Our Verdict
The Razer Ornata Chroma is a great gaming keyboard. It has unique switches that combine the feeling of both membrane and clicky mechanical switches. However, the pre-travel distance is a bit deeper than some other switches, which might make it feel a bit longer to actuate. On the upside, the board is decently well-built and features full RGB lighting, which can be customized inside the software.
- Good typing experience.
- Full RGB lighting, customizable.
- Acceptable ergonomics.
- Feels a bit cheaply made, plasticky build.
- Can be loud for some.
The Razer Ornata Chroma is wired-only and isn't designed to be used with mobile devices.
The Razer Ornata Chroma is an okay office keyboard. It comes with a nice wrist rest, and the low profile of the keys makes for a good overall typing experience, without too much fatigue. However, it can be quite noisy since it has clicky switches.
- Good typing experience.
- Full RGB lighting, customizable.
- Acceptable ergonomics.
- Feels a bit cheaply made, plasticky build.
- Can be loud for some.
The Razer Ornata Chroma is a good programming keyboard. It comes with a comfortable wrist rest and can be used to type on comfortably for hours. However, it's not the most high-end keyboard, but on the upside, you can easily set macros on any keys.
- Good typing experience.
- Full RGB lighting, customizable.
- Acceptable ergonomics.
- Feels a bit cheaply made, plasticky build.
- Can be loud for some.
- Good typing experience.
- Full RGB lighting, customizable.
- Acceptable ergonomics.
- Feels a bit cheaply made, plasticky build.
- Can be loud for some.
Changelog
- 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 Sep 12, 2022: Added in a comparison to the recently reviewed Razer Ornata V3 X.
- Updated Sep 08, 2022: Added in a comparison to the newly reviewed Razer Ornata V3.
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Popular Keyboard Comparisons
The Razer Ornata Chroma is a great overall gaming keyboard but sets itself apart by its unique mecha-membrane switches. It feels a bit like the SteelSeries Apex 5, but the build quality feels a lot cheaper, unfortunately. This keyboard targets people that like the clickiness of mechanical switches but also like the soft touch of membrane switches. For more options, check out our recommendations for the best gaming keyboards, the best mechanical keyboards, and the best Razer keyboards.
The Razer Ornata Chroma is a better office keyboard than the Razer BlackWidow because it has a wrist rest. However, the BlackWidow is a better choice for gaming because the mechanical switches have a shorter pre-travel distance. Overall, they're similar keyboards that offer the same features, but the Ornata doesn't have onboard memory, while the BlackWidow does.
The Razer Ornata V3 is the recent version of the Razer Ornata Chroma; however, the Chroma is still a better choice as it has much better features. For example, the Chroma comes with a plushy, magnetically detachable wrist rest and RGB backlighting that's customizable on a per-key basis. Both keyboards use the same mecha-membrane switches that offer a unique typing experience, so your choice boils down to what extra features you value.
The Razer Huntsman is a better gaming keyboard than the Razer Ornata Chroma. Its optical clicky switches actuate a lot faster than the Ornata's clicky mecha-membrane switches. The Huntsman is also noticeably better-built, but it doesn't come with a nice wrist rest like the Ornata does.
The Razer Ornata Chroma is a better keyboard than the SteelSeries Apex 3. The Razer uses hybrid membrane switches that give you the clicky feedback of a mechanical switch with the feel of a rubber dome switch. It has a better overall typing experience, and the keys are individually lit. On the other hand, the SteelSeries uses typical rubber dome switches that are quiet to use in an office, and the keyboard has a better build quality.
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