Though at one point Razer only had a couple of models, nowadays their lineup consists of various keyboards both mechanical and non-mechanical that are oriented towards gamers. However, due to so many options, it can be difficult to determine which Razer keyboard is ideal for your needs. This is why below we have reviewed and categorized the best Razer keyboards currently available.
We have included the best Razer gaming keyboards as well as the best mechanical and non-mechanical options. You’ll also find compact 60%, tenkeyless, and full-size Razer keyboards in this review. Therefore, all you have to do is set a budget and see which one works best for your needs.
Best Full-Size Razer Keyboards at A Glance
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Razer Huntsman
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Razer Huntsman Elite
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Razer BlackWidow
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Razer Pro Type
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Best Tenkeyless (TKL) Razer Keyboards at A Glance
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Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition
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Razer BlackWidow Lite TKL
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Razer BlackWidow TE Chroma v2
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Best 60% Razer Keyboard at A Glance
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Razer Huntsman Mini
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Best Non-Mechanical Razer Keyboards at A Glance
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Razer Cynosa Chroma
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Razer Ornata Chroma
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Best Full-Size Razer Keyboards
1. Razer Huntsman
Somewhere in the middle of Razer’s price range is the Razer Huntsman. This is a full-size keyboard that comes with Razer’s excellent optical switches, and compact design, but it takes away a few of the premium things of the Elite to come at a more affordable price.
First things first, the design is great. You have a full-size layout but since there are no extra keys, it’s a slim profile and it doesn’t take up a lot of space. The keys are well-spaced, and you have an overall rather comfortable typing experience. The material of choice is aluminum for the top frame, which adds stiffness and durability.
That experience is made even better with the switches. These are the clicky optical switches by Razer, which compared to conventional ones, register at a 30% shorter distance. This means actuation is instant, and you don’t even have to come close to bottoming out. The feedback is clicky and satisfying, and if you don’t mind the noise, you’ll love these.
We mustn’t forget that you also have Razer’s Chroma RGB lighting, which syncs with popular games and other hardware devices, as well as the Hypershift programming functionality. Not only can you remap keys as you wish, but you can record complex macros in a simple way. Overall, if you don’t need the extras of the Elite, and want to save a bit, the Razer Huntsman is a great choice.
2. Razer Huntsman Elite
With Razer boasting their optical switches, it only made sense for them to have a premium keyboard that uses them, and has all the bells and whistles you may want. Enter the Huntsman Elite, which is exactly that, and it’s a great choice.
The keyboard is a full-size model, but it maintains a slim profile thanks to the lack of extra keys. Well, there are multimedia keys in the top right corner, and you can use the volume knob to control just about anything else in various software, but they don’t take up extra space. The wrist rest is a plush, thick model that works very well, and enhances the comfort of using the keyboard.
We mentioned the switches, and the Huntsman Elite comes with the clicky optical switch. Compared to a traditional mechanical switch, Razer claims these are faster to actuate, and a lot more durable. The feel is similar to a mechanical switch, so we have no complaints here – the keyboard is great to use.
Another great thing is the RGB backlight. The Huntsman Elite comes with Razer Chroma RGB backlight, which you can program and set up to sync with various games and even things like Philips Hue lights. It’s extremely configurable and is the icing on the cake to a truly excellent keyboard. If you’re a fan of the format and functionalities, this is an excellent choice that, even though pricey, is definitely worth considering.
3. Razer BlackWidow
If you like full-size keyboards, but don’t want to spend too much and would rather opt for a more conventional design and features, Razer’s BlackWidow should be right up your alley. It’s a simple keyboard with a compact design and slim profile, and it performs admirably without cutting any corners where you don’t want it to.
First things first, the keyboard is made really well. It’s sturdy, it feels great in use, and the design is pretty great. It has nothing extra – just a well thought out layout and subtle logos above the Numpad and down in the middle. There is a cable routing channel at the bottom, so you can have the cable come out wherever you need it.
The switches inside are Razer’s own take on mechanical switches in the Green variant. These are clicky, tactile switches that can get pretty loud, so this may not be the best choice if you’re sharing a room with someone else. However, they’re durable, they’re comfortable, and they feel great when you’re typing on them, so the overall experience is great.
Razer’s excellent Chroma RGB backlight makes an appearance as well, with individual lighting behind every key and compatibility with both software, and hardware for synchronization. You also get the Hypershift technology which allows you to remap just about any key and add macros to it. It’s neat once you get the hang of it.
