Razer BlackWidow Ultimate 2013 Edition Review

Introduction

The last keyboard we reviewed from Razer was the laptop style Lycosa, many moons ago. Today we're taking a look at the latest in their line of keyboards, the BlackWidow Ultimate 2013.

It's a full-on mechanical keyboard with macro functionality, backlighting, and all the bells and whistles one would expect to find on a Razer product.

As you would expect to find on a modern gaming keyboard the BlackWidow has 10-key rollover capability, which should be enough as we only have 10 digits. Also because of the macro functionality, including software based ones for more complicated macros as well as on-the-fly recording, then you shouldn't need more than 10 keys at once for even the most difficult tasks.

Unlike many of the mechanical keyboards we've reviewed the BlackWidow comes with Cherry MX Blue switches, which we'll look at on the next page, but these have an audible click when depressed. If you prefer the silent sort a 'Stealth' variant is available, but we're reviewing the vanilla, if such a word can be used, Ultimate Edition.

Technical Specifications

• Full mechanical keys with 50g actuation force
• Individually backlit keys
• 1000Hz Ultrapolling / 1ms response time
• Programmable keys with on-the-fly macro recording
• Gaming mode option for deactivation of the Windows key
• 10 customizable software profiles with on-the-fly switching
• 5 additional macro keys
• Gaming optimized key matrix for minimized ghosting
• Multi-Media Controls
• Braided fibre cable
• Audio-Out / Mic-In Jacks
• USB-Passthrough
• Approximate Size : 475 mm / 18.70” (Width) x 171 mm / 6.73” (Height) x 30 mm / 1.18” (Depth)
• Approximate Weight: 1500 g / 3.31 lbs