Razer launched its first BlackWidow keyboard in 2010, and the company now has 20 keyboards over 5 different product ranges. With such a wide selection of products, choosing the best Razer keyboard for your needs can take a bit of research. So to make things easier for you, here’s our list of the six best Razer keyboards in 2023.

Our Picks for the Best Razer Keyboard

1. Razer Huntsman V2 Optical

The Razer Huntsman V2 Optical is one of the most well-rounded Razer keyboards available. While it comes at a premium price, you’re getting excellent components and build quality that rivals even the most beloved mechanical keyboard manufacturers.

Razer pushes the Huntsman V2 Optical as a no-frills, all-performance gaming keyboard that gives you a competitive advantage. This is thanks to the optical switches, which actuate via a light beam instead of physical contact. This gives the switches a fast 0.2 ms response time and increased durability over traditional switches.

Razer’s Optical switches also have a unique key stem. While it’s still MX-compatible, the stem is slightly wider and has a stabilizer bar, which reduces key wobble and creates a more balanced key press.

The Huntsman V2 also has a standard bottom row, which is relatively rare on Razer keyboards. This makes the Razer Huntsman V2 compatible with all aftermarket keycap sets, so you won’t have to hunt for Razer-specific sets. But you may not need to replace the keycaps, as Razer ships the Huntsman V2 with double-shot PBT keycaps. These are more durable than the standard ABS keycaps you’re used to on gaming keyboards.

The enthusiast-friendly features don’t stop there, however. Razer also ships the Huntsman V2 with sound-dampening foam beneath the PCB for a quieter typing experience. This is a common enthusiast mod to make your keyboard quieter and usually involves carefully trimming and attaching foam to the inside of the case.

Overall, the Razer Huntsman V2 Optical is the performance-focused pick in Razer’s keyboard lineup and easily tops our list. It might not have a wireless option or extra macro keys, but the enthusiast-grade features such as the optical switches, sound-dampening foam, and double-shot PBT keycaps more than make up for it.

The Razer Huntsman V2 is also available as a TKL keyboard if the 104-key layout is too big for you.

2. Razer Ornata V3 X

The Razer Ornata V3 X is an inexpensive, quiet, and rather stylish keyboard, albeit with a glaring downside–it’s not mechanical. Membrane keyboards aren’t too popular these days, but we believe this keyboard is worth taking a look at for those on a budget.

While membrane keyboards like the Ornata V3 X will never equal a mechanical keyboard for typing feel, they have certain advantages worth considering. For one, membrane keyboards are quieter than your average mechanical keyboard. You can get quiet mechanical keyboards, but they often come with compromises, such as mushy switches.So the Ornata V3 X is a compelling choice if you want a quiet gaming experience out of the box.

Sure, mechanical keys would still be nicer, but the membrane keys aren’t too much a sacrifice considering all the extra features you get for the price. This includes nicely-diffused green RGB backlighting, multifunction media keys, and full programmability via Razer Synapse. This makes it a convenient keyboard for gaming and productivity, letting you set it up perfectly for whatever it is you’re doing.

Unfortunately, the Ornata V3 X lacks n-key rollover, meaning it might fail to register inputs when pressing more than three keys. This can be a problem in fast-paced games that require simultaneous inputs, as there’s a chance that the Ornata V3 X may miss some of your key presses. It’s not a huge issue for most gamers, but it’s something to watch out for.

If you’re not ready to invest in an expensive mechanical keyboard, the Ornata V3 X is a great entry point into gaming hardware. Its membrane switches keep the noise levels and price down while still giving you access to perks such as Razer’s Synapse software.

3. Razer Huntsman Mini

Many of Razer keyboards are available in smaller form factors, giving gamers lots of choice when shopping for a keyboard. But the Razer Huntsman Mini’s fast optical switches, durable PBT keycaps, and solid build quality make it the best option for most gamers.

True to its name, the Huntsman Mini is a scaled-down version of the Huntsman with a 60% layout. It features durable PBT keycaps with side-printed secondary functions, sturdy aluminum construction, and the same speedy 0.2 ms optical switches as the larger model. You can also get the keyboard with analog switches if you play games that support the feature, but it does bump up the price and increases the latency a bit.

New to the Huntsman Mini is the addition of a removal USB-C cable. This makes it great for carrying to LAN parties or visiting a friend, but you can also use it as a portable keyboard for a laptop or media PC. The small size combined with the detachable cable makes it a flexible keyboard that will create a clean desk setup no matter where you use it.

The only competitor to the Huntsman Mini in Razer’s lineup is the Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini, a 65% size wirless gaming keyboard. While the BlackWidow V3 Mini is a fantastic keyboard, we decided to go with the Huntsman Mini as our compact keyboard for three reasons.

