Razer BlackWidow Ultimate Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

1. Introduction2. Packaging and Bundle3. The BlackWidow Ultimate Keyboard4. Performance5. Software6. Closing Thoughts7. View All Pages

If you are in the market for a new keyboard then there are literally thousands available today which use membrane technology – but this won't be the first choice for the discerning enthusiast user as they can often feel ‘spongy' when typing.  Where we really see a step up in performance is when manufacturers integrate mechanical switches into them.

Adding a quality mechanical switch design can often double or triple the price of a product, so not many manufacturers are willing to release models with this technology.  One of the only gaming keyboards around for the last few years that used mechanical switches was the SteelSeries 7G that we reviewed last year.  This was a very impressive product but commanded a price of around £100, limiting the audience.

Until now, Razer haven't had any mechanical keyboards in their lineup, however, with the release of the affordable Black Widow and Black Widow Ultimate, they are clearly trying to bring this technology to the mass market.  Today we are going to look at the Razer BlackWidow Ultimate Mechanical Gaming Keyboard, which boasts an impressive feature set which should really enhance the overall experience.

Specification

• Full mechanical keys with 50g actuation force
• Individually backlit keys with 5 levels of lighting
• 1000Hz Ultrapolling / 1ms response time
• Programmable keys with on-the-fly macro recording
• Gaming mode option for deactivation of the Windows key
• 10 customizable software profiles with on-the-fly switching
• 5 additional macro keys
• Gaming optimized key matrix for minimized ghosting
• Multi-Media Controls
• Braided cable
• Audio-Out / Mic-In Jacks
• USB-Passthrough
• Approx. size in mm: 475(L) x 171(W) x 30(H)
• Weight: 1.5kg

The BlackWidow is supplied in a very attractively designed box which is decorated in Razer's trademark green and black colour scheme.  The box is littered with details of the keyboard's features and specification alongside a number of product photos to highlight them.

At the top of the box there is a small cutout which lets the user try out the arrow keys without opening the box.  This is a great idea as it will demonstrate the difference between this keyboard and a standard keyboard to those browsing in a shop.

As usual we find a cardboard pouch in the box which contains a series of leaflets and manuals relating to the BlackWidow keyboard.  Razer also throw in a couple of stickers so that you can decorate your PC with their logo.  To ensure that you have the latest driver version installed on your computer, Razer direct you to the downloads section of their website rather than including a software CD inside the box.

The design of the BlackWidow is like nothing we've seen before with a mechanical keyboard.  We loved the no-frills approach that SteelSeries used with the 7G but there is no denying that the BlackWidow will turn more heads with it's stunning gloss black base and illuminated keys. All that gloss plastic is very impractical though as keyboards will always pick up lots of fingerprints.

The keys themselves do have a slightly rubberised matte coating, though, which is much more more practical. It measures 475 x 171 x 30 mm (WxLxH).

Unlike some other backlit keyboards, there isn't an option with the BlackWidow to change the colour of the LEDs and the small Razer logo.  Razer have included a function button to alter their brightness or to turn them off altogether, though.

You can also switch the lights to a ‘breathing' mode where they gradually fade in from nothing and then fade out again.  Razer haven't used the standard keyboard font for the keys either, using a more stylish one that will appeal to gamers.

As we've come to expect from Razer, the build quality of the BlackWidow is amazing.  The weight of this keyboard is quite substantial at around 1.5 kg but this adds to the quality feeling.  We would say that the BlackWidow's build quality is as good as the SteelSeries 7G and that is very impressive considering the 7G is virtually indestructible.

One of the only things we don't like about the BlackWidow is the multimedia buttons. Razer have implemented the multimedia buttons as secondary functions on the F1-F8 keys which is quite a pain when you want to quickly turn the volume up or down or skip through tracks.  We would have much preferred a separate row of keys or touch buttons for multimedia, perhaps down one edge of the keyboard.

Razer's choice to use a thick, properly braided cable also enhances the quality feel of the BlackWidow and should drastically improve its durability.  Approximately 30 cm from the end of the cable it breaks out into four separate connectors; two USB2.0 and two 3.5mm connectors.  The extra USB2.0 connector and two 3.5mm connectors are to feed the hub on the right hand side of the keyboard which will be useful for people with short headphone leads.

Bright lights and bling aside, what really makes the BlackWidow special is the Cherry MX Blue switches incorporated.  These are actually very different from the MX Black switches that are used in the SteelSeries 7G as they provide tactile feedback when the key is acuated.  This is designed to simulate the sensation of a mouse click and also makes quite a loud audible noise.  The noise may become a little annoying after a while, though, as this is certainly not a quiet keyboard (much like the DAS keyboard). Unlike traditional keyboards, mechanical keyboards register the keypress half way down the travel of the key rather than at the bottom.

