Razer Huntsman V3 Professional: Two-minute overview
The Razer Huntsman V3 Professional is a high-end gaming keyboard that gives a wide range of helpful options, together with the flexibility to regulate key sensitivity, swap profiles rapidly, carry out two capabilities utilizing a single key, and far more.
It follows on from the spectacular Razer Huntsman V2 Analog, which on the time of writing occupies the highest spot in our best gaming keyboard information – and at first look, the Huntsman V3 Professional’s capabilities seem largely the identical, though there are some key variations that set them aside.
Firstly, the Huntsman V3 Professional options the second technology of the Razer Analog Optical Change, which presents the choice to change the actuation inside a spread of 0.1-4.0mm, permitting for a much wider vary of sensitivity customization in comparison with the V2’s 1.5-3.6mm. Which means you may have much more management over how responsive the keys are, guaranteeing they’re totally optimized for no matter you’re taking part in. Optical (or opto-mechanical) switches are additionally extra sturdy and supply sooner enter occasions than standard mechanical or membrane keys.
This upgraded degree of sensitivity is fairly unimaginable to expertise – when set at 0.1mm it takes solely the slightest contact to set off a key. Whereas that is helpful for some video games, nonetheless, until you’re a world-class contact typer chances are you’ll need to control your settings in case you plan to make use of this keyboard for each work and play, as in my expertise, making an attempt to sort with a shallow actuation level results in typos galore.
These switches additionally facilitate the Fast Set off Mode operate, which makes it doable to repeatedly press and launch the keys at a quick tempo, far surpassing the capabilities of an ordinary keyboard, and presumably supplying you with a bonus over different gamers. In apply, this operate does certainly make a distinction in video games – it’s noticeable that the important thing doesn’t should journey previous a hard and fast reset level, which means that it’s doable to repeat inputs with minimal motion.
One other standout function is the intuitive on-board changes. Simply triggered by urgent two keys and twisting the dial, you’re in a position to improve or lower the actuation level or speedy set off sensitivity, with a super-helpful LED indicator situated above the directional keys as a way to rapidly regulate your ranges and stick with it taking part in.
The Huntsman V3 Professional is on the market in matte black with a brushed aluminum alloy faceplate and glossy media controls, and it appears fairly satisfying even with out its RGB lights pulsing. The bottom of the keyboard is product of plastic and has two-stage adjustable ft, so you’ll be able to alter the angle to swimsuit. This full-size keyboard measures 5.5 x 1.5 x 17.5 inches / 139 x 39 x 445 mm, and is fairly weighty at simply over 2.7lb / 1.2kg. The opto-mechanical keys have a protracted journey and sound fairly clacky, so in case you’re not a fan of shallow laptop-style keys then you definitely’ll in all probability be completely satisfied.
The keyboard is powered by a detachable USB-C cable on the left-hand facet. I had no points with this, though this is perhaps one thing to notice in case your gaming machine is to the best of your setup. You get all the keys you’d count on from an ordinary full-size keyboard, with the addition of some multi-function media buttons on the top-right. These embrace two macro buttons that load up the Xbox Recreation Bar and Process View on Home windows by default. These keys will be simply remapped within the Razer Synapse app to carry out a variety of capabilities – you’ll be able to set them to launch a program, set off a Home windows shortcut, carry out a keyboard or mouse operation, and so forth.
A further button provides you quick access to a number of audio controls – you’ll be able to play and pause with one press, skip tracks with two presses, and return to the earlier observe with three presses. The multi-function digital dial is a fast and tactile approach to management quantity ranges, and makes it simple to mute your audio by urgent the middle.
The keyboard comes with a detachable wrist relaxation; nonetheless the magnet attachment that’s supposed to maintain it on the entrance of the keyboard just isn’t very robust, so it may be simply knocked or moved. The rubber ft do an okay job of maintaining it in place if it’s flat in your desk, but when it’s a bit over the sting and never in full contact with the desktop it does prefer to wander away with the slightest nudge. The flatter design is a substantial downgrade from the Huntsman V2 wrist relaxation, which was far more comfy.
Whereas I perceive that the leatherette materials used on the V2 didn‘t fare too nicely over time, this new wrist relaxation is so flat that it verges on out of date. As well as – though this doesn’t have an effect on the operation of the keyboard in any means – I’m very dissatisfied that Razer has chosen to take away the RGB strip across the wrist relaxation. I ended up eradicating the wrist relaxation after a short while, because it was not providing any help and was simply taking over area on my desktop.
The Razer Synapse software program is a bit buggy, and lagged a bit on the Acer Predator Helios 300 gaming laptop computer that I examined it with. It does, although, supply an abundance of customization capabilities. Apart from the satisfying visible results that may be achieved, akin to a spread of 9 totally different Chroma results that may be fine-tuned within the software program after which simply triggered on the keyboard each time you fancy altering up the RGB atmosphere, you additionally get a excessive degree of customization in the case of key capabilities and sensitivity.
