Razer Blackwidow Chroma V2 Gaming Keyboard Review

Introduction

Love them or hate them, Razer is one of the biggest names in the PC gaming market. They’ve created many of the most competitive and popular peripherals on the market over the years, and their Blackwidow gaming keyboard is still one of the coolest keyboards around. Now Razer is back once again, bringing their most popular gaming keyboard into 2017 with a band; the Razer Blackwidow Chroma V2!

Razer Blackwidow Chroma V2

The V2 expands on just about everything the original had to offer, with two additional switch types to choose from, improved lighting technology, macro keys, audio and USB pass-through and a new cable design. About the only thing that may not be better (subjectively) are that it’s bigger and doesn’t have a cable routeing groove on the bottom; I can live with that.

One of the biggest changes to this keyboard has to be the switches. Razer already manufactures their Green switches, which are comparable to something like the Cherry MX Blue/Green switches. However, we now have Orange and Yellow variants, which are Razer’s take on the Cherry MX Brown and Red style of switch.

What Razer has to Say

Designed specifically for gaming, Razer Mechanical Switches actuate at an optimal distance, giving you speed and responsiveness like never before. Razer Mechanical Switches have been lauded as the new standard for all mechanical gaming keyboards since their introduction.

• Green Switch: Tactile and Clicky
• Orange Switch: Tactile and Silent
• Yellow Switch: Linear and Silent

Razer Mechanical Switches have consistently proven themselves to be the best for gaming, delivering both top-notch performance and reliable durability without compromise. This very same Razer technology and design is now being manufactured in-house end to end, ensuring even stricter requirements are met for each switch produced, resulting in a life span of up to 80 million key strokes.

The Razer BlackWidow Chroma V2 features individually programmable backlit keys with 16.8 million color options, all easily set through Razer Synapse. From preloaded lighting effects for different types of games, to your own custom uniquely programmed palette of colors, you can effortlessly enhance your gaming experience in a way that is unique only to you.

Packaging and Accessories

The box is very nicely designed, with a cool image of the keyboard on the front, as well as a single switch mounted in the box so you can test the switch response. We have the Orange variant, which is like an MX Brown in that it’s pretty quiet, but has a “bump” when pressed.

Around the back, a quick rundown of the main features, although it mostly focuses on the lighting and switch types.