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Razer BlackWidow Elite Keyboard Review

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1
Review updated Jan 25, 2021 at 01:29 pm
Latest change: Test bench update Nov 29, 2023 at 09:32 am
Razer BlackWidow Elite Picture
8.6
Gaming
7.3
Office
0.9
Mobile/Tablet
7.8
Programming
4.0
Entertainment / HTPC
8.4
Raw Performance

The Razer BlackWidow Elite is an outstanding gaming keyboard. This wired-only model feels very well-built and sturdy, and it has acceptable ergonomics, thanks to the two incline settings and detachable wrist rest. The full RGB backlighting is amazing for dark room gaming, and it’s easily customizable within the Razer Synapse 3 software. You can also set macros to any key and create multiple profiles to keep your favorite settings. The tactile Razer Orange switches on our unit have low operating force and short pre-travel, giving you a light and responsive gaming experience. It’s also available with clicky Razer Green and linear Razer Yellow switches to suit your preferences.

Our Verdict

8.6 Gaming

The Razer BlackWidow Elite is an outstanding gaming keyboard thanks to its short pre-travel distance and low operating force. It's also very well-built, and gamers should appreciate its customization options, whether it's controlling the full RGB backlighting or recording macros. It's available in three different switch types so you can choose your preferred gaming experience.

Pros
  • Feels very well-built and sturdy.
  • Full RGB backlighting.
  • All keys are macro-programmable.
  • Available in three different types of switches.
  • Short pre-travel distance.
Cons
  • Customization software only available on Windows.
7.3 Office

The Razer BlackWidow Elite is a great keyboard for the office. It has two incline settings and comes with a detachable wrist rest. The Razer Orange switches on our unit provide a very nice typing experience and are quiet enough for any open-office environment. However, the clicky Razer Green switches may be louder.

Pros
  • Feels very well-built and sturdy.
  • Detachable wrist-rest.
  • Excellent typing quality.
  • Available in three different types of switches.
  • Quiet enough for noise-sensitive environments.
Cons
  • Customization software only available on Windows.
  • Wired-only
0.9 Mobile/Tablet

The Razer BlackWidow Elite is wired-only and isn't designed for mobile devices.

7.8 Programming

The Razer BlackWidow Elite is a great keyboard for programmers. It has excellent typing quality, and you can choose between three different types of switches. It's comfortable to type on for long periods, and the board feels very durable, which is great. It's a very versatile keyboard that can be used on multiple OS, and programmers should appreciate the ability to macro-program any key.

Pros
  • Feels very well-built and sturdy.
  • Full RGB backlighting.
  • Excellent typing quality.
  • All keys are macro-programmable.
  • Available in three different types of switches.
Cons
  • Customization software only available on Windows.
  • Wired-only
4.0 Entertainment / HTPC

The Razer BlackWidow Elite is inadequate for use in a home theater PC setup. It's a large, wired-only keyboard with no trackpad, so not only do you need to run a cable from the couch to the computer, you also need a separate mouse. On the plus side, it has dedicated media controls for easy access and backlighting for those who like to watch TV in the dark.

Pros
  • Feels very well-built and sturdy.
  • Available in three different types of switches.
Cons
  • No trackpad.
  • Wired-only
8.4 Raw Performance

