The Razer BlackWidow V4 75% is one of the best gaming keyboards Razer has ever released. So when the company announced a refresh, we wondered what could be improved on an already excellent design, other than perhaps making it wireless. Plenty, as it turns out: The Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% ($299.99) not only cuts the cord while maintaining a respectable 4,000Hz polling rate, but it also adds an OLED screen and further iterates on an eminently customizable design. This makes it an ideal board for tinkerers and enthusiasts of all levels. It’s expensive—too expensive to appeal to mainstream gamers—but it is an excellent gateway to modding. This Editors’ Choice-winner delivers a luxurious typing feel that both hard-core gamers and productivity hounds will enjoy.Design: Refreshing a ClassicJust like 2023’s BlackWidow V4 75%, the Pro is a tenkeyless keyboard, forgoing the number pad while condensing some of its functionality into other keys. At 1.6 by 13 by 6.3 inches (HWD), it’s also slightly wider than the previous model, offering more space to accommodate its newest feature, a 2-inch OLED screen in the upper right corner. The bigger size does raise the weight slightly, to 2.2 pounds over the original’s 1.8-pound build, but overall, the board is very similar to last year’s model. The similarities extend to the RGB lighting accenting the sides of the board and the magnetic (and very plush) wrist rest.
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The Pro uses full-textured, full-length doubleshot PBT keys with the same translucent lettering and per-key RGB illumination Razer is well known for. The dedicated media keys at the top right of the board are out, to make room for the aforementioned OLED screen. At the same time, the volume roller has been shrunk down to a universal dial and moved to the side of the screen, where it sits alongside an additional Mode button.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
The Pro also cuts the cord, offering both Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless options. A USB-C cord is still included, useful for charging or just if you want to maintain a wired connection. (Wired is the only option on the non-Pro BlackWidow V4 75%.)
Let’s take a closer look at the new OLED screen. Now, screens on keyboards are not new, but much like we’ve seen OLED take over the gaming monitor space, this premium display technology has made its way to our keyboards as well. Asus’ ROG Azoth and Azoth Extreme utilize similar OLED screens, with the latter even implementing touch control and a color panel. The BlackWidow V4 Pro doesn’t go that far, but it still employs a rather large black-and-white display that looks great.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Pressing the Mode button cycles through the screen’s six default control modes: Volume, Track Selector, OLED Brightness, Lighting Brightness, Switch Apps, and Zoom. When a mode is selected, the dial becomes your modus operandi, allowing you to fine-tune the adjustment. Aside from the tiny screen, the BlackWidow’s main draw is its hot-swappable nature, which allows you to swap sockets and implement switches in either 3-pin or 5-pin configurations. You’re not tied to the Razer keys or key switches, either, as the keyboard is completely brand-agnostic. If, like me, you’d rather not tinker with your keyboard to such an extent, the stock Razer Orange Tactile switches will be more than enough to hold you over. Tactile and quiet, the Orange switches have a 2mm actuation point, a 3.5mm full travel distance, and a 50g actuation force. Keyboard Mechanics, Take NoteThe modifications don’t stop there, as Razer encourages keyboard mechanics to open the board up and get their hands dirty. Building a customizable keyboard can seem as complicated as building your own PC, but keyboards like the Azoth and the BlackWidow V4 75% have proven to be excellent gateways to the hobby, and that remains true with the Pro.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
The keyboard’s build is reinforced in small but significant ways. The gasket-mounted plate, made of FR4 (a glass-reinforced epoxy laminate that gives the keyboard its “poppy” sound), returns, now compatible with plate-mounted stabilizers. Another new feature is the set of screw-in stabilizers, lubricated with the enthusiast-preferred Krytox GPL 205G0, to reduce rattle and smooth keystrokes. Third-party screw-in or plate-mounted stabilizers are also supported if you choose to swap out the stock ones.The keyboard also comes tape-modded using thick fire-retardant tape. Called the “tempest” mod by tinkerers in the know, it calls for layers of painter’s tape applied to the back of the PCB board to create a cleaner, more muted sound.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
