Perfect For Competitive Gaming!
RAZER Huntsman Tournament Edition Review Summary
The Razer Huntsman TE is a top-notch keyboard for professional gamers. All of the keys may be programmed individually or as a group using the Synapse 3 software, and they have a very quick response time and are lightweight. The legends on the Doubleshot PBT keycaps will last long without fading, and the full RGB lighting is perfect for gaming in the dark. The Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition itself is lightweight and quite responsive. It’s pricey but well worth it if you want speed and portability. It’s one of the few portable tenkeyless keyboards with PBT keycaps, optical switches, lighting, and a lightweight design. Worth every penny if you are into e-sports.
Overall
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Design - 9/10
9/10
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Features - 9/10
9/10
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Build Quality - 8/10
8/10
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Software - 8/10
8/10
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Value For Money - 8/10
8/10
Pros
- Doubleshot PBT keycaps
- Programmable macros
- Detachable USB-C cable
- Actuation point of 1.0mm
- Standard Bottom Row Layout
- Excellent performance
- Stunning Aesthetics
- Good compatibility with software
- Robust Build Quality
- The optical switches have a rapid actuation
- Compact Form Factor
Cons
- Inconvenient for typists
- A bit expensive
- Neither any carrying case or a way to manage the cables
- The lack of a wrist rest, multimedia keys, and other convenient features
- Exclusively focused on a small niche of gamers
- The switches are quite lightweight
Razer’s Huntsman Tournament Edition, priced at $129, targets esports professionals with its compact design, ultra-fast optical switches, detachable cord, and solid build quality. Despite its premium price, it’s a top choice for competitive gaming on the go, emphasizing raw performance and offering a swift and reliable experience.
The portable design, responsive keys, and esports functionality make it Razer’s flagship for dedicated gamers. Its small size is ideal for professionals and convenient for LAN tournaments, featuring ultra-fast switches, a detachable cord, Doubleshot PBT keycaps, a solid build, and RGB aesthetics.
Key Takeaways
- The Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition is a Tenkeyless keyboard with Linear Optical Switches, offering fast and responsive feedback. It lacks a wristrest, media keys, or USB passthrough. With onboard memory supporting five profiles, customizable RGB lighting via Razer Synapse and Chroma enhances the gaming experience.
- You should get Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition if you want ultra-fast optical switches to have a slight edge over your esports games.
- You should avoid the Razer Huntsman Tournament for multitasking as it lacks a numpad for office tasks and may cause typos for typists due to low actuation points, requiring adjustment time.
- Why you can trust Tech4Gamers: Our reviews are based on dedicated hands-on testing by our team of experienced hardware experts. Find out more about how we test.
Specifications
| PRODUCT | RAZER Huntsman Tournament Edition Gaming Keyboard |
|---|---|
| SWITCH TYPE | Razer™ Linear Optical Switch |
| KEY FEEL | Light and Instant |
| APPROXIMATE SIZES | Tenkeyless |
| LIGHTING | Razer Chroma™ RGB customizable backlighting with 16.8 million color options |
| WRIST REST | None |
| ONBOARD MEMORY | Hybrid onboard storage – up to 5 profiles |
| MEDIA KEYS | None |
| PASSTHROUGH | None |
| CONNECTIVITY | Wired - Detachable Type-C |
| KEYCAPS | Razer Doubleshot PBT Keycaps |
The keyboard, designed for portability, weighs just 1.7 pounds and features a removable cord for convenience at competitions. Its USB Type-C connector in the lower-left corner includes built-in security rails to prevent accidental unplugging during crowded events. The Huntsman TE employs Razer’s Linear Optical Key switch technology, offering a unique advantage over traditional mechanical switches.
Packaging and Unboxing
Since there aren’t any grooves for wire management, optimizing your setup is more of a hassle, particularly while you’re on the go. My only gripe is that previous Razer Tournament Edition keyboards included stylish carrying bags to keep the equipment secure while being carried to and from tournaments. At $130, I would have expected Razer to include one instead of forcing gamers to go out and buy an extra accessory they are almost certain to require.
Design
I love the Razer Huntsman TE for its sleek design, compact form, and convenient features like a detachable cable. The “floating key” design and compatibility with standard keycaps are great. With a 1000 Hz polling rate, seamless input is guaranteed. Customizable RGB lighting, absence of illuminated sidebars, and integrated media controls enhance the gaming experience.