Pros
  • Feels very well-built and sturdy.
  • Available in three different types of switches.
Cons
  • 8.6 Gaming
  • 7.3 Office
  • 0.9 Mobile/Tablet
  • 7.8 Programming
  • 4.0 Entertainment / HTPC
  • 8.4 Raw Performance
  1. Updated Nov 29, 2023: We've concerted this review to Test Bench 1.3.1, which adds a new estimated PCB latency test to the Single-Key Latency section and a new Analog test to the Switches section of this review. You can see the full changelog here.
  2. Updated Oct 30, 2023: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.3, which overhauls how key input is evaluated. We've added new tests for Single Key Latency, Multi Key Latency, Data Transmission, and Chord Split. We've also introduced a new Raw Performance usage and adjusted how the Gaming and Office usage scores are calculated. You can see the full changelog here.
  3. Updated Jun 15, 2023: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.2. This update introduces new Backlight Features and Backlight Clarity test boxes. We've also added a new Switches test box, added additional test comparisons to our Hardware Customizability test box that we introduced with our last Test Bench. For an in-depth look at our changes, you can see our full changelog here.
  4. Updated May 26, 2023: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.1. This update adds several new tests addressing Hardware Customization, Macro Keys And Programming, and Wireless Mobile Compatibility. We've also added new objective evaluations to the Typing Noise test, and we've simplified several tests and removed several others that were no longer relevant. For an in-depth look at all our changes, you can see our full changelog here.
  5. Updated Feb 04, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
  6. Updated Jan 25, 2021: Updated review for accuracy and clarity.
  7. Updated Oct 08, 2020: We've updated the weight of the keyboard to not include the wrist rest.
  8. Updated Aug 18, 2020: The volume wheel has been added as an extra control, as per our methodology.
  9. Updated Feb 03, 2020: Review published.
  10. Updated Jan 28, 2020: Our testers have started testing this product.
  11. Updated Jan 28, 2020: Early access published.
  12. Updated Jan 26, 2020: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  13. Updated Jan 20, 2020: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

The BlackWidow Elite is available in tactile Razer Orange, clicky Razer Green, and linear Razer Yellow switches. We tested the Razer Orange switches, and we expect our review to be relevant for the other variants, except for the overall typing experience, which should be different with other switches.

Compared To Other Keyboards

The Razer BlackWidow Elite is one of the best gaming keyboards we’ve tested. It sets itself apart thanks to its proprietary Razer switches and some of its extra features, like the USB passthrough and the audio jack to connect your headphones. It's also very versatile compared to other gaming keyboards, as it performs very well for programming and office use as well. All in all, this model should satisfy most people. For more options, check out our recommendations for the best gaming keyboards, the best RGB keyboards, and the best mechanical gaming keyboards.

Razer Huntsman Elite

The Razer Huntsman Elite and the Razer BlackWidow Elite are very similar in build, comfort, and extra features. The biggest difference is that the Huntsman Elite is available with Razer Linear Optical switches, and the BlackWidow Elite is available with Razer tactile Orange, clicky Green, and linear Yellow ones.

Razer BlackWidow V3

The Razer BlackWidow Elite and the Razer BlackWidow V3 are both outstanding gaming keyboards with fairly similar features. The Elite has a USB passthrough, and the wrist rest is more comfortable. It provides a better typing experience mainly because the V3's keys are not as stable, and its Razer Yellow linear switches are a bit too sensitive due to their short pre-travel distance and low operating force. Also, they don't give any tactile feedback, which the Razer Orange switches on the Elite do. Both keyboards offer a clicky switch option, and the Elite has a third, linear switch option as well.

Razer Huntsman

The Razer Huntsman and the Razer BlackWidow Elite are fairly similar overall. The main difference is that the Huntsman uses optical clicky switches, while the Elite that we tested uses Razer's Orange switches, although it's available with Razer Green and Yellow switches as well. The Elite has more features, like dedicated media keys, a USB passthrough, and it comes with a comfortable wrist rest. Typing feels better on the Elite mainly because the Huntsman's keys wobble and feel slippery.

Razer BlackWidow

The Razer BlackWidow Elite is much better than the Razer BlackWidow. The Elite is available in three different switches, so you can get the ones you prefer, it has a wrist rest, it's better-built, it has a USB passthrough, and it has dedicated media keys.

SteelSeries Apex Pro

The SteelSeries Apex Pro and the Razer BlackWidow Elite perform very similarly overall. The SteelSeries' Omnipoint switches have a customizable pre-travel distance and are easier to actuate. However, the typing quality is better on the Razer because the Razer Orange switches provide tactile feedback, and you can also get the keyboard with clicky or linear switches if you prefer.

