Razer BlackWidow V4 75% review: the company’s first mechanical keyboard with candle swap function and noise isolation

Last year we reviewed the full-size gaming keyboard Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro. Since then, the company has released a smaller 75% version. So, meet the Razer BlackWidow V4 75% — a more compact, but equally intriguing option for all enthusiasts of gaming mechanical keyboards. On this model, the manufacturer has successfully experimented, as the Razer BlackWidow V4 75% is the first keyboard from the company that allows for switch replacements, and it also includes a foam mounting system that enhances comfort during usage (Gasket mount).

Technical Specifications of Razer BlackWidow V4 75%

Type	Gaming
Key Type	Mechanical, hot-swap
Connection	Wired
Interface	USB Type-A to USB Type-C
Polling Rate	125/250/500/1000/2000/4000/8000 Hz
Number of Keys 83	83
Extra Buttons	2 + Scroll Wheel
Key Lifespan	100 million
Switch Type	Razer Orange Gen-3
Adjustable Tilt	Yes
Built-in Memory	Yes
Macros	Yes
Simultaneous Key Press Support	Yes, NKRO
RGB Lighting	Yes, (RGB, 16.8 million colors, Razer Chroma)
Cable	USB, 2 m, paracord
Case Material	Aluminum and plastic
Software	Razer Synapse, Razer Chroma Studio
Detachable Wrist Rest	Yes
Compatibility	Windows 10/11, Android, Linux, Mac OS, PS4/5, Xbox
Additional Features	Noise reduction, keycap puller
Dimensions	321×155×24 mm
Weight	815 grams

Packaging and Accessories of Razer BlackWidow V4 75%

The Razer BlackWidow V4 75% comes in a rectangular box featuring the brand’s signature black and green colors and an image of the keyboard itself.

Inside, besides the device, we find a magnetic wrist rest, a USB-C/USB-A cable in a nylon braid, a set of stickers, documentation, and a puller for removing switches and keycaps.

Design, Ergonomics, and Functionality

The Razer BlackWidow V4 75% features a classic aggressive minimalist design with retro touches, which I would call old school Razer style.

As the name suggests, this is not a full-sized keyboard but a 75% format (83 keys). It lacks a numeric keypad but retains functional and multimedia keys. For instance, there are separate Delete, Insert, Page Up, and Page Down buttons, though they are located slightly differently and are not combined with other keys as in TKL models. However, the compact size has forced developers to combine some other functions that work through Fn.

The Razer BlackWidow V4 75% has a metal plate at its base and a metal case. The dimensions of the model are 321×155×24 mm, and it weighs 815 grams.

The detachable wrist rest here is magnetic and features the Razer logo. It easily attaches to the keyboard and detaches just as easily, but unlike the Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro, it lacks RGB lighting and corresponding contacts. The covering seems to have been switched from eco-leather to something nylon-like.

The bottom of the wrist rest is identical to the bottom of the keyboard—a row of rectangular rubber feet and numerous engravings saying For Gamers.

On the bottom of the keyboard, we also see information about it in the center and folding legs that raise it to two levels.

On the inner end, we find the Razer logo.

The Razer BlackWidow V4 75% has two single-row Shift keys, but the left one is long, and the right one is shorter. The Enter key is also single-row, and the F1-F12 row starts almost from the number 1.

It’s also great that the keyboard has both English and Ukrainian layouts. True, only the English letters light up, but this is related to the manufacturing process, materials, and nuances of application.

Features of Razer BlackWidow V4 75%

The Razer BlackWidow V4 75% is a gaming mechanical keyboard and the first model from the manufacturer with a Hot Swap feature, meaning you can change not only keycaps but also switches. The switches here are proprietary, lubricated, and are called Razer Orange Gen-3. The declared lifespan is 100 million clicks.

The switches are tactile and quiet, and you can choose any Cherry MX format switches with three or five contacts for replacement. Thus, the choice is potentially massive. There are also proprietary Razer Yellow Gen-3 and Razer Green Gen-3 switches available. The first are also linear and softer, while the latter are more clicky.

The declared actuation force of Razer Orange Gen-3 is 50 grams. The actuation point is 2.0 mm, and the click point is 1.8 mm.

The keycaps are made of double-shot ABS plastic, which is inferior to PBT. However, this only matters in the long term, meaning these keys will wear out a bit faster than others over time. However, it’s good that they can be replaced independently.

