Razer’s New Kits Are a Solid Way to Start Customizing Your Keyboard

Customizing mechanical keyboards is all the fad currently. Spend a minute on Instagram Reels or TikTok, and also you’ll see desk setups with peripherals in virtually each coloration of the rainbow. It’s a fantastic factor, particularly after many years of getting principally black-and-tan pc equipment to select from. 

Razer, the corporate behind lots of these black and decidedly masculine gaming peripherals, desires a chunk of this almost $1 billion mechanical keyboard industry. The firm is now launching a line of colourful keycaps, cables, and wrist rests to begin you on the journey towards customization. The units are all comparatively reasonably priced, too. At $50 for its PBT keycaps and $35 for its Phantom Keycap Upgrade set, Razer’s keycaps are as a lot as a set of knock-offs from Amazon. The coiled cables are available in 4 colours as a part of the PBT field units. The wrist rests are $20 every and obtainable in three sizes, together with mini, tenkeyless, and full dimension.

There are definitely trade-offs to beginning your customization journey with a mega peripheral maker like Razer. It’s a lot simpler to purchase immediately from them than discover an artisanal keycap set that matches the invoice. The fanatic neighborhood might be formidable to strategy, to not point out exclusionary. Group buys, which is how artisanal units are successfully “pre-ordered” earlier than manufacturing, additionally require lengthy lead instances. In distinction, a pre-packaged set from Razer is accessible instantly off the shelf.

These distinctive keycap units will also be prohibitively costly. A whole set can value upwards of $200 with transport. The value is usually larger to assist subsidize the artist’s exhausting work designing the keycap set, however not everybody desires to drop that type of money for the novelty of a vivid pink keyboard.

Razer is unquestionably on to one thing debuting its personal set of keyboard customization kits. Though they’re meant for Razer’s household of mechanical keyboards, they’re a approach to get initiated into the idea of customizing mechanical keyboards with out breaking the financial institution.

Razer despatched over a pile of items from its new customization lineup, together with the black-and-white variations of the Phantom Keycap Upgrade units and its PBT keycaps with matching coiled cables in 4 colours: black, Razer inexperienced, pink “quartz,” and white “mercury.” For this evaluation, I examined the white set of the Phantom Keycaps on a BlackWidow V3 Mini Hyperspeed Phantom Edition wi-fi keyboard with Razer’s inexperienced switches, that are tactical and clicky. I additionally examined the quartz-colored PBT Keycaps with matching coiled cable on a BlackWidow V3 Mini Hyperspeed wi-fi with Razer’s yellow switches, that are linear and silent. I used the Tenkeyless (TKL) version of the Razer wrist relaxation for this evaluation because it was the one one which match the width of each Blackwidow keyboards. And I did all this with lengthy nails.

Pink PBT

Let’s begin with the Razer PBT Keycap and Coiled Upgrade set, which prices $50. The set is available in a field with 4 plastic trays stacked on prime of each other. Each tray is labeled within the order wherein you need to open and set up the keycaps. The set contains 120 keycaps and is suitable with Razer’s 60%, TKL, and full-sized keyboards. Unfortunately, the set doesn’t full the Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini wi-fi. I left behind seven of the inventory black keycaps, together with the 4 navigation buttons on the final column of the keyboard.

The PBT keycaps are a bit extra premium than the Doubleshot ABS keycaps that come normal with the BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed. PBT stands for Polybutylene Terephthalate, which is a type of sturdy plastic utilized in manufacturing keycaps. It’s additionally a bit difficult to work with, which is why they’re usually pricier than the Doubleshot ABS, that are the most affordable and most typical plastic used within the trade. However, ABS keycaps can develop a sheen extra shortly, whereas PBT keycaps will final for much longer. Both of Razer’s PBT and ABS keycaps have an analogous textured really feel on prime, so you may combine and match as you want.