Overall, the BlackWidow doesn’t have anything to “wow” you with. But it’s still a great keyboard for people who want the basics and don’t want to spend too much. Razer has also released the Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro, which is the wireless version of this keyboard if that is your preference.
4. Razer Pro Type
Even though Razer is obviously a gamers-first type of company, every once in a while they’ll come out with a product that’s catered towards professional users. One such example is the Razer Pro Type keyboard.
It comes with a professional, and slightly understated look with a silver plate and white keycaps. Yes, it is bright and shiny, but in no way does it have the typical gamer aesthetic – and we love this. The keyboard is slightly lifted at the back to provide a more ergonomic typing position as well, which is a nice touch.
As far as the switches go, you get Razer’s own Orange switches, which are rather tactile but have a low sound profile. They’re perfect when you want to feel that you’ve definitely pressed a key, but you don’t want your entire office hearing about that.
Razer also did another nice thing, which is coat the keycaps with a fingerprint-resistant soft-touch coating. This gives you a softer, more comfortable feel, and adds a bit of a cushion to what would otherwise be a rather stiff experience.
The white LED backlight and complete programmability with macro recording make things even better and round out an overall excellent keyboard for people who don’t really need the flashy, gamer aesthetics.
Best Tenkeyless (TKL) Razer Keyboards
1. Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition
Up until some time ago, the only way to get Razer’s optical switches was to go for a full-size keyboard. But not everyone wants a full-size layout, due to size restrictions, or just personal preference. If that sounds like you, you should check out the Huntsman Tournament Edition. It’s a smaller version of the regular Huntsman, and it’s a brilliant keyboard.
First things first, this being a TKL design, the keyboard is very compact. It comes with an aluminum top frame that helps with stiffness and structural rigidity and adds a bit of quality to the entire keyboard. There are no extra buttons, so you have an overall slim profile, which makes this a pretty portable keyboard. There’s also a removable USB-C cable, to reduce the chances of damage during transport.
The switches themselves are pretty much what you’d expect if you’ve ever used Razer’s optical switches, but this time they’re linear instead of clicky. This makes them better for gaming because there is zero resistance when pressing the switch down, allowing for a faster actuation. Your fingers won’t get tired while gaming, and it’s pretty good for typing, too.
Add to this features like Chroma RGB backlight and Hypershift macro programmability, and you’re looking at an excellent keyboard that you can take to your next LAN party. It’s also priced rather reasonably, which makes it an even more appealing pick, and it’s one you should check out if you’re in need of a TKL keyboard.
2. Razer BlackWidow Lite
The BlackWidow is one of Razer’s best selling keyboards, and there are plenty of reasons for that. It’s built well, it uses quality switches, and it has all the extra nice things you’d want from a keyboard. But the one glaring downside is the price – it’s expensive. And not everyone wants a full size. This is where the BlackWidow Lite comes in, a budget-friendly tenkeyless variant of the BlackWidow.
Kicking things off with the design, the Mercury White colorway just looks stunning. The aluminum top plate is an excellent touch, and the white keycaps look great. There is a white backlight behind each key, and they’re individually backlit, so you can control the lights and play with the brightness, too. Oh, and we love the subtle Razer logo right above the arrow keys, it looks neat.
Typing on it is a beautiful experience. Not only are the Razer Orange switches tactile but rather quiet, but you also get O-rings, so you can make things even quieter if you want to. It’s one of the best typing keyboards out there, and it’s great for gaming too, so you can use it for whatever you may need. Hypershift makes an appearance too, so you can reprogram the keys and add macros.
Overall, if you’re a fan of the TKL form factor, and don’t need RGB or any additional extras that only raise the price, the BlackWidow Lite should definitely be one of the keyboards you’re taking a closer look at.
3. Razer BlackWidow Tournament Edition Chroma v2
For many, the only gripe with the BlackWidow was the size. This is why Razer made a smaller, more compact version known as the BlackWidow Tournament Edition Chroma v2, and it’s currently one of their best selling models for a variety of reasons.
The design is great. You get a slim profile with no extra buttons to make things large, and the tenkeyless design is rather compact. At the bottom is a wrist rest, made with a plush and thick foam on the inside, and leatherette on the outside. It does add plenty of comfort, but if you don’t like it, it’s removable because it attaches via magnets. It’s certainly a good addition.