The polling rate of the keyboard ranges from 125 to 8000 Hz (!) (125/250/500/1000/2000/4000/8000 Hz). This means that the response to key presses can theoretically be incredibly fast, but it’s unlikely to be noticeable to the average gamer. However, esports athletes will probably appreciate it.

Inside the keyboard, there are also nice surprises for owners. The Razer BlackWidow V4 75% has a foam mounting system (Gasket mount), gaskets between the metal plate and metal sheet, and an additional layer of foam at the bottom. All this should reduce echo from clicking, noise, and other unwanted sounds.

The Razer BlackWidow V4 75% features full RGB lighting, which is finely adjustable through proprietary software. Not only do the English letters on the keys and around them light up evenly and brightly, but also special strips on the edges.

Connectivity, Control, and Software

Razer BlackWidow V4 75% is an exclusively wired keyboard that connects to a PC via an available USB-C port. The keyboard works with the proprietary Razer Synapse application, and the lighting can be finely adjusted through the built-in Razer Chroma tool.

In the software, you can choose the standard keyboard mode (Standard) or switch to the Hypershift mode. In this case, additional button functions are activated. Each of them can also be configured here, including the scroll wheel.

You can also change the brightness of the backlight, or choose from many modes. Through the software, it is possible to change the polling rate, create macros, activate Gaming Mode, and more.

Overall, the software looks stylish and is very much in the spirit of Razer, with many additional sub-programs, utilities, “live” wallpapers, etc. All of this is combined into a “single space” in the form of Razer Axon.

Experience with Razer BlackWidow V4 75%

I enjoyed typing and playing on this keyboard. The sound during typing is quiet, as for a mechanical model. If compared with the well-known Cherry MX switches, the Razer Orange Gen-3 very much resembles Cherry MX Brown. There are no pronounced clicks, but there is a certain tactile feel and relatively quiet clicking. You can listen and watch how it happens in the video below.

Razer BlackWidow V4 75% takes up significantly less space on the desk than the full-size Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro. It takes up even less space without the wrist rest, but I still recommend using it, as the keyboard is quite high, making it maximally comfortable for the hands. The hands do not hurt even after a long work and active day.

It’s good that it has such a high polling rate of 8000 Hz, but usually, I use 1000 Hz in gaming models and that’s enough. For the sake of experiment, I switched to 8000 Hz, but of course, the difference is so minimal that I didn’t feel it in «S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl», but surely players of some MOBA or online shooter, where it’s important, will appreciate it.

It’s convenient to use the scroll wheel for volume control. It is smaller here than in the full-size Pro version and there’s only one, but it didn’t affect the usage. Probably, for someone, it will be great that the side buttons, which users often accidentally touched, have been removed.

Overall, the Razer BlackWidow V4 75% keyboard makes an impression of a solid product for gamers in a relatively small form factor. Indeed, we have a metal case, Hot Swat function, and the presence of Gasket mount, comfortable typing, and the fastest response during games, bright RGB backlighting with detailed settings, changeable button functions, etc. And as a bonus, it comes with a magnetic wrist rest. True, the price for all this is not small, which is typical for Razer and similar products. But we will talk about this in the next section.

Price and Competitors

Razer BlackWidow V4 75% is sold at a price from 7900 hryvnias. I understand that such an amount will be a minus for someone, which is logical. Among competitors, there are cheaper models, but there are also those that are equal in price or even surpass it. Choices were made among compact gaming mechanical models with the Hot Swap function, with the only exception being the full-sized Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro (price from 8899 hryvnias). This is if you want something from the same manufacturer, larger, but with a similar design. But replacing switches here is not possible.

Among competitors, it is worth paying attention to Varmilo VPE87 Chang’e with a price tag from 8699 hryvnias. We also had a review of this model. Also, there is a relatively affordable Aula F75 Wireless with a price from 2150 hryvnias, and a really affordable GamePro MK180 (price from 1399 hryvnias). Of course, the level of execution and materials here are significantly simpler, but the keyboard has the best price/quality ratio. From the top segment similar to the hero of the review, pay attention to Asus ROG Azoth (price from 9100 hryvnias), and there is also Asus ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wireless with a price tag from 6900 hryvnias. Also, take a look at Keychron K3 Max RGB Backlit (price from 4899 hryvnias).