The Razer Huntsman V2 is an impressive optical gaming keyboard that boasts some of the fastest key response times on the market. With its 8000hz polling rate and Razer’s optical switches, the Huntsman is the perfect keyboard for quiet fast-paced gaming sessions. However, despite some new features and a solid build quality the Huntsman V2 still has some issues that may not justify its upper-end price tag.
Predator or Prey -What Gives the Razer Huntsman V2 a Killer Edge?
So, the Huntsman V2 is a great keyboard and there is no getting away from that. It has customizable RGB backlighting through the Razer Synapse software, two incline settings, and a comfortable leatherette wrist rest that attaches to the keyboard through some solid built-in magnets.
Focusing on the overall materials used on the Huntsman, the keyboard comes with Razer double shot PBT keycaps as standard. These highly customisable keycaps are more durable and long-lasting than their standard ABS counterpart, showing off yet another premium feature. The solid keycaps combined with a hard-wearing Aluminium top plate show that Razer has pulled out the stops while making the Huntsman as reliable as possible. Although these are small features, they definitely add to the overall premium build quality of the Huntsman V2. The braided USB cable also shows that the Huntsman is meant to last.
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As for dedicated macro keys, there aren’t any on the Huntsman V2, but with the use of Synapse 3 software, you can set macros to any key directly on the board. Although the Synapse software does provide an added edge of flexibility, the lack of dedicated macros on a high-end keyboard may be jarring for some. The keyboard itself also provides Low latency keystrokes that allow it to excel as a gaming keyboard. The Razer Linear Optical switches have a very short pre-travel distance and a light operating force, providing a very responsive feel.
The Huntsman V2 leans into Razer’s Analog Optical Switches, allowing for fully customizable keys that enhance your gaming and typing experiences. With in-depth user-configurable key switch actuation Razer has gone several steps past the competition. Again the Synapse software allows you to customize your keyboard with a literal mouse click.
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The inclusion of a Hypershift mode through Razer Synapse allows you to enable a secondary function to each key depending on what you are using it for. The software also gives the option of a “Gaming” mode that automatically disables any keys that may disrupt your gameplay experience such as the Windows key and Alt + F4.
One of the best ease-of-use features on the Huntsman is the dedicated onboard media playback controls. With some tactile pause, play and skip buttons, plus a sleek volume dial you can control your media easily without having to disrupt any work or play you are using the keyboard for. The volume button can also be adjusted in Synapse to be used for more than just volume control. This handy scroll wheel can be assigned to handle brightness control and the user’s microphone volume if calibrated to the correct setting.
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In terms of in-game performance, the Huntsman’s 8000hz polling rate provides the ultimate low-latency gaming experience. For this review, the Huntsman V2 was tested on a few fast-paced shooters including Valorant and Call of Duty Warzone 2 providing a noticeable smooth and fast-reacting experience. Although it won’t make you any better at games, the fraction of a second advantage the Huntsman V2 does give will at least let you shoot first and ask questions later.
However, while it has all these new features compared to its predecessor, the Huntsman V2 still has some flaws that keep it from being perfect. While it is very well-built, the larger keys do wobble a bit, and some of them have a different sound and feel than the smaller keys on board, leading to a weird but notable bit of inconsistency in quality. As mentioned before the lack of dedicated Macro keys may cause some keyboard purists to look at cheaper boards that include dedicated keys instead of splashing out on the Huntsman V2.
Although the hyper-reactive keystrokes are great while playing games, while using the Huntsman for general day-to-day typing I found the linear switches occasionally too sensitive for typing. Some of these issues could be ignored if not for the eyewatering price of the basic Huntsman V2 being £199.99/$199.99. I will also note that the version of the Huntsman V2 used in this review is the PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS Edition which comes in at a staggering £249.99/$229.99.
Overall, the Huntsman V2 is an exceptional gaming keyboard; If you have the money to splash out on it. It has all the bells and whistles of a modern keyboard but provides a heightened experience with Razer’s patented version of Linear Optical Switches. With unparalleled customisation and durability, the Razer Huntsman V2 is a dream gaming keyboard at an extremely high-end price point.
8/10
Razer Huntsman V2 – Linear Optical Switch – PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS Edition was provided for Review By Razer.
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