The Cherry MX Blue switches have an actuation force of 50G, which is slightly lighter than the 60g that the black switches in the 7G demand.  The real world difference between the two is noticeable but is overshadowed completely by the difference in feel between the two keyboards as the 7G provides no tactile feedback.  Overall though neither one really performs better, it's more a matter of personal preference. There are a few additional benefits to mechanical switches that are shared by both keyboards such as the improved durability – mechanical keyboards usually last about ten times longer than the everyday membrane versions.

When evaluating the performance of a mechanical keyboard like the BlackWidow, it's very important to get used to it first for the best results.  This is even more important if you usually use a membrane keyboard as the difference is huge!  For most people, it may take around a week of solid use to fully adapt to the mechanical switches.

When gaming, we noticed a slight improvement in performance in most game where speed and agility matters.  This probably won't make a huge amount of difference for casual gamers but for those who are more serious about responsiveness it will definitely prove beneficial.

As a result of the USB interface, the Razer BlackWidow doesn't support N-Key Rollover.  N-Key Rollover is where the keyboard scans every key separately so it can register an unlimited number of keypresses simultaneously.  The BlackWidow can only support up to six simultaneous keypresses which should be enough for most people but may cause the occasional issue for some people.  Most gamers have experienced the Windows key issue when gaming where you accidentally press the windows key and the game you're playing closes down.  To prevent this, Razer have included a ‘Gaming Mode' button which deactivates it.  They have also added five macro keys to the left of the main keyboard.

Even though the Razer BlackWidow Ultimate is marketed as a gaming keyboard, it is also excellent for general typing duties.  We find that mechanical keyboards significantly improve our typing speed over a standard keyboard.

As we mentioned earlier, Razer don't include a driver CD with the BlackWidow so the software utility has to be downloaded from the internet.  We also updated the Firmware to the latest version by downloading it from the same location as the driver.

The main page of the software lets us assign different functions to any of the keys on the keyboard.  These functions can be single key functions, macros or launching programs.  Specific keys can also be disabled, which can prove helpful if they are being accidentally pressed when gaming.

Users can also configure different key profiles which can be switched on the fly by assigning a key to do so.  The second tab of the software manages profiles.  Users are allowed to configure up to 20 different profiles and can import and export profiles so they can be shared with other BlackWidow users (or backed up).  To save the hassle of switching profiles when changing game, profiles can be triggered to activate when a specific application is loaded.

The final tab of the software manages the keyboard macro functionality … a user can assign macros to any key on the keyboard. There are an additional five keys along the left hand edge which are specifically designated to be used with macros.  They are just about within reach but for functions where you need to access them quickly and accurately, they're not ideally located.  The BlackWidow also lets you record macros on the fly which saves you having to open up the software to do so.

The Razer BlackWidow Ultimate is one of the finest keyboards that we have ever tested, Razer's design team have created the most stylish mechanical keyboard on the market. It also brings numerous features to the table such as LED backlighting and macro buttons, never before seen with a mechanical keyboard implementation.

Build quality is one of the most impressive aspects of the BlackWidow although this isn't really surprising considering it's a Razer product.  The use of mechanical switches will also extend the life of the keyboard significantly thanks to the superior durability when compared to membrane technology.

Performance is the main area of interest with mechanical keyboards however as the differences are noticeable. Additionally they offer a superior typing experience and will significantly improve overall speed.

A specific portion of the user base might want to audition this board before buying as the key operation is very loud and easily heard within a room environment. Due to the Cherry MX Blue switches it is noticeably louder than the Steelseries 7G. In gaming, the performance benefits are minor, but will make a big difference to people who take their gaming seriously, such as clan members or semi professionals.

Many casual gamers are likely to base the decision on whether to buy the BlackWidow Ultimate or not, based on price – right now it can be yours for £110 at Ebuyer. While it costs more than the SteelSeries 7G it is much better featured as it boasts LED lighting, customisable keys and macro buttons.

For people with a tighter budget, the standard BlackWidow keyboard can be purchased for £74 at Overclockers UK.  As far as we can tell, this is almost identical to the Ultimate version but doesn't feature LED backlighting.  So you'll have to decide whether the extra bling is worth paying a price premium of £35.  Even at £35 over the standard version, we still believe that this keyboard offers very good value for money!

Pros:

• Mechanical Switches
• Impressive Build Quality
• LED-Backlighting
• Macro Buttons
• Configuration Utility

Cons:

• Lack of dedicated multimedia buttons

KitGuru says: Without doubt the best featured mechanical keyboard we've seen to date!

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