Razer Deathstalker V2 Pro Review

Worth When Reviewed

$249.99

Greatest Costs At present: Razer Deathstalker V2 Professional keyboard

$249.00

$249.99

After a decade or extra of gaming keyboards being synonymous with massive, thicc (word the 2 Cs!) MX-style switches, it seems to be as if skinny is in as soon as once more. Razer’s right here to fulfill the pattern with an replace to its Deathstalker line. Beforehand a collection of extremely–modern, ultra-slim boards, the brand new Deathstalker Professional makes use of low-profile mechanical switches to land someplace between the brand new and the previous. 

Razer has put nearly each certainly one of its premium options into this design, with the notable exception of its analog switches, which haven’t gotten the miniaturization therapy but. Past that, it’s the overall gaming goodness you’re acquainted with, plus dual-channel wi-fi, a snazzy quantity wheel, and a devoted media button. 

Is that sufficient for a $250 keyboard? Frankly, no. However in the event you really feel like treating your self (or a gamer reward recipient), it’ll be a pleasant change of tempo from the chunky establishment. 

Deathstalker V2 Professional: Options 

The Deathstalker V2 Professional is the largest and most costly of a trio of latest boards. It is available in the identical full-size type issue, sans wi-fi powers, or in a extra compact wi-fi and tenkeyless design. Past that you just get the selection between clicky or linear switches — most players will desire the latter. It is available in any colour you need, as long as you need black (white coming finally!), however Razer’s typical per-key RGB Chroma lighting is current, sans any embellishment on the aspect and backside. 

Michael Crider/IDG

Razer’s low-profile switches are a little bit stiff in comparison with the bigger MX-style keys with longer key journey, nevertheless it’s straightforward sufficient to get used to them. They’re way more snug than the super-skinny Extremely Cherry Low Profile seen on the marginally costlier Corsair K100 Air and roughly corresponding to the Kailh Choc keys which have been in the marketplace for some time. In the event you’re used to any mechanical board (or a very good laptop computer keyboard), you’ll really feel proper at dwelling. 

Michael Crider/IDG

These low-profile keys make the keyboard notably extra modern than Razer’s standard designs. With a peak of only one inch on the thickest (about 1.75″ with the dual-stage ft totally prolonged), it’s straightforward to toss in a bag…as long as your bag can accommodate its full-size size of a tad over 17 inches. Go for the TKL design in the event you want one thing a bit extra compact. 

Deathstalker V2 Professional: Skinny is In

The obvious addition on the highest of the board is the comfortable, extra-wide quantity scroll wheel on the far proper. This has turn into one thing of an ordinary in premium designs, nevertheless it’s well-implemented right here: a stable steel wheel with comfortable kerning enables you to scroll confidently. It’s a little bit tough to get the downward push (a la a gamepad joystick) to set quantity to mute by default — I usually discovered myself scrolling a bit after urgent and thus canceling the mute motion. The play/pause button to the left is okay, and straightforward to tell apart. 

Michael Crider/IDG

The aluminum high extends to the edges earlier than transitioning to a weight-saving plastic backside. On the highest edge, you’ll discover a energy toggle that switches between Bluetooth and a pair of.4GHz wi-fi (with 1000Hz, 1ms “HyperSpeed” tech, actually too quick for me to measure) when not within the “off” place. There are additionally three devoted gadget buttons, a useful change from tucking that function within the perform layer. 

Michael Crider/IDG

It’s a wise format. Whereas I desire a little bit extra key journey, I used to be in a position to transition to the Deathstalker on my typical video games with no bother. Once more, it was way more snug than the Corsair K100 Air on the intense finish of the thinness meter. Battery life was a few week of standard use (together with hours of typing for work day by day) with the lights on medium. In the event you can reside with out them, Razer claims virtually 200 hours of use, a determine I’ve no purpose to doubt. 

Deathstalker V2 Professional: Software program 

Razer’s Synapse driver system has turn into easier and extra easy over time, a much-appreciated change. I additionally like the way you don’t must log in to make modifications, despite the fact that Synapse makes it actually clear that it needs you to. The fast hyperlinks for reprogramming the scroll wheel are useful — by default, you possibly can set it to manage customary quantity, mic quantity, customary mouse-style scrolling, web page zoom, gadget brightness, or scroll by means of Home windows apps. 

Michael Crider/IDG

In any other case the software program is its typical, serviceable self, with an enormous quantity of lighting and device-linking choices. You additionally get the selection to set time-outs for lighting and the wi-fi power-saving mode, which takes a second to wake the keyboard up. 

Sadly with the intention to get that programming to stay, it’s essential to maintain Synapse put in and operating. I’ve seen comparable limitations on the built-in profiles earlier than (see additionally left and proper scrolling on Razer mice). It’d be good if Razer may discover a method round this limitation, as a result of in the intervening time it appears like an intentional omission to maintain Synapse round. 

Deathstalker V2 Professional: Nonetheless Too Dear 

Other than only one software program limitation and a barely finicky mute button — which you’ll simply program round — it’s laborious to search out any low factors for the Deathstalker. Aside from the $250 worth, after all. I understand that there are quite a lot of $200+ keyboards on the market, however that doesn’t imply any of them are pretty priced, and the Deathstalker’s low-profile keys aren’t a function that calls for such a premium. 

Michael Crider/IDG

To justify this expense, the keyboard would wish one thing with extra oomph in its spec sheet. Extra dramatic lighting, unbelievable battery life, the power to rework and roll out, heck, I’d even take a wrist relaxation. There’s a notable lack of 1, regardless of some very comfortable Razer wrist rests included in keyboards just like the Huntsman and Blackwidow (the latter of which is cheaper than the Deathstalker). 

In comparison with comparable choices just like the Logitech G915, the Deathstalker is costly. In comparison with price range choices from Redragon and Keychron, it’s exorbitant. It’s a pleasant board in order for you one thing sleeker than regular and also you’re already invested in Razer’s ecosystem. However for normal players, it’s simply too costly to advocate.