Razer Ornata Chroma – Mecha Membrane Gaming Keyboard with Mid-Height Keycaps, Ergonomic Design, UK-Layout, RGB Chroma Backligh
| Weight: | 1.68 kg |
| Dimensions: | 46.3 x 15.4 x 0.31 cm; 1.68 Kilograms |
| Brand: | Razer |
| Model: | RZ03-02040300-R3W1 |
| Colour: | Black |
| Batteries Included: | No |
| Manufacture: | Razer Inc. |
| Colour: | Black |
love this product with definitely recommend to a friend, the wrist rest is comfy perfect to keep you typing in comfort, the quality of the membrane and the mid-level clicks are perfect.
Came earlier thatn said to me. Everything great with the keyboard
I’m using this for a mixture of gaming and programming. I’m using the Polychromatic software with the OpenRazer driver and this allows you to switch software profiles from the tray icon.
I love this keyboard! It’s comfortable to use for typing and gaming and the wide range of colour and pattern customisation options are also brilliant. Would definitely recommend!
Loved this keyboard when I first got it, cool RGB lighting, easy to set up and easy to use software. However a few weeks after the 30 day return period I noticed that every time I used the w key it would type we (without using backspace here’s what I type; wehen using the we key on this qweerty keyboard each time that I use the we key i get an added e after each we). Googled this and it appears to be a common issue weith a variety of keys. Really irritating and indicative of some poor QT from Razer. Going back to my near 10 year old Sumvision keyboard that I thankfully kept hold off and will use until razer get back to me with either a replacement or even better a refund (though Im doubtful of either). AVOID!!
Edit.
I stand corrected, got a replacement with minimal fuss and a few months in and no issues. Must have been unlucky, although as said the issue I experienced seems to be quite common so have a think before buying.
Great for gaming, personally don’t do gaming on PC. But it is and amazing keyboard… Would recommend- it’s speeds are great, it’s sleek and stylish and works amazingly. You also get a 1 year warranty for free.
it goes clicky clicky clicky!
great layout, well made and makes an awesome clicky noise. ive linked my razer with phillips hue so my keyboard now changes colour to reflect whats on screen for that extra bit of immersion. looks awesome to have mouse, keyboard and ceiling light change colour to films!
Son over the moon with this , “clicks” well apparently lol and brilliant colours , wrist rest is a good touch
I reviewed this keyboard very badly previously and gave it 1 star, I have since found that most of the faults I mentioned were user inflicted. I took it apart and it was full of dust and other crap – all keys worked perfectly once that was removed. I also discovered it wasn’t warped as I had though, there was blu-tack stuck underneath one of the rubber pads on the base. So now that it is working I’d like to say that I think it is a throughly excellent gaming keyboard, to the extent I have now bought a matching Razer Mamba Elite mouse and so have the lovely ‘fire’ RGB effect rippling across both keyboard and mouse. Many thanks too to Razer for contacting me to try and sort it out after the first review – apologies but I didn’t see your response until some months later, but it did prompt me to re-write this review. So….fantastic, buy it!!!
Bought for my teenage son – he’s very happy with his keyboard and loves being able to program different colour and wave patterns
This was even better than I expected and delivered well within the timescale
This is a great keyboard for shooters, MMOs and RPGs. All rounder. Customisation options are great!
Bought to replace son’s old keyboard. Looks cool. Simple install and working well.
One of the best keyboards for the price. Absolutely love the customisations that you can do and perfect for gaming
A great replacement for my old DeathStalker from Razer. Great key travel and RGB is nice too. Would recommend
Its a very quiet keyboard. My 11 year old son loves this
Such a pretty RGB keyboard with a ton of functionality! I love the way it lights differently for different games. Also a good way to stay up late without the lights o
I have already purchased one of these for my son, this purchase was for a friend, excellent for any gamer, very easy set up and to use, thanks.
I was a little confused at first as it’s my first time having a proper keyboard so watched a quick 2min vid on YouTube and now i have 3 custom button Layouts lol
Fantastic keyboard. I’ve tried and tested various rgb boards from other brands and razer by far has the upper edge. Keys are great and press with a mechanical feel. Awesome chroma effects.
