Razer BlackWidow Ultimate Review

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate

Razer BlackWidow Mechanical Keyboard, as the most awesome keyboard on the market, has two editions: standard and ultimate. Today, we will review the Razer BlackWidow Ultimate keyboard.

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate Appearance

At the first sight of Razer BlackWidow Ultimate, we feel that this is more like a membrane keyboard, as mechanical keyboard is always stiffness and depressing and stays away from excellent look. However, Razer BlackWidow Ultimate is designed very luxury to differ from previous mechanical keyboard, and totally says goodbye to the stiffness and depressing look of mechanical keyboard.

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate uses the whole mirror planet, which highlights its gorgeous visual effects. While the mirror planet is also very easy to get fingerprints, gamers need to clean it all the time. Besides, hard and straight lines are widely used in Razer BlackWidow Ultimate, making it look very masculine. In the bottom of Razer BlackWidow Ultimate, there are some rubber foot pads and two adjustable holders and no weep holes.

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate Keys

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate using the standard key layout, gamers will find it very easy to use; while typing the horizontal bar design of backspace and enter keys is a familiar work with ease for gamers. In the multimedia keys, many combinations of FN and F series keys are available for many functions. Compared with the convenience of independent shortcut key, this kind of combinations may be a bit inferior, but they cut the cost to a certain degree, and reduce the product price, especially for mechanical keyboards.

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate

Besides the functions of shortcut keys of the regular volume adjustment, silent, back/next track, FN+F11is to open/close game mode. Typing the keys, the yellow G icon will light up above the numeric keypad, and the Widows keys is forbidden simultaneously to avoid gamers hit this key by mistakes which lead to exiting a game.  FN+F12 are for open/close backlight, and adjust the luminance as well. The luminance on Razer BlackWidow varies with Each hit on the FN+F12 keys.

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate Kepcap

The words on the keycap of Razer BlackWidow Ultimate are different from normal keyboard with more artistic feel. It is worth mentioning that the indicator of Razer BlackWidow is hidden design. It’s not easy to find them out on the off status, which is very ingenious and add brilliance to Razer BlackWidow Ultimate present splendor.

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate On-the-Fly Macros

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate comes with 5 programmable keys, which are placed in the left side in one line. These 5 G keys can be customized via the powerful driver from simple single key to complex keyboard and mouse action with ease.

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate

A letter M is printed under the Alt keycap next to FN key. Once you press this combination key, the on-the-fly macros are recoding. This function can record mouse and keyboard action and appointed keystrokes without opening the driver, achieve another pitch of the practical applicability of macros recording.  After installing and booting this function, the M icon will light up to show the recording status, and then gamers execute the needed operation, such as pressing “cttl+c”; the M icon start blinking to allow gamers to choose which key to execute; If you press the M1, the M icon is off and the recording is over. Next time, when gamers press M1, it will execute “cttl+c” action. To facility the customization, special color will be marked in the customized keys to reminds gamers, which is very humanized design.

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate

The other light spot of Razer BlackWidow Ultimate is to change 10 different profiles easily with the combination of FN plus 1 to 10 keys. Every time when changing the profiles, the file name will appear on the bottom right corner of the desktop. 5 programmable keys have 10 profiles, which are equal to 50 programmable keys.

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate Cherry MX Keyclick

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate feature Cherry MX Keyclick switch with the key regulation of 2.0mm. The trigger actuation force of normal Keyclick switch is 60g, while Razer optimizes it to 50g with the strongest scale feeling, biggest sound of click, longer key regulation and theorist life of 20 million times.

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate

In the right side, Razer BlackWidow Ultimate has two 3.5mm audio jacks and a USB port to connect the Audio equipment and USB device. Furthermore, the cable of Razer BlackWidow, different from normal keyboard, is the knitted cable with longer life. Razer BlackWidow Ultimate adopts two USB ports for power supply in consideration of large electricity consumption of the USB device and backlight. Double USB ports make Razer BlackWidow Ultimate keyboard work more stable. Apart from that, Razer BlackWidow Ultimate has the response rate of 1000 Hz, which react quickly and precisely according to gamers’ demands.

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate Driver

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate driver interface is very simple with three sections: key distribution, profiles management, macros editor. In the key distribution module, gamers can customize every key easily with abundant options from single key to special macros. In the profiles management section, gamers are allowed to add new profile file and change their name. The final macro editor can record complex mouse and keyboard action, and process the later adjustment in later period.

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate Game Test

We choose two games to test Razer BlackWidow Ultimate. One is the RTS game- StarCraft 2, which requires efficient and complex micro operations that need the keyboard to execute gamers’ command on time. The other is the FTG game-Street Fighter 4, which need higher requirements, especially for the unique skill, the keyboard should have excellent anti-ghosting design, or else the player will be defeated. Apart from that, we also test the key pressing conflict of Razer BlackWidow Ultimate. Razer BlackWidow Ultimate performs normal with maximum 6 keys pressing at one time.

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate key pressing test

In StarCraft 2, Razer BlackWidow Ultimate features lighter actuation force, making the hit much easier. The tiredness is not easily to come out in the high-intensive operation. The other feature of Cherry MX Keyclick switch is the obvious scale feel, presenting the striking contract with Cherry MX Linear Action switch. While the response rate as high as 1000 Hz, performs awesome in the game. All the commands can be executed quickly without any lag.

StarCraft 2 Test

While in the Street Fighter 4, Razer BlackWidow Ultimate 50g actuation force shows unusually brilliant results, allowing gamers playing with ease; the obvious scale feel delivers clear operation feedback, allowing gamers operate the game more masterly.

Street Fighter 4

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate Conclusion

In the handle key elements, Razer BlackWidow Ultimate features the optimized Cherry MX Keyclick switch with the actuation of 50g for better operating experience. Besides, Razer BlackWidow Ultimate added the scarce backlit module which is lacked in most mechanical keyboards. Razer BlackWidow Ultimate backlight design is very outstanding with balanced display and moderate luminance. The combination key can open and adjust the backlight without installing the driver. Razer BlackWidow Ultimate luxury look is a light spot, breaking previous odd and depressing images of mechanical keyboards and injecting fresh elements.

As to the feature, Razer BlackWidow Ultimate supports exclusive on-the-fly macro recording and switches. The former can recording key and mouse action and execute specific key application without opening the driver, push the practicality of macro to another pitch. While the later can realize the profiles switch by combination of FN and 1-0. In the performance, as high as 1000 Hz response rate runs well on the game. All the commands can be executed quickly without any lag.

Razer BlackWidow Mechanical Keyboard Ultimate Edition is a relatively innovative gaming keyboard featuring macro recording, cool backlit effect and fantastic tactile response. Read the rest of this entry »