your cat chews through it (entirely hypothetical and doesn't happen to me on a daily basis), then you're able to replace just the cable and not the entire device.
Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro full keyboard with keycaps on direction pad showing (Jasmine Mannan)As mentioned earlier, you get a total of eight macros keys which can all be set up and rebound, along with every other key on your keyboard, in the Razer Synapse software. It's relatively simple to use, so you won't have trouble finding your way around it, even if you haven't used it before. Not only can you set up the keys to perform recorded key sequences, but you can open software, take screenshots and wide range of other options.
As to be expected, you get onboard memory with this typer, which allows you to store up to five profiles. This is great if you want different keybindings for different games or have multiple people using the same keyboard.
I didn't notice the USB passthrough at first, but it's right by the cable you use to power your keeb. However, one downside is that you actually need a whole extra USB-C cable plugged into the keyboard in order to power the passthrough port which can somewhat defeat the point for some.
Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro Performance
The keyboard feels fantastic to use. It was extremely comfortable, from the wrist rest right down to the placement of the keys, which are easily accessible. Due to the positioning of the keys, I often hit my macro keys instead of control for a little while, but after a period of adjusting, it wasn't an issue.
Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro with wrist rest (Jasmine Mannan)As someone who hasn't played around macros often, and also doesn't play any spellcasting games that would benefit from them, I didn't expect myself to use them, especially not all eight. But within the first day, I had already assigned all of the keys to perform different actions, ranging from convenient tasks like opening my Xbox Game Bar and clipping plays, to more in-game focused commands like typing 'GG EZ' in chat and casting a line of spells with one touch.
For the non-gamers out there, this keyboard also provided an excellent experience with general typing, and this is coming from someone who does this all day, every day.
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And it's a similar story when gaming, with the sounds of the Razer green switches giving you a loud click that registers when you have hit a key. I didn't find that this keyboard had any input lag, thanks to the wired connection.
Overall thoughts of the Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro
Overall, this is a fantastic keyboard. Of course, considering its price point, and the fact that it's one of Razer's staple products, you would expect nothing less. The BlackWidow series is now on its fourth generation, so they've had plenty of time to hone their design.
If you're on the hunt for a keyboard that boasts a ton of features and mod cons, including all-you-can-eat RGB and macro keys, then this could be a great option for you.
However, if you don't see yourself using all of these high-end features then it might be worth going for a more budget-friendly option, as spending £229.99 on a typer is a pretty big outlay.
Score: 5/5