The Tournament Edition is pure. If you click an affiliate link and buy a product or service, we may be paid a fee by that merchant. With a total of five profile slots available, you can drag and drop which profiles you want to store in the keyboard’s onboard memory and select which profile you want to use with a simple dropdown. North Sydney That's not a tangible difference, especially since I have, comparatively, so little practice with the Huntsman TE. Although the TE has slightly more sensitive key switches, the Elite’s feel just as snappy and the bigger keyboard retains features like dedicated media keys. Outside of games, the keyboard can be a bit of a liability. As for the benefit of the 1mm actuation on the new optical switches? Yes, probably even for pro gamers. One quibble I have here is that Razer Tournament Edition keyboards used to come with sleek carrying cases, to safeguard the peripherals en route to competitions. The linear MX Red switches on the Corsair keyboard I’m typing this on are comparatively much quieter. A lot of PC users prefer their products over a large range of companies in the market right now. To pull another line from our original Huntsman review, “You can spill a beer on your keyboard and it’ll probably work still.” The laser-based mechanism at the heart of optical switches is more resilient than metal-on-metal contacts. These Asus, Razer gaming keyboards have never been cheaper, Best Prime Day Razer deals 2020: The best sales you can still shop, Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3: The same, only faster, How to connect a PS4 or Xbox game controller to your iPhone or iPad, The best cheap Razer deals for November 2020: Laptops, monitors, and more, How to get Fortnite on your Android device, Nintendo Direct Mini: Control, Hitman 3 headed to Switch, Hyrule Warriors gets demo, PlayStation 5 launch game Bugsnax will be free for PS Plus subscribers, AMD Radeon RX 6000 series: Everything you need to know, How to download the Hyrule Warriors demo on the Switch. And while I like the compact design and style of the Huntsman Tournament Edition --Razer even added a repeated text design of TKTK across the entire back-- the feel of the keyboard overall is a bit plasticky, especially given the rather high $130 / €150 MSRP. I used the Huntsman TE for a week while working from home, both for gaming and typing, and mis-types were far higher than usual even as I became accustomed to the sensitivity. Razer. It’s responsive, satisfyingly clicky, sturdy, and attractive. What you get is no delay at all so for the most competitive of PC gamers, you have … The Huntsman Tournament Edition is whisper-quiet by comparison. The opto-mechanical switches are still some of the coolest things in Razer's arsenal, and they perform extremely well for both typing and gaming. Light, compact design. When we tested Razer’s first optical linear switch in its 2019 Huntsman Tournament Edition keyboard, we commented on its surprisingly loud … © Popular in enthusiast circles for years now, PBT is a thicker and more durable plastic than the ABS alternative used on most keyboards. There are the ever-expanding Cherry options, the numerous knockoffs, custom alternatives from the likes of Logitech and Razer, analog switches like those found in the SteelSeries Apex Pro, and light-actuated optical switches like the ones found in Razer’s new esports-themed Huntsman Tournament Edition tenkeyless model we’re taking a quick look at here. Razer sent along a Huntsman Tournament Edition just before its announcement. You will receive a verification email shortly. You will receive a verification email shortly. Thank you for signing up to Tom's Hardware. NY 10036. No. It offers all the standard keyboard options such as custom key binds, macros, and lighting customization with Chroma Studio support. Unlikely. That’s not my preferred style of board, but I’m not going to fault Razer for that. It’s a nonsensical distinction. Let’s take a look. The bottom row of keys (excluding the spacebar) are also uniformly sized, making it easy to swap in your own custom keycaps. It makes sense given the more serious focus of the TE, but it just looks a bit unimpressive. I can't speak to those claims, but I can say that the Huntsman TE has the lightest touch of any keyboard I've ever used. Rather than actuating the key with a physical contact inside a switch, pressing down a key allows a beam to pass through from one side of the key to the other, completing a circuit and signaling that the key has been pressed. Measuring 14.0 x 5.5 inches, it doesn't take up much room on a desk, and it doesn't bog itself down with extra keys. But Razer only sells the Tournament Edition with the new ultra-light Red switches, and I simply can’t imagine using them as my day-to-day. The key feature here is Razer’s linear optical key switches, which use light beams under every key to register input. I'd say five is the over-under, but it's enough to bring along your default settings and specific configurations for your top games. https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/razer-huntsman-tournament-edition. Yes, the Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition has per-key lighting powered by Razer Chroma. While the Huntsman Elite used clicky tactile switches, its tenkeyless counterpart makes use of a new switch, most similar to a Cherry MX Red. Whether I was swinging Brigitte's flail or ordering laborers to construct more Egyptian houses, I never had to wonder whether the Huntsman TE was going to carry out my command - and I was able to keep the device nice and centered and close, thanks to its tenkeyless design. I’m no e-sports legend but, plugging it in for the first time, I felt the difference immediately. Price: $129.99 / £129.99 Razer's Huntsman TE is one of the few keyboards (or maybe the only one) that combines optical switches, PBT keycaps, backlighting, and a portable tenkeyless design. The keys not only sound different but look different, too. But don’t expect miracles. NSW 2059. On the other hand, a missing numpad limits the Huntsman TE's productivity potential, and the keys switches, while cool, don't really offer a tangible advantage over Razer's traditional mechanical models. Read our, Learn more about PCWorld's Digital Editions. Serious gamer? Cherry MX Speed/Silver switches are common on Corsair and other boards, and boast a 1.2mm actuation at 45 grams of force. I also like the two-level feet at the back, which seem more robust than those found in many other gaming keyboards I’ve used over the years. It takes a bit of getting used to, but I quickly realized that not only was I playing better, but I was owning my mistakes. I hate misleading marketing like this, not least because it does a disservice to the actual benefits of optical switches. Receive mail from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors? Keep an eye on your inbox! It doesn’t matter though. You can be very meticulous with your settings if you want, but frankly, it’s not all that exciting. How to Free Up Space on Your iPhone or iPad, How to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill, How to Find Free Tools to Optimize Your Small Business, How to Get Started With Project Management, Read Kinesis Freestyle Edge RGB Split Mechanical Gaming Keyboard Review, Logitech Is Adding a Carbon Impact Rating to Its Products, Logitech Launches G915 TKL Wireless RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard, How to Control Multiple Computers With One Keyboard and Mouse, Microsoft Adds Office and Emoji Keys to New Keyboards, Razer DeathAdder V2 Pro Wireless Gaming Mouse Review, Corsair K60 RGB Pro SE Mechanical Keyboard Review, Cooler Master ControlPad Mechanical Keypad Review, HP Omen Vector Wireless Gaming Mouse Review.