Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro
So I heard you like macros…
RAZER IS A heavyweight of the keyboard world, and its BlackWidow range has just been updated with some fancy new features and a price tag to match. Is it worth your cash?
Compared to the BlackWidow V3 Pro, the latest update tweaks the media controls, repositions the control dial, and adds a fistful of macro buttons. You also get RGB illumination underneath both the keyboard and the included wrist rest, because apparently BlackWidow keyboards weren’t shiny enough already.
Speaking of RGB, this wouldn’t be a Razer product if it didn’t offer a smorgasbord of lighting effects for your keys too, and there are 11 light show presets to choose from in the Synapse app. What’s that? Presets are for noobs? Well, you’re in luck, because you can create your own RGB effects in obsessive detail with Razer’s Chroma Studio tool, helping you finally put that pricey art degree to good use.
There are only two switch options: Razer’s clicky greens or linear yellows. Our review unit came with yellows, and while they weren’t awful, they felt a little heavy in use. Whichever you pick, they come with pre-lubed stabilizers and two layers of dampening foam, although there’s no hot swap option.
As you’d expect from Razer, the plastic and aluminum construction exudes premium quality. Yet for such a chonker of a keyboard, it is impressively lightweight. We’re not saying you’ll be able to lift it with your pinky finger, but Razer has done a good job of keeping the weight down without compromising its integrity. It’s matched by one of the softest, most beautifully comfortable wrist rests we’ve tried, and placing our tired limbs on its feathery surface never got old. It must be what God’s pillows feel like.
CUSTOMIZATION GALORE
Where the BlackWidow V3 Pro had three media control buttons and a dial in the top-right, the V4 Pro ups that to four buttons and moves the dial to the top-left corner, replacing it with a volume roller. The roller is a welcome addition, and it’s particularly handy for quick adjustments on the fly. The buttons are not backlit, though, which makes it very hard to see what each one actually does.
The dial, meanwhile, lets you cycle through a range of commands, from vertical scrolling to alt tabbing. These can be enabled or disabled from Synapse, and the RGB glow under the dial changes color depending on the function you’ve chosen. It’s a clever, well-thought-out feature. The only issue is the dial is right on the edge of the board, exactly where your muscle memory has trained you to think the Esc key is—blindly pressing the wrong key is a frequent problem.
Below the dial are five customizable macro keys with more options than a New York City day trader. They’re complemented by another three macro buttons just off the left-hand edge of the chassis. While those three off-edge keys are slim and not the easiest to find, having eight dedicated macro buttons will be a boon for shortcut wizards.
It’s not just the macro keys that are customizable—you can remap every button and dial, from the volume roller to Y. While you might not feel the need to alter every single key on the device, that level of flexibility is appreciated.
Disappointingly, the V4 Pro drops the wireless support of its predecessor, so you can only connect to one device using the included USB-C to USB-A cable. You’ll also need a second cable if you want to use the USB-A passthrough port.
Still, there’s no doubt that the BlackWidow V4 Pro is stacked to the gills with features. Its handful of slip-ups stop it being an instant buy (as does the hefty price), but if you’re after a premium keyboard built for macro lovers, it should be on your radar.