Razer Huntsman V2

The Razer Huntsman V2 and the Razer BlackWidow Elite are very similar wired mechanical gaming keyboards. Both boards have RGB backlighting, plushy wrist rests, dedicated media keys, and a volume control knob. However, the Huntsman V2 is the first Razer board with an 8000Hz polling rate, and it has marginally lower latency than the BlackWidow Elite. It's available with Razer Linear Optical and Razer Click optical switches, which are advertised to be more durable and faster than standard mechanical switches. On the other hand, the BlackWidow Elite is available with linear Razer Yellow, tactile Razer Orange, and clicky Razer Green switches. Also, it has a USB passthrough, which the Huntsman V2 doesn't have.

Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition

The Razer BlackWidow Elite performs better than the Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition if you want a full-sized keyboard. The BlackWidow comes with a comfortable wrist rest for those long gaming sessions, and it's available with tactile, clicky, or linear switches, so you can get the one you prefer the most. On the other hand, the Huntsman is a smaller TKL keyboard, which is good for FPS gaming, but it's only available with linear switches. Both have full RGB lighting, and each key is macro-programmable through the Synapse 3 software. Typing feels better on the BlackWidow mainly because the Huntsman's switches are overly sensitive and may cause more typos, and they don't provide tactile feedback.

HyperX Alloy Origins

The Razer BlackWidow Elite is better than the HyperX Alloy Origins for gaming. We tested the Razer with Orange switches, which have a shorter pre-travel distance but higher operating force than the HyperX Reds. The Razer has dedicated media controls, a USB passthrough, and onboard memory to save custom profiles. Additionally, it has lower latency and comes with a wrist rest.

Razer Huntsman Mini

The Razer BlackWidow Elite and the Razer Huntsman Mini are very different keyboards. The Elite is a full-sized keyboard and has more features, such as dedicated media controls and a USB passthrough. It's available with Razer Orange, Green, or Yellow switches. On the other hand, the Mini is a compact 60% keyboard and is available with Razer Clicky Optical or Linear Optical switches. The Elite comes with a wrist rest; the Mini doesn't.

Razer BlackWidow Tournament Edition Chroma V2

The Razer BlackWidow Elite is a better gaming keyboard than the Razer BlackWidow Tournament Edition Chroma V2. The Elite is a full-sized keyboard that feels sturdier, and while it has two incline settings, it does tend to slide around more. The Elite also has onboard memory, but both keyboards offer similar typing experiences and outstanding RGB backlighting.

Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro

The Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro and the Razer BlackWidow Elite are very similar keyboards, but the V3 Pro is wireless. The V3 Pro has a multi-device pairing feature that lets you pair up to three devices at the same time so that you can easily switch between them. On the other hand, the wired Elite has a USB passthrough. Both keyboards are available with Razer Yellow linear switches and Green clicky switches, but the Elite is also available with Orange tactile switches.

SteelSeries Apex 5

The Razer BlackWidow Elite is much better for gaming than the SteelSeries Apex 5, mainly due to the SteelSeries' high latency. The Razer provides a better typing experience overall, and it's available in a variety of mechanical switches, including linear, clicky, and tactile options. The SteelSeries has hybrid switches that also provide a good typing experience, but they're louder, which isn't ideal for quiet office environments. Feature-wise, the SteelSeries has an OLED screen, while the Razer has a USB passthrough.

Razer Huntsman V2 Analog

The Razer Huntsman V2 Analog and the Razer BlackWidow Elite are very similar overall. The main difference is that the Huntsman has linear analog switches that let you use the keyboard like an analog joystick, while the BlackWidow uses more traditional mechanical switches and is available in three switch types, tactile, clicky, and linear. The only other difference is that the Huntsman has LED lighting on the sides to create an underglow effect. Both keyboards offer an excellent typing experience, but the Huntsman's switches might be too sensitive for some and might cause more typos.

