Razer has released a new generation of work peripherals in the Pro range: the Pro Type Ultra keyboard, Pro Click Mini mouse, and Pro Glide XXL mouse pad.
These devices are part of Razer’s ambition to expand beyond the gaming sector in which it is already a reference. The logic, as Razer CEO Min-Liang Tan explained to us , is that many workers are already gamers too; they are more likely to trust a brand they know well during their leisure hours.
The first devices in the range were the Pro Type keyboard and the Pro Click mouse, and a year later, they have received new versions; the main novelties come in response to what the first users asked for, and now we have been able to see first-hand how they have changed.
Razer Pro Type Ultra
As the name suggests, this is an enhanced and modified version of the Pro Type in many respects, but especially one fundamental: the keys. The original Pro Type used Razer’s orange mechanical ‘switches’, which offered a similar feel to a ‘gaming’ keyboard, but without the characteristic accompanying sound.
For the Pro Type Ultra, Razer has gone in another direction, offering it only with the yellow ‘switches’; These are also silent, but they are linear . That is, they do not have that tactile sensation when we press them and simply go down without offering greater resistance. The actuation point, the site from which the pulsation is detected, is much earlier than in the orange mechanism; and that means we don’t have to push the key all the way down for the keystroke to register. Also, the travel distance is somewhat less.
It’s easy to see why Razer made this decision; Compared to its predecessor, typing on the Pro Type Ultra is much faster and requires less force with your fingers. When we get used to it, we will be able to type faster, since we will not have to “wait” to reach the actuation point, and the fingers will move from one key to another more quickly.
In the long term, and especially after a hard day’s work, we will notice the difference. However, I expect criticism from users who have been noticing that tactile sensation on the keys all their lives and who now do not have it; In the same way that Razer was probably criticized a year ago by those who didn’t want that feeling when they released the first Pro Type. The choice of the ‘switches’ is something very personal, and in my opinion, Razer would have to offer the option to choose between the oranges and the yellows.
Less controversial will be the other great novelty, the inclusion of a wrist rest to improve ergonomics. The Razer Pro Type Ultra is very configurable, and offers three different angles to put it to our liking; but no matter which one we choose, it will still be a relatively tall keyboard. To solve this, Razer includes a wrist rest that will allow us to find the perfect angle to place our hands. It is not a cheap additive, with a quality and soft touch that will avoid the dreaded rubbing on the wrists after hours of use.
Where this keyboard vastly outperforms the competition is in connection options . The Pro Type Ultra is a wireless keyboard, which we can connect to up to three Bluetooth devices, between which we can switch with a simple keyboard shortcut; so far everything normal, but in addition, a USB adapter is also included for a 2.4 GHz wireless connection, faster and with less latency.
We can change modes with a selector at the top of the keyboard, and the adapter is stored inside the keyboard itself so as not to lose it during transport. And finally, we can use the included USB-C connection to connect the keyboard directly to the computer. Therefore, we have five different connections at our disposal., so we can use it with five different devices instead of having to buy a keyboard for each one.
The USB-C connection also serves to recharge the Pro Type Ultra’s internal batteries. Razer promises up to 84 hours of duration with Bluetooth and the backlight off, while if we turn it on it stays in 12 hours. Such lighting is not RGB, as this is supposed to be a serious device, but white; fits nicely with gray chassis and white cables and base. It’s a curious lighting effect, as light escapes from the underside of the keys.
Using Razer Synapse, we can customize the lighting, albeit in a limited way since it is only one color. We can also change the function of practically all the keys , assigning them macros, special functions, program execution, shortcuts and much more.
The Razer Pro Type Ultra isn’t a cheap keyboard, priced at $ 169.99, but the fact that it’s wireless and you can connect up to 5 devices with a single keyboard probably covers much of that cost. Also, we can finally get it with a Spanish configuration, after the Pro Type was only available in American English.
Razer Pro Click Mini
What better than to pair a silent keyboard with a silent mouse? The Pro Click Mini is a tiny travel mouse that we can carry in our laptop backpack and use anywhere.
The Pro Click Mini shares many of the advantages of the Pro Type Ultra, such as its quiet operation or its connectivity. Razer has managed to create a mouse that cannot be heard at all and is therefore ideal for use at night while the family is resting. It is something strange, and not having that ‘click’ can confuse us a bit; but with plugged ears, I have found that it does not have a much different feel than other small mice, such as the Razer Orochi V2 .
In the hand, the big drawback is that it is somewhat heavy, but not because of the mouse itself, but because of the two AA batteries it uses; Maybe if they were AAA, or better yet, it had an internal battery, the weight distribution could be better. Still, it’s not the worst I’ve tried in this regard, and opening and changing the batteries (which can last up to 465 hours) is a breeze thanks to the magnetic cover.
When opening the mouse we will find the 2.4 Ghz USB adapter; and is that this mouse uses the same technology as the keyboard (and we can use the same adapter for both). In addition, we can connect up to three devices via Bluetooth, for a total of four connections ; we can switch between each one in a simple way, with the lower buttons. However, this time we do not have a USB-C port, neither to connect it directly to a computer or tablet, nor for charging, of course.
Despite its small size, the Pro Click Mini is surprisingly ergonomic, thanks to a very bold shape for a work mouse. On both sides we have rubber that guarantees a good grip, and the style of the mouse is very striking in white and gray.
The Razer Pro Click Mini is presented as a great option if we need a travel mouse that we are going to use on various devices, such as our tablet and laptop, for example. It costs 89.99 euros, perhaps somewhat expensive considering that the conventional size Pro Click costs only 20 euros more.
Finally, Razer has accompanied these launches with a great accessory for our desk; and “big” comes from “big”, because it is a gigantic mat, almost 1 meter wide and 410 mm deep.
These types of mats have become very popular lately; The idea is that they are not limited to the mouse, as always, but that we also put the keyboard and hands on top, giving a greater feeling of comfort and quality. The latter is not lacking, with a micro-fabric textured fabric surface that is very pleasant to the touch.
More importantly, it is a surface that provides more control for the mouse, at the same time that it offers less resistance and allows us to move the mouse more freely. It continues the styling of the rest of the Pro range, in gray with white accents such as the brand’s logo to the top right.
The Razer Pro Glide XXL is available for 34.99 euros.