The Razer Huntsman Elite is an outstanding full-size mechanical gaming keyboard. Like its smaller siblings in the Huntsman family, it's configurable with Clicky Optical (Purple) or Linear Optical (Red) switches. Our unit's Red switches provide a light and responsive typing experience; however, some may find them too sensitive, leading to more typos than usual. The build quality is excellent, it has dedicated media controls, and in addition to its full RGB backlighting, it has underglow LEDs on the keyboard and the wrist rest. All keys are macro-programmable and even the volume dial can be reassigned. Some customizations can be done on the board, but sadly, Razer Synapse 3 is needed to access full customization options and it's only available on Windows.
Our Verdict
The Razer Huntsman Elite is an outstanding gaming keyboard. The Linear Optical switches on our unit feel incredibly responsive due to their low actuation point, and they require hardly any force to actuate. There's full RGB backlighting, you can reassign or set a macro to any key, and its dedicated media controls include a customizable volume dial. Unfortunately, there aren't any dedicated macro keys for MMOs.
-
Extremely responsive.
-
Macro-programmable keys.
-
Full RGB backlighting.
-
Acceptable ergonomics.
-
Dedicated media controls.
-
No dedicated macro keys for MMOs.
-
Slippery keys.
The Razer Huntsman Elite is a wired-only keyboard and isn't suitable for use with mobile devices.
The Razer Huntsman Elite is decent for office use. With its incline settings and plushy wrist rest, it's comfortable to type on all day long. The Linear Optical switches on our unit provide a light typing experience, but their low actuation point can end up causing more typos than usual. Furthermore, the ABS keycaps are slippery and can get worse with oil build-up. Typing noise isn't an issue with the Red switches; however, the Purple switches are much louder.
-
Acceptable ergonomics.
-
Dedicated media controls.
-
Light typing experience.
-
Quiet typing noise with Linear Optical switches.
-
Overly sensitive for typing.
-
Slippery keys.
-
No software support for Linux and macOS.
The Razer Huntsman Elite is a good keyboard for programming or coding. It's comfortable to type on, it has macro-programmable keys, and it has full RGB backlighting, which is great for those who like to work in the dark. Our unit's Red switches provide an okay typing experience, but some may find them overly sensitive, leading to more typos. That said, you can get the keyboard with Clicky switches if you prefer, which are similar to Cherry MX Blue switches. All keys work on Linux, but customization options are limited due to the lack of software support.
-
Macro-programmable keys.
-
Full RGB backlighting.
-
Acceptable ergonomics.
-
Dedicated media controls.
-
Light typing experience.
-
Overly sensitive for typing.
-
Slippery keys.
-
No software support for Linux and macOS.
-
Acceptable ergonomics.
-
Dedicated media controls.
-
Slippery keys.
- 9.1 Gaming
- 0.9 Mobile/Tablet
- 6.6 Office
- 7.0 Programming
- 3.9 Entertainment / HTPC
- Updated Jun 21, 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 May 31, 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.
- Updated Feb 26, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
- Updated Aug 11, 2020: Review published.
- Updated Aug 06, 2020: Early access published.
- Updated Jul 30, 2020: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Jul 27, 2020: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated Jul 23, 2020: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Razer Huntsman Elite Gaming Keyboard is the flagship model of the Huntsman lineup, which includes the Razer Huntsman, the Razer Huntsman Mini, and the Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition. It only comes in black and there are two types of switches to choose from: Linear Optical (Red) or Clicky Optical (Purple).
Compared To Other Keyboards
The Razer Huntsman Elite is an outstanding gaming keyboard. Compared to other keyboards in its price range, it stands out for its incredible responsiveness. However, it lacks features such as dedicated macro keys and USB passthrough, which the Corsair K95 RGB PLATINUM XT offers for the same price. For more options, check out our recommendations for the best gaming keyboards, the best mechanical keyboards, and the best RGB keyboards.
The Razer Huntsman Elite and the Razer Huntsman Mini are similar keyboards available in different sizes. The Mini is a compact 60% keyboard, while the Elite is full-sized, has a wrist rest and dedicated media keys. There isn't much difference between them in terms of performance and they're each available with Razer Linear Optical and Clicky Optical switches.
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.