Corsair K100 RGB

The Corsair K100 RGB and the Razer BlackWidow Elite are both exceptional gaming keyboards. The Corsair has a few more features, such as a column of dedicated macro keys and a multi-function wheel that you can customize to perform various functions. The Corsair is available with two different types of linear switches, which have a low operating force but don't offer any tactile feedback. On the other hand, the Razer is available with clicky, linear, and tactile switches.

Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed

The Razer BlackWidow Elite and the Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed are fantastic mechanical gaming keyboards, but the Elite offers more features, partly because of its larger size. The Elite is a full-size wired board with dedicated media keys, a volume control knob, a USB passthrough, and a plushy wrist rest. On the other hand, if you like connecting the board with multiple devices at once, the V3 Mini HyperSpeed is a 65% wireless board that can pair with up to three devices at once. It also has slightly lower latency. Both boards are available with linear Razer Yellow and clicky Razer Green switches, but only the Elite is available with tactile Razer Orange.

Corsair K95 PLATINUM

The Corsair K95 PLATINUM and the Razer BlackWidow Elite are two very similar keyboards, but the K95 has one of the lowest pre-travel distances we've measured so far. Its RGB lighting also bleeds a lot more throughout the board than the Razer's lighting. On the other hand, the Razer overall build quality seems a bit more durable and comes with a plushy wrist rest.

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL

The SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL and the  Razer BlackWidow Elite are both amazing gaming keyboards with several key differences. The SteelSeries unit we tested was the TenKeyLess variant, but there’s a full-sized version as well. Our unit also has SteelSeries Brown switches that provide good tactile feedback, and It’s also available in clicky SteelSeries Blue and linear SteelSeries Red switches. On the other hand, the Razer is a full-sized keyboard with lower latency. The unit we tested has tactile Razer Orange switches that provide a heavier-feeling typing quality, but it’s also available with linear Razer Yellow or clicky Razer Green switches. Both keyboards feature full RGB lighting with individually backlit keys, but the SteelSeries suffers from significant color bleeding.

Logitech G815 LIGHTSYNC RGB

The Logitech G815 LIGHTSYCN RGB and the Razer BlackWidow Elite share a lot of similarities feature-wise. The main differences are that the Logitech is a low-profile keyboard with proprietary GL switches, while the Razer has a more standard height and uses Razer switches. Both keyboards are available in tactile, linear, and clicky switch options. Every key on the Razer is macro-programmable, but on the Logitech, it's limited to the column of dedicated macro keys only. Logitech's G HUB software is available for macOS, while Razer's Synapse 3 isn't. The Razer comes with a wrist rest, although the Logitech is comfortable to type on without one due to its low profile.

HyperX Alloy FPS RGB

The Razer BlackWidow Elite performs better overall than the HyperX Alloy FPS RGB, but both options are fantastic for gaming. The Razer feels better-built and more comfortable. It has a wrist rest and more extra features like dedicated media keys, a volume wheel, and a USB passthrough. It also provides a better typing experience and is available in more than one switch type. On the other hand, the HyperX takes a bit less space on your desk, and the Kailh Silver Speed switches it uses have shorter pre-travel and should feel a bit more responsive.

Logitech G513

The Razer BlackWidow Elite is a better gaming keyboard than the Logitech G513, mainly because the Razer lets you reassign or set a macro to any key, while the Logitech is limited to the function keys only. There are some minor differences between Logitech's Romer-G and Razer's Orange switches, but overall, they perform very similarly for gaming. That said, the Razer provides a better typing experience because the tactile feedback is more distinct and not as mushy as the Logitech. The Razer has more extra features, like dedicated media controls and onboard memory, which the Logitech lacks.