Recommend it to anyone and who is looking for a good looking, great feeling and reliable keyboard.
Another happy son.. He loves it and to be fair its awesome
Over all I think the keyboard is great but it feels abit clucky. And is lauder than I expect it to be.
The keyboard is great for it’s given price point. The keyboard alllows multiple rgb patters to be used through the razer app. The only problem I had with the keyboard was the space bar key as it felt slightly stiff. Overall it’s a great keyboard.
Good little keyboard. Does the job. A bit pricey but it’s worth it for chroma.
Great for gaming, good customising with all the rgb colours and well quality.
Very nice feel to the keyboard. Shame that the Razer Software is a little buggy and sometimes doesn’t allow me to change the lighting effects.
I purchased this keyboard to replace my BlackWidow Chroma V1 and to sum it up I don’t think the Ornata is as good. The key-press and the feedback on the BlackWidow is so much better, I know the Ornata has mecha membrane keys but I thought they would be similar in feel. The keys look and feel smaller and I prefer the key travel on the BlackWidow. I do like the Chroma v2 RBG lights and I love the wrist rest, it feels nice and high quality.
All in all I will be changing this keyboard in the near future. If you have never used a mechanical keyboard before then you will really like this, but if you have I would say stick with mechanical as it is definitely superior in nearly all ways.
It’s really good looking and has a very durable material and i is a great all round keyboard. If you have enough money I would definitely invest your money in one!
My husband got me this as a gift and I love it. It’s quite a simple looking keyboard but has really fun LEDs under the keys that can be programmed to do basically anything! I like the reactive settings that send out a wave of lights after a key press. You can set up different profiles for different games and I’ve set up a subtle dark blue for night time. Keys feel really nice to touch and have a sort of matte leathery feel.
Great product excellent value for money very pleased with it would buy agai
After useing it for a few days i can says this is a very good keyboard and i highly recommend but as a warning the light effect you add is disabled when razer cortext detect they is a game and just spectrum(color) cycle i can see a big change when i play games
What can I say? It does everything I want it to do
Got this for my husband for Christmas and he is one happy ma
Overall this is a great keyboard for people who can’t afford the higher end gaming keyboards, it is extremely easy to set up you just plug in and download a driver and your off. The backlight LEDs add a really nice effect and don’t look cheap. The keys are great and mimic mechanical keys almost identically I couldn’t tell the difference. The only thing I noticed is that when I picked up it up it does feel a little flimsy but that isn’t an issues.
This is typed using the Ornata Chroma.
I got this keyboard for 80 on an amazon sale. At first I was worried that the mecha-membrane switches going to be too mushy. I can tell anyone with the same worrys that this keyboard is not mushy and it feels a lot like a mechanical keyboard. The click is amazing as its not too loud but really sounds authentic. The wrist wrest is extremely comfy when typing but I prefer to game without it as it can be annoying for me personally but maybe not for others. Overall while I think the plastic shell of the keyboard feels cheap the keys, wrist wrest and rgb effects are all amazing. Definitely the best keyboard I have owned.
Very good condition to buy for quiet gaming and very good quality of prodact the only thing witch i dont like is the program in computer who i found bit difficult to make your own setups… But everything is perfect 5 stars and more
Well made, responsive and versatile.
Keys a little too noisy.
I’ve had this product for a year now and it never fails to deliver. If you require a keyboard that uses the feel of a mechanical keyboard but still want the normal membrane keys then this keyboard is definitely one to take in consideration when buying hybrid keyboards.
So far this keyboard hasn’t failed me when it came to writing my essays and constantly utilizing WASD in all the video games I play.
I give this keyboard 5 Stars for its overall feel, look, and driver support in the new Razer Synapse 3.0 software.
Thank you Razer 😀
I received my first ever razor branded keyboard and I can not be more happier. The lights on the keyboard looks really great in the dark and the keys itself may need some getting used to but overall its a solid keyboard and will recommend gamers to buy this.
This keyboard feels great, looks great and works perfectly with my pc. There are many lighting customisations as well as practical features for gaming. Would recommend.
