Razer BlackWidow Chroma v2

Attractive design ; Great mechanical switch keys ; Extensive lighting options ; Comfy wrist rest

Very pricey ; Only one USB slot

A great mechanical keyboard with lots of customisation options and comfortable detachable wrist rest, the Razer BlackWidow Chroma V2 just about justifies its high price tag.

As one of the most popular peripheral brands, Razer knows what it is doing when it comes to releasing keyboards. With the BlackWidow Chroma V2, it has done an excellent job. The little changes make a big difference; it feels far more grown up on...

Lighting is excellent.

Aside from the wrist rest, the only differences between the V2 and the original model are pretty minor.

If you can find the BlackWidow Chroma V2 for closer to the £120-130 mark, it is definitely worth considering as it is a solid keyboard. However, for £165 there is a lot of competition on the market right now.

Magnetic wrist rest is a huge step up over most competitors ; Razer's lighting is still top-notch ; New Razer Yellow switch is an excellent Cherry MX Speed imitation

Lacks dedicated media keys ; Wrist rest is great, but some may not want to use it (or have their own) ; Expensive

It’s a good keyboard. Stellar lighting, supple wrist rest, and Razer’s new Yellow switches make this probably the best Cherry MX clone I’ve ever used. The BlackWidow Chroma V2 is a solid choice.

Minimalistic design. Fully programmable, individually backlit keys. Lighting is attractive, with easily customizable colors and effects. Responsive mechanical switches. Includes macro keys and USB 2.0 pass-through.

Lacks a media bar. Wrist rest can result in some uncomfortable typing angles.

Overall, I really liked the feel of typing on the Razer BlackWidow Chroma V2 once I got into the flow, and the switch style achieves what it's built for. Between a free-flowing typing experience, useful extras, and endless key-customization options,...

Comfortable wrist rest - magnetically attached ; Chroma backlighting, 16.8-million colors, community development ; 10 key roll-over anti-ghosting ; USB pass-through, audio-out/mic-in jacks ; 3 different top-notch mechanical switch options

Chroma backlighting not necessary for everyone ; No media buttons ; No USB-C for peripherals

Razer continues to lead the way with solid gaming accessories top to bottom. The BlackWidow keyboard line has been the benchmark for top quality Pro eGaming hardware since its launch in 2010. If the amount of use I personally got out of the 2014 Chroma...

The BlackWidow Chroma V2 has very easily programmable macro keys, a full suite of gaming keyboard functionality and Razer Synapse compatibility.

You're really going to need to weigh those features against a hefty price tag.

The BlackWidow Chroma V2 is pretty much everything you want out of your gaming keyboard. But there are most cost effective options if you're not ensconced in the Razer ecosystem.

Comfortable keys ; New Yellow switches work well ; Pretty lighting ; Intuitive software

Expensive ; Very little new since the previous model

The BlackWidow Chroma V2 is an attractive gaming keyboard with comfortable keys and some helpful extra features.