Corsair K70 RAPIDFIRE

The Razer BlackWidow Elite is better than the Corsair K70 RAPIDFIRE for most uses. The Razer has a much better build quality and full RGB backlighting. The Razer Orange switches on our Razer provide a better typing experience; however, the Cherry MX Speed switches on the Corsair are more responsive and require less force to initiate a keypress. The Razer has a few switch options you can choose from, but the Corsair only has one option.

Corsair K70 RGB MK.2

The Razer BlackWidow Elite and the Corsair K70 RGB MK.2 are both outstanding gaming keyboards, but the Razer is slightly better because it has lower latency. It's a better-built keyboard with a more comfortable wrist rest, and it offers a better typing experience, although that's mainly because the Corsair's key spacing takes a while to get used to. On the other hand, Corsair's iCUE software is available on macOS, while Razer's Synapse 3 isn't.

Ducky Shine 7

The Razer BlackWidow Elite and the Ducky Shine 7 are both outstanding wired gaming keyboards. The Razer has more features, such as dedicated media controls and a USB passthrough, and its latency is lower. The Ducky offers a better typing quality when comparing the Cherry MX Brown against the Razer Orange switches, though this depends on the type of switches you get, as both keyboards are available in multiple switch options. The Ducky has PBT keycaps, whereas the Razer's are ABS.

Razer Ornata Chroma

The Razer BlackWidow Elite is a better keyboard than the Razer Ornata Chroma. It's a full-size mechanical keyboard that's noticeably better built and offers a better overall typing quality. It features dedicated media keys and Razer Orange tactile switches. On the other side, if you don't like mechanical switches, the Ornata has mecha-membrane switches that feel like rubber domes, but they still have the clickiness of mechanical switches.

EVGA Z20

The Razer BlackWidow Elite and the EVGA Z20 are outstanding wired gaming keyboards with comparable performance but several differences in feature sets and available switch types. The Razer has a volume control knob, and while it doesn't have dedicated macro keys, all of its keys are macro-programmable. It's available with tactile Razer Orange, clicky Razer Green, or linear Razer Yellow switches. On the other hand, the EVGA has five dedicated macro keys, a volume wheel, and a time-of-flight sensor that you can program to perform functions based on your proximity to the keyboard. It's available with either linear or clicky Light Strike LK Optical switches.

EVGA Z15

The EVGA Z15 and the Razer BlackWidow Elite are both fantastic wired gaming keyboards. They both have dedicated media keys and a volume control wheel, and all of their keys are macro-programmable. The Razer is available with clicky Razer Green, tactile Orange, and linear Yellow switches, while the EVGA is available with clicky Kailh Speed Bronze and linear Speed Silver switches. Also, the EVGA is a better option if you like to easily swap out the switches for other ones whenever you want since the board is hot-swappable. While they both have incredibly low latencies, the EVGA's is lower and is among the lowest we've tested.

Lenovo ThinkPad TrackPoint Keyboard II

The Razer BlackWidow Elite is a full-size mechanical gaming keyboard, while the Lenovo ThinkPad TrackPoint Keyboard II is a compact wireless board well suited for use with mobile devices and tablets. The Razer has many extra features, like macro-programmable keys, dedicated media keys, a volume control wheel, a USB passthrough, and a Windows Key lock. It's available with Razer Orange, Razer Green, and Razer Yellow switches. Comparatively, the Lenovo has mouse click buttons and a TrackPoint nub to control the cursor without a separate mouse. It can pair with one device via Bluetooth and another via USB receiver. It's available with tactile scissor switches only.

Das Keyboard 4 Professional

The Razer BlackWidow Elite is much better than the Das Keyboard 4 Professional for most uses. The Razer has better build quality, and its ergonomics are better because it offers more incline settings and includes a wrist rest. It has backlighting, programmable keys, and software for customization, all of which the Das Keyboard lacks. The Razer provides a better typing experience and has much lower latency than the Das Keyboard.

