Razer BlackWidow V4 Mini HyperSpeed review — Unlocking more potential

I never fully understood the reason to have a tenkeyless (TKL) keyboard in any setting until it was explained to me in gaming terms. Not everyone has a whole lot of desk space. Some people like to have their keyboards oriented differently for advanced keybind layouts. Still, I resisted and stuck with my full-sized keyboards, like the Corsair K70 and the Logitech G915 X. I never realized what I was missing out on until I was finally able to check out a TKL keyboard myself.

Razer was kind enough to send us their latest such device, the BlackWidow V4 Mini Hyperspeed, which has been my primary keyboard over the last few weeks for all my gaming and PC usage needs. The BlackWidow V4 Mini Hyperspeed is a 65% form factor TKL keyboard that features the latest and greatest in Razer tech. Everything you’ve come to know and love about previous Razer TKL keyboards, such as the BlackWidow V3 Mini Hyperspeed, is enhanced and improved upon to ensure you’re kept in the game, but now with more options.

There are two features in particular I’d like to highlight that help this keyboard stand out from its predecessors, and the competition, the first of which is the hot-swappable switches. While the BlackWidow V4 Mini comes pre-loaded with the Razer Orange Tactile Switches, you’re able to swap those out with any compatible 3 or 5-pin switches using the included tool, including the Razer Green Clicky Mechanical Switch and the Razer Yellow Linear Mechanical Switch. While I don’t have any other switches to swap mine out with, I still decided to check out just how easy it is to take them out and put them back, and… it isn’t, at all. All instructions say to gently pull the switches up using the switch puller, but these switches would not budge. Out of fear of potentially damaging the keyboard or the switches, I decided to cease my efforts. Maybe you will have better luck than me, but I will not be risking it.

Secondly, with the advancement of Razer Synapse, you now have advanced input priority at your fingertips with Razer Snap Tap. Using Razer Synapse 4, you can prioritize the latest input between two selected keys, meaning you won’t have to release one key for the other to get a response. I can already think of a handful of applications for this feature, including in Rainbow Six Siege (which some say I play a little too much of, but who asked?) when I need to quickly switch which way I’m running. Being able to make that quick pivot instead of stopping, even for just a split second, to make that quick adjustment can make all the difference in those clutch end-of-round situations.

Other features of this keyboard are pretty standard for Razer, including the easily swappable keycaps (comes equipped with the Phantom Pudding keycaps), Razer Chroma RGB, and up to 200 hours of battery life regardless of connectivity mode (Bluetooth or HyperSpeed Wireless) that also fully charges within 5 hours. That being said, I’ve actually not used mine enough to warrant needing to be recharged twice, especially when I turn it off when it’s not being used, so take that “up to” estimation with a grain of salt. You can monitor the health of your keyboard and customize all the settings with the new Razer Synapse 4, which boasts a complete overhaul to optimize efficiency and accessibility so that way you’re not pouring over the details for hours because you can’t find the features you need to fix. It’s also backwards compatible with Razer Synapse 3 devices.

While I can’t say the keyboard has been an absolute game changer in terms of my overall gaming performance, particularly in the competitive games that are my main focus, it has opened the doors to so many opportunities for me to customize and optimize my gaming experience. The sword is only as effective as the one who wields it. Maybe over time I’ll learn to take full advantage of what the BlackWidow V4 Mini has to offer, but until then I’m still exceedingly average at best.

It has been nice being able to maneuver the keyboard to give my mouse more space when I’m gaming, which has helped me react quicker since it takes less swipes of the mouse. I can also position the keyboard where I can better rest my arm on the desk to reduce fatigue and aches. The ergonomic features of the keyboard have been a huge plus and are much appreciated.

Another thing to appreciate is that the BlackWidow V4 Mini isn’t that hefty on the price, sitting at $129.99. Sure, it’s more than the Razer Huntsman Minis, but you’re getting more out of this keyboard with the different customization options and other features that help give it that edge. It’s also $50 less than what the V3 Mini was priced at when it came out. Of course, you also have the Razer guarantee to back your keyboard, with a 2-year warranty to keep you covered in the event it becomes defective.