I recently swapped to razer products due to Logitech discontinuing the g13 gaming board. I wanted a simple rgb keyboard to sit between my Tartarus and Naga Trinity just for some in game and general typing when needed. I chose this model because it looked small and compact and this keyboard does the job great. Looks good rgb synced with my other Razer gear, and as all i need on it, including volume amd mute controls. Also they all work on synapse 3 which is a bonus as some products still use V2.
I have only been usung it a day or so therefore i can’t really comment on durability/reliability but i don’t see any problems as it doesn’t get used like my mouse and tartarus. The images used on amazon and on the box itself are of the usa layout so does appear to have a wider l/shift key, but inside is a UK layout keyboard with a single l/shift key which i’m used to anyway and its nice and bright for night time typing as i usually game in the dark at night.
All in all i’m happy with this product so far.
My only gripe is that despite being advertised as ‘spill resistant’, it isn’t. Mine hardened up like concrete after a very minor interaction with a coffee. Make from that what you will. It probably will resist an angry blart of nerd saliva but it won’t appreciate being taken into the shower for a cuddle.
I have bought about 6 different keyboards and this is by far the best, sounds, looks and ergonomically fantastic.
The ornata chroma feels really sturdy and more solid than some other keyboards for more money. The chroma lighting is absolutely gorgeous and has so many effects, which with the white backing behind the really tactile keys, just looks absolutely stunning. The wrist rest is extremely comfortable and actually feels above standard compared to other make keyboard rests. The keyboard is brilliant when gaming and typing, it has a nice resistance and a really solid feel so you can determine the key presses, you can even allocate individual colours for individual keys using the software, making it easier to determine buttons when gaming in a dark room.
Perfect, nothing else to say, keep in mind it’s not mechanical and also not membrane, it’s mecha membrane, the perfect combination of satisfaction and quietness
my partner absolutely loves this keyboard. You can change thesettings for the colours etc really funky.
I’ve had this for a few months and it’s been amazing. The key sound are loud, as expected. I’ve given a 3 star for the software. I downloaded the latest version of Razer Synapse (Version 3 I think) and I got all my lighting set up but every time I restarted or turned on my PC my custom lighting mode that was selected didn’t work. I went back to the Razer Synapse Version 2 and everything worked fine. I spilt some of my drink over it (which included milk) and I took the keys off with ease and cleaned them and it works perfectly but the keys are quite mushy and don’t click. I’m not complaining anyway because it’s my mistake. Apart from that everything is amazing. I highly recommend this keyboard.
Really good product every thing was perfect except that it didn’t have USB ports but that is my mistake for not checking
A lot of customisation. Being lart of the new synapse I have to use two apps to support my older razer mouse. Clould do with better integration under one app.
I was sceptical because you can get a lot more fancy and expensive keyboard for gaming. However the keyboard is amazing and so simple to set up and use. Don’t pay more for someone else when you can get this one
I really like this keyboard, it’s not mechanical but I’m not that in to gaming so I don’t really mind that and the typing experience is great imo. The lighting effect are amazing! I recommend this item to anyone who wants a gaming keyboard that looks high-end but doesn’t want to spend 100.
I love everything about this keyboard; the clicking of the keys is enjoyable, the lights look amazing and half the reason I want to play games is that I now have such a wonderful keyboard.
I can say it’s a interesting keyboard. It’s one of the best I’ve used. Not mechanical, for those who use mechanical I’d advise you not to buy this one which is clearly a rubber dome keyboard. The only mechanical part is a small metal plate on side of the keys that click’s when you press the key, giving you a nice tactile feedback. A bit more silent then mechanical though not to much… Extremely comfortable at least for me. I don’t really care about RGB and effects( I use it with solid colour only) but light is bright and keys very sharp and visible. I use it only for two days so I can’t say how strong it is and how long will last, but for now I love it.
With the keyboard you get an initial colour change that changes the colour of the whole keyboard every few seconds, but to get other colour settings you need to download a 200ish MB download of Razer Synapse. This allows full customization of all the keys. My Fave is a wave. Certain things such as @ and ‘ are inverted on the keyboard, but you get used to it quick. This has an English layout . Certain choices such as not having images for tab and shift, you will also get used to quick. The membrane keyboard is quiet, which is what I wanted, but feels much better pressing these keys than a laptop keyboard. At 60 it’s a bargain.