Inside the BlackWidow TE Chroma v2, you will find Razer’s own mechanical switches in a Green color, which means they’re the clicky ones. The click is pretty pronounced, so if you don’t like the noise, or if someone else in the room doesn’t like the noise, you might have a problem. However, typing on it is brilliant, and so is gaming.
Since this is a compact keyboard that doesn’t want to make too many compromises, Razer has added two of their best features – Chroma RGB backlight, and Hypershfit macro programmability. This allows you to customize both the aesthetics and the functionality of your keyboard, so you can have it work just how you like it. And overall, as far as TKL mechanical keyboards go, this is probably one of the best Razer models you can end up with.
Best 60% Razer Keyboard
1. Razer Huntsman Mini
There’s no denying that many of the big brands have yet to make more compact keyboards, but Razer did, and the Huntsman Mini is the best 60% Razer keyboard. It checks all the boxes for a good mechanical keyboard but comes in a very compact design that people who don’t have a lot of desk space will love.
We’ll start things off with what defines the Huntsman Mini – the design. The 60% layout means there’s no function row, no Numpad, and no arrow keys. However, they’re all available using different layers, and with Razer Hypershift support, you can program them as you see fit. It’s a tricky layout if you haven’t used a keyboard this small, but it’s certainly one you can get used to.
Aside from this, you get Razer’s excellent optical switches in a clicky variant, and they work very well. The feeling is great and they’re a lot more durable. The short actuation distance makes them a pleasure to use because they are triggered a lot more quickly.
The Mercury White colorway looks great, but it’s made even better by the support for Razer Chroma RGB backlight. You can sync it with software and other hardware like Philips Hue, and customize it as you see fit. It’s a great addition to the keyboard.
And overall, if you like the layout, the Huntsman Mini is one of the best Razer keyboards for both casual gamers, and competitive ones alike.
Best Non-Mechanical Razer Keyboards
1. Razer Cynosa Chroma
When it comes to mechanical keyboards, there’s no denying that not everyone is a fan. There’s also the fact that they’re usually expensive, and not everyone wants to spend that much. If you want to have a good feature set, but would rather stick to a membrane keyboard, the Cynosa Chroma should be right up your alley.
This is Razer’s budget full-size gaming keyboard, but with no additional buttons in sight, the overall profile is rather slim. You have a subtle logo in the middle below the buttons, but that’s about it – nothing to write home about. What’s interesting about the design is that it’s built to withstand accidental liquid splashes. We would still be careful with it – it’s a keyboard after all, but it’s a nice reassurance. The overall feel is pretty nice, too, even though this is a plastic keyboard.
The typing experience is pretty good, especially considering this is a membrane keyboard. It has anti-ghosting with up to 10 keys, which is nice, and the keys feel nice. They’re silent, which is a great thing if you’re using this in a room with other people. While we’re at it, you also get Hypershift, which means you can remap any button to do anything you want, even record more complex macros if you want to.
The icing on the cage is the support for Razer Chroma, which is an RGB system that gives each button an individual backlight. Sync it with your favorite games and other hardware, and you’ll enjoy the Cynosa Chroma.
2. Razer Ornata Chroma
Whoever said non-mechanical keyboards can’t have a great feature set and perform admirably hasn’t had a chance to play with the Ornata Chroma. This is Razer’s higher-end hybrid keyboard, with switches that resemble the feel of a mechanical keyboard but are silent and easier to actuate.
The design is great, the Ornata Chroma looks stunning in just about any scenario. It’s a full-size keyboard, but there are no extra macro keys or anything like that, so it’s not all that big. There is a massive wrist rest at the bottom, though, which adds a lot of comfort because the Ornata is taller than your average keyboard. It’s plush and it’s detachable if you don’t like it, which adds a bit of versatility.
Let’s talk about those hybrid switches for a moment. Make no mistake, this is a membrane keyboard. But thanks to the switches used, it doesn’t have the typical membrane mushiness and overall bad feeling. Instead, it feels like a higher-end, quiet mechanical keyboard, just without the price tag. There are still some great features here – you get Razer’s Chroma RGB backlight which syncs with pretty much any piece of hardware, as well as Hypershfit, so you can program macros pretty easily. Overall, if you don’t really need a mechanical keyboard, and just want a good hybrid option that lasts a good while, the Ornata is a great choice, and one you should certainly be considering.
Final Thoughts
There you have it, those are the best Razer keyboards. We have made sure to include a wide range of options at various sizes and budgets. Additionally, you can learn more about how to choose the right mechanical keyboard for you here. We hope that this article was both helpful and informative.
