Razer keycaps

Razer keyboards ship with OEM profile keycaps across most models, utilizing different materials and manufacturing methods depending on the product tier. Entry-level keyboards like the Cynosa series feature ABS plastic keycaps with laser etching, while premium models such as the BlackWidow V4 Pro and Huntsman series come with doubleshot ABS keycaps that resist legend fade through intensive use.

Material specifications vary by model: The BlackWidow and Huntsman lines use doubleshot ABS construction with transparent legends optimized for Razer Chroma RGB backlighting. Wall thickness typically measures 1.4-1.6mm, providing solid tactile feedback and acoustic properties. DeathStalker V2 keyboards feature low-profile keycaps with 2.8mm key travel specifically engineered for their optical low-profile switches.

Compatibility details show Razer keyboards use standard MX-compatible stems across their mechanical and optical switch lines, making them compatible with aftermarket keycap sets. However, older BlackWidow models (pre-2020) feature non-standard bottom rows with 6u spacebars and mixed modifier sizes, requiring specialized keycap sets. Current models like the Huntsman V3 Pro and BlackWidow V4 series use standard ANSI layouts with 6.25u spacebars and 1.25u modifiers.

Layout options include both ANSI (standard in US markets) and ISO variants for European regions. UK and EU Razer stores offer ISO layouts with the distinctive L-shaped Enter key and additional key next to left Shift. The company also produces dedicated keycap upgrade sets: the PBT Keycap Upgrade Set (doubleshot PBT with thicker walls and textured finish) and Phantom Keycap Upgrade Set (ABS pudding-style with enhanced RGB shine-through).

One important compatibility note: Razer's optical and mechanical switches use different stabilizer systems, meaning keycaps requiring stabilizers cannot be directly swapped between these switch types without stabilizer replacement. The Ornata series uses proprietary low-profile switches incompatible with standard MX keycaps.

Razer's journey began with a bankruptcy and a bold vision. Originally founded as a subsidiary of kärna LLC in 1998 to develop the groundbreaking Boomslang gaming mouse, the company faced early challenges when kärna shuttered in 2000. The modern Razer emerged in 2005 when Min-Liang Tan, a Singapore lawyer turned competitive gamer, and Robert "RazerGuy" Krakoff acquired the brand rights with backing from Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing.

The Diamondback mouse launch in 2005 marked Razer's entry into the premium gaming market, but it was the DeathAdder's 2006 debut that truly established their dominance. The ergonomic gaming mouse became an instant classic, eventually selling over 20 million units by 2024 and earning recognition as one of the best-selling gaming mice of all time. This success enabled Razer's expansion into keyboards with the BlackWidow mechanical keyboard in 2010, which surpassed competitors in both performance and popularity.

Innovation accelerated through the 2010s as Razer pioneered optical switch technology, introduced their signature Chroma RGB ecosystem, and developed the Synapse software platform that now serves over 200 million users. The company went public on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in November 2017, raising $528 million in what became the second-most successful Hong Kong IPO that year. Recent milestones include breakthrough 8KHz polling technology in the Viper mouse series and analog optical switches in the Huntsman V3 Pro keyboards.

Today, Razer stands as the world's leading lifestyle brand "For Gamers. By Gamers," with dual headquarters in Singapore and California, 19 global offices, and a passionate community spanning every continent. Their products are ubiquitous at esports tournaments worldwide, with professional gamers relying on Razer peripherals to compete at the highest levels.