Razer Joro Review – Super slim travel keyboard for on-the-go productivity

Razer has a vast array of gaming keyboards of all sizes for gamers. Typically, they don’t usually issue very many portable ones, let alone one that is literally a poster child design for mobile workers such as the Razer Joro. On paper, the Joro is intended as a highly portable gaming keyboard, but what’s good for the goose is also good for the gander and its qualities as a portable gaming keyboard also serendipitously make it ideal for mobile workers on the go.

We managed to get a sample for field testing and after putting it through its paces, here’s our Razer Joro review where we suss out if this gorgeous keyboard is all it’s keyed up to be.

Razer Joro Review – Build and Design

In terms of build and design, the Razer Joro is a 75% wireless keyboard with an ultraslim chassis that is just 16.5mm thin while weighing 374g. The top keyboard tray is made of sturdy aluminium while the bottom is made of lightweight plastic. To their credit, the Joro is well built with minimal flex and none of the characteristic creakiness seen in cheaper designs despite using plastic for the bottom frame.

Belying its slim design, Razer has equipped the keyboard with a substantial battery that’s rated for up to 1,800 hours in power saving mode or about 11 hours with 50% brightness in normal settings before needing a recharge. You also have options to connect it wirelessly via Bluetooth 5.0 or wired via the provided braided USB-C cable to a companion device like a PC, laptop or phone. The keyboard can also pair up and swap between three other devices wirelessly at will.

On closer inspection, the keycaps are made of hard-wearing laser-etched ABS caps for clarity and durability, and feature Razer’s Ultra Low-Profile Switches, which are in effect scissor switches with 1.6 mm of key travel and the same designs used in their own Razer gaming laptops.

This results in a crisp typing feel akin to more premium laptop keyboards, though still a step short of the tactility offered by mechanical keys. The keyboard also features single-zone Chroma RGB backlighting, along with N-key rollover, anti-ghosting and 1,000 Hz Ultrapolling in wired mode.

The keys are also programmable via their Razer Synapse 4 app for Windows and MacOS. You’re also able to tweak the Chroma RGB backlighting patterns to taste with the app.

You also get full sized keycaps with a Copilot key and a relatively well spaced layout though it is also fully compatible with macOS, iPadOS and IOS hardware from Cupertino.

Features aside, our Razer Joro review sample looks stunning out of the box with a minimalist, premium look about it that has that unmistakable Razer aesthetic with its matte black finish and the aforementioned signature Chroma RGB backlighting. 

The edges of the keyboard are squared off and the top edge of our Razer Joro review sample hosts a single power button with a USB-C port for charging and wired connections. You also get a toggle that lets you opt between wired or wireless mode.

On the underside of the keyboard, you get a set of rubber feet for friction and aught else. Arguably, some tradeoffs were needed to be made to make the Joro this thin and light and the biggest concession was having elevated feet so you’re stuck with a relatively flat typing angle unless you prop the keyboard up with something else.

More irksome is the fact that the Razer Joro lacks any dust or water resistance so if you’re planning to take it about with you in Malaysia’s temperate weather, you’ll likely need a water resistant bag to protect your investment in the event of a downpour or an inadvertent coffee spill. These quibbles are slightly irksome but are not deal breaers.

Along with the keyboard itself, Razer has also issued a braided USB C-to-C cable for connecting to your laptop or other gear. 

Razer Joro review – Performance

I primarily work out of my laptop on the go, often with a wireless mouse and keyboard to make typing a more comfortable experience. For testing, I brought my Razer Joro review sample along with the Razer Basilisk Mobile mouse during the course of my work. Both fit comfortably in my backpack without taking up too much space or weight.

When paired up with a laptop and my Galaxy Z Fold7, the Razer Joro proved to offer a delightful typing experience with a crisp, tactile feel from its low-profile scissor switches and none of the squishy experience you’d get from lesser keyboards using membrane keys. 

While it took some getting used to, I managed to get a comfortable 80wpm typing on the Razer Joro. When put to the task in gaming, it managed to acquit itself well with sufficiently rapid responsiveness on Black Ops 7 for casual matches when triggering lethal, field and support upgrades and moving about the map. Even when used wirelessly, there was no noticeable input delay even with intensive typing or gaming.

Even better, their Razer Synapse 4 software allows for significant customisability with the ability to customise key bindings, the Chroma RGB patterns and a number of helpful gamer-centric settings like temporarily disabling the Copilot and Windows key when gaming.

The Joro also notably has access to Razer’s Snap Tap feature that allows for much faster input by prioritising the input from two selected keys without having to release the previous one. If Snap Tap doesn’t quite float your boat, you can also have the option to disable it in Synapse 4.

On paper, Razer has quoted that the keyboard with 50% brightness and all the bells and whistles on is rated to last for 11 hours of use. In my time testing it, my Razer Joro review sample was easily able to last an entire day of work from dawn to dusk without issue with plenty left in the tank after work for gaming.

Even after several weeks of use, I found that my Razer Joro review unit held up well without any noticeable signs of wear and tear. However, the matte finish on the keycaps is somewhat prone to smudges but it’s not something a simple wipe with a damp cloth once in a while can’t cure.

Should you buy the Razer Joro?

The Razer Joro represents one of the slimmest and lightest yet most capable portable gaming keyboard designs that you can currently buy in the market. While it does not come cheap at RM649, you get excellent build quality, a comfortable typing experience and long battery life. 

Unfortunately, you can’t adjust its elevation which may deter those who need a steeper typing angle and also lacks any IP ratings for dust or water resistance. Even so, the Razer Joro still comes highly recommended.

Razer Joro review sample courtesy of Razer. For more details please visit https://www.razer.com/ap-en/gaming-keyboards/razer-joro