One such customization is that you just’re in a position to assign particular sport controller functionalities to totally different keys just by dragging and dropping the important thing from an illustration of the controller onto the keyboard displayed on the software program – making it so easy, and simple.
Nevertheless, though you’re given the flexibility to change the operate of keys, many choices require you to have Razer Synapse operating within the background as a result of, regardless of its hybrid onboard storage, some capabilities can’t be saved as a part of any of the reminiscence profiles on the keyboard itself. Whereas this isn’t a dealbreaker, it’s not precisely fascinating to have this considerably laggy software program operating always within the background, which might show particularly irritating whereas gaming.
Whereas taking part in a sport, it’s simple to change between totally different profiles because of easy keyboard shortcuts, which means it solely takes a matter of seconds to change between default settings, Fast Set off, Excessive Sensitivity and so forth, relying in your wants.
The Huntsman Professional is a knockout because of its huge array of customizable options, making it a powerful and high-quality gaming keyboard, but it surely’s positively extra suited to a professional than the typical gamer. For those who’re in search of most of those options for a a lot lower cost, we just like the SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL and MSI Vigor GK71 Sonic gaming keyboards.
Razer Huntsman V3 Professional overview: Value and launch date
- How a lot does it value? $249.99 / £249.99 / AU$469.95
- The place is it obtainable? Obtainable now
- The place are you able to get it? Obtainable within the US, the UK and Australia
Priced at $249.99 / £249.99 / AU$469.95, this gaming keyboard prices critical cash. For those who’re somebody that simply enjoys an informal Thursday evening Halo session with associates then that is understandably going to be off-putting, however in case you’re in search of a bucketload of customization choices as a way to completely fine-tune your keys throughout totally different video games and duties, then the value tag might nicely be price it.
There may be, after all, an abundance of choices obtainable in the marketplace that can swimsuit totally different budgets, however in case you’re offered on the Huntsman V3 Professional then there’s a slight saving available with the Razer Huntsman V3 Professional Tenkeyless, in case you aren’t fussed in regards to the keypad, as this lowers the price to $219.99 / £219.99 / AU$419.95.
Razer Huntsman V3 Professional overview: Specs
| Format | Customary full dimension |
| Change | Razer Analog Optical Change Gen-2 |
| Programmable Keys | Sure |
| Dimensions | 5.5 x 1.5 x 17.5 inches / 139 x 39 x 445mm |
| RGB or backlighting | Razer Chroma RGB (16.8M colours) |
Do you have to purchase the Razer Huntsman V3 Professional?
| Attributes | Notes | Ranking |
| Options | With adjustable actuation, Fast Set off Mode and a load of different customization prospects, it is a control-freak’s dream. | 5 / 5 |
| Design | The optical switches and doubleshot PBT keycaps are nice, and it feels hard-wearing. Disgrace in regards to the wrist relaxation. | 4 / 5 |
| Efficiency | Very responsive, and it’s simple to change modes and settings whereas taking part in. Razer Synapse is a little bit of a chore, although. | 4.5 / 5 |
| Worth | You may’t fault the high-quality design and standout options, but it surely positively isn’t priced for the typical gamer. | 3 / 5 |
Purchase it if…
Do not buy it if…
Razer Huntsman V3 Professional overview: Additionally take into account
| Header Cell – Column 0 | Razer Huntsman V3 Professional | SteelSeries Apex Professional TKL | MSI Vigor GK71 Sonic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Value | $249.99 / £249.99 / AU$469.95 | $189.99 / £189.99 / AU$219.99 | Value: $129 / £109.99 |
| Format | Customary full dimension | TKL | Customary full dimension |
| Change | Razer Analog Optical Change Gen-2 | OmniPoint 2.0 adjustable switches | MSI Sonic Blue mechanical |
| Programmable keys | Sure | Sure | Sure |
| Adjustable Actuation | Sure | Sure | No |
| Dimensions | 17.5 x 5.5 x 1.5 inches / 445 x 139 x 39 mm | 14 x 5 x 1.7 inches / 355 x 128 x 42mm | 17.4 x 5.4 x 1.6 inches / 442.5 x 138 x 41mm |
| RGB or backlighting | RGB | RGB | RGB |
How I examined the Razer Huntsman V3 Professional
- Used to play video games, in addition to to put in writing articles and typically use
- Examined with a gaming laptop computer to make sure good efficiency
I examined the Razer Huntsman V3 Professional keyboard within the TechRadar workplace, utilizing it to put in writing articles and emails at work, in addition to taking part in some video games on an Acer Predator Helios 300 laptop computer.
I spent a number of time customizing totally different components, such because the RGB and key programming choices. I examined out the varied preset profiles in addition to my very own customizations, and assessed the variations for each typing and gaming when the actuation factors and speedy set off have been adjusted.
We pleasure ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing course of, providing up long-term consideration to the merchandise we overview and ensuring our critiques are up to date and maintained – no matter when a tool was launched, in case you can nonetheless purchase it, it is on our radar.
- First reviewed: April 2024