Firstly, the Huntsman Mini comes with double-shot PBT keycaps which will last longer than the BlackWidow V3 Mini’s ABS keycaps. Secondly, the Huntsman Mini uses Razer’s optical switches with a low 0.2ms latency, compared to the BlackWidow V3 Mini’s standard mechanical switches. Lastly, the Huntsman Mini’s wired-only connectivity helps keep the price down.

Overall, the Huntsman Mini is a faithful downscaling of the larger model, retaining all of the enthusiast-grade features that make the Huntsman lineup so good for gaming. The lack of wireless connectivity is unfortunate, but we don’t think it’s significant enough to be a deal-breaker. The Huntsman Mini also comes in Mercury White, for those keen on white peripherals.

4. Razer DeathStalker V2 Pro TKL

If you prefer the feel of a low-profile keyboard, then Razer has you covered with its DeathStalker range. You can choose from several form factors, but the DeathStalker V2 Pro TKL is our pick, offering solid battery life and a sleek aesthetic with that fits its low-profile design.

The DeathStalker V2 Pro TKL offers a comfortable typing experience thanks to the lightweight low-profile keys, which have shorter travel and are easier to actuate. It’s more ergonomic, and the shorter switches make it easier to actuate and bottom out the keys. The relatively small size and wireless connectivity make it a decent portable option if you need dedicated arrow keys.

You can choose between two optical switches with this keyboard: Razer’s Linear Reds and Clicky Purples. These are shortened versions of the full-sized optical switches that you’ll find in keyboards like the Huntsman, and they retain the same fast response times and overall feel.

However, unlike the Huntsman, the DeathStalker V2 Pro TKL comes with double-shot ABS keycaps. So, while legends will be durable, the keys will eventually develop shine after prolonged use. Thankfully, Razer’s low-profile switches use standard stems, so you can replace the keycaps if they get too dirty.

The DeathStalker V2 Pro supports Razer’s low-latency 2.4 GHz wireless and Bluetooth protocols, with around 50 hours of battery life regardless of protocol. If wireless isn’t your thing, then you could save a bit of money by getting the wired DeathStalker V2. Sadly, the wired version doesn’t come in a TKL form factor.

Overall, Razer’s DeathStalker V2 Pro TKL is a great keyboard if you prefer the look and feel of a low-profile keyboard. It sports all the high-end hardware you’d expect from the best Razer keyboards, just in a sleeker and potentially more ergonomic package.

5. Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro

The Razer BlackWidow kicked off Razer’s entry into the high-end mechanical gaming keyboard market back in 2010. Things have changed a lot since those days, but Razer continues to update the BlackWidow lineup with a variety of switch options, extra media keys, and even wireless connectivity. Case in point, the Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro.

The Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro is built like a tank, with tough keycaps and a sturdy top frame and a clean matte finish. The keycaps are double-shot ABS, ensuring long-lasting legends, albeit at the cost of potential shine after prolonged use. You also get a multi-function digital dial and four dedicated media keys, adding some useful extra functionality to the keyboard.

You can connect the Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro via Razer’s HyperSpeed dongle or Bluetooth. The latter supports up to three devices, with a quick toggle to switch between them. Razer claims up to 192 hours of battery life with the lighting effects turned off, but this drops to around 25 hours with the RGB lighting on.

While the BlackWidow V3 Pro is a fairly recent addition to Razer’s lineup of premium gaming keyboards, it still uses Razer’s older Clicky Green and Linear Yellow mechanical switches. While these are perfectly fine for gaming, it’s a little disappointing that Razer’s newer optical switches (Clicky Purple and Linear Red) aren’t available.

However, it’s not all bad: these older switches’ transparent housings let the RGB lighting through better than the newer Optical switches. So even if the Razer BlackWidow V3 loses out in the latency stakes, it may just have the best RGB amongst Razer’s keyboards.

While the Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro isn’t the company’s only wireless gaming keyboard, its complete feature set makes it the best choice if you’re assembling a wireless gaming setup. If you like the BlackWidow’s design but are looking for something smaller, check out the wireless BlackWidow V3 65% Mini or the wired BlackWidow V3 TKL.

6. Razer Tartarus Pro

The Razer Tartarus Pro isn’t exactly a keyboard, but there’s no denying that keypads are a handy gaming peripheral that often accompanies a regular keyboard. But why should you pick the Tartarus Pro over other options on the market?

Razer has taken steps to ensure that the Tartarus Pro is as premium as it gets for keypads. They’ve included a full set of their own optical analog switches, customizable per-key RGB lighting, and a plush rest for your palm that makes the keypad comfortable to use. You’re also getting access to Razer Synapse for full macro support.