The Razer Huntsman Elite and the Razer Huntsman V2 are wired mechanical gaming keyboards, but the V2 performs better overall. The V2 is Razer's first keyboard with an 8000Hz polling rate, and its latency is lower than the Elite's. Also, the V2 comes with PBT keycaps, which feel more durable and are less prone to shine than ABS keycaps, and the typing experience is much better on the V2 due to an issue with our Elite unit's spacebar. On the other hand, the Elite has an RGB strip along the sides of its wrist rest and around the board itself, which fans of RGB may prefer. Both boards are available with Razer Linear Optical and Razer Clicky Optical switches.
The Razer Huntsman is basically a less-featured version of the Razer Huntsman Elite, as it doesn't have dedicated media controls, underglow LEDs, and doesn't include a wrist rest. Otherwise, they're nearly identical and they both offer the same switch options. The Clicky Optical switches provide a better typing experience than the Linear Optical switches, but they also generate a lot more typing noise.
The Razer Huntsman V2 Analog is essentially the Razer Huntsman Elite, but with Analog Optical switches as they're nearly identical in their exterior designs. The difference between the Analog Optical and the linear optical switch is that the Analog Optical has an adjustable pre-travel distance and lets you use the keyboard like an analog joystick. Also, it allows you to program the keys to perform two functions with one keypress. The Elite's linear optical switch requires less force to actuate, which is both a good and bad thing because even though it makes it easier to actuate, it's overly sensitive for general typing, leading to more typos.
For most uses, the SteelSeries Apex Pro is better than the Razer Huntsman Elite. The SteelSeries has a customizable OLED screen, a USB passthrough, and its Omnipoint switches provide a better typing experience than the Linear Optical switches on our unit of the Razer. You can get the Razer with Clicky Optical switches if you want, but they generate more typing noise. The SteelSeries has better compatibility, as its customization software is available for macOS.
The Razer Huntsman Elite and the Razer BlackWidow V3 are both incredible full-sized gaming keyboards with similar performance. The V3 is available with linear Razer Yellow switches or clicky Razer Green switches. On the other hand, the Elite is available with Razer Linear Optical (Red) or Razer Clicky Optical (Purple) switches. It also has a plushier wrist rest and three dedicated media control buttons instead of one.
The Razer Huntsman Elite is better than the Razer BlackWidow for the most part. The Elite is available in two different optical switches, including the Linear Optical switches we tested. It's better-built and it comes with a wrist rest too. However, the Razer Green switches on the BlackWidow offer a better typing quality.
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.
The Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition and the Razer Huntsman Elite are two fantastic gaming keyboards with similar features. The Elite is full-size while the Tournament Edition is TenKeyLess, and they're both wired-only. They're each available with the Razer Linear Optical switches, which are light to press, but the typing quality is just okay. The Elite is also available with Clicky Optical switches if that's what you prefer, and it comes with a wrist rest, which the Tournament Edition doesn't.
The Razer Huntsman Elite and the Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed are mechanical gaming keyboards with fantastically low latency, but they have different sizes. The Elite is a full-size wired board with a volume control knob, dedicated media keys, and a wrist rest. On the other hand, the HyperSpeed is a 65% wireless board that can pair with up to three devices at once via Bluetooth. The Elite is available with Razer Linear Optical and Razer Clicky Optical switches, while the HyperSpeed is available with linear Razer Yellow and clicky Razer Green switches.
The Razer Huntsman Elite and the Logitech G513 are both outstanding gaming keyboards. The main difference is that the Razer's Linear Optical switches have a shorter pre-travel distance and much lower operating force than the Romer-G Tactile switches on our Logitech unit, making them feel more responsive. However, the Razer's incredible responsiveness also makes it less ideal for general typing because the keys are overly sensitive, which leads to more typos. The Razer offers more features like dedicated media controls and onboard memory. Every key on the Razer is macro-programmable, while the Logitech only allows you to reprogram the function keys.
The Corsair K100 RGB and the Razer Huntsman Elite are both outstanding gaming keyboards. They're both full-sized, come with a wrist rest, and have dedicated media keys. The Razer is available with clicky and linear optical switches, while the Corsair is available with two types of linear switches, including an optical one. The Corsair offers better typing quality because of how sensitive the linear switches are on the Razer, but that means the Razer is more responsive for gaming.
Overall, the Corsair K95 RGB PLATINUM XT is better than the Razer Huntsman Elite. The Corsair has dedicated macro keys, a USB passthrough, and it comes with extra textured keycaps. The Cherry MX Blue switches on our unit of the Corsair provide a much better typing experience than the Linear Optical switches on the Razer, although both keyboards offer multiple switch options.
