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Mac game with a slate, getting serious in recent years AAA games finally heading to macOS. If you’re looking for a high-end mechanical keyboard to beat those heads, Razer’s new Huntsman V3 Pro Tenkeyless might be the answer.
With high-quality build materials and many customizable features (including the ability to even change how long you press each key to activate it), it’s a device for the most discerning Mac gamers. But does its high price and lack of software support make it a dubious choice for Apple fans? Let’s find out.
Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Tenkeyless: Price and availability
The Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Tenkeyless is priced at $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 designed for the highest price on the market and you definitely get a high quality product for your money. The body is made of hard plastic with an aluminum top plate and there are no bends or bends anywhere you look. Profile used, whether caps lock or game mode is on, etc. There’s also a crisp LED display above the pointing arrow keys.
Razer opted for textured PBT keys that have a slightly rough texture, and they feel great to use and will resist fading over time. They’re also backlit and the lighting is nicely bright and clear, making the keyboard comfortable to use in a dark room.
Underneath the keyboard covers are Razer’s analog optical switches. They’re linear, meaning there’s 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 pretty comfortable for long typing sessions (though more tactile switches are more suited to that).
The keyless form factor is more compact than the standard keyboard layout (it cuts out the number pad), and it’s a good balance for both typing and gaming. On the top right is the volume dial with a built-in mute button, plus media controls and buttons to open the Xbox Game Bar on Windows (it does nothing on macOS). As with almost every other switch, these can all be changed in Razer Synapse on Windows (but not on macOS).
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As we’ll discuss in the next section, Razer’s Synapse software, which is used to customize many of the keyboard’s features, doesn’t work with macOS. But Razer has a solution of sorts, where you can adjust key actuation, change profiles, and enable and adjust Rapid Trigger and Snap Tap features using keyboard shortcuts. It’s a bit more complicated than using the app, but it means Mac users don’t miss out on these features entirely.
The ability to change the actuation levels of the buttons – that is, how long you have to press a button before it registers an input – is really useful, as it means you can make the buttons feel as heavy or as light as you like (and they can be incredibly light). To use this feature on macOS, you press the Function and Tab keys, then turn the dial or use the arrow keys. The LED display shows the actuation level of the switch you selected (for example, “1.2” for 1.2mm). You can also press the key to check the activation level you’ve chosen, then press Esc or Function and Tab to save your changes directly to the keyboard (which means they’ll be transferred to any Mac or PC you’ve connected the keyboard to).
There is a similar feature for the Rapid Trigger mode, which allows you to reactivate the key without fully releasing it and allowing it to return to its unpressed state. You press Function and Caps Lock, then press Caps Lock again to highlight the currently active Quick Trigger keys. Rotate the volume knob to adjust its sensitivity, or try touching them to test them – they’re backlit green when the button is activated, and red when reset.
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Similarly, Snap Tap is activated by pressing the Function and Left Shift keys. 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 without testing because there’s no visual indicator.
Finally, you can switch profiles simply using the keyboard. Press the function and one of the six keys (Home, End, etc.) in the upper right corner – each with a corresponding profile number printed on the keycap. When you change profiles, the profile icon of the LED display will change color. You can choose from five preset profiles, each with individual trigger levels, Rapid Trigger settings, and more, and profiles include FPS games, racing titles, high-sensitivity mode, and more. includes profiles for
Being able to customize things with just the keyboard suffers greatly from the lack of Synapse compatibility, and Razer’s app is very easy to use and understand. While we prefer using Synapse, adjusting things on the keyboard itself means you don’t miss out on many of these great gaming features.
Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Tenkeyless: What I don’t like
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the Razer Synapse. Razer’s companion software is used to customize all of its products, and the Huntsman V3 Pro Tenkeyless is no different. You can change key activation levels, enable features like Snap Tap and Rapid Trigger, change lighting mode, and more. You use Synapse for
The problem? Synapse does not work with macOS. This means that many features that are key to the Huntsman V3 Pro Tenkeyless are not available to Mac users. This includes enabling Continuous Quick Trigger (but not regular Quick Trigger), resetting buttons, creating new profiles, setting up macros, and creating advanced lighting patterns. As we can see, the good news is that many key features of the keyboard can be activated without requiring Synapse. Still, you might feel the price of the keyboard is a little too high to justify without the Synapse.
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There are a few other issues worth noting. There is only one switch option (linear) and the switches are not hot-swappable. Typing sound can also displease mechanical keyboard cleaners – it’s loud, clunky and heavy. The palm rest is also very sturdy (some will like it, some won’t). While it’s magnetically attached to the keyboard along its top edge, it doesn’t have clips to hold it in place, so it can slide from side to side. Finally, there’s no way to enable the macOS keyboard layout, so certain keys (such as Command) aren’t where you’d expect them to be.
But none of these problems are as pressing as the lack of Synapse support on macOS. We’ve talked to Razer about this many times in the past, and they’ve always assured us that macOS support is on their to-do list. We followed up again about the Huntsman V3 Pro Tenkeyless and got the same response: future support is possible, but nothing definite yet. The sooner support arrives, the better.
Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Tenkeyless: The Competition
The SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL is another keyless mechanical keyboard built with customizable launch and quick trigger functionality. Like the Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Tenkeyless, it comes with backlit PBT keys, an adjustable kickstand, and an on-board display. It’s a bit 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 a Razer keyboard, Keychron Q1 HE QMK it’s a neater job. You’ll still get the control knob and customizable activation points, but in a more mature look. It also features hot-swappable switches with magnetic activation, a gasket-mount design, and a button that alternates between macOS and Windows layouts. It costs $219/£193.
Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Tenkeyless: Should You Buy It?
You should buy this if…
- You’re looking for premium touches on a keyboard
- You’re after pro-level gaming features
- Want to quickly customize your keyboard without using software?
You should not buy this if…
- You’re on a tight budget
- You prefer to set your keyboard’s features using a utility
- You want clickable, tactile mechanical key switches
Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Tenkeyless: Verdict
A really solid keyboard with some great high-end gaming features and lots of on-board customization. This is mainly due to the lack of macOS support for the Synapse app and the price.
