The Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro is an outstanding wireless mechanical gaming keyboard. It has full RGB backlighting and macro-programmable keys, which are customizable through the companion software. Unlike the Razer BlackWidow Elite, the V3 Pro supports Bluetooth and Razer's proprietary Hyperspeed technology via its dedicated receiver. Despite its straight design, the ergonomics are still decent due to the two incline settings and detachable wrist rest. We bought and tested this unit with clicky Razer Green switches, but it's also available with silent linear switches. Unfortunately, the clicky Razer Green switches feel inconsistent both in how they sound and feel.
Our Verdict
The Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro is outstanding for gaming. It has exceptionally low latency, full RGB backlighting, and macro-programmable keys, which are customizable in the Razer Synapse 3 companion software. The keycaps are made of doubleshot ABS plastic, and gaming feels comfortable thanks to the detachable plushy wrist rest. Unfortunately, the clicky Razer Green switches sound and feel inconsistent.
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Full RGB backlighting.
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Low pre-travel.
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Plushy detachable wrist rest.
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Macro-programmable keys.
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Good build quality.
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Razer Green Switches sound and feel inconsistent.
The Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro is a good office keyboard. Despite its straight design, the ergonomics are acceptable due to the two incline settings and the detachable plushy wrist rest. That said, it's also available with silent linear switches. The build quality is excellent, and the doubleshot ABS keycaps feel great to touch. Unfortunately, the clicky Razer Green switches sound and feel inconsistent. That said, this keyboard is also available with quieter linear switches instead.
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Plushy detachable wrist rest.
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Good build quality.
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Razer Green Switches sound and feel inconsistent.
The Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro is an acceptable keyboard for use with your smartphone or tablet. You can pair it over Bluetooth, and it has a multi-device feature, but it's too big to travel with. The body feels very sturdy and the battery is rechargeable.
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Multi-device pairing.
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Bluetooth support.
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Razer Green Switches sound and feel inconsistent.
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Large and bulky.
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Companion software limited to Windows.
The Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro is a great keyboard for programming. It has full RGB backlighting, and all the keys are macro-programmable, which are customizable in the companion software. The ergonomics are acceptable , thanks to the detachable wrist rest and two incline settings. It has an excellent build quality, and the doubleshot ABS keycaps feel good to touch. This keyboard is available with linear Razer Yellow switches or clicky Green switches. Unfortunately, the Green switches sound and feel inconsistent while typing.
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Full RGB backlighting.
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Plushy detachable wrist rest.
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Macro-programmable keys.
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Good build quality.
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Razer Green Switches sound and feel inconsistent.
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Companion software limited to Windows.
The Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro is good for use with a home theater PC. You can connect it over Bluetooth or via its USB dongle, which is great if you're worried about tripping over wires. It has dedicated media controls, and the keys are easily visible in the dark thanks to its full RGB backlighting. Unfortunately, you need a separate mouse to navigate the user interface because there's no trackpad.
- 8.5 Gaming
- 7.2 Office
- 6.3 Mobile/Tablet
- 7.8 Programming
- 7.4 Entertainment / HTPC
- 8.7 Raw Performance
Changelog
- Updated Nov 29, 2023: We've converted 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Updated Jun 12, 2023: We've added a link to the ASUS ROG Azoth in the Wireless Versatility section of this review.
- 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.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro with Razer Green switches (tactile and clicky), and it's also available with Razer Yellow switches (linear and silent). It's the wireless variant of the Razer BlackWidow V3. You can see our unit's label here.
Compared To Other Keyboards
The Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro Wireless is a great wireless keyboard. It's quite similar to the Razer BlackWidow Elite in many respects, but it has wireless support via Bluetooth and its proprietary receiver. Like many Razer keyboards, this is a standout choice for gamers due to its exceptionally low latency and customizability features.
For more options, check out our recommendations for the best gaming keyboards, the best RGB keyboards, and the best mechanical gaming keyboards.
The Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro and the Razer Huntsman V2 Analog are both outstanding full-size gaming keyboards. The Huntsman V2 is wired-only and comes with unique Analog Optical switches, which are very light to press and have a linear feel for a responsive gaming experience. They also have an analog feature, allowing you to use the keys like a joystick. The V3 Pro, on the other hand, is available with two types of mechanical switches, so you can get the ones you prefer, and it's wireless, so you can connect it with up to three devices at once.
The Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro and the Logitech G915 LIGHTSPEED are two fantastic wireless gaming keyboards. Even though the Logitech's low-profile switches have a shorter total travel distance and lighter operating force, the Razer provides a much better typing experience. The Razer also has better build quality, and all its keys are macro-programmable, while the Logitech only lets you reprogram the dedicated macro keys.
The Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro and the Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro are mechanical gaming keyboards in the same lineup. The V4 Pro is the newer version and is a wired-only model. It features several improvements, including foam dampening foam layers, eight dedicated macro keys, and a maximum polling rate of 8000Hz. On the other hand, the V3 Pro is a wireless model. Both keyboards are available with clicky Razer Green or linear Razer Yellow switches.
The Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro and the Razer Huntsman V2 are comparable mechanical gaming keyboards, but the BlackWidow V3 Pro is wireless while the Huntsman V2 is wired. You can use the BlackWidow V3 Pro wirelessly via its USB receiver, or you can pair it with up to three devices at once via Bluetooth. It's available with clicky Razer Green and linear Razer Yellow switches. On the other hand, the Huntsman V2 is the first Razer board with an 8000Hz polling rate, and it has slightly lower latency than the BlackWidow V3 Pro. Also, it comes with PBT keycaps instead of the ABS keycaps on the BlackWidow V3 Pro. It's available with Razer Linear Optical and Razer Click optical switches, which is advertised to be more durable and faster than standard mechanical switches.
The Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro and the Razer BlackWidow V3 are both fantastic gaming keyboards. The V3 Pro can be used wirelessly or wired, and you can pair it wirelessly with up to three devices simultaneously. Also, it comes with a plushier wrist rest. On the other hand, the BlackWidow V3 is a wired-only model. Both keyboards are available with clicky Razer Green or linear Razer Yellow switches.
The Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro and the ASUS ROG Azoth are wireless mechanical gaming keyboards with similarly outstanding gaming performance. The Razer is a larger full-size keyboard with a wrist rest and dedicated media keys. On the other hand, the Azoth is a smaller 75% keyboard with a better overall build quality and a gasket-mounted design that provides a superior overall typing experience. Additionally, it has a programmable OLED screen.
Although the SteelSeries Apex Pro and the Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro are both full-size gaming keyboards, they're actually quite different. The SteelSeries is wired-only, and its Omnipoint switches allow users to set their preferred pre-travel distance. The Razer is a wireless keyboard with multi-device pairing capability, and it's available with Razer Green or Yellow switches. The Razer has lower latency, but it doesn't have features like an OLED screen and USB passthrough, which the SteelSeries does.
The Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro and the Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed are similar mechanical gaming keyboards, but the V3 Pro is full-size, and the V3 Mini is a 65% compact board. Because of its smaller size, the V3 Mini lacks the dedicated media keys, volume wheel, F-row, and NumPad that the V3 Pro has. Also, despite being just as tall as the V3 Pro, the V3 Mini doesn't come with a wrist rest, which can cause wrist fatigue over time. Both are wireless, can pair with up to three devices at once via Bluetooth, and have outstandingly low latency.
The Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro and the Razer Huntsman are both outstanding gaming keyboards but with different features. The V3 can be used both wirelessly and wired, and it has a multi-device pairing feature that lets you connect up to three devices simultaneously. It has a detachable wrist rest and dedicated media controls, including a customizable volume wheel. The Huntsman's Razer Clicky Optical switches have a shorter pre-travel distance and require less force to actuate than the V3's Razer Green switches, making them feel lighter and more responsive. However, they might be too sensitive for general typing, which might lead to more typos. The V3 is available with linear switches as well, but the Huntsman only has one switch option.
The Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro and the Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition are very different keyboards. The V3 is a full-size wireless keyboard with dedicated media controls and Linear Optical switches. On the other hand, the Huntsman TE is a wired TKL keyboard available with clicky Razer Green or linear Yellow switches. Also, the Huntsman TE doesn't include a wrist rest like the V3 does.
The Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro is a better keyboard than the Razer BlackWidow Lite. The V3 can be used wirelessly, has full RGB backlighting, and comes with a detachable wrist rest. On the other hand, the Lite's TenKeyLess design takes up less room on a desk and may represent better value for some people.
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.
The Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro is a better keyboard than the Razer BlackWidow. The V3 can be used wirelessly and has a detachable wrist rest. On the other hand, the regular BlackWidow offers a similar typing quality and may represent better value for some people.
Overall, the Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro is better than the Razer Huntsman Elite. The V3 Pro has wireless connectivity, which means it can be used with a wider range of devices, including smartphones and tablets. The Elite feels a bit more responsive because its Linear Optical switches have a shorter pre-travel distance and much lower operating force than the Razer Green switches on the V3 Pro. However, they might be too sensitive for general typing and can lead to more typos.
Gaming-wise, the Corsair K100 RGB is better than the Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro. The Corsair is available in two types of linear switches, which are light to press, while the Razer is available with linear and clicky switches. In terms of features, the Corsair has a USB passthrough and dedicated macro keys, which the Razer lacks. However, the Razer is a wireless keyboard, which is great if you want to keep a clean, wire-free setup, and it can be paired to multiple devices simultaneously so that you can switch between them easily.
The Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro and the ASUS ROG Claymore II are both full-size wireless gaming keyboards, but the Razer is better overall. The Razer feels better built, and it has much lower latency, especially wirelessly. Also, it supports Bluetooth, and you can pair it with up to three devices at once. It's available with clicky Razer Green and linear Razer Yellow switches. On the other hand, the ASUS has a USB passthrough and a modular numpad, which you can put on either side of the board or remove completely to make it a TKL size. The ASUS is wireless, but it can connect through its USB receiver only. It's available with clicky ROG RX Blue Optical Mechanical switches and linear ROG RX Red Optical Mechanical switches.
The Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro and the Razer Pro Type Ultra are both wireless mechanical boards, but the V3 Pro is designed for gaming while the Pro Type Ultra is designed for office use. The BlackWidow V3 Pro has RGB backlighting, dedicated media keys, a volume control wheel, and onboard memory. On the other hand, the Pro Type Ultra has white backlighting and a plainer, professional look. The BlackWidow V3 Pro is available with clicky Razer Green switches and linear Razer Yellow switches, while the Type Pro Ultra is available with linear Razer Yellow switches only.
The ROCCAT Vulcan II and the Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro are mechanical gaming keyboards with comparable gaming performance. The ROCCAT Keyboards use ROCCAT's Titan II Optical switches and are available in a full-size or compact (65%) form factor. On the other hand, the Razer is a wireless model that feels sturdier overall. It's available with linear, tactile, or clicky Razer mechanical switches. The Razer has marginally lower latency, but both keyboards deliver exceptional gaming performance suitable for gaming in any genre at any competitive level.
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Test Results
The Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro Wireless is a rather large keyboard due to its full-sized design, and it takes up even more room if you use the wrist rest. If you prefer a compact size, check out the Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed.
The Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro has good build quality overall. It's made largely of plastic with an aluminum faceplate that exhibits very little flex. Keycaps are made of doubleshot ABS plastic and feel superior to the ones on the Razer BlackWidow Elite. There's some minor wobble to the keys, most noticeably with the spacebar, shift, backspace, and enter keys. Also, the stabilizers rattle when you shake the board. The incline feet are grippy enough to keep it from sliding around, and they feel more solid than the ones on the Elite.
However, the clicky Razer Green switches on the keyboard we bought and tested have different click sounds, and some don't produce a clicking sound at all. Many of the switches also require noticeably different levels of force to operate. Note that we experienced similar issues with the clicky Green switches on the Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed as well.
The Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro's ergonomics are acceptable. It has a typical straight board design, but the two incline settings and detachable plushy wrist rest should make it comfortable to use.
If you want to replace the stabilizers on this keyboard, the switches must be desoldered first.
This keyboard has full RGB backlighting that's very similar to the Razer BlackWidow Elite's, only not as bright. The brightness is controlled directly on the keyboard using FN+11 and 12 to decrease and increase respectively. The colors, effects, speed, and brightness are customizable through the companion software. If you're interested in a similar gaming keyboard with low-profile keycaps that allow more light to shine out from the switch housings, check out the ROCCAT Vulcan II Max/Mini.
This keyboard comes with a detachable braided USB-C cable. It's not as thick as the Razer BlackWidow Elite's but is of good quality, despite being rather kinky.
This keyboard has outstanding wireless versatility. You can connect to it over Bluetooth or its proprietary receiver, and it pairs with up to three different devices. You can switch between paired devices via a switch on the left side. If you prefer a wired-only keyboard, check out its variant, the Razer BlackWidow V3. If you're looking for a wireless gaming keyboard with considerably longer advertised battery life, check out the ASUS ROG Azoth.
The Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro has nice extra features. Every key is macro-programmable, and there's even a hotkey to record and save macros to the board. It has dedicated media keys and a volume control wheel, which is also programmable. If you prefer a keyboard with additional dedicated macro keys, consider the Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro or the Corsair K100 RGB.
- Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro keyboard
- Detachable wrist rest
- USB-A to USB-C cable
- Wireless receiver
- Razer stickers
- Quick start guide
The Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro provides a good typing quality overall. The doubleshot ABS keycaps feel good to the touch, and while there's a slight wobble to the keys, it's not noticeable while typing. The ergonomics are decent and shouldn't cause any fatigue or pain.
Unfortunately, the clicky Razer Green switches produce different click feedback, and some keys don't make a clicking sound. Many switches also require different levels of force to operate, making typing feel somewhat inconsistent. Note that we observed this same issue with the clicky Green switches on the Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed we bought and tested as well.
The Razer Green switches on our Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro are loud and clicky, which may disturb those around you. That said, it's also available with Razer Yellow switches, which are silent and linear.
Our Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro uses Razer Green switches, which are tactile and clicky. They don't require a lot of force to actuate, which gives them a very light feel. If you don't like the feel of tactile switches or want something quieter, it's also available with silent linear Yellow switches.
The latency is superb. It's recommended to use the USB dongle for gaming, although the Bluetooth latency is pretty good too and should be fine for slower-paced games.
The Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro is compatible with the outstanding Razer Synapse 3 companion software. From here, you can set macros, reprogram keys, and customize the RGB backlighting. It doesn't require an account, and you can set an unlimited amount of profiles.
This keyboard is fully compatible with Windows, and the software is only available on Windows. On macOS, all default button functions work as intended except for the 'Scroll Lock and 'Pause/Break' buttons, which adjust your screen brightness if you're using an Apple display. On Linux systems, all default functions work.
On Android devices, all default function work as intended except for the Windows key, which opens an assist application. On iOS and iPadOS devices, the Insert, Scroll Lock, Pause/Break, and Print Screen buttons don't work.