Razer is perhaps one of the best brands for peripherals, and its keyboards are very popular with anyone from enthusiasts to those sticking to a budget. I had a chance to test the Razer Blackwidow Mini Hyperspeed keyboard, which boasts plenty of features, packed into a small form factor. Coming in at a fairly steep price tag, the big question is whether its worth your hard-earned cash…here’s what I found when I put it through its paces.
- Form factor: 65%
- Key switches: Razer Green Mechanical
- Keycaps: Doubleshot ABS
- Connectivity: 2.4GHz, BT, USB-C
- Dimensions: 320x130x41mm
- Weight: 700g
The Blackwidow V3 Mini Hyperspeed is a great compact keyboard. Its features, build, and speed are excellent, with plenty of fast connectivity. While its high profile and rather clicky sounds could divide opinion, alongside the hefty price tag, it still stands out as a quality option for those looking for something small, mighty, and great-looking also.
- Great customizability and control
- Vast connectivity options
- Good battery life without RGB
- Very loud typing
- Tough caps and switches when in use
- Rather expensive for the size
Design and features
The Razer BlackWidow v3 Mini is a small keyboard designed for portability and smaller setups. Its 65% form factor reduces the number of keys and size, even minimizing the extra board around the keys. In fact, the only area this keyboard has a bit of extra space is the sloped front.
Even the keys are smushed together, with the arrow, enter, and page keys all in line, not leaving gaps or unnecessary space. This arrangement is excellent for keeping the size down, but you don’t get any ‘zones’ or distinct areas for certain keys. While you may get used to it, this arrangement could result in some wrong keys being clicked – especially on the right hand side.
Razer Blackwidow V3 Mini Hyperspeed foot, Image by PC Guide
Razer Blackwidow V3 Mini Hyperspeed in front of box, Image by PC Guide
Razer Blackwidow V3 Mini Hyperspeed arrow keys, Image by PC Guide
Razer Blackwidow V3 Mini Hyperspeed logo, Image by PC Guide
Razer Blackwidow V3 Mini Hyperspeed box, Image by PC Guide
Razer Blackwidow V3 Mini Hyperspeed switches, Image by PC Guide
Razer Blackwidow V3 Mini Hyperspeed, Image by PC Guide
Razer Blackwidow V3 Mini Hyperspeed box contents, Image by PC Guide
With all that, the design is relatively simple, keeping things tight and compact. The top plate is filled with the usual keys without any extra controls. You’ll find a handy switch on the left that allows you to change the connection mode of wired, 2.4GHz, and Bluetooth. There is also a USB-C port not too far from that.
The underside has more to offer. It is covered with the For Gamers By Gamers phrasing and a massive info sticker slap bang in the middle. It also provides a convenient covered compartment to hide the USB dongle so you don’t lose it. Plus, it has a set of feet with two tiers of adjustability.
Pricing
The keyboard costs $179.99/£179.99, making it a slightly more expensive choice. However, it offers a whole host of features for that price, making it a bit more worthy, and that’s expected from Razer.
You can get a cheaper option with similar features, such as the Corsair K65 Plus, ROG Falchion, or even one of the lesser-known brands, like Akko. But they won’t all have the same premium features the Razer keyboard offers, so it’s best to compare the options directly.
Performance
First, it was rather tricky to use without a wrist rest. The board’s tall profile makes typing at a high angle tricky, even without using the adjustable feet. Since it doesn’t come with one, I recommend getting a wrist rest with the board to save your wrists from strain.
Otherwise, the typing experience was very clicky, with an iconic Razer sound and green switches under the keycaps. When the switch noise and the keys are combined, the keyboard is quite loud, especially in an office. This also makes the actuation force stronger to overcome and having to press the key harder.
But in general, it provided a good typing and gaming experience. Once you get used to the loud or drown it out with your headphones. The board’s connectivity is a great combination, too, allowing you to change between the modes quickly and efficiently to provide the best user control.
The software’s usability is also decent once you navigate the plethora of Razer programs to find the right one. However, the controls in Synapse and Chroma, including macros, controls, and individual RGB, give you plenty of customizability and integration, which is ideal for a broader Razer environment.
It also lets you control the snap tap capability, which allows you to strafe and peak with the best possible capability. Of course, some games, including Counter-Strike 2, are reducing it’s usability, so be sure not to enable it when playing those. It also comes with the Hyperspeed dongle, so you should have the reactive low-latency option for wireless play, too.
Verdict
- Form factor: 65%
- Key switches: Razer Green Mechanical
- Keycaps: Doubleshot ABS
- Connectivity: 2.4GHz, BT, USB-C
- Dimensions: 320x130x41mm
- Weight: 700g
Overall, the Razer Blackwidow V3 Mini Hyperspeed is an excellent piece of equipment. Its compact build, reactiveness, and fast connection make it a rather impressive and pleasant-to-use board, especially with the software’s added features and controls.
However, it is slightly more expensive than the competition, so it might be worth the investment or trying to find it on sale. You’ll also want to check what switches you’re getting, as the greens are a bit loud and not to everyone’s taste.
