Performance
This is a high-end gaming keyboard from one of the biggest names in the business, so to expect it to perform any less than perfectly would be selling it short. It’s a phenomenal keyboard to use for day-to-day tasks as well as gaming, and so it should be. I’m a big fan of Cherry MX switches and have used them for many years, so I’m naturally a little cautious about any relatively new and unproven switches on the market. However, the Razer Orange switches are sublime, and capture the best features of the comparable MX Brown, making them perfect for those who like a bit of tactile feedback, but an otherwise relatively quiet mechanical keyboard experience.
Concerning layout, the keyboard is pretty standard, all the keys are where you would expect, so it’s very easy to get to grips with. I’ve played everything from CS:GO to LoL on it this last week or so, and while it hasn’t turned me into an eSports champion, it hasn’t made me worse either. The key spacing feels natural, and the silky finish on the key caps is pleasant to work with too.
The biggest benefit that’s immediately noticeable on this keyboard are the dedicated macro keys on the left side. Not everyone is going to care for them, but I use macros quite extensively for both work and gaming. Setting a profile for Photoshop or review editing allows me to deploy certain blocks of text, actions, and other complex commands with ease.
Does it Game as Good as it Looks?
Of course, this is a gaming keyboard, so using macros in my favourite MMO, The Elder Scrolls Online, is fantastic, and repetitive commands can be triggered to help you grind certain tasks in your game of choice.
The weighted and wide design of the keyboard means that it feels very stable. Some cheaper mechanical keyboards tend to rattle and flex when you’re typing, and as a result, they can slide around or even just sound a bit noisy while typing. The latest from Razer doesn’t have those problems, and the strong chassis means the keys don’t send vibrations through the keyboard, giving it a firm and snappy switch response.
You may have noticed a lot of beautiful colours on these images too, but a picture speaks a thousand words on that front, if you’re looking for RGB stuff, it has plenty of it!
