Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% Review – Razer’s Most Premium Gaming Keyboard?

The Razer BlackWidow line has been the go-to keyboard for many Razer fans when they’re looking for an upgrade. It usually hosts Razer’s best of the best components and technology, along with one of the best designs for a gaming keyboard.

The latest Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro (my review unit is the 75% variant) is no different. It looks and feels like a modern, all-out keyboard with amazing OLED screen, PBT keycaps, hot-swappable switches, and a responsive 4,000Hz polling rate.

PACKAGING CONTENTS & UNBOXING

DESIGN AND FEATURES

The keyboard itself looks ridiculously sleek, modern, and premium. And boy, it’s pretty heavy, so it’s probably not something that you want to carry frequently. However, this makes the keyboard really sturdy on the desk, and I really like that.

It’s a 75% keyboard, so you won’t find numpads here, and while you get Page Up and Page Down, there is no dedicated Home and End button. It’s definitely a great gaming keyboard, but if you also want to use it for work with numbers, you may want to grab the full version instead. Those who want more ergonomics and extra desk space will love the compact size though.

It’s also an engineering marvel, with layers upon layers that are really well-thought of by the design and engineering team. The Doubleshot PBT keycaps make sure the legend never wears off, 5052 Aluminium Alloy Top Case for robustness, Gasket-mounted White FR4 Plate that gives you a better feel of every keystroke and improves illumination (and yes, they are bright and lovely), Plate Foam to act like a sound dampener, Tape-enhanced PCB with Hot-swap Sockets for a richer sound profile, and Lubricated Screw-in Stabilisers with Krytox GPL 205g0 for improved stability and to smoothen things out.

Now, thanks to the Tape-enhanced PCB, you’ll get these satisfying sounds coming from each keypress of the keyboard (which utilises Razer Orange Tactile Switches Gen-3). It’s something that I needed to get used to at first, as the sound and feel were pretty new to me. The switches feel great, especially for gaming. They are not something I’d want to use for a full day of work, though, as they can be quite noisy and distracting. The switches also feel hollow when pressed, though very responsive.

Spec-wise, Razer Orange Tactile Switches Gen-3 has a 3.5mm travel distance with a 2.0mm actuation point. It may not be the fastest switches out there, but this is where the keyboard shines too. If you like the keyboard very much but want to replace the switches with something else to your liking, well, you can. Or if you swear you’ll never buy another keyboard after this, you can replace the switches in the future with new, better ones. The BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% supports 3 or 5-pin switches.

I also like the underglow lighting coming from the two sides that makes me wish there was also one at the front. Powered by Razer Chroma, you can pick some nice effects or keep them solid to minimise distractions. The per-key lighting is also bright and bold, and I really love how I can clearly see each key legend on the keyboard in my dimly lit room (I have a 2-month-old sleeping near my desk).

The OLED Display and Command Dial

However, there is one more thing (or two) that makes this keyboard very special—and possibly a non-essential feature that makes the keyboard very pricey: a 2″ OLED display on the top right of the keyboard. The OLED display looks really good, bright, and fully customisable. I’ve encountered many gaming keyboards with OLED screens before, but they never look this good. Also, animation!

The OLED screen functionality comes with Razer Command Dial with a side button to cycle between different modes, such as changing volume controls, adjusting the display brightness, navigating through your favourite playlist, and more. You can customise the display with animated GIFs, display your current CPU/GPU temperatures, audio visualiser, and more.

Nice greeting screen when you turn the Razer BlackWidow v4 Pro 75% on for the first time @RazerANZ pic.twitter.com/eWObX3JBID

— Michael Aulia 🇦🇺 (@michaelaulia) January 27, 2025

This is crazy because you can create and store up to 100 different modes through Razer Synapse, where you can map any functions (scroll up, scroll down, and click) on your apps, making the BlackWidow V4 Pro one of the most versatile keyboards ever in terms of personalisation.

Connectivity and Battery Life

All these are packaged nicely within this wireless-capable keyboard, offering three types of connectivity: Wireless 2.4GHz (with polling rate up to 4,000Hz), Bluetooth (5.1 with up to 3 devices connected), and Wired through USB-C. Battery life would vary depending on your usage, OLED display settings, illumination, and so on. Razer claims that you can achieve up to 2,100 hours of battery life with Power Saving Mode, which disables all keyboard lighting, disables Command Dial/Mode button functions, and limits the polling rate to just 1,000Hz. But eh, why would you want to tone things down if you have all these cool goodies being offered to you, right?

In fact, if you are okay with using the keyboard wired, I’d definitely suggest that. This way, you can crank everything up without worrying about battery life. Unfortunately, it seems that you can only set the keyboard’s polling rate to 1,000Hz in wired mode, so that’s a bit of a bummer.

Gaming Performance

Performance-wise, though, I have no complaints whatsoever with the Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro while I tested it with Overwatch 2. The switches are responsive, and both the tactile and audible feedback give a satisfying gaming experience. Not to mention the Razer Chroma integration, which further adds immersion. The keyboard also has Razer Snap Tap, which is great for FPS games.

When gaming, I particularly appreciate how the Command Dial makes it easy to adjust volume on the fly during intense gaming sessions. The keyboard’s response time feels incredibly snappy, especially in competitive FPS games where split-second actions matter. The satisfying tactile feedback helps confirm each keypress without having to look down at your hands.

RAZER BLACKWIDOW V4 PRO 75% REVIEW CONCLUSION

The Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% is one of the most impressive and luxurious gaming keyboards I’ve tested. It successfully combines premium build quality, exceptional gaming performance, and innovative features like the OLED display and Command Dial. The hot-swappable switches future-proof your investment, allowing you to customise the typing experience to your preference over time.

While the price point puts it firmly in the premium category, and the battery life limitations when using all features wirelessly are noteworthy drawbacks, the overall package delivers tremendous kicks for serious gamers seeking a top-tier keyboard. The OLED feels unnecessary and non-essential, but if you are a gamer who cares about owning the coolest gaming keyboard, then go for it despite of the premium A$499.95 tag.

Those looking a feature-rich, premium, top-of-the-line, wireless gaming keyboard that can be customised to their exact preferences, the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% is an outstanding choice.

Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% is available at Razer online store and retailers around Australia.

Disclosure: Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% review sample was supplied for reviewing