Razer has introduced a minimalist form factor keyboard to its BlackWidow brand with the BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed Wireless Keyboard. Last year, Razer released theHuntsman Miniand it ended up being a fan favorite as it was housed in a 60% form factor. The BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed also trims all the fat, but leaves a bit left on the plate. Thanks to feedback from users, this latest keyboard will help blur the lines of gaming and work as it sits at a 65% form factor and offers additional keys for office use and a separate slate of arrow keys. This keyboard answers what those fans have been asking for and more.
The BlackWidow V3 Mini keeps the same design as the BlackWidow keyboard line, but shores it up in a cuter version. In comparison to the Huntsman Mini, the BlackWidow V3 Mini sits higher as the body is bulkier. The keys are also full height keys as the blurring of work and gaming come to fold on the unit. Rather than having the arrow keys as secondary functions, they have been added in full form. To compensate for the additional space without compromising the size of the keys, the BlackWidow V3 Mini also added the navigation buttons (Home, Insert, Delete, etc) on the right-hand side as they sit vertically to complete the layout. These keys also allow for macro usage as a secondary function as the keyboard can record macros on the fly. These changes help flesh out lifestyle changes with the 60% designs.
The color option is limited to the traditional Razer black, but it does support full RGB. The Razer logo on the bottom of the keyboard is also integrated with RGB. The light shines cleanly through the recognized Razer font, but still lacks any type of lighting for the secondary functions which makes them hard to see. The RGB isn’t extremely bright, but the entire keyboard offers a nice underglow to complete the look. Razer has added thicker Doubleshot ABS Keycaps that allow for more durability. These are made of two layers of plastic and consist of the outer colored shell and the transparent inner shell. These won’t scratch the paint off with general wear and tear. Razer has also confirmed a separate and new keycap version of the keyboard is available with the Phantom Pudding Edition that promises brighter RGB.
Razer is offering two separate mechanical switches with the BlackWidow V3. Users have the choice between the green clicky switches or a revamped yellow linear switch. The version of the keyboard I used for the review included these revamped yellow linear switches. Taking a cue from Razer’s linear optical switches, these mechanical switches include silicon sound dampeners to silence the keys. The sound is drastically reduced as these might be the perfect linear switches on the market. Input while typing or gaming is flawless with no resistance until the full keypress. There’s a subtle amount of resistance with a quiet click while typing. Gaming basically eliminates the noise if you’re going for a discreet environment whether it be for streaming or bugging other people in your living quarters.
With wireless accessories, the questions of latency and battery life are always the first that are asked. With HyperSpeed Wireless technology from Razer, this aspect continues to deliver as inputs are immediate. The keyboard also offers Bluetooth and USB-C connectivity that uses 1000hz Ultrapolling. This device is also compatible with the HyperSpeed dongle which allows multiple devices to utilize just one. This helps save on USB space and helps to create that Razer ecosystem. If you have a Naga Pro, DeathAdder Pro or the recently-released Orochi Mouse, you will be able to use those dongles with the BlackWidow V3 Mini. I did run into an issue, though, as if you plug the keyboard into charge via USB-C and still left the dongle in, it would not function. This may just be a personal issue, though.
The battery life on the BlackWidow V3 Mini is wide and offers quite a bit of flexibility. With no RGB on, it comes in at 200 hours. That is a very large span for wireless keyboard. Razer states at 30% brightness with RGB enabled using the spectrum cycling profile, it trickles way down to 48 hours. At 100% brightness with the same profile, you’re looking at only 17. I have been running 100% since receiving this a week ago and it wasn’t even 100% out of the box and I have yet to have to charge it. The keyboard is set to go to sleep quickly and this can be adjusted in Razer Synapse. If you’re trying to keep it on 100% of the time, it might just be worth hooking up when not using it. If using it continuously for eight hours using wireless, then you’re still looking at two days worth of workload or gaming with the lighting effects cranked up. I’ve been impressed with the battery life on this.
In terms of gaming, I have spent a couple hour with the keyboard on Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War and War Zone. The ease and overall use of the keyboard using the HyperSpeed Wireless was enjoyable. I never experienced any issues with latency nor maneuverability within the games. While it would be nice if Razer could implement one of its RGB profiles for the game, the experience was great. The full key height didn’t seem to make a difference in comparison to a low profile key and the yellow switches allowed for quiet gaming. Since the keyboard sits high, it offers an excellent arch for your hand.
Closing Comments:
Improving on the 60% architecture while trying to blur the lines of gaming and office use, the BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed wireless keyboard does an excellent job in its execution. If you have been a fan of the BlackWidow design, this 65% keyboard delivers on implementing the BlackWidow feel. Adding the arrow and navigation buttons while maintaining a small design may just be the way of the future for minimalist keyboards. While I wish the RGB was brighter, the way the color shines is clean. The revamped yellow switches are a game changer for discreet gamers. The battery life will also cater to anyone’s needs. The BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed retails for $179.99 and in the keyboard market, especially for a wireless keyboard with all these options, is an extremely fair price point.
