While a good gaming keyboard and mouse will almost always trump a controller in competitive environments, it's hard to deny the analog upsides of a gamepad. Feathering the pedal to make it safely around a corner without losing speed, creeping up behind an enemy to deliver a devastating backstab, and slowly inching across a thin platform to make it safely to the other side--these are just a few of the actions that require the meticulous control of an analog gamepad. With the Razer Huntsman V2 Analog keyboard, Razer has tried to bridge the gap by evolving its classic Huntsman gaming keyboard into an analog device capable of providing that pinpoint input.
The Huntsman V2 Analog keyboard is capable of providing that accurate 360-degree analog movement, and while there are some significant hurdles that come with that, Razer has also used its new key switches to add some transformative features that take unique advantage of its analog capabilities. Dual-step actuation gives users the ability to assign two actions to a single key. The analog movement is impressive on its own, but being able to perform actions like equipping a grenade and throwing it with a single key is a game-changer and one of the most exciting features I've seen added to a gaming keyboard in some time.
Razer Huntsman V2 Analog gaming keyboardThis is one aspect of how the analog keys work, but you're also able to adjust the actuation point of each key, making it so a keystroke isn't registered until you push down a certain distance. In addition to that, you can set a second actuation point, giving one key two different functions. Being able to equip a grenade in Apex Legends with a light press and then throw it by pushing the same key further is an exciting utilization of the analog functionality, even more so than having the keyboard emulate a controller. It opens up the possibilities for quicker performance in competitive settings, and the potential for unique keybindings with the dual-step actuation is vast.
The conversion of keyboard inputs to those of a controller is not perfectly recognized in games. Binding the WASD keys to the left analog stick and moving around will turn all in-game button prompts into Xbox controller inputs--instead of asking you to press E on your keyboard to pick up an item, it'll ask you to press the X button. Once you press E to pick up the item, most games will recognize you're using a keyboard and switch back to key prompts. This can be a bit distracting if you're using keys not mapped to controller buttons. An easy solution to this back-and-forth is to map every possible action to a controller's input. This will keep the on-screen prompts from changing, and while it won't be an issue for those familiar with their favorite game's controls, it does produce a hurdle, especially for those learning a game for the first time.
This makes setting up the Huntsman V2 Analog a bit complicated. Binding keys means they won't be recognized as standard keyboard keys. My first time playing Grand Theft Auto V, I was able to quickly bind WASD to my left analog stick. This allowed for analog movement, while I used the rest of my keys' default PC controls for every other action. This worked well until I got into a car and tried to drive. The PC controls required me to press W to accelerate, but I had already assigned that to my analog stick. This meant I couldn't drive until I assigned Right Trigger to a key in Razer's Synapse software.
I also found that in some cases, if I didn't map all of the controller's functions to my keys, the game wouldn't work properly. For example, I tried using the WASD keys as an analog stick in Dark Souls Remastered and keeping the rest of my default PC controls, but this particular game wouldn't recognize key presses when moving with the rebound WASD keys. You'll need to bind every aspect of the game's controls to have the proper experience, and after I backed out of the game and did exactly that, it worked flawlessly. The setup is easy once you know what to do, but with the sheer amount of options at your disposal, it can be overwhelming and time-consuming when setting binds for each game.
As for the analog key switches, they work as advertised. At first, it felt like I was learning how to use analog sticks for the first time. Not pushing all the way down on a key felt unnatural, as I typically only use a keyboard and mouse when pinpoint-precise aiming is more important than analog control. And while the analog keys did provide more accurate movement, it took a long time to get used to. It was eventually easy enough for me to do what I wanted to, making games like Dark Souls feel viable on a keyboard and mouse, but ultimately, I still felt I'd perform better with a controller.
The Razer Huntsman V2 Analog features an improved magnetic wrist restGallery
The Razer Huntsman V2 Analog can also be used as a non-analog keyboard, with no need to map inputs to a controller or customize actuation points--though I highly recommend utilizing dual-step actuation even if you're not using the keyboard for analog movement. Thanks to Razer's excellent optical switches, key presses are read sooner than your typical switch, making for slightly quicker inputs. Of course, this also means that if you're not yet used to the optical switch, you may produce some typos or misclicked inputs--it's something I've grown accustomed to, and now, I rarely find myself making errors like this.
One issue I came across while using the keyboard was when I would switch back to a controller. The V2 Analog appears to take priority over controllers, so when I'd pick up a gamepad for Rocket League, my Xbox controller was being read as a second player, even if I didn't set any controller bindings on the V2 Analog. As soon as I unplugged the keyboard, it went back to normal. There are workarounds to this, as Steam lets you choose your preferred controller for each individual game, but it's worth noting if you like to switch between the two different control methods.
Switch type: Razer analog optical switch |
Keycaps: Razer doubleshot PBT keycaps |
Size: Full size |
Connectivity: USB-C & USB-A 3.0 (also comes with USB-A adapter) |
Onboard memory: Up to 5 key-bind profiles |
Extras: Chroma RGB lighting, magnetic wrist rest, media keys, USB 3.0 passthrough |
The Huntsman Elite's wrist rest also returns for the V2 Analog with a slight redesign. The Elite's wrist rest features a plastic border running along the outside of the plush leatherette pad, whereas the V2 Analog has done away with this border. This makes for a more comfortable experience, allowing your hands and wrists to rest however you like without fear of plastic digging slightly into your skin.
Razer Huntsman V2 Analog
$250 USD
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