Razer Huntsman V3 Pro TKL – Counter-Strike 2 Edition review — Breath of fresh fire

I’ve recently made the mistake of getting into Counter-Strike 2. Watching and learning it via the esport has been fun, so it was time to make the jump. As a controller player, however, it meant it was time to adjust better with keyboard and mouse. I have a ton of great options at my disposal, but so far I’ve been more focused on a mouse. With Razer’s DeathAdder V4 Pro nailing that aspect, figuring out what keyboard I wanted to use has been my current objective. While there are a lot of amazing ones – even ones I’ve recently reviewed – the latest CS2 edition of the Huntsman V3 Pro TKL has landed on my desk, and I’m not sure it’ll leave anytime soon.

In the stylish, CS2-adorned box, you’ll find the Razer Huntsman V3 Pro TKL – Counter-Strike 2 Edition gaming keyboard, a magnetic, leatherette wrist rest, and a USB-C cable for connecting the keyboard to your PC. I’ve always liked wrist rests, but this one might take the cake. As someone who has recently dealt with cubital tunnel syndrome, the comfort this wrist rest provides is tremendous. It’s somehow both firm enough for good support, yet pliable enough to be comfy. All that, and it’s absolutely breathtaking with the Dragon Lore skin gracing it in all its majesty.

Taking the Huntsman V3 Pro TKL out of the box, its premium quality is immediately prevalent. Everything from the brushed aluminum top plate, to the textured doubleshot PBT keycaps, to the dial and function buttons at the top right, accompanied by the small control indicators above your directional keys, is first-rate. Given that the Huntsman V3 Pro TKL costs a pretty penny at $219.99 (with this CS2 one topping out at $269.99), it’s nice to see bang for your buck in that department.

Underneath the keycaps are Razer’s own Gen-2 analog optical switches. These operate at the speed of light… literally. Using light to measure your presses, these switches are incredibly accurate, something I don’t feel I often write about in regards to a keyboard. We’re talking about a level that surprises me; even my YouTube scrubbing feels precise. You eventually gain the muscle memory to get the most out of any gaming keyboard, but Razer’s optical switches don’t need your help to be their best. Add in the ability to fine-tune your actuation, and you’ve got one impressive gaming keyboard here.

That said, day-to-day use isn’t as smooth as I’d like it to be. Typing out something like this review can still be done easily, but I’m not as comfortable with it. It may be the springy nature of the switches, or I need to adjust the actuation of them, or maybe the presses feel too light, but something is off. Again, it’s a minor annoyance, but after a few weeks of using it for my day job and writing, I’ve yet to adapt.

Gaming, on the other hand, is a dream. This is certainly what the Huntsman V3 Pro TKL is made for. As should be obvious, my main area of testing was in Counter-Strike 2. Every other keyboard I have has performed admirably, but there was a new echelon of fluidity I felt moving around the maps, swapping gear, and more. Part of that is the precision of the optical switches, but whatever they’ve put together here works wonders.

One of the reasons for the brilliant performance of the Huntsman V3 Pro TKL is the ease of accessible personalization. While the Synapse app still does a tremendous job at allowing you to make changes to your keyboard, on-board and on-the-fly adjustments are also possible. By simply hitting a specific key combination, your Huntsman will switch to a new mode, allowing you to swap between profiles, change your actuation, and even enable Quick Trigger modification.

There are multiple profiles built into the Huntsman V3 Pro TKL you can move between, with specialized configurations that can even mimic a controller. Quick Actuation Point Adjustment lets you spin your digital dial to choose how quickly your key press is recognized, with an indicator light giving you an exact cue as to your current level. Your Rapid Trigger adjustment also follows this, allowing you to choose your sensitivity. The previous two modes also have testing capabilities enabled when you’re making these adjustments, which is a nice touch, allowing you to be sure of your changes. Razer has truly thought of everything a player might need in a pinch; it’s no wonder a renowned Counter-Strike player like NiKo uses one, along with many others. ProSettings recognized the Huntsman V3 Pro TKL as the top choice and the #1 Esports Keyboard used by Esports Pros in their rankings as of August 2024, and it remains among the best options even now.

For those unfamiliar with Rapid Trigger, along with the Snap Tap mode, let me break it down. Rapid Trigger recognizes your key release at a quicker rate, allowing you to stop on a dime. This helps you to shoot more accurately as well, given that most games penalize you for moving and shooting at the same time. Snap Tap also enhances your movement, not actuating both of your A and D keys at the same time to let you counter-strafe effectively. This functionality is done so well that Valve will literally ban you for using it in Counter-Strike 2, so make sure it’s off before you drop onto, say, Dust II. Both of these features amplify the potency of the Huntsman V3 Pro TKL, giving you an advantage over other players.

Your keyboard will also look better than anyone else’s around. I’ve already talked about how slick the Counter-Strike 2 Edition is, but the underlying RGB lighting is outstanding. I like my gaming keyboard like I like my Christmas trees: flashy, loud, and full of different lighting styles. Through Synapse – which has a ton of customization options for function along with form – you can make this keyboard your own, with Chroma giving you a suite of settings to alter to your heart's content. I love it when both software and hardware combine to give you the most out of your devices, and Razer has this down to a science.