Thee best keyboard I have used! Keys are light yet clicky and responsive, the perfect in-between of mechanical and membrane. The chroma lighting is the finishing touch and fits in perfect with my PC and other chroma products!
The greatest and most amazing keyboard ever. Not too pricy, keys are exactly what I wanted, non sticky keys, grips well even with sweaty hands, hand rest is perfect height and so comfortable, colours are vibrant, easy to use, recommended it to loads of people and they love it too!
I’ve been wanting a keyboard with lights for ages but I really didn’t want a mechanical one- I don’t like the feel of them or the noise. I’m absolutely in love with this keyboard, it gives me all the features I wanted and none of the ones I didn’t and the price is great for what it is. I debated between this one and a similar corsair keyboard but opted for this one after watching a youtube video comparing the two. I love the how you can customization the lighting is and it feels very comfortable to type on as well as play games. The build quality feels really sturdy and I’m thoroughly happy with my purchase.
I know the reviews are a bit mixed on this one, but having had it for a few months I have been really enjoying this keyboard.
It is very comfortable to use while gaming, I like the Membrane Keys and I love the backlighting that makes it look amazing, all the time.
I find the keyboard to be really reactive, the keys have a nice texture and push, and the fact they have used spill resistant technology is kind of cool, although I have not spilled anything on mine.
Overall a nice gaming board.
I’ve been using this keyboard for about 6 month now with no problems. Just like buying a mouse, the “best” keyboard is the one you find most comfortable to use (despite what people say about the technical features that you probably wouldn’t notice). For me it’s the key strike distance being lower (or you don’t need to depress the key as much as something like the Razer Blackwidow). Did notice the RGB lighting wasn’t as brilliant for the individual keys as the Blackwidow. Many of the pre-programmed Chroma schemes are gimmicky (and you would probably never use them in a month of Sundays), and there aren’t that many games that use the chroma software.
Best used with a mono backlighting scheme, and enjoy the typing, also own a fully mechanical keyboard (Razer Blackwidow) which is a lot more expensive, but I find I use this one more often as it’s simply more comfortable to use. It IS quieter than the “green” switch Blackwidow, and have had no problems with the wrist wrest coming adrift.
This was an amazing keyboard that I really love, I would definitely recommend it. I think the main reason to get this keyboard would be the lights which are very beautiful and easily customisable. It works with razer synapse 3. The wrist rest is very comfy. This product definitely met my expectations.
This is a great keyboard, if you know what you are getting. Unlike a lot of gaming keyboards this keyboard is a membrane keyboard, something which is reflected in its price, but as long as you are aware of this and are happy with membrane keys rather than mech then this is a very good buy.
This comes with the features one would expect of a gaming keyboard with lights. The keys and lights are programmable through the software, as are macros, and the keyboard comes with the now expected anti-ghosting tech that’s the important part of a gaming keyboard.
The keyboard itself is very durable, responsive on keypress, and works well with the Synapse software.
If you aren’t after a mechanical keyboard (either because of noise or cost) then I would recommend this keyboard.
This is the perfect keyboard for you if you both want to enjoy the incredible RGB colours on display behind the keys of this keyboard as well as not wanting too much ‘click’ behind your typing. I can genuinely say I have no regrets whatsoever despite the pretty hefty investment I made in my pursuit of a quality keyboard. Well done Raze
This is an excellent keyboard, with a really nice manual feel and ‘clack’ to every key; highly recommended for anyone who demands a lot of their input device – gamers and writers. It’s just a shame keyboards like this don’t come in the more ergonomic shapes.
The multicoloured backlighting looks amazing in a darkened room.
AMAZING colour rainbow – full configurable – so, you can set e.g.
– normal stand alone colours – fade/blink
– and when you click some buttons – you see changed colour
You can setup ‘layers’ of lighting.
EVERYTHING IN THIS SAME TIME !
Software fully compatible with MAC OSX (I using with MacBookPro) and WIN
ot a fan of the hand rest its too high for me so its comfier without it but the rest of the keyboard is fantastic coming from a mechanical keyboard.
