With so many people sitting at home, upgrading the good home field battlefield has become a kind of hobby. Razer’s new Huntsman V2 Analog, the company’s latest keyboard, has three new features that may be worthwhile.
The most important new upgrade to the $ 250 Huntsman V2 Analog is support for adjustable operating heights, which can be adjusted per key from as shallow as 1.5 mm to as deep as 3.6 mm. To make this happen, Razer took the second-generation linear optical switches he started last year, and then upgraded it with a new laser sensor that allows users to decide how deep a keystroke should be, instead of having it in the factory is placed in stone.
It’s similar to what’s available on Steelseries’ Apex Pro (that’s one reason we’re leading game keyboards) and it provides a convenient way to deliver the more responsive feelings that people often prefer in faster games such as CS: GO and other shooters, while still dropping the keystroke sensitivity in a slower game like Stellaris.
The second major upgrade has to do with the analog portion of the name of the Huntsman V2. Razer has added the ability for the keyboard to register full analog input, so instead of simply pressing a key on the register as on or off, the Huntsman V2 Analog can tell you how hard you press. It’s just like the analog shoulder buttons you get on all the major console controllers. It can be a bit tricky to make it work the way you want, but that means the Huntsman V2 Analog can more accurately simulate the accelerator and brake pedals in a race, or can distinguish between a step, run or dash based only on how hard you push.
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The third important new feature is dual step control, which allows you to divide a key press into two different actions, such as equipping a grenade in a shooter by pressing and then throwing the grenade when you release the key. . Granted, this is a bit more of a niche feature, and while it saves time in some games, the titles where it can be useful already offer their own setting, such as the Smart Cast setting in League of Legends.
Apart from the three major additions, the Huntsman V2 Analog also has a handy magnetic wrist support, built-in media controls and a portable USB 3 port. And of course, like so much of the Razer gaming peripherals, the Huntsman V2 Analog has customizable RGB lighting per key, PBT key caps, the ability to store settings directly on the keyboard, full Chroma support and sync with a number of other RGB devices such as Nanoleaf lights.
Although I only use the Huntsman V2 Analog for a few days, there are already a few things I really like. The first is that support for adjustable operating heights makes it much more forgiving to try out a keyboard with sensitive operating points. For example, Corsair’s K100 keyboard has a 1 mm operating height with a hair trigger, which is often seen as faster and more responsive from hardcore competing players.
However, keys with shallow operating points are also very attractive, which means that if you rest your fingertips on a key, it can often register it as a complete keystroke. The big problem for many people is that they simply do not know if they like short service points, deep service points or something in between. And on the Huntsman V2 Analog, you now have the ability to try out a keyboard with a shallow operation, without throwing out the keyboard or sending it back if you discover that it is not your jam. If you also find level pressure in some situations, but not in others, you can also set the operating points separately on a game or even by key. Think of jerking WASD keys, and then deeper keystrokes for game or load options.
In addition, the Huntsman V2 Analog simply feels like a well-made device. The base is solid and even has an LED lightship that surrounds the base of the keyboard. In addition, Razer includes a USB-C-to-USB-A adapter, so you can more easily connect the Huntsman V2 to a new laptop that may not have larger USB-A ports. And as for the switches, though slightly hard when you’re from below, Razer’s linear optomechanical switches have a very smooth, even stroke that feels very balanced, even if you accidentally hit it from a corner.
The one obvious downside is the price of the Huntsman V2, because at $ 250 it costs $ 50 more than a Steelseries Apex Pro, which is a significant jump, but not very surprising, because the Apex Pro does not come with full analog switches or Razer. double step operation.
For many people, an extra luxurious game keyboard with all the bells and whistles can feel like an excess. But for more picky gamers or those who really want to work on customizing every aspect of their keyboard performance, Razer’s Huntsman V2 Analog has pushed the bar just a little higher.