Razer DeathStalker V2 Pro Review: Reviving a Classic with a Modern Twist
Unleashing the power of gaming with the Razer DeathStalker V2 Pro, a gaming keyboard that redefines the genre with its low-profile design, full RGB backlighting, seamless connectivity, and impressive build quality. Navigate our comprehensive review to discover why this keyboard is turning heads in the gaming community.
Today, I bring to you an in-depth review of the Razer DeathStalker V2 Pro, a much-anticipated keyboard upgrade in the gaming community.
Razer has a well-deserved reputation for delivering high-quality gaming peripherals, and the DeathStalker V2 Pro is no exception. This successor to the ten-year-old DeathStalker model promises to elevate your gaming experience with its redesigned features and enhanced performance.
Whether you're a hardcore gamer seeking a competitive edge, or a casual user looking for a versatile keyboard for both work and play, I'll help you determine if this keyboard is right for you. We'll dive deep into its design, performance, and overall user experience. The review draws on extensive testing and customer feedback, offering an unbiased and thorough evaluation.
So, without further ado, let's delve into the world of the Razer DeathStalker V2 Pro and find out what it has to offer!
The Razer DeathStalker V2 Pro is targeted towards gamers seeking a full-featured, low-profile, wireless keyboard with RGB lighting and excellent build quality. The keyboard's multiple connection options, including Bluetooth and HyperSpeed 2.4 GHz wireless, make it versatile for use across different devices and operating systems, although it is fully compatible with Windows.
- Full RGB backlighting with individually-backlit keys
- Excellent build quality with aluminum top plate
- Supports pairing with up to three devices simultaneously
- Low-profile design provides comfort without wrist rest
- Extra features like volume roller, dedicated media controls, and programmable keys
- High price point
- Slightly finicky mute button
- Lack of wrist rest
- Software limitation - requires Synapse to be running to maintain some programming changes
- Noticable wobble in keys, especially modifier keys
Overall, the Razer DeathStalker V2 Pro offers a unique blend of gaming-focused features, solid build quality, and comfortable typing experience. Its comprehensive RGB lighting, dedicated media controls, and versatile wireless options provide users with a seamless experience. Despite its few drawbacks, such as its high price and lack of wrist rest, it is highly recommended for gamers and users who value comfort and feature richness in their keyboards.
Test Results
Design
The Razer DeathStalker V2 Pro boasts a sleek, refined design that caters to the needs of discerning gamers. Let's dive into the dimensions, build quality, ergonomics, backlighting, connectivity, and extra features that make this keyboard stand out.
The Razer DeathStalker V2 Pro, while being a full-size keyboard, isn't designed for portability. Its weight, significantly heavier than anticipated at 1.6 pounds, deters portability. However, its overall dimensions make it compact. At its thickest, it's just an inch (increasing to 1.75 with the feet fully extended), while the length slightly surpasses 17 inches.
Boasting a sturdy build, the DeathStalker V2 Pro combines an aluminum top plate and a plastic body. The quality build extends to the ABS plastic keycaps, designed to resist shine and show enhanced toughness over time. However, there's noticeable wobble in the keys, particularly the modifier keys, which might be a trade-off for some users.
The keyboard's low-profile design and two incline settings make for comfortable usage, despite the absence of a wrist rest. The key stiffness might take some getting used to but is generally agreeable. One minor quirk to note is the slightly tricky mute function via downward push on the volume scroll wheel.
Full RGB backlighting with individually-backlit keys makes for excellent readability in low light. However, without the RGB lighting, it might be hard to recognize this as a gaming keyboard. You can easily customize the lighting via software, providing a personal touch to the keyboard.
The keyboard showcases dual-channel wireless connectivity. You can connect it via Bluetooth or through Razer's HyperSpeed 2.4 GHz USB receiver. The latter ensures low latency, crucial for gaming. The keyboard can pair with up to three Bluetooth devices simultaneously, providing versatility in connections.
