10.03.2021 
We’ve recently had the pleasure of receiving in testing Razer’s last gaming optical keyboard. It is called Razer Huntsman v2 Analog, and it’s a high-end device that features optical switches, configurable actuation points, premium build quality, and, as you’d expect, premium pricing. Is it a great keyboard? Should you consider buying one? Read this review and find out:
Razer Huntsman v2 Analog: Who is it good for?
The Razer Huntsman v2 Analog keyboard is a great choice for:
- Gamers who are also Razer fans
- People who want a great keyboard
- Users who like optical switches and RGB-lighting on their keyboard
- People who can afford premium accessories for their computer
Pros and cons
There are many good things to say about the Razer Huntsman v2 Analog:
- It’s a keyboard that is great for gamers and also for typists
- It uses optical switches
- You can adjust the actuation points of each key independently
- The lighting effects are excellent
- You get a series of useful multimedia controls on it
- There’s an additional USB 3.0 passthrough port on it
- The wrist pad is very comfortable
- The Razer Synapse software is excellent
We also identified a few less positive aspects:
- The keyboard has two separate USB cables, and both are thick and relatively rigid
- The price is not for everyone
Verdict
The Razer Huntsman v2 Analog is one of the best gaming keyboards ever made by Razer. It is a high-end device that looks great and works flawlessly. The optical switches on it are fast and configurable, and their performance is hard to beat. Also, the adjustable actuation points are useful to competitive gamers, and also to users who want to be able to configure every little aspect. This keyboard also features one of the best wrist pads I’ve ever used. The Razer Huntsman v2 Analog is a high-end device that you should buy if you want to own the creme de la creme in terms of gaming keyboards, if you are into esports, and you have the budget for it.
Unboxing the Razer Huntsman v2 Analog
The Razer Huntsman v2 Analog gaming keyboard comes in a black & green box made of premium cardboard. On its top side, you get to see a large picture of the keyboard, as well as a few details about its main features.
The box of the Razer Huntsman v2 Analog
On the backside, you have information about the optical switches used by this keyboard and a longer list of hardware specifications.
Razer Huntsman v2 Analog - The back of the box
When you open the box, you find the following: the keyboard, its wrist pad, a USB-C to USB-A adapter, two stickers, the product guide, and a welcome letter to the Razer community.
Razer Huntsman v2 Analog: What's inside the box
The unboxing experience offered by the Razer Huntsman v2 Analog gaming keyboard is that of a premium product.
Hardware specifications
The Razer Huntsman v2 Analog is an optical gaming keyboard, meaning that it uses optical switches for its keys. They are all RGB also, so you can light them up in any color you prefer. The optical switches are linear, and, unlike other types of switches, you can configure where they actuate. As we were going to find out when using this keyboard, optical switches are an excellent choice for both typists and gamers. They allow for fast typing, and, although not extremely noisy, the keys have nice audible feedback.
The Razer Huntsman v2 Analog gaming keyboard
The optical switches found on the Razer Huntsman v2 Analog are designed to last for 100 million presses each. That’s double the keystroke lifespan of regular premium mechanical switches, so it is safe to say that the Razer Huntsman v2 Analog should last you for many years. You can learn more about that in our analysis: How long are millions of keystrokes and clicks in years?.
The Razer Huntsman v2 Analog is a full-sized keyboard and, besides the standard keys, it also offers a multi-functional digital dial for adjusting the volume or muting audio and three additional media keys.
Media controls on the Razer Huntsman v2 Analog
To connect to your computer, the keyboard uses two braided USB cables. There are two cables and two connectors evidently because the keyboard also includes a passthrough USB 3.0 port. The cables are non-detachable, but at 78.74 inches (200 cm), they are long enough to satisfy any needs.
USB connectors on the Razer Huntsman v2 Analog
Without the wrist pad, the Razer Huntsman v2 Analog keyboard is 17.5 inches (446 mm) wide, 5.5 inches (141 cm) deep, and 1.8 inches (45 mm) high. It’s also heavy, weighing 2.7 lbs or 1.2 kg ). If you take the wrist pad into consideration also, the keyboard is 9 inches (231 mm) deep instead of 5.5 and weighs 3.7 lbs or 1.6 kg.
Razer Huntsman v2 Analog with its wrist pad attached
The Razer Huntsman v2 Analog should be compatible with any operating system. However, to benefit from all its features, you need the Razer Synapse software, which officially works only with Windows.
