Razer BlackWidow V3 Keyboard Review

The Razer BlackWidow V3 is a full-sized keyboard that takes up some space on your desk, especially if you use it with the wrist rest. If you prefer a slightly smaller size, it also comes in a TenKeyLess version.

It has excellent build quality, similar to the Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro. It's mostly made of plastic, and it has a matte black aluminum top plate that exhibits little flex. The doubleshot ABS keycaps are slightly textured and shouldn't be prone to getting shiny. Some of the larger keys, like the spacebar, Shift, and Enter keys, wobble a bit, and the stabilizer on the spacebar rattles louder than the other stabilizers. The incline feet are very grippy and they hold the board in place well.

It has good ergonomics. It's a straight board design that has two inclines. It comes with a wrist rest that you can place below the keyboard, but it doesn't attach to it since there aren't any connectors.

It has outstanding RGB backlighting that you can customize through the Razer Chroma software. You can control the brightness directly on the keyboard with the function keys.

It has a stiff, braided cable that retains kinks from packaging.

This is a wired keyboard that can't be used wirelessly.

It has a few extra features, including a Game Mode key that locks the Windows key, a volume control wheel, and a media key.

• Razer BlackWidow V3 keyboard
• Wrist rest
• Stickers
• User manual

The Razer Yellow switches on our unit are linear and silent. They don't require a lot of force to actuate, which gives them a light feel, and their low pre-travel distance should feel responsive for gaming. If you prefer a tactile feel, Razer Green switches are also available.

The Razer BlackWidow V3 we tested has good typing quality. The shape and spacing of the keys are pretty standard and shouldn't cause more typos, but the linear feel and low pre-travel distance may cause more unintentional keystrokes. The doubleshot ABS keycaps feel nice to type on, but the spacebar, Shift, and Enter keys aren't very stable, and the spacebar is quite noisy when pressed. Since these are linear switches, they don't provide any tactile feedback, which may be unsatisfying if you prefer a tactile feel. That said, it's available with clicky Razer Green switches, which may change the typing quality.

The linear Razer Yellow switches on our unit are quiet and shouldn't bother those around you in an open office environment. However, the spacebar is noisy when pressed. We expect the clicky Razer Green switches to be significantly louder.

The Razer Synapse 3 software is fantastic. You can set macros to any key, customize the backlighting, and create as many profiles as you want. You can save four profiles to the on-board memory. However, it isn't very intuitive or user-friendly for new users.

The software isn't available on macOS or Linux, so you can't customize any of the settings. However, all of the keys should still work properly, except for the Pause Break and Scroll Lock on macOS.