Great keyboard, nice and quiet with excellent lighting effects, especially with the new Razer Synapse software. However, this product does not come with the wrist rest as some of the other reviews have stated, slightly disapointed with that, but overall a good keyboard and definitely worth the money compared to some of Razer’s higher end models.
Gorgeous, gorgeous keyboard. Expensive yes, but worth it.
This has the best “typing” feel I have ever had on a keyboard (even the G15) and I love using it. Really fast response for raiding as well.
Recommended
The build quality is absolutely next level, it makes my mechanical Rocat Ryos MK Pro keyboard feel like something i got free with a happy meal.
The keys do click quite loud, not as loud as mechanical keys but if you’re a button spammer, these click more as you can’t have them half pressed, ready for the spam, this might start to irritate, i personally can’t hear them with headset on but the clicking does get picked up by my mic.
It’s a shame that this keyboard doesn’t have macro keys, but i’d be surprised if there is another keyboard out there of this quality for under 120.
I got the one with the wrist reset – this is also really nice and connects to the keyboard with a magnet so it’s always in the right place!
This is a hard duty gaming keyboard. For 65 you would expect a lot and, yes, it delivers a lot. The keys are soft and a pleasure to use and the ability to create your own unique palette of colours should appeal to many gamers, though I personally have not experimented with this feature as I like my keyboard “plain” and am more interested in the functionality rather than flashy looks. The wrist rest is wonderful. Once you get used to it, you’ll wonder why you were ever satisfied with keyboards that didn’t have one. There really isn’t anything negative I can say about this keyboard: it screams quality the moment you take it out of the box. Obviously, if you are not a gamer and don’t require the extras that this keyboard offers, I would recommend getting a cheaper one. Otherwise, this keyboard is well worth considering.
Fantastic – wonderful in the dark and good in the day time. Program the keys as you wish and in the colour you want. Nice patterns of colours too. Click of keyboard can be annoying as not silent but not too distracting for others in the room.
An amazing product.
I love everything about this keyboard; the clicking of the keys is enjoyable, the lights look amazing and half the reason I want to play games is that I now have such a wonderful keyboard.
Superb gaming keyboard with comfortable keys with satisfying movement and response when clicked. I found it really comfortable and a joy to use compared to my regular keyboard. The ‘soft-touch’ keys in particular are a nice touch. There are lots of options for changing the colour of the backlighting but I found it overkill and the light actually made it difficult to see the keys at times. So while it is a great keyboard, I wouldn’t pay extra for the lighting unless you really think you need that kind of thing (you don’t).
I have never owned a gaming keyboard but I have tried several (Yes, even all the types of mechanical keyboards). I will describe the whole unboxing and the product specifications below.
Packaging:
Razer is the best at this game. The Ornata Chroma comes in a green and black razer themed box with a hollow cut out to test the switches. Inside you’ll get a: 1.Razer greetings card, 2.A quick starter guide, 3.Two Razer logo stickers, 4.The Ornata Chroma itself and 5.The magnetic wrist rest. Unboxing didn’t require any tools.
Build:
Made of hard plastic, the Ornata is still a heavy keyboard. This already tells us how good the build quality is. The keyboard has almost no flex at all (try twisting or pressing hard the keyboard). It has four rubber feet to provide grip which is fair enough on most smooth surfaces (Glass be the best). A braided cable with an attached rubber tie plus the gold plated usb feels premium. There are cable adjustment channels under the keyboard too. Overall there are no razer logos or branding on the keyboard which is kind of disappointing, but a single minimalistic razer text in front (I like that). The front is magnetic as it attaches to the wrist rest (More about it below).
Key Switches:
Though the keys are mecha-membrane (as claimed by Razer), it is fairly tactile and loud. In a mechanical keyboard, the keys are taller and look high profiled; the Ornata has low profile mid-height keys which look subtle. There are 4 types of switches to choose from in a mechanical keyboard and this one (the Ornata) is basically compared to the Blue switches (Clicky and Tactile). Where the blues require more force to press, these mecha-membrane switches require much less force to activate giving almost same feeling as the Blue one. (If you want to know more about these switches and its mechanism, you can refer to the original Razer site for The Ornata Chroma).