The DeathStalker V2 Pro comes equipped with a multitude of extra features. These include a programmable volume roller and media button, full macro-programmability, and a game mode hotkey that disables certain keys to prevent accidental presses during gameplay. The ABS keycaps resist oil accumulation, maintaining a clean look even after prolonged usage.
Typing Experience
Next, we will discuss the typing experience on the DeathStalker V2 Pro, which is crucial for gamers and typists alike. We'll touch on the keystrokes, typing quality, typing noise, and latency of this full-sized, low-profile gaming keyboard.
The low-profile optical switches in the Razer DeathStalker V2 Pro are reminiscent of a good laptop keyboard and similar to Kailh Choc keys. Despite a slightly stiff feel, they're easy to get used to. The switches, offering a smooth actuation without a tactile bump, have a very short pre-travel and total travel distance. This design makes them highly responsive, though some users consider them a bit mushy and find little difference in performance compared to conventional mechanical switches.
Typing on the DeathStalker V2 Pro can be comfortable for a range of uses, including gaming and work-related tasks. The ABS plastic keycaps feel pleasant on the fingertips, but the spacing between keys may feel slightly cramped. Key wobble is noticeable, particularly on larger keys which also exhibit a distinct rattle when pressed. This issue can potentially be mitigated with some modifications. While the low-profile keycaps' high actuation force can lead to fewer typos and missed inputs, the mushiness of the switches may not appeal to everyone.
The typing noise varies depending on the switches used. Linear Red switches are quiet, offering a stealthy typing experience. However, Purple switches, being clicky, could be louder. The keyboard does not incorporate sound dampening foam, potentially affecting the acoustic experience for users particular about their keyboard's sound.
The Razer DeathStalker V2 Pro delivers an extremely low-latency experience, thanks to the 1000Hz, 1ms “HyperSpeed” tech. This feature enhances the keyboard's performance, ensuring a responsive gaming experience. There's no noticeable difference in latency when the keyboard is used wired or wirelessly via the Receiver.
Software
Finally, the software aspect of this keyboard plays a major role in its performance and customization. We will look at its programming capabilities and compatibility with different operating systems.
In programming, the key attribute is the capability to record macros directly on the keyboard and save them to the onboard memory. The product offers full macro-programmability on any key, allowing for high customization. Moreover, it has programmable media and volume controls via Synapse software. A potential drawback is that to maintain some programming changes, Synapse needs to be installed and running continuously.
With regard to compatibility, this keyboard stands out for its ability to switch between connections with up to three Bluetooth devices. The software, however, is only compatible with Windows, which could limit its use with other operating systems. It is fully compatible with all major operating systems, which further enhances its versatility.
Customer Reviews
In order to gain a deeper understanding of the product, we delve into customer reviews. The customer insights will provide a more holistic view of the product and help future customers make more informed decisions.
Benefits
Customers have expressed satisfaction with a number of features of the keyboard. Many found the keyboard to be sturdy and stable, with keycaps that resist absorbing oil and maintain a clean, matte texture even with extensive use. The switches were described as having a better feel, even when compared to tactile switches from other brands. A unique highlight of the keyboard is its volume scroll wheel, which provides tactile feedback, a marked improvement over some competitors.
The keyboard's aesthetic is well-received, being described as more compact and professional-looking than some of its counterparts. The usage of USB-C over micro USB and the ability to connect to three Bluetooth devices simultaneously are features that customers appreciated. The wireless function was applauded, with one customer finding the pairing process particularly easy.
Complaints
On the other hand, the customer reviews indicate a few areas of concern. A common complaint centers around the product's battery life, described as relatively short due to the keyboard's use of optical switches that require more power. Another issue customers encountered involves the keyboard's inability to connect to Bluetooth devices while charging, which some users found inconvenient.
The durability of the keyboard was also brought up, with one user mentioning that the spacebar showed wear after a period of use. Some customers highlighted the lack of a number pad and a wrist rest as downsides. There were also a few criticisms related to the design of the keyboard, with users noting issues with key travel and activation points of the switches, leading to typing errors.
