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When the wiredBlackWidow V4 75%arrived in 2023, it marked Razer’s entry into the enthusiast market. Realizing the demand for a cordlesshot-swappable keyboard, the Razer BlackWidow V4Pro75% followed in the fall of 2024. Razer kept the best elements of its predecessor, including balancedGen 3 Orange Tactileswitches. With an OLED screen, the keyboard strives to become the centerpiece of gaming setups.
The 75% form factor doesn’t come with the compromises of otherminiature keyboards. Despite the downsizing of these peripherals, Razer packs a ton of technology into the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75%. The keyboard connects to Bluetooth sources and a HyperPolling dongle supporting a4000Hz polling rate. As I found out, it can take weeks to discover everything the BlackWidow V4 75% is capable of. With a high asking price, is the keyboard innovative enough to gain a large following?
Design
The BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% has a similar design and layout as its corded counterpart. However, it’s slightly heavier at2.3 lbs or 1043 gramswithout the wrist rest attached. The most obvious difference is the OLED screen, which has replaced the volume rocker and two media keys. Instead, Razer positioned a Command Dial toward the left of the display, and a side button on the keyboard’s edge.
Since the 75% layout is a practical way to compact setups, it’s an increasingly common choice with keyboards. The BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% has a dedicated top function row, arrow, and navigation keys. My only complaint is the lack of a Print Screen key, forcing some users to press multiple keys to take screenshots.
Without thisRGB keyboardshining, the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% looks like a dense, black slab sitting on a desktop. It’s not the most portable peripheral, even with HyperSpeed and Bluetooth wireless modes. Still, as with mostRazer keyboards, that added weight allows for a thick aluminum top plate. Even if you don’t take the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% on the road, it easily survived a few drops around my rig.
That exemplary build quality extends to the thick Doubleshot PBT keycaps. The keys have a slightly gritty texture to minimize slippage during intense gaming. Far from alow-profile keyboard, the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% allows plenty of light to escape from underneath and between keycaps. Not surprisingly, the keyboard boasts per-key lighting effects customizable in theSynapse 4app. Although it’s difficult to notice while typing, the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% also has LED light bars on its sides.
I was particularly impressed by the leatherette wrist rest that can be installed on the bottom edge of the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75%. While the magnets aren’t secure enough to keep it steady when moving, the cushion is extremely plush. Owners might find it raises arms and wrists too high, but bottom-mounted feet can adjust typing angles.
Usage
The BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% connects to PCs and mobile devices with the HyperPolling wireless USB dongle or Bluetooth. For the lowest-latency inputs, the adapter pairs with PCs using an included braided USB cable. That allows gamers to position it away from potential wireless interference. However, when it’s time to charge the keyboard, it requires another USB-C cable or detaching the cord connected to the dongle.
Razer has improved the Bluetooth pairing process with this wireless keyboard. There are fewer key combinations to remember, and the OLED screen shows the connection status. The 1, 2, and 3 keys light up, enabling the keyboard to remember up to three sources and quickly toggle them. I initially had problems connecting the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% to my Android tablet, but typing was responsive within the impressive wireless range.
A slider on the keyboard’s back edge switches between wired and wireless sources. It’s necessary to select wired mode when the keyboard is plugged in for it to work at all.
Not all buyers are convinced that a screen on a keyboard is more than a novelty. The display on the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% might not change many minds, but it’s surprisingly versatile. The Command Dial and adjacent button can select different functions, like volume control or adjusting OLED brightness. Synapse 4 makes it simple to select screensavers or home screens that appear after a preset period. The most useful options show battery levels or system temps.
Razer’s promise of a 2,100-hour battery life would rank the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% above mostwireless gaming keyboards. In reality, Razer’s keyboard is less impressive without a power-saving mode, which would disable its lighting and lowers polling rates. With RGB brightness at 50% and a 4,000 Hz polling rate, it needed rechargingafter one dayof 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. usage.
Software
The BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% can be controlled using the OLED display and keyboard shortcuts without software. However, Synapse 4 is needed to unlock the keyboard’s full potential. The latest version of the app arrived shortly before Ireviewed the Kraken V4 Proheadset andFreyja HD Haptic Seat Cushion. At the time, I experienced some lag, but that was with a full array of Razer gear connected. Synapse 4 now separates most configuration settings and Razer Chroma RGB into separate windows.
Gamers are free to remap virtually every key in the Customization tab. When wirelessly connected, they can select up to a 4,000 Hz polling rate.Snap Tapis the most controversial option and ensures that only the last key pressed registers during furious gaming. Esports titles likeCounter-Strike 2have banned the feature, but it can help clumsy fingers evade attacks.