The Lighting (Yes the RGB ):
Gorgeous, charismatic, enchanting, appealing, delightful and all the other synonyms you can come up with, when you first plug in the Ornata, it is set default to spectrum cycling. At first glance you will notice that how bright the backlighting is, even in daylight or in a well-lit area, the backlighting is fairly visible. But when the backlighting is turned off, the keys are barely visible (it can be solved by setting it to a lower brightness). On the top right corner the Num lock, Caps lock, Scroll lock, Game Mode, and Macro indicators are located; they are separately lit and don’t come under the RGB configuration. The only drawback in the RGB illumination is that per key lighting spreads the colour to other keys which mixes in between the spaces making it look faded and blunt with other colours (as shown in picture, different shade of colours isn’t definitely visible).The Razer Synapse software gives you the freedom to create your own RGB configuration, you can literally create tons of customisation using the Chroma Configurator. P.S. If you register your product on razer ID, you will get a free upgrade to their Razer Surround “Pro”.
Shortcut and Function Keys:
Other gaming keyboards may include separate dedicated media buttons to control playback, volume macro etc. The Ornata has shortcut keys embedded with the function keys which can be easily accessed on the go. The Game mode disables the windows key which is often misclicked while in-game. There are no such keys which disturb the conventional layout of this keyboard. But there is one you will notice while typing that the upper case keys are placed below and vice versa. It is basically a problem if you type while looking at the keyboard else you will notice nothing plus you’ll get used to the layout.
Macro:
Macros are generally super shortcuts. While the Ornata doesn’t have extra keys for macros but you can obviously remap any key to be a particular shortcut using the synapse software. Also you can record your macros using on the go macro function button. The Macro indicator starts blinking red showing that you are recording macro.
The Wrist Rest:
Soft leather like, plushy and well cushioned, the wrist rest is extremely comfy to put your hands on. It is magnetic and detaches very easily. It has rubber grips underneath which maintains its positon.
Conclusion Time:
I guess you might have scrolled down straight to know the conclusion, well then here you go-
Pros-
Superior build quality.
Minimalistic design and very subtle Razer branding.
Soft and Tactile keys compared to the Mechanical Blue switches, require much less force to actuate.
Brilliant RGB with tons of customization.
Detachable wrist rest with soft cushioning which is very comfy.
Braided Cable with rubber tie and cable management channel underneath.
Dedicated media keys included as function shortcuts which can be used on the go.
Cons-
Heavy keyboard in general, not suited for portability.
When backlights are turned off, the keys are barely visible.
The braided cable is thick and is very tight to fit inside cable channels provided.
The wrist rest has very less magnetic strength.
That concludes my review of the Razer Ornata Chroma. At this range you may get a real mechanical keyboards minus the RGB; if RGB is not a thing you care about then you can go for the HyperX Alloy and Corsair K70. My opinion, I prefer more on aesthetics so I find this as a good investment for my setup.
Thanks for spending your crucial time reading this review, please hit the helpful button if you found such.
The Razer Cynosa is a solid budget gaming keyboard.
Lets get one thing out the way, this is not a mechanical keyboard. Having used mechanical for a number of years now I couldn’t go back. And whilst this isn’t like your average dull office keyboard, its no mechanical.
Now that out the way, its biggest let down is also its biggest achievement. It doesn’t feel like a run of the mill membrane it feels snappy and just about responsive.
It’s well made and is a basic keyboard. There are no additional macro or media keys which is a bit of a shame. However it feels good to type on, the keys are lovely and comfy.
The RGB lighting works well and looks great.
The lighting etc is controlled by the Razer synapse software that, despite having been around years doesn’t feel as mature as competitors but it gets the job done.
It handled games fine, I tried Star Wars Battlefront 2 and starcraft and it was fine. In fact there was no discernible lag etc
Overall a good step up from a basic keyboard without making the full investment in mechanical.
A fast responsive keyboard suited to gaming but also useful for other keyboard work. Really good quality typing, but also great for both beginner and advanced gamers. The backlights work a treat but I haven’t had time to explore the full functionality of these programmable keys. A full sized keyboard that would suit an advanced performance setup. Very impressed with this item
A really flash and comfortable keyboard. I find it great to use, the children love the colors, and it looks swish.