When compared with the Asus ROG Azoth and Azoth Extreme, two keyboard-tweaker-friendly options that are the BlackWidow’s main competition, we can see plenty of similarities. Both come with keycap and key-switch pullers, though Razer combines the two capabilities into a single tool. The Asus boards come with additional lubricant, a brush, and a plastic frame that can hold multiple switches while they’re being greased up (Asus playfully refers to this as a “lube station”), though both the Asus boards and the Razer are pre-lubed. Tinkerers also must contend with removing 14 screws to open the Asus keyboards rather than the eight on the BlackWidow V4 Pro.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
The biggest downgrade between the V4 Pro and the ROG Azoth Extreme (and last year’s BlackWidow V4, too) is the Pro’s 4,000Hz maximum polling rate, which measures how often your device reports its position back to the computer; a higher rate means a shorter wait. High-end gaming keyboards are flush with high polling rates, and the BlackWidow V4 Pro lags behind many of Corsair’s recent keyboard offerings, like the K70 MAX RGB Magnetic Mechanical Gaming Keyboard and K70 RGB Pro Mini Wireless, which offer 8,000Hz polling rates. The extremely expensive ROG Azoth Extreme also manages 8,000Hz. But as a bridge between a gaming keyboard and a DIY kit, you might be willing to forgive the lower maximum because of the BlackWidow V4 Pro’s $299 price. That’s expensive, but $200 cheaper than the Azoth Extreme.Software: A Brand New SynapseThe BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% is fully compatible with Razer’s latest software tool, Razer Synapse 4. Synapse 4 may serve the same purpose as the Synapse 3, but much has changed in the update, including improved system performance, stability, and a new UI. The app still controls RGB lighting, macros, and many other features across the keyboard’s onboard profiles. You’ll find tons of tricks underneath the surface as well. Snap Tap mode, which debuted along with the Razer Huntsman V3 Pro TKL, returns here. When Snap Tap Mode is enabled, if you find yourself in an instance where two opposing keystrokes are detected, it will register the last input as the priority and keep you moving, ideal for games where you’re strafing and shooting.
(Credit: Razer)
Gaming mode can be toggled on as well, which disables certain functions that you wouldn’t want to accidentally press during competitive play. Meanwhile, HyperShift mode allows you to have a secondary set of functions on top of your existing button assignments. You can also tweak the OLED screen using Synapse 4. You can load your own GIFs, images, and text. I have to admit, I do miss the color OLED screen of the ROG Extreme, considering a display like this is mostly for aesthetics. But the step up from black and white to color its not something I’d pay a premium for. Overall, you’ll find an embarrassment of customizable riches in Synapse 4 if you’re obsessed with tweaking your board to your exact needs.Verdict: The Perfect Keyboard for TinkeringThe Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% iterates on the V4 75% in ways that greatly improve the quality of the build. Both of them are excellent gateways for would-be keyboard builders, and so is the Asus ROG Azoth. But we think the V4 and the V4 Pro have better key switches and builds than the ROG Azoth does, and they’re easier to crack open and tinker with. As for the very expensive Azoth ROG Extreme, it does have a few standout features, like a color OLED screen and an 8,000Hz polling rate, but overall, the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% is a better value, even if it, too, is still on the cusp of being too expensive. That makes this high-end customizable mechanical keyboard an Editors’ Choice winner.
Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75%
Cons
Expensive
OLED display is monochrome, not color
Polling rate caps at 4,000Hz
The Bottom Line
Razer’s standout BlackWidow V4 gets an impressive Pro upgrade that adds even more functionality to an excellent foundation. Whether you’re a PC gaming enthusiast or a keyboard customizer, the V4 Pro 75% will dazzle.
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About Zackery Cuevas
Analyst, Hardware
I’m an Analyst and ISF-certified TV calibrator focused on reviewing computer accessories, laptops, gaming monitors, and video games. I’ve been writing, playing, and complaining about games for as long as I remember, but it wasn’t until recently that I’ve been able to shout my opinions directly at a larger audience. My work has appeared on iMore, Windows Central, Android Central, and TWICE, and I have a diverse portfolio of editing work under my belt from my time spent at Scholastic and Oxford University Press. I also have a few book-author credits under my belt—I’ve contributed to the sci-fi anthology Under New Suns, and I’ve even written a Peppa Pig book.
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