Razer notes the PBT improve equipment suits most cross-shaped axis switches and normal U.S. and UK layouts. There can also be a keycap puller included within the field (save your self the difficulty and buy this instead) plus a set of black stabilizers, which is a nod to anyone who might be buying this set for use on a third-party keyboard. However, it’s also helpful as you’re taking apart any Razer-made mechanical keyboard. I used too much force yanking out the spacebar, and one of the stabilizing pieces shot out and disappeared into my room. Fortunately, there was a replacement in the box, and you’ll definitely need it as the space bar can be jumpy and inaccurate without stabilizers on either end.

The coiled cable is the last part of the upgrade kit. It’s a 150mm length braided fiber cable with USB-C to USB-A connection. Under direct light, it’s a slightly paler pink than the quartz keycap set. It feels less premium than the custom Zap cable I purchased a few years ago to match my DSA Magic Girl set. The braided thread is already showing signs of wear after only a week of use. But the cable works with any USB-C keyboard, and it’s long enough for most desktop setups.

It’s challenging to test keycaps within a limited frame of time. Unlike a smartphone or computer, the only reliable benchmark is time and how the keycaps hold up against skin oils, food grease, and even sun blasting from the window adjacent to the desk. The installation experience was relatively standard, and it took me about an hour to swap out 68 keys. If you’re using a Razer keyboard, you can invite even more customization with the Synapse software, which lets you apply custom lighting across varying parts of the board. I also had no problem typing on the keycaps, which are a little taller than what I’m used to with low-profile DSA keycaps. I managed about 102 phrases per minute in a typing check.

Phantom White

The Phantom keycap improve set is supposed for a stealthier look. The backside half of the keycap is see-through, whereas the highest half is matte. The keycaps are clean on prime till you shine a line by means of them. This made them troublesome to put in, as I needed to shine a lightweight by means of each single keycap earlier than I knew what it was and the place I ought to place it on the board. I nonetheless managed to get the BlackWidow V3 Mini wi-fi kitted out inside an hour, nevertheless it was tedious.

The Phantom keycaps come bundled with 128 keycaps match for Razer’s 60%, 65%, TKL, and full-sized keyboards. There are additionally stabilizers and a keycap removing instrument within the field. This set utterly suits the BlackWidow V3 Mini wi-fi keyboard. But I obtained annoyed looking for the exact Page Up and Page Down keycaps that work on the right-hand facet. So I left that a part of the keyboard with its inventory choices.

The Phantom keycaps really feel a bit extra sturdy than the PBT set. Despite their relative uniformity, you may obtain a neat aesthetic with LED lights. I want a strong coloration look, although biking between colours can also be a pleasant contact. There is a starkness to the white keycaps on black chassis, nonetheless. The upside is you can take most of this set to a different normal keyboard and get artistic pairing it with different colours and keycaps.

Make positive that you just set up the stabilizers if one in all them pops out. I didn’t repair the area bar on the BlackWidow V3 Mini wi-fi, and I had to return and add areas after ending sentences. Also, I solely managed about 95 phrases per minute in typing checks, however that’s as a result of I are likely to sort quicker on linear switches in comparison with tactile ones.

An Affordable Starter Pack

The wrist rests are all comfortable variations of those that already include most full-size Razer keyboards. They’re tremendous snug for lengthy bouts of typing, and I’m happy there’s lastly a dimension that matches the BlackWidow V3 Mini wi-fi. There are additionally grip pads on the underside that stop the wrist relaxation from slipping round.

If you’re already invested in Razer’s huge vary of mechanical keyboards, and also you’re bored by what you’ve been working with, that is the best approach to improve with out throwing a wrench into the matrix. Even should you simply needed so as to add some coloration, sticking inside a model helps be certain that every part suits with what you have already got. For occasion, you could possibly purchase a colourful keycap set that’s available on Drop for across the identical value because the PBT improve equipment. But it would conflict with the remainder of the Razer keyboard, or the keycaps may not have the appropriate really feel relative to the remainder of the board.

Since the keycaps are standardized, Razer’s pre-packaged customization kits might additionally work for a first-time modder with a third-party board. I think about they’d pair properly with an ultra-affordable Qisan Magic Force or perhaps a Ducky One, which is well-liked with nerdy workplace staff. Overall, Razer’s off-the-shelf choices are a fantastic compromise should you’re not fairly positive how dedicated you’re to the pastime.