When typing away the keys are responsive and not noisy in comparison to my other work keyboard. The lighting effect is what really makes this keyboard stand out from a plain black one. The lights are not off-putting when you type but rather they make the typing experience a bit of fun.
The wrist rest is integrated into the keyboard and something that I do not usually have feels alright.
A great keyboard. I am not a gamer so I am not commenting on that aspect.
My son has reviewed the Razer Cynosa Chroma Gaming Keyboard below and has compared it to his other Razer keyboard, the BlackWidow Ultimate (2014 model).
First of all, I’d like to praise Razer for creating an affordable keyboard with features comparable to their more expensive ranges. The ‘Razer Cynosa’ is a fantastic keyboard that’s only limited by the Razer Synapse 3 software it requires for multi functionality.
Setup
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This gaming keyboard is usable as soon as it’s connected via USB. By default, it runs a basic RGB lighting effect on every key. To change this and everything else this keyboard is capable of, the Razer Synapse 3 software is required. Synapse 3 is still in beta, this may worry some users but I can assure you that the software is extremely easy to use.
I was able to combine Razer’s backlighting effects to create my very own light show when playing games. This may not appeal to all gamers, but simple lighting can also be applied. Synapse 3 allows users to create multiple profiles and link these to specific games for added macros and key binding capabilities. My only complaint would be that I prefer to key bind or macro keys that don’t already have a function but the keyboard lacks extra keys.
Cost
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At the time of this review, the Razer Cynosa sits at 63. A very affordable price for an RGB backlit keyboard with the its capabilities. A premium priced option is available for users who prefer mechanical keys, but this quiet membrane key model is extremely responsive.
I also own a Razer BlackWidow 2014 mechanical keyboard. A few years ago, the BlackWidow only cost 10 more, but I still believe the Cynosa is worth every penny as it benefits from new software.
Comparison
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My Razer BlackWidow is mechanical with 5 extra keys on the left side of the keyboard layout with a strong solid green backlight. It includes a USB port and audio ports for a gaming headset with microphone. I can’t recommend my Blackwidow model though, as a new version today would cost more than double of the Razer Cynosa and do almost everything this affordable keyboard can do.
Conclusion
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It’s very possible to buy a mechanical keyboard for roughly the same price as the Cynosa, but it certainly wouldn’t have the trusted Razer brand behind it. The keys are very quiet, back lit and fully customisable. It’s capable of everything my BlackWidow can do software wise and feels very sturdy. A slight complaint would be that Synapse 3 must be running at all times in order to use extended functionality. I thought I had lost my lighting configuration until I booted the software up and logged in. I strongly recommend this keyboard to all PC gamers, not just those that don’t want to break the bank.
For those that want a keyboard that does the basics extremely well. This is the keyboard for you.
Amazingly comfortable, with the best of both worlds in terms of a membrane/mechanical keyboard.
I spent a large amount of time playing video games and can not stress how happy i am with this product.
Pros
Awesome in all parts and the best is part how low the keys are and the feeling of pressing is golden af!
The pad it comes with is the best out there hands down
Cons
The keys are loud and sharpe! not even orings will suppress that. But if it’s what u like then go for it but if not buy corsair strafe silent simple.
People slate Razor for quality issues but my daughter now has full set up of RBG keyboard, mouse and mouse mat and never had any issues.
Love it my favourite keyboard so far i got it when it was only 87.99 and is amazing although some people will hate they wont have this amazing light show.
This keyboard is great! I find it so easy to type on and the colours behind the keys are absolutely stunning! I do a lot of computer programming so I need to be able to type fast, and the Razer Ornata Chroma allows me to do just that. The keyboard is somewhat loud and clicky, but I really like this as I feel as though the keyboard gives me great tactile feedback whilst typing.
The wrist rest is very comfortable whilst typing and attaches magnetically so is easily detached. The build quality of the device is really nice, when held up to another keyboard this one really does have a premium feel.
As with all of Razer’s products, this keyboard comes with a hefty price tag when compared to a cheap keyboard you could buy a supermarket, but if you do a lot of typing then you really do feel the benefit when working with this keyboard!