Mountain Everest Max

The Razer BlackWidow Elite is better for gaming than the Mountain Everest Max, but the Mountain is a more customizable keyboard. The Razer is available with clicky Razer Green, tactile Orange, and linear Yellow switches, and it has lower latency than the Mountain for a more responsive gaming experience. The Razer also feels better built and offers better typing quality, but each keyboard has ABS keycaps. As for the Mountain, it's a modular keyboard that comes with a detachable Numpad and media dock, so you can place them or remove them how you like, and because the switches are hot-swappable, you can use whichever ones you prefer the most.

Corsair K60 RGB PRO Low Profile

The Razer BlackWidow Elite is much better than the Corsair K60 RGB PRO Low Profile. The Razer has a better build quality, dedicated media controls, a USB passthrough, and it includes a wrist rest. The Razer Orange switches on our unit provide a much better typing experience, and you can get it with a different type of switch to suit your needs. However, if you're on an Apple computer and want full customization options, only Corsair's iCUE is available for macOS.

Razer Pro Type

The Razer Pro Type and the Razer BlackWidow Elite are very different keyboards. The Pro Type is a wireless keyboard designed for productivity with multi-device pairing capability, while the Elite is a wired-only keyboard intended primarily for gaming. The Elite has more features, such as full RGB backlighting, dedicated media controls, onboard memory, and a wrist rest. Also, the Elite is more customizable because it's available with different types of switches, while the Pro Type is only available with Razer Orange switches. The Elite has lower latency, and its Razer Orange switches have a shorter pre-travel distance and lower operating force than the ones on the Pro Type.

Das Keyboard Model S Professional

The Razer BlackWidow Elite is a better keyboard than the Das Keyboard Model S Professional. The Razer has full RGB backlighting and all keys are macro-programmable. That said, the Das Keyboard is compatible with Cherry MX Brown and Blue switches, while the Razer uses proprietary switches.

Razer Ornata V2

The Razer BlackWidow Elite is a much better keyboard than the Razer Ornata V2. The Elite features mechanical switches from Razer, which have very low pre-travel, making it great for gaming. On the other side, the V2 features non-mechanical Mecha-Membrane switches, which may feel a bit heavy to press. The Elite is also much better-built and feels a lot more durable than the plasticky V2.

Corsair K95 RGB PLATINUM XT

The Razer BlackWidow Elite is a better gaming keyboard than the Corsair K95 RGB PLATINUM XT because it has lower latency, and its Razer Orange switches require less force to actuate than the Cherry MX Blues on the Corsair. That said, both keyboards offer multiple switch options. The Corsair has six dedicated macro keys, which is great for MMO players, and its customization software is compatible with macOS computers, whereas Razer's Synapse is only compatible with Windows.

Das Keyboard X50Q

The Razer BlackWidow Elite is better than the Das Keyboard X50Q in most uses. Typing and build quality are both significantly better on the Razer, and the Synapse 3 software has many more options to choose from. Razer's included wrist rest is more comfortable, and it has a USB passthrough and a headphone jack for convenience. The Das has its 'applets' feature, but it's only accessible for Windows users.

Razer BlackWidow Lite

The Razer BlackWidow Elite is a better gaming keyboard than the Razer BlackWidow Lite, mainly because the Lite's latency is a bit high for a wired keyboard. The Elite also has more features, such as dedicated media controls, a USB passthrough, and onboard memory. It has full RGB lighting, while the Lite only has a white LED backlight, and it comes with a comfortable wrist rest. 

Logitech G910 Orion Spark

The Razer BlackWidow Elite is a better gaming keyboard than the Logitech G910 Orion Spark. All of its keys are programmable, rather than just a few dedicated macro keys. Also, it comes with a very plushy and comfortable wrist rest, and the board feels noticeably more durable. On the other hand, the Logitech's key pre-travel distance is shorter and quicker to actuate.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Dimensions
Size
Full-size (100%)
Height
1.7" (4.3 cm)
Width 17.5" (44.5 cm)
Depth
6.5" (16.5 cm)
Depth With Wrist Rest
9.1" (23.1 cm)
Weight
2.67 lbs (1.210 kg)

This is a rather large keyboard due to its full-size layout. It's heavy and takes even more space if you use the included magnetic wrist rest. If you'd like a small, TenKeyLess keyboard, consider the Razer BlackWidow Tournament Edition Chroma V2.

