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The big thing has been RGB LED lighting, going into mice, headphones and keyboards. Probably the best known example currently is Razer’s own Chroma Deathadder with RGB. The RGB set ups are really taking the world by storm because people just love to customise their peripherals, and this gives them the ability of adding their […]
The big thing has been RGB LED lighting, going into mice, headphones and keyboards. Probably the best known example currently is Razer’s own Chroma Deathadder with RGB. The RGB set ups are really taking the world by storm because people just love to customise their peripherals, and this gives them the ability of adding their own personal unique flavour to their equipment.
Razer BlackWidow Chroma RGB
For instance if they have a black and red computer system set up, then no doubt they will want to be able to customise all their equipment to match those colours (if possible). One of the most notable entries into the RGB keyboard market was the Corsair Gaming k70 keyboard, a mechanical gaming keyboard with a great RGB LED set up. This latest product from Razer is of course an answer to the challenge thrown down by Corsair, and the Razer BlackWidow Chroma RGB is a great addition to the market.
We have hold of one of these keyboards and today we are going to be reviewing it, putting it through its paces and seeing how it stacks up against the competition.
So as mentioned earlier, RGB LED lights are fast becoming one of the hottest features in the peripherals marketplace, as people just love customising their gear, and the Razer BlackWidow Chroma is fully set up for RGB LED customisation. Most experienced PC gamers will be familiar with the Blackwidow mechanical keyboard, as it has been very well received by gamers as a reliable high performance piece of equipment. Well not surprisingly the Razer BlackWidow Chroma RGB is just that exact same keyboard but with RGB LED modifications throughout to give users full spectrum aesthetic tailoring options.
To avoid making any major structural changes while adding the RGB LED, razer has managed to simply add a variable LED to the base of each key, alongside a white plate underneath the keys to reflect the light better. Very simple modifications but the visual effect is quite spectactular. Add to that the variable LED underneath the transparent logo and you’ve got yourself one attractive keyboard.
Other features of the keyboard are reasonably standard fare for any high performance mechanical keyboard, including variable height legs on the front and back of the keyboard and 5 rubberised feet to stop movement and scratching. Of course a headphone socket is found on the side of the keyboard but on the Razer you get a little bit more, as there is also a microphone jack and USB port which can come in very handy for. One of the downsides to this keyboard is the finish means fingerprints stand out so it will be hard to keep this in pristine condition during use, but a quick wipe down afterward was all it took to clear things up.
As with most Razer products, it is run by the Synapse software which helps you save and transport profiles and helps you customise your device completely to whatever specifications you would prefer. The software comes with some preset visual effects such as the ‘Breathe’ setting, which simply slowly alternates between two selected colours. The next setting is somewhat more utilitarian, in that it allows a profile to be selected that will then highlight the specific keys used in specific games, though which keys is completely customisable by you. An example of that would be an FPS gamer would probably appreciate the highlighting of WASD (or ESDF for some), which will make playing in a darkened room a bit more comfortable and avoid missed key strikes. Another quite striking effect is the interactive one, whereby whichever key struck will be lit up temporarily, which can make typing a lot more fun.
The keyboard utilises the Razer Mechanical switches rather than the Cherry switches many are used to nowadays, and opinions are split on which ones perform better. It was a pretty even split with the team here as to which felt better, but as with most gaming peripherals there will be a period of adjustment as you get used to any new piece of equipment.
All in all Razer has managed to create an RGB LED keyboard without sacrificing any performance at all from the highly respected Black Widow. The visual effects delivered by the RGB LED system is easily on par with any other keyboard on the market, and this will make a great addition to any gamers toolbox.