For a feature-packed keyboard, Synapse manages to keep most functions reasonably organized. Many settings conserve battery power, like tweaking the OLED display’s brightness and deciding how long before a power-saving mode is activated. To dabble with more advanced RGB effects, the lighting tab will launch Chroma Studio.
Overall, Synapse 4 ran smoothly while I was testing the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75%. I still needed to reload Synapse a few times when it became unresponsive. If you only have one or two Razer peripherals, I suspect the app would load more quickly as it recognizes devices.
Physical Customization
The BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% aims to be a straightforward hot-swappable keyboard to customize. Razer was kind enough to send me some alternate Gen-3 Yellow Linear mechanical switches to experiment with. Included with the keyboard is a switch and keycap puller, though I found its wiring rather flimsy. Eventually, I resorted to a metal prying tool, which removed the default Orange Tactile switches without damage.
Once you pop off the keycaps without much effort, the inner workings of the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% are revealed. The socketed PCB board welcomes most three or five-pin switches. A white fiberglass FR4 plate is firm while allowing for some flexing. Enthusiasts willing to make the effort can even install different plate-mounted stabilizers. The screw-in stabilizers are pre-lubricated to prevent excessive rattling.
If you disassemble more of the keyboard, several layers of foam drown out case pinging. Razer also applied tape to the PCB board to make clickier switches less of a nuisance. The BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% accommodates both adventurous modders and simple switch swappers.
Performance
Most buyers may not find a need to abandon the BlackWidow V4 Pro’s 75% Orange Tactile switches. These are the only switches available when ordering the keyboard, generating a tactile bump without excess noise. They aren’t nearly as silent as the Yellow Linear option but considerably quieter thanclicky keyboards. As someone loyal to the green team, Razer’s Orange Tactile switches converted me. The 2.0mm actuation seems high for gamers prioritizing speed, but typing feels surprisingly light.
I took several typing tests to see how the orange and yellow switches responded under pressure. With the default orange switches, I maxed out at about 85 words per minute. However, that mark was boosted to 100 wpm with the linear switches. Typing was exceedingly brisk with the latter, but it resulted in more typos. Actuation falls to just 1.2mm with the yellow switches, but they require a feather touch. Combined with a 4000 Hz wireless polling rate, the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% becomes a deadly weapon at tournaments.
It’s hard to deny the advantages of linear typing action in gaming. I was able to spam attacks inWorld of Warcraftat a blistering pace. Even so, the lack of audible feedback and some wasted keystrokes made me miss the Orange Tactile switches.
Regardless of the switch, typing on the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% wasn’t as violent as on more hollow mechanical keyboards. The foam and tape soften the usual clatter without the sensation of typing on a cheapermembrane keyboard.
Does the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% Justify Its High Cost?
The BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% provides Razer fans with an all-around excellent wireless hot-swappable keyboard. Within about 15 minutes, gamers can completely transform the keyboard’s performance. The days of loud, high-end keyboards seem to have passed, with tape mods and foam keeping the focus on gaming action.
No mechanical switch has universal appeal, and gamers have very particular tastes. That said, Razer’s Orange Tactile option combines the best elements of clicky and linear competitors. Of course, these switches are sold separately and can be used on othercustomizable keyboards. Also, just after Razer finally satisfied enthusiasts with wired BlackWidow V4 Pro 75%, other trends have taken hold. TheGlorious GMMK 3 PRO HEoffers smooth and durable Hall effect sensors with a wide range of actuation settings. Its 8000Hz wireless polling rate is also double what the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% can achieve.
Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75%
The Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% is one of the most advanced gaming keyboards yet, supporting a 4000 Hz wireless polling rate. Retaining some of the best features of the wired BlackWidow V4 75%, the cordless keyboard features hot-swappable switches and a tape-modded PCB for distinctive but pleasant typing. The BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% also adds an OLED display, which can be customized to show notifications or keyboard status. The keyboard offers Bluetooth pairing and an incredible 2100-hour battery life with active power-saving to ease the transition to wireless connectivity.
Even though the Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% isn’t groundbreaking, its design has few weaknesses. Doubleshot PBT keycaps set above an aluminum chassis feel rock-solid. The OLED display is surprisingly useful and allows for quick setting changes with minimal button presses. For gamers invested in the Razer ecosystem, the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% adds luxury to setups while adapting to evolving typing preferences.