8.5
Design
Build Quality
Keycap Material ABS

The Razer BlackWidow Elite has excellent build quality. The front side of the keyboard is made of metal, while the back and sides are made of plastic. The overall design feels sturdy and doesn't have too much flex. The ABS keycaps don't feel too cheap, though they don't give the same high-end finish as the doubleshot PBT keycaps found on the Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition.

6.0
Design
Ergonomics
Curved/Angled
No
Split Keyboard
No
Key Alignment
Staggered
Minimum Incline
Medium Incline
Maximum Incline
Home Row Height
33.9 mm (1.3")

The Razer BlackWidow Elite's ergonomics are acceptable for a straight board. While this isn't designed to be an ergonomic keyboard, it still has two different incline settings on top of coming with a detachable leatherette wrist rest, which is great. However, the wrist rest moves a bit when using it.

2.4
Design
Hardware Customizability
Replaceable Cherry Stabilizers
No
Stabilizer Fixation
Non-Customizable Design
Spacebar Stabilizer Size
Non-Customizable Design
Size Of Right Mod Keys
Non-Standard
Hot-Swappable Switches
No
Switch Stem Shape
Cherry MX Style
Switch PCB Socket
Soldered
North-Facing Cherry MX Interference
Yes
10
Design
Backlight Features
Backlighting Yes
RGB
Yes
Per-Key Backlighting
Yes
Effects
Yes
Software Controllable
Yes

The Razer BlackWidow Elite features full RGB backlighting that is bright enough for well-lit environments. It's also very good for darker rooms, and all the keys are easy to read. However, while the media keys are lit up all around, the legends aren't carved out, so you can't read those. If you want a keyboard with flashier lighting, check out the ROCCAT Vulcan 120 AIMO with its low-profile keycaps and transparent switch casings.

9.0
Design
Backlight Clarity
Design
Cable & Connector
Connectivity Wired
Detachable
No
Length 6.6 ft (2.0 m)
Connector (Keyboard side)
Not Detachable

The Razer BlackWidow Elite is wired-only. The cable ends in three different plugs. There are two USB plugs: one for the keyboard, and the other needs to be plugged in if you want to use the USB passthrough on the keyboard. The third connection is for a typical 3.5mm audio jack. The keyboard has an audio jack on its side, where you can plug in your headphones if your computer is too far.

0
Design
Wireless Versatility
Bluetooth
No
Bluetooth Multi-Device Pairing
No
Proprietary Receiver
No
Battery Type
No Batteries

The Razer BlackWidow Elite can't be used wirelessly. If you'd like a keyboard with outstanding wireless versatility, consider the Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro.

5.5
Design
Macro Keys And Programming
Dedicated Macro Keys Count 0
Onboard Macro Programming
Yes
Macro Programming With Software
Yes
Design
Extra Features
Media Keys
Dedicated
Trackpad / Trackball No
Scroll Wheel
No
Control Knob
Yes
USB Passthrough
Yes
Numpad Yes
Windows Key Lock
Yes
Lock Indicator Caps, Scroll & Num lock

The Razer BlackWidow Elite has nice extra features. It has dedicated media keys in the top right corner for music control, and there's a knob for volume control. The keyboard also has a USB passthrough to connect other peripherals, and there's an audio jack to connect your headphones. However, our unit's audio jack seems to have issues, as we can hear a lot of static feedback depending on how the cable is positioned. It doesn't have dedicated macro keys, but all of its keys are macro-programmable. If you prefer a keyboard with dedicated macro keys, check out the Corsair K100 RGB.

