Razer introduces its debut barebones keyboard kit, catering to keyboard enthusiasts, offering a more affordable price compared to Corsair's latest release.
Letting Loose: Gaming Keyboards Embrace Their Enthusiast Side
A few short years ago, my editing partner, Jacob Ridley (yup, we've got two Jacobs, it's annoying, I know), and I were locked in a heated debate about whether gaming keyboards still held a distinct edge over their enthusiast counterparts. My argument was that there was still a significant divide between the two, but if there ever was a turning point, it would be this: the advent of DIY barebones kits for gaming keyboards.
Enter the Razer BlackWidow V4 75% Barebones. Hit the 'Start Customizing' button, and you're met with an array of choices: select your chassis color, your preferred switches (Green, Yellow, or none), and the appearance of your keycaps (black, white, or none). This means you can opt for just the chassis, giving you a base price of $130, and then customize it with your preferred hot-swappable switches and keycaps.
Slapping on the additional switches and keycaps boosts the price to around $250 on Razer's site, but you can find pre-built versions for as little as $150 or less on sale. The version we reviewed set a shopper back $180, but it came with a different set of switches and keycaps. But hey, when it comes to customizing, you get to design the keyboard your way!
Now, you might not be getting the same level of freedom as with something like the Qwertykeys QK75N, which lets you choose between various cases, PCBs, and plates, but it's a definite leap towards the enthusiast (keyboard nerd) realm. And Razer isn't the only player in town venturing down this road.
Glorious has been in the DIY game for a spell now, as demonstrated by its GMMK 3 Pro Barebones kit. This one gives you the choice between ANSI or ISO layouts. It even offers a separate Hall effect barebones GMMK 3 Pro kit. Corsair only recently joined the party last month with its MAKR 75 barebones kit. The options here are more extensive than for both the Razer and Glorious keyboards.
With the Corsair, you can pick your frame color, an additional FR4 plate for a poppier sound, and a range of switch, keycap, and wireless module options. You can even opt to have it pre-assembled, provided you've selected a configuration that includes switches.
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Razer's entry into the market is just further evidence of this trend in keyboards becoming more tailored to the needs of enthusiasts like me, who place a high value on customizability and craftsmanship.
The V4 Pro already had its sights set on improvement, at least as far as feel goes. Although our editor-in-chief, Dave James, had some problems, when things ran smoothly, he could vouch for its quality feel. Even the most avid keyboard enthusiasts, mechanical keyboard YouTube stars, seem to appreciate it.
Razer claims that this barebones kit "represents a bold new direction" for the company. Each and every component of the chassis, according to them, has been engineered to enhance your typing experience—from the dual-layer dampening foam that reduces unwanted vibrations to the factory-lubricated stabilizers for smoother keystrokes and an FR4 plate for a deeper sound profile.
The barebones kit, the company adds, "maintains the same build quality, while allowing users to install their own 3-pin or 5-pin mechanical switches and custom keycaps." It's available now for $140 for the black version or $150 for the white one. This price beats both the GMMK 3 Pro Barebones and the MAKR75 Barebones (though not all non-Pro GMMK models), so the competition is heating up, and we're loving it!
Jacob FoxJacob got his first taste of gaming PCs when he was around 12 years old. Upon realizing the local PC repair store had ripped him off, he vowed to never let another soul build his rig again. Thus, Jacob—the hardware junkie—was born. After spending time as a Hardware Writer for PCGamesN in 2020, he pursued a PhD in Philosophy for a few years (awaiting the outcome of his viva exam), all while freelancing for sites such as TechRadar, Pocket-lint, and yours truly, PC Gamer. Eventually, he ditched the freelance life to join the ranks of the world's #1 PC Gaming site full-time. Rest assured, it's not an ego thing, he promises.
- The Razer BlackWidow V4 75% Barebones, with its customizable switches, keycaps, and chassis colors, is a step towards the enthusiast realm for gaming keyboards, joining other DIY offerings like the Glorious GMMK 3 Pro and the Corsair MAKR 75 barebones kits.
- Compared to the Glorious GMMK 3 Pro, the Razer BlackWidow V4 offers fewer customization options, but it still provides the flexibility to choose from various chassis colors, switch options, and keycap styles, allowing users to design their preferred gaming keyboard.
- With its price point of $140 for the black version or $150 for the white one, the Razer BlackWidow V4 75% Barebones competes favorably with other DIY gaming keyboard options on the market, such as the GMMK 3 Pro Barebones and the MAKR75 Barebones, adding another choice for customers seeking a personalized gaming keyboard experience.
