I saw this go on sale and I decided to try it out as I wanted a small form factor keyboard that was black instead of the white Ducky One 2 SF that I already had, to match the mouse/pad I'm using at any given time.
This keyboard is a TKL, meaning it does not have the number pad keys on the right side of the keyboard. This is great when you use a large mouse pad or have a small desk. It is marketed towards the office user, but I'm not sure why anyone would personally go out of their way to buy this for office usage as it lacks the number pad that I use at work daily. I purchased this solely for gaming and home PC usage.
This keyboard comes with tactile switches which are a good compromise between red (linear) and blue (tactile). They appear to be slightly lubed from the factory and feel very smooth. It also has included orange colored o-rings for the switches if you want to lower the noise a bit, but I personally found they made the keyboard feel a bit mushy, like a traditional membrane keyboard so I opted to not use them. It also comes with a keycap puller to remove the keys to clean them or install the o-rings. Another nice touch is the typical Razer stickers that they include with all of their products.
My main keyboard prior to purchasing this was a Ducky One 2 SF, but with Cherry MX Brown switches. This uses Razer's "Orange" switches, which are a Brown equivalent. I'm fairly certain that they are made by Kailh, but labeled "Razer". The Ducky I use is a very vibrant, full RGB. The Blackwidow Lite only comes with white LEDs, but I'm fine with it for the price. For some odd reason, my Caps Lock key is brighter and a bit more yellow than the other keys, especially when I lower the brightness on the rest of the keys. You can adjust the brightness without the optional Razer Synapse software, which I try to avoid whenever possible. The Caps Lock key will also light up green when it is pressed.
While I prefer the Ducky in terms of feel and looks, this is a great alternative for half the price (The Razer is on sale for $60 at my time of writing this review). There are no major QC issues and everything feels very solid with its understated looks. I highly recommend this keyboard for the price.
UPDATE 10-4-20: This keyboard is still going strong, and I am using it to write this update. No issues or wear to report.
| Brand | Razer |
|---|---|
| Series | BlackWidow TE Chroma v2 |
| Item model number | RZ03-02190200-R3U1 |
| Hardware Platform | PC |
| Item Weight | 0.01 ounces |
| Product Dimensions | 8.12 x 14.58 x 0.16 inches |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 8.12 x 14.58 x 0.16 inches |
| Color | Black |
| Manufacturer | Razer Inc. |
| Language | English |
| ASIN | B0744NVPJ8 |
| Country of Origin | China |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Date First Available | August 1, 2017 |
