RAZER BLACKWIDOW ULTIMATE 2013
Razer’s Blackwidow Ultimate has been updated for 2013, and now boasts improved antighosting, 1000Hz polling, 10-key rollover, a USB passthrough port, and five dedicated macro keys with on the fly recording. Backlighting has also changed from blue to Razer’s signature green.
Looks-wise, the Blackwidow is a compact rectangular shape, with fairly high feet that provide a comfortable sloping typing position; unfortunately, it doesn’t come supplied with a wrist rest. The cheaplooking shiny black plastic of the original Blackwidow has been replaced with a much nicer matte grey finish, but while the keys themselves have an anti-fingerprint finish, which minimizes smudging, the same can’t be said of the chassis, which picks up grease and fingerprints quite easily. Another downside to the new finish is that the indicator lights above the numberpad are much hazier and harder to read through the matte finish than on the previous, shiny, Blackwidow. On the right side of the keyboard, a small connectivity hub has one USB passthrough port, a headphone port and a microphone port.
Like its predecessor, the Blackwidow Ultimate 2013 sports MX Cherry Blue switches, with a very noticeable tactile bump halfway through bottoming out. Like most MX Blue-equipped keyboards, the Blackwidow Ultimate is extremely loud and clicky. Blue switches are generally considered the best for typing as the distinct tactile bump lets you fly over the keys without having to bottom out every time, but MMO or RTS gamers that find themselves hitting multiple different keys in rapid succession will also appreciate the speed afforded by them. For those that prefer a quieter, less clicky feel, the Blackwidow Ultimate 2013 Stealth edition comes equipped with MX Brown switches for $10 more.
Backlighting on both versions is fairly bright, with five levels of brightness available. The Windows key remains on the left side of the keyboard but can be locked out by pressing Fn + F10.
“raZer’s BlacKWiDOW ultimate has Been upDateD FOr 2013.”