Razer BlackWidow (2019) Gaming Keyboard Review

Usage & Final Thoughts

I’ve been using the Razer BlackWidow as my main keyboard for a few weeks now. The biggest thing to me is that the typing and gaming experience does not disappoint. Razer is using their Green clicky mechanical switches and I have to say these are some of the best out there. They feel amazing and really give you that satisfaction when you press a key. While Razer may have taken out some big features to make this keyboard affordable I am glad they kept their mechanical key switches. They are what make this keyboard so great. So whether I was writing a review or playing some Apex Legends I felt comfortable and sort of “in the zone”, which is what you want from your keyboard.

Besides the mechanical key switches this is sort of a no-frills gaming keyboard. Razer has gone with a plastic case, which doesn’t necessarily make the BlackWidow look amazing on your desk. Although there is a metal plate in the keyboard itself, so it feels quite solid. You do have per-key RGB lighting which is quite easy to control with Razer’s software. There are no dedicated macro keys, no wrist rest, no volume knob or dial, or a USB pass-through port. So again, a very no frills keyboard.

Razer is able to add a lot more to the BlackWidow with software though. Their Synapse software is one of the best out there. You can fully reprogram the keyboard, setup macros, and have keys launch programs, run Windows commands and more. You also get HyperShift, which allows you to assign a second function to each key, then when you are holding down the designated Hypershift key these functions become active. So basically you are getting double the keys on this keyboard. Then there is Chroma Connect which allows the keyboard’s RGBs to react to what is happening in your game. It is a cool feature and you can ask your friends, “Can your keyboard do that?”.

At the end of the day I think Razer kept the core of what has made their keyboards great for so many years and dropped some extra features to make the Razer BlackWidow a very compelling keyboard at the $119.99 price. Overall ThinkComputers gives the Razer BlackWidow (2019) Gaming Keyboard a 9 out of 10 score.

rating9 10

Pros:
– Razer Green mechanical switches are some of the best out there
– Super comfortable
– Razer Synapse software
– Full-size keyboard for only $119.99
– Great RGB lighting
– Razer Hypershift

Cons:
– Plastic casing
– No volume knob / dial

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