Customer Conclusion
Overall, customers have mixed feelings about the keyboard. They admire its sturdy design, tactile switches, professional aesthetic, and convenient features like multiple Bluetooth connections. However, they are also cognizant of its limitations, such as its battery life, connectivity limitations while charging, and some design choices. For potential customers, the decision should hinge on which aspects they prioritize more – the benefits or the downsides.
Customer Questions/Answers
What distinguishes a linear optical switch from a clicky optical switch?
The clicky optical switch is tactile, with a feel similar to a typewriter. It makes a clicking sound upon pressing. On the other hand, the linear optical switch operates silently and smoothly.
Can I use a standard keycap puller for easy cleaning?
Yes, you can use a regular keycap puller. The keycaps are of the same shape but shorter.
No, this product has been discontinued.
What is the default lighting when the product is switched on, especially if Synapse is banned?
Without using Synapse, the default lighting cycles through the RGB spectrum.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Razer DeathStalker V2 Pro is a strong contender in the world of gaming keyboards. It successfully combines top-tier functionality, quality build, and elegant design, ensuring it stands out from the crowd.
Its low-profile, full-sized design, complemented by RGB backlighting, makes it visually appealing. The keyboard's build quality, featuring a mix of aluminum and plastic, promises durability. Furthermore, the use of low-profile switches offers a responsive and satisfying typing experience, especially useful in high-speed gaming scenarios.
However, there are some points of contention. The lack of a wrist rest and the somewhat stiff keys might affect comfort over prolonged use. The price point might also deter some buyers. Moreover, its software compatibility is limited to Windows, which could be a drawback for users of other operating systems.
Despite these minor hitches, the Razer DeathStalker V2 Pro comes through as a reliable and high-performing keyboard. Whether you're gaming or typing, this keyboard offers a solid user experience. It's certainly a keyboard to consider if you're in the market for a new gaming companion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the DeathStalker V2 Pro worth it?
Whether the DeathStalker V2 Pro is worth it depends on your specific needs and preferences. The keyboard offers a sturdy build, versatile connectivity, full RGB backlighting, and a low-profile design. It's an excellent choice for gamers who need quick key presses due to its shorter travel distance and high responsiveness. However, the keyboard is relatively pricey, and it might be a turn-off for some users that a wrist rest is not included. Overall, it provides high performance, making it worth considering for serious gamers.
Is the Razer DeathStalker V2 Pro quiet?
The noise level of the Razer DeathStalker V2 Pro largely depends on the type of switches used. The Linear Red switches on this keyboard are quiet, providing a smooth and silent typing experience. However, the lack of sound dampening foam may affect the acoustic experience for some users. So while it's not the quietest keyboard on the market, it should be satisfactory for most users, especially those who prefer a silent gaming setup.
Is the Razer DeathStalker discontinued?
The original Razer DeathStalker keyboard has been discontinued, but Razer has introduced the DeathStalker V2 Pro as a successor. The V2 Pro features several upgrades and improvements over its predecessor, including full RGB backlighting, wireless connectivity, and a more robust build. Hence, while the original model is discontinued, the DeathStalker line continues with the V2 Pro.
What type of switches does the Razer DeathStalker V2 Pro use?
The Razer DeathStalker V2 Pro uses low-profile versions of optical, mechanical switches. Specifically, it uses Linear Red Low Profile Optical switches, which offer smooth actuation without a tactile bump. These switches have a very short pre-travel and total travel distance, making them highly responsive and ideal for gamers who need fast keypresses.
What is the battery life of the Razer DeathStalker V2 Pro?
The Razer DeathStalker V2 Pro offers approximately 40 hours of battery life, making it a reliable choice for long gaming sessions. It connects wirelessly via Bluetooth, and also supports Razer's HyperSpeed 2.4 GHz USB receiver. Please note that battery life may vary depending on the backlighting settings and usage.