Design
In The Box

  • Razer BlackWidow Elite keyboard
  • Magnetic wrist rest
  • Stickers
  • Manuals

Typing Experience
8.5
Typing Experience
Typing Quality
Key Spacing
19.0 mm (0.748")

The Razer BlackWidow Elite provides an excellent typing quality. The spacing of the keys is good, which helps to reduce typos, but the low pre-travel distance could cause more unintentional keystrokes if you're not used to it. The ABS keycaps don't feel too cheap and are nice to type on. Most keys are very stable, and the keyboard uses Costar stabilizers, though the space bar on our unit is a bit wobbly. The Razer Orange switches give great feedback, but if you prefer another type of feel, it's also available with linear Razer Yellow or clicky Razer Green switches.

7.5
Typing Experience
Typing Noise
Average Loudness
52.0 dBA
High Pitch Clicks
No

Our Razer BlackWidow Elite is quiet enough for an office environment, but different switches may result in different typing noise.

Typing Experience
Switches
Switch Name
Razer Orange
Switch Type
Mechanical
Feel
Tactile
Analog
No
Typing Experience
Keystrokes
Operating Force
52 gf
Actuation Force
41 gf
Pre-Travel
1.7 mm
Total Travel
3.9 mm

Just like the Razer BlackWidow Lite, the Razer BlackWidow Elite we tested has proprietary Razer Orange switches. These are designed to be fairly quiet but still provide nice tactile feedback. They can be compared to Cherry MX Brown switches, with a bump before the actuation point. They have a short pre-travel distance and are easy to actuate, which is great for responsive gaming. It's also available in clicky Razer Green and linear Yellow switches. If you like mechanical switches that feel a bit smoother, like membrane switches, check out the Razer Ornata Chroma with its mecha-membrane switches. You can also check out Razer's optical switches on the Razer Huntsman.

Performance
8.9
Performance
Single-Key Latency
Best Connection
5.0 ms
Best Connection Std Dev ±0.4 ms
Wired
5.0 ms
Receiver
N/A
Bluetooth
N/A
PCB (Estimated)
3.4 ms

The Razer BlackWidow Elite has incredibly low latency. You shouldn't feel any delay while on the desktop or when gaming.

8.0
Performance
Multi-Key Latency
Connection Evaluated Wired
Key Press
5.1 ms
Key Release
30.6 ms
7.7
Performance
Data Transmission
Connection Evaluated Wired
USB Polling Rate
1,000 Hz
Effective Update Rate
1,000 Hz
N-Key Rollover (NKRO)
No
Multiple Keys Per USB Report
Yes
8.4
Performance
Chord Split
4 Chord Split Delay
4.6 ms
8 Chord Split Delay
8.1 ms
Software and Operating System
Software and Operating System
Configuration Software
Software Name Razer Synapse 3
Software Windows Compatible
Yes
Software macOS Compatible
No
Onboard Memory
Yes
Profiles
6+

The Razer Synapse 3 software is fantastic and gives you control over a lot of settings. You can create plenty of profiles and save them on the onboard memory. However, the lighting settings don't seem to stay, but keybindings will. If you want a companion software that's compatible with macOS, see the Corsair K95 RGB PLATINUM XT.

10
Software and Operating System
Computer Compatibility
Windows
Fully Compatible
macOS
Fully Compatible
Linux (Ubuntu 22)
Fully Compatible
Media Key Compatibility
Windows, MacOS & Linux

While the keyboard is fully compatible with Windows, the Scroll Lock and Pause Break buttons don't work on macOS. Also, the software isn't available on macOS and Linux, although all keys work as intended on Linux; you just won't be able to customize the keyboard. If you want something fully compatible with macOS, check out the SteelSeries Apex Pro.

0
Software and Operating System
Wireless Mobile Compatibility
Android
Not Compatible
iOS
Not Compatible
iPadOS
Not Compatible
Media Key Compatibility
Not Compatible