Razer Huntsman V3 Tenkeyless 8KHz keyboard review

It’s not always easy to review an item you’ve reviewed multiple times. Especially when this one is simply a different model. That said, there are merits to having different models, along with separate price points that can make your wallet groan slightly less. Razer understands that, and while I absolutely love the Pro model, they do have a Huntsman V3 Tenkeyless 8KHz keyboard you can purchase. Does what it lacks keep it in the running as one of the best keyboards money can buy like its brothers? Let’s discuss that premise, although I’ll spoil it a little – this is just as good.

Inside the box you’ll uncover the Huntsman V3 Tenkeyless 8KHz keyboard as well as the necessary USB-C cable. I do appreciate this model not losing the detachable nature of said cable – forced connectivity sucks. One of the omissions in this box is the wrist rest. You could do like I attempted and put the wrist rest from the Pro version in front of it, but it won’t magnetically attach and it’s a tad taller than where this model sits.

I love the brushed metal look of the aluminum top plate for the Huntsman V3 TKL 8K. It’s stylish and fits Razer’s exceptional aesthetic. Similarly, the doubleshot PBT keycaps are extremely comfortable and the same as you’ll find on others in the Huntsman line. They just feel good to the touch, which is what you want with any keyboard. Missing on this model are the dial, macro button, and multi-function media button, replaced with regular media keys you’d normally find. I’m assuming there must be some expense there, as the spacing on this keyboard hasn’t been shrunk by much – putting the V3 Pro TKL 8K on top of the V3 TKL 8K doesn’t register a difference to me.

While I’ve never been much for TKLs, Razer has thoroughly converted me through the Huntsman. I like this version, especially as the size is conducive to throwing in a backpack. Combined with the detachable USB-C, there are no issues bringing your Huntsman to a tournament or local LAN. Portability isn’t a requirement for a gaming keyboard, but it is nice to have.

Let’s talk about the most important addition to the title: 8KHz. Whenever this is a part of a device, you’ll often find me gushing about it, and for good reason. Razer’s implementation is 11% faster than even the nearest competition, leading to exceptional and responsive input registration. 8K polling rate gives such a natural feel to everything I do with a gaming mouse, and that’s been the same thing with the keyboard. One of the reasons I prefer controllers is the feeling of directional control that seems absent on a keyboard, but this improvement has made using a keyboard feel like an extension of me in ways they haven’t before. It’s probably part of the reason the typing has improved.

While it’s certainly more than just the 8K inclusion, typing on this keyboard is a dream. Razer took a close look at their Huntsman line before the 8K release, and I can certainly attest to how much better they’ve made the typing experience. Before, my key presses felt hollow and off, now, they feel methodical and impactful. It seems funny to describe simple typing in this manner, but as someone who writes upwards of sixty reviews a year of more than a thousand words, you know when a keyboard doesn’t feel right. The 8K Huntsman does, and this V3 TKL follows along in delivering the improvements. That said, I may need to adjust my actuation or something, as the sensitivity levels of the keyboard have led to my accidentally inputting or deleting characters. Given I never made any changes, however, it may just be this model.

Gaming is equally as smooth. If I’m using a mouse and keyboard to play anything at this point, I’m going to choose a Huntsman, and the V3 TKL 8K handles as expertly as the Pro series. Razer’s Analog Optical Switch Gen -2 provides near-perfect actuation, allowing you to customize your presses to your exact preference. Measured by light, each press will always be what you set it to, from the shallowest 0.1mm to the fullest 4.0mm. 

Modes like Snap Tap and Rapid Trigger are bolstered and possible via these switches, although I’d be careful with Snap Tap in Counter-Strike 2 as it’s so effective for tap strafing, it’s banned. You can still use Rapid Trigger at least, which allows you to stop on a dime when you release your movement key, which in turn helps your hit box shrink. These work across many games, and it’s just another example of Razer’s innovation outpacing even the games they’re developing these modes for.

Making your adjustments is as easy as pie, with on-board, software, and now browser-based options. While the LED indicator bar is now absent for calibrating your actuation, Razer had a slick idea to replace it. Now, when you’re in the mode for tweaking your key presses, your number row will now illuminate, showing you where the actuation is sitting. It’s a cool design choice, and makes on-board adjustments work. The same thing happens for setting your Rapid Trigger sensitivity as well.

Synapse, of course, is the software home for Razer products, and is now available in your browser. Only select models have been released since Razer’s introduction of Synapse Web, and now the Huntsman joins them with the V3 TKL 8K. You can do all kinds of tuning whether through the app or online, from important changes like the actuation, Rapid Trigger, or polling rate, and as fickle as per key RGB lighting.

Speaking of the lighting, Razer continues to be the best at giving me a bright, shiny keyboard. Legendary for their implementation of RGB lighting, you’d almost claim the RGB does in fact make this keyboard faster. Featuring plenty of presets in Chroma for a quick, flashy look or even per key lighting for something completely customizable, your V3 TKL 8K is going to look amazing.