Overall for the keyboard
After the Razer Blackwidow V3, another Razer keyboard passes through my hands. This is the Huntsman V2 Analog. Its price makes you cry, as 250 euros is a tremendously high amount for a keyboard, even if it comes from Razer, a company that has not accustomed us to low prices. What does the Huntsman V2 Analog offer and asks for gold? We will see everything in today's video.
First of all, this particular keyboard is equipped with analog, optical switches and not with the classic mechanical ones, hence the astronomical price. Its switches are linear and you can adjust the actuation distance to suit your needs. Additionally, you can activate the analog mode where each key can perform more than one function, depending on how you press it. Apart from the excellent switches, which unfortunately are not clicky, this keyboard also comes with an amazing wrist rest that attaches magnetically to the keyboard and has RGB lighting on the bottom! The Huntsman also has similar lighting, along with fully programmable keys and a USB passthrough port.
Just like in the analog Wooting keyboards, which were the first to offer analog-optical switches, in order to take advantage of the analog mode, it must be supported by the respective game (games that support controllers - gamepads will be compatible). How can you now use an analog keyboard in a game? Imagine the classic scenario of the W key, which is used to move the character forward. When you lightly press it, the character walks, but when you press it harder, the character's feet hit his head from the recoil.
The build quality is superb, not that I would expect anything less from a keyboard that costs 250 euros. It has an aluminum plate that adds points, but it will also contribute to increased noise if you press the keys hard and they bottom out on it. As usual, the back of the keyboard is plastic, but of good quality, and the stands can be adjusted to two levels.
What you will find inside the box
In addition to the keyboard itself, inside the box you will find the wrist rest, some stickers, and the instruction manual. There is no tool for removing the keycaps and there are also no spare keycaps. Okay, they are PBT, meaning they are expensive, but include some spare ones!
Switches
The big difference between analog mechanical switches and classic mechanical switches is how each interprets the key press. In the latter, which are also the most common ones so far, there are only two states, 0 (not pressed) and 1 (pressed). On the other hand, analog switches offer more states as they function like the contacts of joysticks, so they inform the system how hard the user is pressing the key. This information can be useful in many games. Apart from the classic example of character running, other examples can be found in racing games where the steering can be either smooth or abrupt, and in other games where the character, after pressing the corresponding button, will either walk crouched or crawl on the ground to avoid a monster.
The great advantage for gamers is that with the optical switches, you can easily adjust the activation distance, bringing them to your liking depending on the game. Through Synapse, you can set the activation distance from 1.5mm to 3.6mm, with the ability to adjust it by a tenth of a millimeter. Depending on the activation distance you set, the force required to activate the button also changes, from 54g for 1.5mm to 74g for 3.6mm.
I don't have the equipment to confirm the Synapse settings, so I used the data from rtings, which states that the settings you choose have no relation to reality. Instead of 1.5mm to 3.6mm, you actually have 1mm to 2.98mm.
Keycaps:
As one would expect at this price, the keycaps are not made of cheap ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) material or the more expensive PBT (Polybutylene Terephthalate), so they will not shine quickly or lose their texture.
Software:
Razer's software, Synapse 3, is not too difficult to use and provides many features. You can program macros for each key, adjust the lighting and colors, and create profile configurations according to your preferences. For more advanced lighting settings, you can go to Chroma Studio, which requires some familiarity to fully utilize.
Fortunately, the keyboard has profile storage memory for up to four profiles, so you don't have to reload them every time you restart the system.
Unfortunately, it is only compatible with Windows, so if you have Linux or MacOS, you're out of luck. There is also the option to upload your settings to the cloud, so you can access them wherever you are.
Razer Synapse - How to assign two functions to the same button:
The advantage of optical switches is that you can assign two functions to the same key, depending on how much it is pressed. That's why the activation distance should be at least 2.6mm. I tried assigning a double function to the W key, which is used to move forward in all games. With a light press, the character walks, and with a stronger press, it runs (Shift + W). As you can see, it's not difficult to do this through Synapse. It just takes time if you want to assign similar functions to multiple keys.
Conclusion:
Razer's top-of-the-line and expensive keyboard impresses with its capabilities and price. I don't know many people who would spend so much money on a keyboard, but the truth is that even the Wooting keyboards with similar capabilities are not exactly budget-friendly. On the other hand, as a large company like Razer with the ability for mass production, it would have been much easier for them to offer something at a lower price, but the company has a tradition of having expensive products and obviously didn't want to deviate from that path.
However, the analog Huntsman is one of the best keyboards that have ever passed through my hands and will probably stay on my desk, although I hate the inconvenient connection cables that make any movement difficult. Also, because I have a large desk, I don't mind its dimensions, especially with the convenient wrist pad. If you don't have a large desk like me, it's better to avoid this product.
The software is generally easier than that of other companies (see Corsair), but the problem here is the extra settings that the optical switches require, which make it more complicated than usual. Just take some time to initially adjust it to your liking and then forget about the software. At least that's what I do.
The multimedia keys are convenient and personally, I don't miss the separate macro keys, although some might be helpful. Finally, the USB 3.0 port is useful, no doubt, especially for those who frequently use USB flash drives.
Full review here: https://youtu.be/JZxsrrC01Yk
Pros
• High build quality with an aluminum base for the keys
• Analog/optical switches
• Ability to adjust the actuation point of the switches
• 2 levels of actuation force
• Very convenient wrist rest (with RGB lighting)
• Separate multimedia keys and volume control
• Each key can be programmed for macros
• Fully customizable RGB lighting
• USB 3.0 passthrough port
• Many settings through Razer Synapse
• Memory for four profile settings
Cons
• High price (like most Razer products, unfortunately)
• Non-detachable cable
• Thick cable
• Synapse software requires some familiarity
• No separate macro keys
• Does not support n-key rollover (up to 11 keys)