The specs of the Razer Huntsman v2 Analog are top-notch, telling the story of a keyboard made for pretentious gamers.
Using the Razer Huntsman v2 Analog gaming keyboard
The Razer Huntsman v2 Analog gaming keyboard looks great - Razer’s designers are clearly quite talented at making pretty devices. The keyboard uses a full-size key layout, and the underplate (the surface under its keys) is made of aluminum.
Razer Huntsman v2 Analog uses optical switches
The bezels on the sides of the Razer Huntsman v2 Analog gaming keyboard are fairly small. If the space on your desk is limited, you can decrease the keyboard’s footprint by not attaching the wrist pad.
The wrist pad attaches magnetically
However, that would be a real shame, as this is one of the best wrist pads I’ve ever used. It’s covered by a soft plush and leather-like material. I found it to be incredibly comfortable, and what I feel is important to tell you is that my hands didn’t sweat even after a whole day’s worth of typing. That’s really something else! Furthermore, the wrist pad also looks amazing, and its design matches the keyboard. In its center, Razer’s engraved triskele logo subtly announces the keyboard’s affiliation.
Razer Huntsman v2 Analog with RGB lighting
The RGB lighting on the keys and the LED lights on the bottom of the keyboard and wrist pad will turn heads. Still, on the keys, Razer chose to light up only the symbols on them, not the underplate also. That’s a good choice, as it makes the lights less distracting.
On the top-right side of the keyboard, there are a couple of multimedia controls and a digital dial. The latter is actually a fairly large volume wheel that you can also press to mute audio. The other three buttons act as multimedia controls for Play/Pause, Rewind, and Forward. In my opinion, it’s great to have such buttons on a keyboard. However, I prefer them on the left, not on the right side. If they’re on the right, to control the volume or change the audio track, you have to take your hand off your mouse when playing.
Media buttons and volume dial on the Razer Huntsman v2 Analog
Thanks to the metallic plate under the keys, the keyboard feels and is solid. Even if you push, it doesn’t look like it bends even slightly. The left side of the keyboard features a passthrough USB 3.0 port that you can use to connect any devices you want without having to get to the back of your PC.
On the left side, there's a USB 3.0 port
On its bottom, the Razer Huntsman v2 Analog has two support legs that let you adjust the keyboard’s tilt at an angle of 6 or 9 degrees.
Razer Huntsman v2 Analog: Perspective
For as long as I had this keyboard in testing, I used it to play my favorite games at the moment: League of Legends, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. The Razer Huntsman v2 Analog worked very well, and its optical switches proved to be excellent. The best part about them is that you can configure when they actuate. The optical switches have a linear motion, but their actuation point is not fixed, as it is in mechanical switches. Using Synapse, you can set the actuation point of every key on this keyboard to anywhere between 1.5 mm and 3.6 mm. If you want faster actuation, meaning that the key’s action is performed faster, you decrease the actuation point. In fast-paced games like League of Legends, I want that. On the other hand, for typing, I prefer longer key travels before actuation because short actuation points make me type worse, with more mistakes.
Razer Huntsman v2 Analog without the wrist pad
The Razer Huntsman v2 Analog is a beautiful gaming keyboard. Its optical switches are excellent, the build quality is premium, and the performance is top-notch.
Drivers and software
Like most of Razer’s peripherals from the last few years, configuring the Huntsman v2 Analog is done with Synapse 3. On the Customize tab, you can program what each key does, set actuation points, create and remove settings profiles, and so on.
Razer Synapse software
What’s interesting about the configurable actuation points is that Razer’s Synapse lets you add secondary functions to keypresses. That’s made possible by setting two actuation points for a key: when the first one is reached, the first action is triggered, and when the key travels to the second actuation point, the secondary action is also performed. For example, you can configure the E key to act as E on an actuation of 1.5 mm, and as Q when the actuation is 2.5 mm.
Changing the actions and actuation points for a key
The lighting effects can be easily configured from the Lighting tab, where you can also adjust the keyboard’s brightness.
Razer Synapse: Lighting options
Razer’s Synapse software is well made and provides complete control over how the Huntsman v2 Analog keyboard works.
Do you like the Razer Huntsman v2 Analog?
Now you know that we like the Razer Huntsman v2 Analog gaming keyboard a lot. You also know its strengths and few weaknesses. Before you close this review, tell us your opinion. Do you agree with our verdict? Comment below, and share your perspective.
