Mechanical keyboards can be an exciting but overwhelming journey. Dive into the custom world beyond the mainstream offerings from popular brands, and you’ll quickly find yourself spending hundreds of dollars, not to mention the countless choices you’ll need to make for each part of the keyboard—something most users don’t even think about. However, Razer’s latest entry in the BlackWidow series offers a less intimidating way to explore custom keyboards. With the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75%, you can start with a fully functional setup and gradually customize it at your own pace, similar to prebuilt PCs with swappable components from brands like NZXT and CyberPowerPC.
Building on the V4 75% model that launched last year, the V4 Pro keeps Razer’s orange tactile switches but adds new features like wireless connectivity and an OLED display. The price reflects these improvements, with the Pro model starting at $300—a nearly 60% increase from the base version. It connects to up to three devices via Bluetooth, has a 4K Hz polling rate, and offers up to 2100 hours of battery life when in low-power mode, reducing the polling rate to 1,000 Hz.
If high polling rates don’t make a noticeable difference in your gaming experience, the OLED screen might catch your attention. It can display animated gifs (I saw a Nyan Cat animation in action), static images, text banners, and system information, such as CPU temperatures. Additionally, you can map shortcuts to the keyboard’s control dial, making repetitive tasks in software like Photoshop much faster and easier.
The BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% brings the benefits of custom keyboards without the usual hassle. Razer takes care of the complex setup, leaving you to simply enjoy the experience. Once it launches on September 24, you’ll be able to pick it up from major retailers like Best Buy or online, making it easy to get started with your customization journey.
For those who want to dive deeper into customization, the V4 Pro offers plenty of potential. During Razer’s press preview, I saw various customized versions of the keyboard, with options ranging from sleek designs to more experimental styles. Some were right up my alley, while others—like ceramic keycaps—were definitely not my preference. As more brands explore the DIY approach to keyboards, we could see a future where everyone has a keyboard that not only performs well but is uniquely tailored to their individual style and needs.