The Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro gaming keyboard is loaded with features including macro keys, RGB and a palm rest.
Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro
The BlackWidow V4 Pro is Razer’s next-generation keyboard from its flagship BlackWidow line.
This gaming keyboard is a feature-rich typist that lives up to the “Pro” in its name, offering eight macro keys, full RGB, media keys, and even a dial. All of this is wrapped up in a sleek black design, although it’s quite large and heavy for its size, meaning it’s not the best portable option.
The Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro keyboard is priced at £229.99 / $229.99 / AU$399.95. While this sounds pretty high, it’s a standard price for full-featured professional keyboards. The Logitech G915 Lightspeed offers the same feature set, minus the RGB palm rest, and comes at an identical price.
Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro – Where To Buy & Best Deals
Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro theme
It’s a full form factor keyboard with five additional macro keys, and when paired with the included RGB wrist rest, it has quite a bit of space. If you don’t have a lot of desk space, this probably isn’t the typewriter for you.
And there’s more. You also get dedicated media buttons on the top right of the backplate, a large scroll wheel, and a dial that can be programmed to do pretty much anything using Razer Synapse software. I’m currently using it to swap windows so I don’t have to alt-tab anymore which is very handy.
If those weren’t enough keys for you, you also get three more macro keys on the left edge of the keyboard, giving you eight in total.
The actual construction of the keyboard features a beautiful black metal backplate and black double-shot ABS keycaps. RGB lighting extends all the way around the perimeter of the keyboard, including the palm rest. You also get fully customizable lighting on the keys, which has become a staple of the Razer brand.
I tested the keyboard with Razer’s green switches, which are loud and clicky with a satisfying mechanical sound. However, if that’s not really your style, you can also go with yellow Razer switches, which are linear and much quieter, at the expense of feedback.
Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro Features
Despite being a wired keyboard, it uses a detachable USB-C cable. This is useful because if your cord gets damaged because your cat chews through it (completely hypothetical and doesn’t happen to me every day) you can just replace the cord and not the entire device.
As mentioned, you get a total of eight macro keys in the Razer Synapse software, all of which can be set up and thrown back along with any other key on your keyboard. It’s relatively easy to use, so you’ll have no trouble finding your way around even if you’ve never used it before. Not only can you set up the keys to perform recorded keystrokes, but you can also open software, take screenshots, and use a variety of other options.
As you would expect, you get onboard memory with this recorder, allowing you to save up to five profiles. This is great if you want different keyboard shortcuts for different games or if multiple people are using the same keyboard.
List of essential specifications
- Form factor: 100% full
- Switches: Razer green (click), Razer yellow (linear)
- Keycaps: Doubleshot ABS
- Connectivity: Wired
- Media Key: Yes
- Palm Rest: Yes
- USB Passthrough: No
One disappointing factor, especially given the price of this device, is the fact that you don’t get USB passthrough, which is something to keep in mind if you’re running out of slots on your PC or laptop.
Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro performance
The keyboard feels fantastic. It was extremely comfortable, from the palm rest to the button placement that is easily accessible. Due to the positioning of the keys, I often found myself momentarily pressing my macro keys instead of controlling them, but after a period of getting used to it, this wasn’t a problem.
As someone who hasn’t messed around with macros a lot, nor does they play magic games that would benefit from them, I didn’t expect to use them, especially all eight. But by day one, I had all the keys assigned to perform different actions, from handy tasks like opening my Xbox game bar and clipping games to more game-focused commands like typing “GG EZ” in chat and casting a bunch of spells with one touch.
And gaming is similar, with the sounds of the green Razer switches giving you a loud click that registers when you press a key. I didn’t find this keyboard to have any input lag thanks to the wired connection.
Overview of the Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro Gaming Keyboard
Buy Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro if…
- You want a premium, full-featured gaming keyboard
- You want or need a set of programmable macro keys
- You want enough RGB to light up your entire room
Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro not if…
- You want a smaller keyboard/desk (thing is big and heavy)
- You will never use the macros
- You need something portable
For the non-gamers out there, this keyboard also provided an excellent general typing experience, and that comes from someone who does this all day, every day.
General Thoughts on the Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro
Overall this is a fantastic keyboard. Of course, considering the price and the fact that it’s one of Razer’s flagship products, you wouldn’t expect anything less. The BlackWidow series is now in its fourth generation, so they’ve had a lot of time to refine their design.
If you’re looking for a keyboard that packs 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 want all those high-end features then it might be worth going for a more budget-friendly option, as spending £229.99 is quite a large expense for a typewriter.
Result: 5/5
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