Razer's BlackWidow keyboard returns with tougher keycaps and brighter lights

Razer BlackWidow V3
(Image credit: Razer)

For the past decade, Razer has been cranking out mechanical gaming keyboards under the BlackWidow banner, starting with the original model way back in 2010. Razer's latest version, the BlackWidow V3, ups the ante with some interesting upgrades. Chief among them is doubleshot ABS keycaps.

That essentially means there are two layers of plastic in the construction of each keycap. This serves a dual purpose—the added layer makes them tougher, and it also protects the lettering from rubbing off (since the lettering sits under the second layer). 

"Unlike traditional lit keycaps, which use printed lettering, the doubleshot molding process has the lettering molded into the structure of the keycap, meaning it will never wear away, even after thousands of hours of use. And for additional durability and stability, the doubleshot ABS keycaps are molded with extra-thick walls, making them tough enough to withstand even the most heavy-handed of players," Razer says.

That is true of doubleshot ABS keycaps in general. However, they can still develop an unwanted shine over time from oils on your fingers and repeated rubbing/typing, which is not a problem with PBT keycaps. Still, doubshot ABS is a step up over regular ABS.

Perfect peripherals

(Image credit: Colorwave)

Best gaming mouse: the top rodents for gaming
Best gaming keyboard: your PC's best friend...
Best gaming headset: don't ignore in-game audio

Compared to previous BlackWidow models, Razer says the V3 variants uses improved keys switches and has brighter RGB lighting, the latter of which comes by way of a new transparent house on the switches.

Razer is offering the BlackWidow V3 in a full-size variant and in a 'tenkeyless' model. The full-size model features dedicated media keys and a multi-function digital roller, which the tenkeyless model eschews for a more compact design. Both offer fully programmable keys with on-the-fly macro recording, N-key roll-over, and a gaming mode option.

The BlackWidow V3 is priced at $140 and the BlackWidow V3 Tenkeyless costs $100. Both are available now. There is also a wireless variant, the BlackWidow V3 Pro, priced at $230.

Paul Lilly

Paul has been playing PC games and raking his knuckles on computer hardware since the Commodore 64. He does not have any tattoos, but thinks it would be cool to get one that reads LOAD"*",8,1. In his off time, he rides motorcycles and wrestles alligators (only one of those is true).

Latest in Gaming Keyboards
The NES themed 8BitDo Retro mechanical gaming keyboard on a blue background
I love the 8BitDo Retro C64 keyboard but I'd pick its cheaper NES-themed model near its lowest price ever during Amazon's Big Spring Sale
The Razer Huntsman Mini 60% gaming keyboard floats in the teal PC Gamer deal void. The per-key RGB lights are on.
The most adorable Razer keyboard features not only an almost half-size form factor, but an almost half-size price at only $70
SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 on a blue background
My favourite rapid trigger keyboard is back at its lowest price and comes with a cute OLED screen to show game info (or a cat)
a picture of Attoparsec's 'ten hundred letter getter', a keyboard with 1,000 words on it.
'I made the world's worst keyboard': This YouTuber's homemade board has over 1,000 keys and types in words, not letters
The Cherry MX 8.2 Wireless Xaga gaming keyboard sits on a large mouse mat depicting a nebula. This visual motif ties into the shooting star design on the keyboard's space bar. The keyboard's RGB lights are on, but the design on the space bar is opaque, so the RGB lights only shine through the frosted sides of the keyboard's alphanumeric keycaps.
Cherry MX 8.2 TKL Wireless XAGA review
The Cherry Xtrfy K4V2 TKL gaming keyboard on top of a mouse pad depicting a nebula. The keyboard is grey with red accent keys, a grey braided wire, and the bright RGB lights switched on.
Cherry Xtrfy K4V2 TKL review
Latest in News
An Enshrouded player in a recreation of Erebor from The Lord of the Rings
Kings under the Mountain! 33 Enshrouded players spent 10,000 hours to recreate this iconic location from The Lord of the Rings
A mech awakens.
Mecha Break developer is considering unlocking all mechs following open beta feedback
Lara Croft Unified Art
Tomb Raider developer Crystal Dynamics lays off 17 employees 'to better align our current business needs and the studio's future success'
A long bendy arm stealing money from people in a subway car
'You're a very long arm. You steal things. It's a comedy game,' explains developer of comedy game where you steal things with a very long arm
The heroes are attacked by monsters
Pillars of Eternity is getting turn-based combat to mark its 10th anniversary, and that means PC Gamer editors will soon be arguing about combat mechanics again
Image of Ronaldo from Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves trailer
It doesn't really make sense that soccer star Ronaldo is now a Fatal Fury character, but if you follow the money you can see how it happened