I bought this keyboard because it was on display in Maplin and the clickyness was much more mildly orgasmic than the (slightly) more expensive mechanical keyboards on display. I inquired about their “Price Match Guarantee” which they advised did not include Amazon or eBay, so here I am.
When I first tried it at home it seemed a lot louder than in the shop, I thought it may be too loud but my wife hasn’t complained yet so it can’t be that bad. It should be noted that the metal clicky thing can be removed from under the keycaps which does make it sound like a regular rubber dome keyboard (video can be found on youtube). I considered doing this on the WASD keys so the clicking wouldn’t be picked up by my mic as much but I can’t bring myself to do it since I got used to it.
The lighting effects are great and the Razer software is much easier to understand and use than the Corsair equivalent. The lights can easily be set in any configuration possible, I have set mine in a backwards Ivory Coast flag.
The wrist rest is very nice and soft and sometimes I use it as a pillow if I drink too much at my desk.
I love this keyboard. I use it mainly for work and find it great to type on as my other keyboard has Cherry Red switches which I find impossible to type with without a million typos and I just can’t really get along with regular membrane keyboards anymore. Another plus is that obviously when used with the Chroma effects, it looks absolutely fantastic.
Amazing keyboard that is a great build quality. Razor synapse software is a good software that helps link up my chroma set.Would easily recommend as they mecha membrane eys are not to loud.
The best gaming keyboard I’ve used, the chroma keys with games like overwatch are incredible and I prefer the shorter travel compared to the blackwidow, plus the price is far more reasonable.
10/10
The best keyboard I’ve owned yet. The keys are super comfortable, it’s fast to type and the wristrest is super comfortable (more than I expected)
The only downside is the keys are quite loud, but for me it’s a plus because I wanted anti-ghosting anyway.
If you’re looking for a new keyboard, look no further!
One of my favorite purchases.
Brilliant quality keyboard but some keys don’t work. Hopefully just a faulty model…
Amazing! I definitely love it.It feels like mechanic. It feels unique!. I love the fact that the keys are mid height. Very decent. Lights are great. The colors are real. White is real white. It is NOT Blueish! :)) I recommend to everyone.
Bought for my sons 13th birthday, brilliant gaming keyboard and the lights are excellent. Will definitely last many years. Previous keyboard was also the same brand. Very high quality products
This keyboard is the perfect combination of clicky keys with tactile feedback and the height of the key caps that feels amazing to type on!
I’ve owned my Razer Ornata Chroma for three months, it has brilliant mock mecha membrane keys, the RGB Chroma lighting is flawless, there is a nice amount of key travel! The wrist wrest is incredibly comfortable and doesn’t deflate!
The wrist rest and the lighting effects, which I did not even think I would want to use, are terrific and use them heavily. I particularly like the reactive lighting setting which lights up the keys for a few seconds after you touch them, so illuminates the entire keyboard if you are typing fast. Also, it is possible to set the colours of the LEDs to a very dark colour allowing for an extremely subtle effect.
However, for Mac users, the function keys do not line up with MacOS. Currently, I can only use the preassigned function keys which are for volume and changing tracks. The other buttons, despite being assigned as f12 etc. do not interact with my laptop. This may be repairable, but the driver seems to only assign key to default or function key (besides macros etc.) and neither of these work.
I was curious about the new “mecha-membrane” keys, which sounded like the best of both worlds between a purely mechanical keyboard (with the tactile response) and a standard membrane keyboard (with a soft touch and unambiguous actuation point).
Unfortunately mine is faulty and in the process of being returned – however I can see myself getting another now that they’re available on Amazon.
I’m just going to split this down into likes and dislikes for simplicity’s sake:
Likes:
1. Super clicky keys feel great, sound great, and are soft when they bottom out;
2. Mid-height keycaps are a lot nicer to work with than the full-size keycaps on the mechanical models;
3. The palm-rest is super comfy, looks and feels great (and attaches with magnets!).
Dislikes:
1. The clicks are really too loud for a quiet environment;
2. There is no 2.
TL;DR
Not my perfect keyboard but it is as close as I’ve gotten so far.