I’ve tested the Razer Huntsman TE with its Linear Optical Switch, featuring a 1mm actuation distance and 40g force for rapid gaming response. While the light touch benefits esports, it led to unintended key presses in regular use. Razer claims lower wear and tear, but emphasizing the “speed of light” raises skepticism, as the practical difference in human response time is unclear. Despite gaming advantages, the ultra-sensitive switches may pose challenges for everyday typing.
The Huntsman TE features durable double-walled PBT keycaps, avoiding the glossy finish. The meticulous design aligns legends for a premium appearance, enhancing usability. The backside’s matte black surface adds to its overall appeal.
Performance
The Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition excels in competitive esports, offering instant and lag-free performance with its updated optomechanical switches. The soft keypresses, individual stabilizers, and quick actuation points enhance the gaming experience, especially for FPS and MOBA titles.
The keyboard’s durability is highlighted by its 100 million-click lifespan, appealing to the rigorous demands of esports. With features like PBT keycaps, a detachable USB-C connection, and a clean design, Razer addresses community feedback, making it a top choice for fast, reliable, and lightweight gaming. Despite initial adjustments to the unique key feel, the Huntsman TE is a high-performance mechanical keyboard, challenging misconceptions about the speed of Razer’s optical switches.
Software Compatibility
The Huntsman TE, which is compatible with Synapse, excels in customization with user-friendly software. It supports macros, key layouts, and RGB backlighting adjustments, making it optimal for competitive gaming with onboard memory for five profiles. The lighting, controlled by Razer Chroma Studio, maintains a subtle yet impressive appearance.
In MOBA games like DOTA 2, features such as assigning multiple skills to a single button prove highly useful. However, reliance on Synapse limits on-the-fly adjustments without active software, and switching profiles requires specific key combinations. Synapse 3 elevates RGB customization with individual key settings and lighting styles, enhancing the overall experience.
The keyboard heavily relies on Synapse, limiting on-the-fly adjustments without active software background running. Switching between profiles uses Fn and Context menu keys, each denoted by distinct colors.
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Should You Buy It?
After looking at all the key aspects of the keyboard, the final question of our review is whether you should buy this product or not.
Buy It If
✅ You’re serious about competitive gaming: The Razer Huntsman TE, especially in esports, is tailor-made for fast-paced gameplay with quick optical switches, providing a competitive edge.
✅ You want a sleek and portable keyboard: Its compact and portable design and rapid key switches make it an essential accessory for those aiming to enter the professional gaming scene.
✅ You have a knack for PBT Keycaps: With one of the fastest switches on the market, PBT keycaps, and an appealing design, the Huntsman TE is an excellent choice for gamers who prioritize both speed and aesthetics.
Don’t Buy It If
❌ You want a keyboard for daily use: The keyboard’s focus on gaming features may not justify the price for users seeking a versatile keyboard for general work or multimedia tasks, especially when other high-end keyboards offer additional features like multimedia keys and USB passthrough.
❌ You have a lower budget: With its relatively high price of $129.99, consumers on a tight budget may find better value in other mechanical keyboards that offer more features for the same cost.
Conclusion
The Razer Huntsman TE, though tenkeyless, commands attention with its substantial size and height. Its aluminium plate and plastic frame produce solid build quality despite a slight keyboard bend. Sturdy double-shot PBT keycaps offer durability, but some keys, notably the spacebar, exhibit sensitivity issues and rattling.
The wrist rest offers comfortable ergonomics and adjustable angles for enhanced usability. With full RGB backlighting customizable via Razer Synapse 3, it adds a vibrant touch. Operating silently, it excels in gaming with very low latency, and software compatibility is excellent for Windows users.
The USB-C cord is detachable for portability, and the linear optical switches, while ideal for gaming, may register unintended key presses. The typing experience is serviceable, featuring rock-solid keys, snappy PBT keycaps, and quiet operation, but settings adjustments are limited for Linux and macOS users.
Coming Next: Corsair K70 RGB MK.2 CHERRY MX Low Profile Speed Review
Recent Updates
- December 11, 2023: A few text changes to improve readability.
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[Hardware Reviewer]
After many years of exploiting various pieces of hardware, Abdul Hannan now serves as an editor at Tech4Gamers. He’s been in the PC hardware reviewing industry for almost a decade, and his staff of passionate geeks and reviewers is second to none.
Abdul Hannan is constantly seeking new methods, you will always see him running into New Computer Courses to improve the performance of his computer components since he is an ardent overclocker. He is well-known for providing the most extensive and unbiased analysis of the newest and greatest hardware for PC gaming, including everything from GPUs to PSUs.
