Razer just dropped something a bit unexpected. It’s not another over-the-top gaming keyboard loaded with bells and whistles. Instead, the new BlackWidow V4 75 percent Barebones is a stripped-down chassis made for people who want to build their own perfect board. If you love tinkering and customizing, this is aimed squarely at you.
You get a solid aluminum top plate and a compact 75 percent layout. It comes in black or white and skips the switches and keycaps entirely. You bring your own. It supports both 3-pin and 5-pin mechanical switches, so you’re not locked into any one brand or style. Want clicky? Go for it. Prefer linear? Your call.
Inside the case, there are layers of dampening foam to kill vibrations and reduce that hollow ping you sometimes get with cheaper builds. The stabilizers are pre-lubed from the factory to keep things smooth. There’s also an FR4 plate to deepen the sound and a layer of tuning tape pre-applied for that softer bottom-out feel. This isn’t just a gaming shell. It’s a legit foundation for a serious custom build.
It still has the Razer flair. There’s bright per-key RGB lighting and a clean dual-side underglow, all powered by Chroma. And the polling rate? A ridiculous 8000 Hz. So if you care about latency, that box is checked too.
If you want to stick with Razer parts, the company also sells its own Gen-3 Mechanical Switches in packs of 36. Options include Green for that loud click, Yellow for a smoother press, and Orange for quiet tactility. It also offers a Phantom Keycap Upgrade Set in both black and white if you want a polished look with shine-through RGB.
This keyboard marks a change in direction for Razer. It’s finally embracing the idea that not every gamer wants a plug-and-play experience. Some of us want to get our hands dirty. Some of us want control. And this board gives you exactly that.
The Razer BlackWidow V4 75 percent Barebones is available now for $139.99 from Razer directly.
