Razer‘s Huntsman lineup is nothing short of iconic, and over the years, it has evolved immeasurably, especially in the esports space. The latest iteration in the series is the Razer Huntsman V3 HE Magnetic 8KHz Tenkeyless keyboard, which is a bit of a mouthful, but it’s a necessary name that perfectly highlights the innovation under (and on) the hood of this masterful peripheral.
This streamlined alternative to the well-established optical series drops those familiar switches for Hall Effect magnetic technology, which is quickly becoming the de facto standard in the gaming accessory business. I’ve been taking the new Razer Huntsman V3 HE TKL for a spin, and I’m nothing short of drastically impressed by it.
Razer Huntsman V3 HE TKL Looks Great, Feels Better
There’s no doubting the fact that I’m a fan of the minimalist design approach Razer has taken with the Huntsman V3 HE TKL. It’s a relatively unassuming, black keyboard that boasts a floating keycap layout atop a brushed aluminum plate. That’s relatively run-of-the-mill, but it’s so good because it works every time. It feels durable and looks clean (even if it showcases dust and crumbs something awful).
Those floating keycaps are textured PBT that lend themselves nicely to a solid grip, which is something that the average gamer never really considers. This is where the esports focus comes into play. It might sound strange, but the textured PBT keycaps make me type better, and as I write this review using the Razer Huntsman V3 HE TKL, I can attest to the tactile feel of those caps.
The RGB that is bolstered by Razer’s usual Chroma offering shines through quite nicely, but not so brightly that it’s distracting. If there’s one disadvantage of the low-profile, unassuming aesthetic, it’s that you get very few non-essential features.
By that I mean there are no:
- Volume controls (beyond F-keys)
- Dedicated media buttons
- Lock indicators (beyond a white glow when the button is pressed)
- Included wrist rest
- Status display or other bolt-on indicators
But if you’re splashing the $139.99 on this keyboard because you’re a competitive gamer, those things likely won’t bother you. They don’t necessarily bother me.
RELATED: Razer Blackshark V3 Pro Review
Under That Hood
Now, I mentioned that what’s under the hood is impressive enough to overpower the lack of bells and whistles on the surface, and that’s so true.
The heart of the V3 H3 is represented by Razer’s new Hall Effect magnetic switches, which support an eye-watering 8,000Hz polling rate. By using a linear magnetic switch, you’re getting real-time actuation point adjustments that refuse to give you anything less than the fastest reactions possible.
To the point where I had to tone down the actuation settings in Synapse because I felt like it was just too damn fast. I’m getting old.
What’s more is that these switches come with more refined tactical software controls, which allow the min-maxxers to really push their keyboard to the limit.
I’m talking Razer Snap Flex and Snap Tap, which allow you to bind distinct actions to both key presses and key releases, which is something you can usually only do when playing around with in-game settings. I do things like that in Escape from Tarkov’s menu, for example.
Under those keycaps I keep talking about sits a build that encourages sound dampening, so if you’re rather heavy-fingered, you won’t notice it as much. There’s a kind of stabilization there that feels great, even when you’re hammering out a lengthy review for the very keyboard you’re typing aggressively away on.
It’s not clicky-clicky, nor is it thocky-thocky; it just sounds and feels superb. If there’s one thing I’m not keen on when it comes to the overall build, inside and out, it’s that the key profile is pretty damn tall, and I’m coming from a low-profile Logitech G515 Rapid TKL, which boasts a height of just 22mm.
But if I came from another, larger Razer keyboard, I likely wouldn’t notice the change.
RELATED: Razer Raiju V3 Pro Review
Razer Huntsman V3 HE Review Verdict
The Razer Huntsman V3 HE Magnetic 8KHz TKL (*deep breath*) might strip away some non-essential flourish that consumers love, but it does so to deliver a pure, unadulterated pro gaming experience. I’m a huge fan of this keyboard and can guarantee it’ll become my daily driver.
The TKL form factor, the sturdiness of the build, the customization options available in Synapse and Chroma, the feel of the keycaps, and the fact that it’s a new technology push for Razer all blend so well. It feels like it should have a higher price point than $139.99.
Worth it? Hell yes.
Let us know on the Insider Gaming Discord server what keyboard you’re rocking.
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Grant has been gaming for 30+ years and in the industry for 10+. You'll probably find him playing a post-apocalyptic game or an extraction shooter somewhere.
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