Get insider access
Preferred store
Notice: Your browser is not supported or outdated so some features of the site might not be available.
  1. Table of Contents
  2. Top
  3. Main Differences
  4. Design
    1. Dimensions
    2. Build Quality
    3. Ergonomics
    4. Hardware Customizability
    5. Backlight Features
    6. Backlight Clarity
    7. Cable & Connector
    8. Wireless Versatility
    9. Macro Keys And Programming
    10. Extra Features
    11. In The Box
  5. Typing Experience
    1. Typing Quality
    2. Typing Noise
    3. Switches
    4. Keystrokes
  6. Performance
    1. Single-Key Latency
    2. Multi-Key Latency
    3. Data Transmission
    4. Chord Split
  7. Software and Operating System
    1. Configuration Software
    2. Computer Compatibility
    3. Wireless Mobile Compatibility
  8. Comments

Razer BlackWidow Elite vs Razer BlackWidow

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Razer BlackWidow Elite
Razer BlackWidow

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Nov 27, 2023 05:25 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Nov 27, 2023 05:25 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Razer BlackWidow Elite Picture
Razer BlackWidow Picture

Variants

  • BlackWidow Elite (Black)
  • BlackWidow (Black)
  • BlackWidow Lite (Black)
  • BlackWidow Lite (Star Wars Stormtrooper Limited Edition)
  • BlackWidow Lite (White)

Our Verdict

Razer BlackWidow Elite

Razer BlackWidow

The Razer BlackWidow Elite is much better than the Razer BlackWidow. The Elite is available in three different switches, so you can get the ones you prefer, it has a wrist rest, it's better-built, it has a USB passthrough, and it has dedicated media keys.

0 

Check Price

Black
BlackWidow Elite
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
BlackWidow
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
BlackWidow Elite
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Black
BlackWidow Lite
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
BlackWidow Elite
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Star Wars Stormtrooper Limited Edition
BlackWidow Lite
Amazon.com
Black
BlackWidow Elite
B&H
White
BlackWidow Lite
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Main Differences for
Gaming

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

8.6
8.5

Build Quality 
 

8.5
7.5

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

Razer BlackWidow Elite Top Picture
Razer BlackWidow Top Picture

Size 
 

Full-size (100%)
Full-size (100%)

Height 
 

1.7" (4.3 cm)
1.6" (4.0 cm)

Width  

17.5" (44.5 cm)
17.7" (45.0 cm)

Depth 
 

6.5" (16.5 cm)
6.4" (16.3 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

9.1" (23.1 cm)
N/A

Weight 
 

2.67 lbs (1.210 kg)
2.76 lbs (1.250 kg)
Show text

Build Quality 
 

8.5
7.5

Build Quality Close Up  

Razer BlackWidow Elite Build Quality Close Up
Razer BlackWidow Build Quality Close Up

Keycap Material  

ABS
ABS
Show text

Ergonomics 
 

6.0
6.0

Side Picture  

Razer BlackWidow Elite Side Picture
Razer BlackWidow Side Picture

Curved/Angled 
 

No
No

Split Keyboard 
 

No
No

Key Alignment 
 

Staggered
Staggered

Minimum Incline 
 

Medium Incline 
 

Maximum Incline 
 

Home Row Height 
 

33.9 mm (1.3")
30.9 mm (1.2")
Show text

Hardware Customizability 
 

2.4
2.4

Customizability Overview  

Razer BlackWidow Elite Customizability Overview
Razer BlackWidow Customizability Overview

Replaceable Cherry Stabilizers 
 

No
No

Stabilizer Fixation 
 

Non-Customizable Design
Non-Customizable Design

Spacebar Stabilizer Size 
 

Non-Customizable Design
Non-Customizable Design

Size Of Right Mod Keys 
 

Non-Standard
Non-Standard

Hot-Swappable Switches 
 

No
No

Switch Stem Shape 
 

Cherry MX Style
Cherry MX Style

Switch PCB Socket 
 

Soldered
Soldered

North-Facing Cherry MX Interference 
 

Yes
Yes

Backlight Features 
 

10
10

Backlighting Picture  

Razer BlackWidow Elite Backlighting Picture
Razer BlackWidow Backlighting Picture

Brightness Max  

Razer BlackWidow Elite Brightness Max
Razer BlackWidow Brightness Max

Backlighting  

Yes
Yes

Brightness Min  

Razer BlackWidow Elite Brightness Min
Razer BlackWidow Brightness Min

RGB 
 

Yes
Yes

Per-Key Backlighting 
 

Yes
Yes

Effects 
 

Yes
Yes

Software Controllable 
 

Yes
Yes
Show text

Backlight Clarity 
 

9.0
9.0

White Shot  

Razer BlackWidow Elite White Shot
Razer BlackWidow White Shot

Cable & Connector  

Connectivity  

Wired
Wired

Detachable 
 

No
No

Length  

6.6 ft (2.0 m)
6.4 ft (1.9 m)