While we don’t expect many gamers to switch away from their keyboards to use the Tartarus Pro exclusively, it’s a great complement to your current gaming keyboard. This is especially true if you play games that can make use of analog switches.

For example, it gives you more precise control in racing games. You get more control over steering and acceleration based on how far you push down a key. For action titles, you can switch from walking to running without needing an extra key bind. This is similar to how you can gently tilt an analog stick to control the speed of your character. The extra keys are also useful for genres that need a lot of binds such as MMORPGs or simulation games.

One of the interesting quirks about the Tartarus Pro is that games will detect it as a game controller, rather than a keyboard. cause issues with certain games, especially if it’s an older title that doesn’t support gamepads. Thankfully, you can remap the keys to a regular keyboard with Razer Synapse. So while it’s not a plug and play option with all games, the setup process at least isn’t too taxing.

While Razer has certainly made a worthwhile upgrade to the previous Razer Tartarus, it’s ultimately a niche product that needs a purpose in your gaming setup. The dual actuation analog switches can feel a bit gimmicky, but it offers power users extra control in supported games when used correctly. If you’re looking for more options, check out our top programmable keypad picks.

Why Razer?

Razer is one of many mechanical keyboard manufacturers out there. With so many brands to choose from, why go for a Razer gaming keyboard over the plethora of other options available?

Enthusiast-Grade Features

Razer used to be a brand that both keyboard enthusiasts and gamers avoided. This was primarily due to massive quality control issues in 2014, which gave the company a bad reputation. Thankfully for Razer, the company’s managed to fix most of those issues and has been taking meaningful steps to improve its gaming keyboards.

For example, Razer has moved to standard bottom rows for its newer gaming keyboards like the Huntsman. This makes finding and installing replacement keycaps easier, as you’re no longer dealing with a non-standard bottom row that requires Razer-specific keycap sets. That said, the company has also moved to double-shot PBT for its newer keycaps, so you may not even need to replace them.

Razer has also started adding enthusiast-grade features to their keyboards. The latest Huntsman lineup includes pre-installed sound-dampening foam. This is a popular mod that reduces the sound of your keycaps. It’s nice to see that Razer is taking inspiration from the mechanical keyboard community and including pre-installed mods like this.

Wider Availability

The main issue with many well-regarded mechanical keyboard manufacturers is availability. While Amazon has a wide range of products, some of the best gaming keyboards need to be pre-ordered months in advance, while others are only available from overseas sellers.

In contrast, the best Razer keyboards are regularly in stock online and available from most brick-and-mortar stores. This not only makes getting your hands on one much easier, it also simplifies the process of getting a replacement or repair if your keyboard breaks.

Razer vs. DIY Mechanical Keyboards

So what about Razer gaming keyboards versus DIY mechanical keyboards? These days, more and more people are interested in building their own keyboards. From customizable ready-made boards like the Skyloong DIY GK61 or barebones DIY kits, there’s a DIY option out there for most budgets and skill levels.

But while these options are great for enthusiasts, it can quickly get overwhelming. There are many different keycap and switch combinations available, but most gamers won’t know the difference between them. The materials you choose for different components can also affect the durability and sound profile. Many of these choices are down to personal preference, too, so you’ll need to try them before you commit.

It takes time and experience to figure out exactly what you want. As such, we can’t recommend going the DIY route unless you know what you’re doing and are already well-versed in mechanical keyboards.

If you know exactly what you want and none of Razer’s keyboards have the features you’re looking for, then it’s worth looking at custom DIY kits instead. It may be a little more expensive and time-consuming, but you’ll end up with a keyboard that fits your needs. If you don’t want to deal with that hassle, the best Razer gaming keyboards offer a fantastic plug-and-play experience that is perfect for most gamers.

Closing Thoughts

Razer’s keyboards have come a long way since the first BlackWidow in 2010. Their keyboards cover a diverse selection of features and budgets, and it’s surprising to see so much variety from a single brand. They’re even taking steps to accommodate enthusiasts, such as using standardized PBT keycaps, optical switches, and pre-installing sound-dampening foam. So despite the Razer premium attached to these keyboards, the out-of-box experience is hard to beat.

If you’re looking for the best Razer keyboard for gaming, then the Razer Huntsman V2 Optical is the keyboard to go for. Razer has paid close attention to what gamers want from their mechanical keyboards and the Huntsman delivers on every front. Our runner-up would be the Razer DeathStalker V2 Pro TKL. The reliable wireless connectivity, low-profile keys, and smaller form factor make it a fantastic semi-portable option.