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mac games has been getting serious in recent years, with a series of AAA games They finally arrive on macOS. If you want a top-notch mechanical keyboard to blast your way through these titles, Razer’s new Huntsman V3 Pro Tenkeyless could be the answer.
With high-quality build materials and plenty of customizable features (including the ability to change how hard you press each key to activate it), this is a device for the most demanding Mac gamers. But does its high price and lack of software support make it a questionable choice for Apple fans? Let’s find out.
Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Tenkeyless: Price and Availability
The Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Tenkeyless costs $219.99/£219.99 and is available from Razer and third-party retailers.
Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Tenkeyless: What I love
The Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Tenkeyless is priced for the higher end of the market and you definitely get a premium feeling product for your money. The body is made of solid plastic with an aluminum top plate and it doesn’t bend or bend whichever way you look at it. There’s also a crisp LED display above the arrow keys that indicates which profile is in use, whether caps lock or gaming mode is enabled, and more.
Razer has opted for textured PBT keycaps with a slightly rough texture, which feel great in use and will be resistant to shine over time. They are also backlit and the lighting is wonderfully bright and clear, making the keyboard very easy to use in a dark room.
Below the keys are Razer’s analog optical switches. They are linear, meaning there is no tactile feedback when you press each one, and they offer a very quick response, ideal for high-intensity gaming. Unlike some linear switches, they’re still quite comfortable for long typing sessions (although tactile switches are still better suited for this).
The tenkeyless form factor is more compact than a standard keyboard layout (eliminates the numeric keypad) and is a good balance for both typing and gaming. At the top right is a volume dial with a built-in mute button, plus buttons for media controls and to open the Xbox Game Bar on Windows (on macOS this does nothing). As with almost all other keys, all of them can be remapped in the Razer Synapse app on Windows (but not macOS).
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As we’ll see in the next section, Razer’s Synapse app, which is used to customize many of the keyboard’s functions, doesn’t work with macOS. But Razer has a workaround of sorts, as you can adjust key activation, change profiles, and enable and adjust Rapid Trigger and Snap Tap features using keyboard shortcuts. This is a little more complicated than using the app, but it means Mac users don’t miss out on these features entirely.
The ability to modify key actuation levels (i.e. how far you have to press a key for your input to register) is really useful, as it means you can make keys feel as heavy or as light as you want (and they can be made incredibly light). To use this feature on macOS, press the Function and Tab keys, then turn the volume rocker or use the arrow keys. The LED display shows the chosen key actuation level (such as “1.2” for 1.2 mm). You can also press a key to test your chosen actuation level, then press Esc or Function and Tab to save your changes directly to the keyboard (meaning they’ll carry over to any Mac or PC you connect the keyboard to).
There’s a similar feature for Rapid Trigger mode, which allows you to reactivate a key without fully releasing it and allowing you to return to its position without pressing. Press Function and Caps Lock, then press Caps Lock again to highlight the currently active hot keys. Turn the volume dial to adjust their sensitivity, or try playing them to test them: Their backlight turns green when the key is pressed and red when reset.
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Similarly, Snap Tap is enabled by pressing Function and Left Shift. This allows you to hold down one key, then tap another and both keys will alternate (for example, hold down A and tap B and the output will be ABABABAB). Unfortunately, without Synapse you can’t tell when it’s on or off except by testing it, as there’s no visual indication.
Finally, you can also switch profiles using just the keyboard. Press Function and one of the six keys in the upper right corner (Home, End, etc.); each has a corresponding profile number printed on the key. The profile icon on the LED display will change color when you change profiles. You can choose from one of five pre-designed profiles, each with custom actuation levels, Rapid Trigger settings, and more, and the profiles include profiles for FPS games, racing titles, a high sensitivity mode, and more.
Being able to customize things with just the keyboard eliminates much of the lack of Synapse support, and Razer’s implementation is very easy to use and understand. While we’d prefer to use Synapse, tweaking things on the keyboard means you won’t miss out on many of these great gaming features.
Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Tenkeyless: What I don’t love
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: Razer Synapse. Razer’s companion app is used to customize all of its products, and the Huntsman V3 Pro Tenkeyless is no different. Use Synapse to change key actuation levels, enable features like Snap Tap and Rapid Trigger, modify lighting mode, and more.
The problem? Synapse does not work with macOS. That means that a wide range of features, many of which are core elements of Huntsman V3 Pro Tenkeyless, are not available to Mac users. That includes enabling continuous rapid shooting mode (but not normal rapid shooting mode), remapping keys, creating new profiles, setting up macros, and creating advanced lighting patterns. However, as we have seen, the good news is that many of the keyboard’s essential functions can be enabled without the need for Synapse. Still, you may feel that the keyboard’s price is too high to justify it without Synapse.
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There are a few other issues worth mentioning. There is only one switch option (linear) and the switches are not hot swappable. The sound of typing may also turn off mechanical keyboard purists: it’s loud, clunky, and heavy. The palm rest is also very firm (some people will like it, while others won’t). While it attaches magnetically to the keyboard along its top edge, it lacks clips to hold it in place, so it can slide back and forth. Finally, there’s no way to enable the macOS keyboard layout, so certain keys (like Command) aren’t where you expect them to be.
But none of these issues are as pressing as the lack of Synapse support on macOS. We’ve spoken to Razer about this repeatedly in the past and they’ve always assured us that macOS support is on their to-do list. We followed up again regarding the Huntsman V3 Pro Tenkeyless and received the same response: future support is possible, but nothing is definitive yet. The sooner support arrives, the better.
Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Tenkeyless: Competition
He SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL is another tenkeyless mechanical keyboard built with customizable actuation and a rapid fire feature. Like the Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Tenkeyless, it comes with backlit PBT keys, an adjustable stand, and an integrated display. It’s a little more affordable at $189.99/£189.99.
If the gamer aesthetic isn’t your thing but you still want many of the same features as Razer’s keyboard, the Keychron Q1 HE QMK It’s a much more moderate affair. It will still have a control dial and customizable actuation points, but with a more mature look. It also features hot-swappable switches with magnetic activation, a gasket-mount design, and a button to toggle between macOS and Windows layouts. It is priced at $219/£193.
Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Tenkeyless: Should you buy it?
You should buy this if…
- You are looking for premium touches in a keyboard
- You’re looking for pro-level gaming features
- You want to quickly customize your keyboard without using software
You shouldn’t buy this if…
- You have a tight budget
- Prefer to configure your keyboard functions using a companion app
- You want tactile and clickable mechanical key switches
Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Tenkeyless: Verdict
A really solid keyboard with great high-end gaming features and plenty of built-in customization. It’s mainly the price and lack of macOS support for the Synapse app that is holding it back.