Connector (Keyboard side) 
 

Not Detachable
Not Detachable
Show text

Wireless Versatility 
 

0.0
0.0

Bluetooth 
 

No
No

Bluetooth Multi-Device Pairing 
 

No
No

Proprietary Receiver 
 

No
No

Battery Type 
 

No Batteries
No Batteries
Show text

Macro Keys And Programming 
 

5.5
5.5

Dedicated Macro Keys Count  

0
0

Onboard Macro Programming 
 

Yes
Yes

Macro Programming With Software 
 

Yes
Yes

Extra Features 
 

Extra Features  

Razer BlackWidow Elite Extra Features
Razer BlackWidow Extra Features

Media Keys 
 

Dedicated
Non-Dedicated

Trackpad / Trackball  

No
No

Scroll Wheel 
 

No
No

Control Knob 
 

Yes
No

USB Passthrough 
 

Yes
No

Numpad  

Yes
Yes

Windows Key Lock 
 

Yes
Yes

Lock Indicator  

Caps, Scroll & Num lock
Caps, Scroll & Num lock
Show text

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

Razer BlackWidow Elite Bundle Picture
Razer BlackWidow Bundle Picture
Show text
Typing Experience

Typing Quality 
 

8.5
7.5

Key Spacing 
 

19.0 mm (0.748")
19.0 mm (0.748")
Show text

Typing Noise 
 

7.5
4.4

Typing Sample  

Average Loudness 
 

52.0 dBA
55.0 dBA

High Pitch Clicks 
 

No
Yes
Show text

Switches 
 

Wobble Video  

Switch Name 
 

Razer Orange
Razer Green

Switch Type 
 

Mechanical
Mechanical

Feel 
 

Tactile
Clicky

Analog 
 

No
No

Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Operating Force 
 

52 gf
54 gf

Actuation Force 
 

41 gf
54 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

1.7 mm
1.7 mm

Total Travel 
 

3.9 mm
3.8 mm
Show text
Performance

Single-Key Latency 
 

8.9
8.9

Single-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Best Connection 
 

5.0 ms
4.9 ms

Best Connection Std Dev  

±0.4 ms
±0.4 ms

Wired 
 

5.0 ms
4.9 ms

Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A

PCB (Estimated) 
 

3.4 ms
3.1 ms
Show text

Multi-Key Latency 
 

8.0
8.0

Latency Video  

Multi-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Connection Evaluated  

Wired
Wired

Key Press 
 

5.1 ms
5.0 ms

Key Release 
 

30.6 ms
30.5 ms

Data Transmission 
 

7.7
8.7

Multi-Key Raw USB  

Razer BlackWidow Elite Multi-Key Raw USB
Razer BlackWidow Multi-Key Raw USB

Connection Evaluated  

Wired
Wired

USB Polling Rate 
 

1,000 Hz
1,000 Hz

Effective Update Rate 
 

1,000 Hz
1,000 Hz

N-Key Rollover (NKRO) 
 

No
Yes

Multiple Keys Per USB Report 
 

Yes
Yes

Chord Split 
 

8.4
8.8

Chord Split Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

4 Chord Split Delay 
 

4.6 ms
3.6 ms

8 Chord Split Delay 
 

8.1 ms
7.5 ms
Software and Operating System

Configuration Software 
 

Software Tour  

Software Name  

Razer Synapse 3
Razer Synapse 3

Software Windows Compatible 
 

Yes
Yes

Software macOS Compatible 
 

No
No

Onboard Memory 
 

Yes
Yes

Profiles 
 

6+
6+
Show text

Computer Compatibility 
 

10
10

Windows 
 

Fully Compatible
Fully Compatible

macOS 
 

Fully Compatible
Fully Compatible

Linux (Ubuntu 22) 
 

Fully Compatible
Fully Compatible

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Windows, MacOS & Linux
Windows, MacOS & Linux
Show text

Wireless Mobile Compatibility 
 

0.0
0.0

Android 
 

Not Compatible
Not Compatible

iOS 
 

Not Compatible
Not Compatible

iPadOS 
 

Not Compatible
Not Compatible

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Not Compatible
Not Compatible

Check Price

Black
BlackWidow Elite
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
BlackWidow
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
BlackWidow Elite
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Black
BlackWidow Lite
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
BlackWidow Elite
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Star Wars Stormtrooper Limited Edition
BlackWidow Lite
Amazon.com
Black
BlackWidow Elite
B&H
White
BlackWidow Lite
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Razer BlackWidow Elite

Razer BlackWidow

Comments

  1. Comparison

Razer BlackWidow Elite vs Razer BlackWidow: Main Discussion

What do you think of these products? Let us know below.


Looking for a personalized buying advice from the RTINGS.com experts? Insiders have direct access to buying advice on our insider forum.

PreviewBack to editorFormat guide
No comments yet, refresh to see new ones