If you’re deciding which size gaming keyboard is best for you, Razer may have an answer. Meet the Razer BlackWidow V4 75%, which aims to pack all the gaming prowess of its bigger sibling into a much smaller footprint. This newer version is smaller than tenkeyless, but slightly taller and wider at 60%. For the most part, it’s true, even if there’s little that’s exciting about this revision.
The main selling point of the Razer BlackWidow V4 (75%) is that it is fully hot-swappable. Priced at $180/£190, it’s a more affordable keeb that offers this functionality compared to the competition. This can be proven in contrast to the more expensive Asus ROG Azoth 75% at $250/£270 and the full-size Mountain Everest Max at $200/£190. It’s rare that the Boomslang brand emerges as the king of value, given the company’s boutique status and branding, but I’ll accept it.
My review unit came pre-installed with third-generation Razer Orange tactile switches, which are said to provide a quiet typing experience. I can attest to this; they’re significantly quieter than the manufacturer’s Green Clicky switches, but are a tad louder than the Analog Optical switches found in the Razer Huntsman V3 Pro TKL.
Although no other sets of switches are included, you can buy new switches from Razer for $25 / £25 each. It would have been nice to have an extra set in the box to play with, but that would have seemingly undermined the more aggressive pricing here.
BlackWidow V4 75% specifications
Mate: 75%
Base: Hot swappable
Switches: Razer Orange Tactile
Backlight: Per key
Anti-ghosting: N-key rollover
Poll percentage: Up to 8,000 Hz
Weight: 1.8 pounds / 815 g
Link: USB-C
Price: €180 | €190
Handily, Razer has included a multi-tool that you can use to pull out keycaps and switches in the box. The Razer BlackWidow V4 is held together with just five Phillips screws for easy access. Once you lift the lid, you’ll reveal the tape-reinforced PCB, the foam board, and the board itself into which you’ll slot in your new switches. The gaming keyboard supports both three- and five-pin options, so there’s no manual labor involved in building a board from scratch.
Razer claims that the BlackWidow V4 is 75% created with an “optimized typing experience” in mind. Since there’s no way to change the controls here, the company has refined a solution instead. From my experience, even as I write this review, I can say that it is one of the best gaming keyboards I have typed on, which surprised me considering the form factor. It feels like a bigger deck than it is, despite taking up less space than a TKL equivalent.
What’s also cool is how the design ethos of the full-size Razer BlackWidow V4 has been accurately carried over into the 75% version. This is clearly visible in the new, reduced media roller at the top right, which matches the original in length, and the media buttons. You now get two instead of four, which act as pause and mute, but they do their job. What convinced me, however, is the extra-soft wrist rest, which is incredibly comfortable. A joy to use after getting used to harder plastic mounts over the past few years. It may not sound like much, but if you work from home or want to take something with you to the office, it can make a difference.
If we talk about the form factor, the 75% variant does well in terms of size and function. It is slightly smaller than a tenkeyless model, but larger than a 60% variant mentioned above. That means you benefit from a full row of function keys and page keys. It does make the board look a bit short and long overall, but in practice it works fine. If you ever thought a 60% was too tight for gaming or work, then this slightly larger deck might convince you.
Buy as…
✅ You want an affordable hot-swappable keyboard: The BlackWidow V4 75% isn’t exactly cheap, but it does undercut much of its competition in this area without sacrificing functionality.
✅ You want a compact gaming keyboard: If you think a tenkeyless takes up too much space and you’re not a fan of the cuts on a 60%, then this 75% variant might be the solution you’ve been waiting for. There’s a full row of function keys and a media bar in a very similar footprint.
Don’t buy if…
❌ Changing the switches is no problem for you: If you’re thinking of buying this as a one-off gaming keyboard without ever opening it, you might be disappointed. Simply put, there are cheaper keyboards from Razer that offer the same level of performance, which might be better for you.
❌ You want a wireless hot-swappable keyboard: While the BlackWidow V4 remains 75% competitive and is much cheaper than the Asus ROG Azoth, you do miss out on wireless functionality here. You’ll want to consider something else instead.
Gaming on the Razer BlackWidow V4 75% is a great experience. I’ve spent more hours than I care to admit running through Dark Ages England in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and this deck did an excellent job of feeling sharp and responsive whether I was in combat situations with a group of irritated soldiers or on horseback through the fields. It also performed well in more direct titles such as The Finals; only a few games in, and I was used to the smaller travel time of my hands hitting the keys against my usual full-sized deck.
It wouldn’t be a Razer product if it didn’t include Chroma RGB in some way, and this gaming keyboard is no exception to the rule. There’s per-key lighting that can be adjusted to your liking in the Synapse software, from breathing to audio reactive, spectrum, ambient, etc. There’s nothing groundbreaking here, but it works well. The lighting is bright and vibrant, even during the day, and looks particularly good in contrast to the all-white design.
Deciding whether this new deck is right for you comes down to your preference. If you’re looking for a hot-swappable gaming keyboard that’s cost-effective and compact, then this is an easy recommendation. However, if you want more advanced features and a larger size, then you might be better off with an alternative such as the one mentioned above.
It’s commendable that Razer has managed to make this for well under $200/£200 without sacrificing build quality, so I think it’s at least worth trying as a first attempt at keyboard modding.