Test Results
The Razer Huntsman Elite is a large full-sized keyboard and it takes up even more space if you choose to use the included wrist rest. If you want a compact keyboard, check out the Razer Huntsman Mini.
The Razer Huntsman Elite has an excellent build quality. It has a plastic frame with an aluminum plate on top. It feels solidly built and only flexes a little bit. The keycaps are made of ABS plastic and they feel well-made, but they're slippery and it gets worse if there's oil buildup. The keys are stable except for the spacebar, which actuates easily by hitting the desk; an issue that was also present on the Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition keyboard that we reviewed. The incline feet feel a tad flimsy and the rubber pads under them don't provide enough grip; however, the weight of the keyboard itself helps prevent it from sliding around.
The Razer Huntsman Elite has acceptable ergonomics. It has two incline settings, and it comes with a plushy leatherette wrist rest.
The Razer Huntsman Elite has full RGB backlighting with individually-lit keys. There are many preset lighting effects to choose from and you can also create custom lighting profiles through the customization software. There's also LED lighting around the edges of the keyboard and wrist rest to produce an underglow effect. These LEDs require extra power, so the second USB connector must be plugged in for them to work. For the underglow LEDs on the wrist rest, the wrist rest must be connected to the keyboard via the pogo pins.
The cable is braided and feels high quality, but it's quite stiff and it retains kinks easily. It should be long enough for most people to reach their desktop.
The Razer Huntsman Elite is a wired-only keyboard.
The Razer Huntsman Elite has many extra features. All keys are macro-programmable and you can program them on-the-fly using the macro recording hotkey instead of doing it through software. You can lock the Windows key to prevent accidentally minimizing your game, and there's a 'Sleep' hotkey that puts your computer instantly to sleep. It has dedicated media controls, which include a multi-function volume dial that you can reassign to perform other functions. The media keys don't feel as premium as the rest of the keyboard and they have extremely low travel distance.
Our unit of the Razer Huntsman Elite is fitted with the Linear Optical switches (Red). They don't provide any tactile feedback and require very little force to actuate. The pre-travel distance is extremely short, which makes the keyboard feel very responsive. You can get the keyboard with Clicky Optical switches (Purple) if you prefer. The Purple switches are advertised to have slightly higher pre-travel distance and actuation force, and they provide tactile feedback, similar to Cherry MX Blue switches. If you want to see how the Purple switches perform, check out our review of the Razer Huntsman Mini.
The typing experience with the Linear Optical switches is just okay. It feels incredibly responsive and light, and the included wrist rest is very comfortable, so it shouldn't cause any fatigue over time. Due to the lack of tactile feedback, it can be difficult to sense if a keystroke is registered. While the extremely short pre-travel distance and light actuation force are great for gaming, it's too sensitive to recommend for typing. We experienced the same issue as with the Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition, where the spacebar would activate by simply hitting the desk near the keyboard. Also, the ABS keycaps feel slippery, more so if there's oil buildup.
Note that the typing experience is very different with the Clicky Optical switches, as they provide tactile feedback, and they're advertised to have higher pre-travel distance and actuation force. Our units of the Razer Huntsman and Razer Huntsman Mini are fitted with the Clicky Optical switches, and they don't have the same issue with the spacebar being overly sensitive.
The Linear Optical switches on our unit of the Razer Huntsman Elite don't generate a lot of typing noise; however, the Clicky Optical switches are much louder, as seen in our review of the Razer Huntsman.
The Razer Huntsman Elite has incredibly low latency. If you want an even more responsive-feeling board, check out the Razer Huntsman V2.
The Razer Huntsman Elite has good software support. Razer's Synapse 3 software allows you to reassign keys (including the volume dial), program macros, and customize the RGB backlighting of each key individually. You can save as many profiles as you want and there's a cloud sync option, although it requires an account to use it.
This keyboard has onboard memory to save up to five custom profiles; however, it didn't work during our testing. We're not sure if this is a hardware or software issue, and there have been reports of this issue from other users as well. If you have experienced this issue, please let us know in the discussions below.
The Razer Huntsman Elite has decent compatibility. It's fully compatible with Windows and there are no issues. For macOS, Screen Lock, Pause/Break, and Context menu don't work, and the Insert key becomes the 'Help' key. On Linux, all keys work as intended, but like macOS, there's no software support, so customization is limited.