Razer Pro Type Ultra review – One of the best premium work keyboards of 2022

Razer is best known for their vast array of gaming gear from chairs to laptops but their recent efforts in expanding their own Razer Pro line-up of work oriented peripherals have borne impressive fruit such as their excellent Pro Click Mini mouse that we tested recently.

This time around, we tested its companion keyboard, the Razer Pro Type Ultra that has a slew of features ideal for a work environment. Here’s our Razer Pro Type Ultra review puts their signature work-related keyboard to the test!

Razer Pro Type Ultra review – Build and Design

The Razer Pro Type Ultra leverages their vast experience in making gaming keyboards to create a keyboard optimised for serious productivity tasks. While it looks fairly pedestrian at first blush, it has a wealth of features that will endear it to desk jockeys.

Out of the box, the keyboard comes bundled with a rubber-sheathed USB-A to USB-C cable done up in white, the keyboard itself, a 2.4Ghz dongle as well as a cushy leatherette wrist rest. The wrist rest itself features a set of rubber pads on the underside to keep it in place but is otherwise a separate accessory independent of the keyboard itself as it can’t attach itself in any fashion to it unlike the version seen in the Huntsman V2.

In terms of design, my Razer Pro Type Ultra review sample is a full sized keyboard that uses their Double-shot ABS keycaps paired with Razer’s own yellow silent mechanical switches underlying each key. The keyboard itself is primarily made of polycarbonate but has a metal top plate done up in a cool shade of silver with the Razer logo emblazoned in the section just above the direction keys.

The full-sized keyboard layout features a numeric keypad which is necessary for those who work heavily with spreadsheets while the top row of keys features a rather unique array of shortcuts that include a mute, volume increase and decrease, a play, rewind and fast forward button, a pair of buttons to increase and decrease the intensity of the keyboard backlighting by 14 levels of brightness and, unique to the Razer Pro Type Ultra, a dedicated shortcut to email, the built-in calculator app and a shortcut to My Computer.

Where it stands out from a standard keyboard are its diverse array of connectivity options. Not only can it work as a conventional wired keyboard with its bundled USB-A-to-C cable, it also has options for Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless connectivity via a provided dongle. To wit, the keyboard has an integrated battery to allow for independent wireless operation with up to 214 hours of use on a single charge if you keep the backlighting off and stick to Bluetooth connectivity. With the backlighting on, you’re rated for about 13 hours of usage.

The underside of the keyboard packs a set of rubber feet for friction as well as a pair of flip-out feet to offer you a choice of 6 and 9-degrees of elevation . Nestled in a corner of the underside is a recessed bay that stores the 2.4Ghz wireless dongle.

Razer Pro Type Ultra review – 6 degrees of incline

Razer Pro Type Ultra review – 9 degrees of incline

It’s the very same one issued with the Razer Pro Click Mini mouse and if you own both the keyboard and the Click Mini, you’re able to assign both to the same dongle to save on a USB port. Unfortunately, there’s no volume dial but the keyboard does have the option to interact and control up to four other devices with three devices via Bluetooth and one via 2.4GHz wireless which is especially welcome for heavy multitaskers.

While the sides and front of the keyboard base are otherwise unremarkable, the rear face has a USB-C port to connect to a PC and a slider to select your preferred connectivity settings.

Overall build quality for my Razer Pro Type Ultra review sample is excellent with crisp lettering on the keys and a sturdy frame intended for heavy use while the provided cable has thick rubber insulation to provide a measure of durability. The white finish and grey trim along with its understated white LED backlighting also makes the keyboard ideally suited for more serious corporate environments.

Razer Pro Type Ultra Review – Setup and Performance

Getting my Razer Pro Type Ultra review sample up and running is a relatively simple task. Connecting it to my PC results in the prompt to install the Razer Synapse 3 control software that lets you assign key functions and shortcuts via their Razer Hypershift feature.

While Razer Synapse 3’s ease of installation is to be applauded – it’s practically automatic – it however requires you to register an account to gain full functionality which is a chore to say the least. That quibble aside, the experience of using the Razer Pro Type Ultra was a pleasant affair indeed.

I managed to pair up my keyboard with a Galaxy Z Fold4 via Bluetooth and a Windows 11 laptop via the USB cable without issue and both devices accepted input without any lag or dropping out.

On paper, my Razer Pro Type Ultra review sample uses Razer Yellow switches that are one of the quietest switches available on a mass production retail keyboard. Based on official specifications, Razer’s yellow switches are officially rated for 80 million key presses which enables you to type out the entirety of the text of War and Peace repeated over a dozen fold with plenty to spare. The keys have 45g of actuation force and features 3.5mm of travel, has a 1.2mm actuation point, bottoming out with a subtle, muted thock with every key press.

While there certainly are quieter switches available, those are more the province of bespoke keyboards made to order. In terms of customisability, the Razer Pro Type Ultra is as stock as it gets and you can’t swap the switches out or lube it – all of which potentially requires intensive work and expertise. Fortunately, this isn’t an issue seeing its intended audience of mainstream corporate desk jockeys.

When put to the test, my Razer Pro Type Ultra review sample performed in a sterling fashion across several months of use. While it took a bit of time to acclimatise to its subtler, more muted tactility, it proved to be highly responsive with rapid, near instant feedback. On average, I’ve managed a fair 90-93 wpm on average with the odd typo or two when writing large tracts of text. The addition of the wrist rests also made extended typing sessions a bit more comfortable.   

While it’s not intended for gaming, it did a fair job without ghosting in a few test matches of King of Fighter 2000 and it handled the likes of a more sedate RPG like Deus Ex Mankind Divided in a competent fashion.

In terms of battery life, my Razer Pro Type Ultra review sample with the backlighting on at moderate intensity paired to my PC via Bluetooth easily lasted 12 hours of intermittent use across a couple of days worth of work before needing a recharge with a full charge via the USB cable needing a couple of hours.

Should you buy the Razer Pro Type Ultra keyboard?

The Razer Pro Type Ultra keyboard is a well made and responsive keyboard with a clean design that makes it ideal for corporate environments, a slew of useful shortcuts, a variety of connectivity options and the ability to customise the keys via their own Synapse 3 app.

If you’re looking for a premium work-oriented keyboard, this should be tops on your list and is well worth the extra outlay for its excellent build quality and performance.  

Specifications
Price RM729
Switch type Razer Yellow mechanical
Connectivity Bluetooth 5,1 , 2.4GHz Razer HyperSpeed, wired USB-C port
Battery Life 13 hours (Bluetooth with backlighting on), 214 hours ( no backlighting with Bluetooth on, 207 hours ( no backlighting and 2.4GHz wireless)
Size/Weight 439 x 131 x 40mm / 1038g

Razer Pro Type Ultra review unit courtesy of Razer. For more details and to purchase please visit https://www.razer.com/gaming-keyboards/Razer-Pro-Type-Ultra/