Summary
Razer has introduced new keyboard technology called Snap Tap that essentially allows users ofcertain Razer keyboardsto move faster than the competition, especially in competitive shooters, without cheating. The feature is available as a free update to those who own either of the Razer Huntsman V3 Pro lineup of keyboards. Since this is a hardware level feature and not a script-based feature, it is completely legal in pro tournaments, at least for now.
Razer Huntsman V3 Pro
Razer’s most innovative gaming keyboard is back with improved Gen 2 analog optical switches and advanced onboard storage capabilities. The Huntsman V3 Pro features even more accurate switches, allowing on-the-fly actuation adjustments and Rapid Trigger mode for furious inputs. A multi-function digital dial can toggle between volume and actuation settings, while a series of LED indicators lets games know what settings are active. The Huntsman V3 Pro remains one of the most durable keyboards thanks to wear-resistant PBT keycaps and sturdy aluminum top plate.
The Snap Tap feature is a form of SOCD or Simultaneous Opposing Cardinal Directions, which is the actuation of opposite directions at the same time. What Razer’s Snap Tap does is prioritize the keypress for the most recent key, which means gamers can get more responsive inputs that lead to near-instant directional changes.In FPS titles, not only does this make you a harder target, but in some games likeCounter-Strike, it allows you to stop moving quicker and have better accuracy.
Razer Huntsman V3 Pro: Specifications and Features
The Snap Tap feature is available for Razer Huntsman V3 Pro series owners. The lineup includes the full-size Razer Huntsman V3 Pro, the Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Tenkeyless, and the Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Mini. They are essentially different sizes of the same keyboard, so features and specifications are mostly the same.
The Razer Huntsman V3 Pro features the company’s Second Gen Analog Optical switches with adjustable actuation. Depending on your gameplay style, you can adjust the actuation between 0.1mm and 0.4mm. The keycaps are Doubleshot PBT keycaps, and the keyboard comes with a 1000 Hz polling rate, N-key rollover with anti-ghosting, and programmable keys with on-the-fly macro recording.
It is a wired keyboard, but the USB-C cable is detachable, just like the magnetic firm leatherette wrist rest included as part of the package. There is also a multi-function dial for volume controls and tweaking the analog switch settings. The Huntsman V3 Pro has an LED array indicator that shows what modes or settings you are using.
All three keyboards have excellent build quality with a brushed aluminum top plate, a solid magnetic wrist rest, and keystroke durability of 100 million. It feels like a premium keyboard, which it better, considering the premium price tag.
Coming to the features, the Razer Huntsman V3 Pro boasts a Rapid Trigger mode which already makes the keyboard more responsive than other traditional mechanical gaming keyboards. Every key has a reset point after which it can take the same input again and this point is somewhere in the travel range of the switch. With Rapid Trigger, there is no fixed reset point and the key resets as soon as it is let go, which allows for much faster repeated input.
Snap Tap, as mentioned earlier, is the latest innovation in the keyboard space, and it prioritizes the latest input between two keys without having to let go of the previous one, which means you can instantly start moving right if you were moving left without your character first stopping their movement and then moving right. In some competitive shooters, this can give a huge advantage to players who are using the right keyboard.
This feature, in a similar form, was previously available as a script, but it was deemed illegal and banned from pro tournaments. Now, however, since this is a hardware level feature, some gamers feel that it should be banned, even though, for now, it has been allowed in pro tournaments. With Razer keyboards, combining the Rapid Trigger mode with Snap Tap mode gives players an even bigger advantage.
Razer Huntsman V3 Pro: Price and Availability
Being a premium keyboard offering from Razer, the Huntsman V3 Pro carries a premium price tag, coming in at $250. There is only a single black color option, and you will have to stick with Razer optical analog switches out of the box, since Razer doesn’t have any other switch options. The Huntsman V3 Pro is available onAmazon,Best Buy, andRazer’s own website, including other retailers.
The Huntsman V3 Pro TKL, which is the tenkeyless version of the full-size model, retains the LED array, the dial, and the magnetic wrist rest. It is also a bit cheaper at $220 and is available onAmazon,Best Buy, and other retailers.
Razer Huntsman V3 Pro TKL
The Huntsman V3 Pro TKL features more accurate Gen 2 analog optical switches, allowing on-the-fly actuation adjustments and Rapid Trigger mode for furious inputs. A multi-function digital dial can toggle between volume and actuation settings, while a series of LED indicators lets gamers know what settings are active. The Huntsman V3 Pro remains one of the most durable keyboards thanks to wear-resistant PBT keycaps and sturdy aluminum top plate.
Similarly, the Huntsman V3 Pro Mini, which is a 60% version of the full-size, keeps only the essentials and leaves out the dial, LED array, wrist rest, and even the arrow keys. While it does miss out on some of the features, this gives you a lot more space on the desk to place the keyboard in an ergonomic way and have even more space for the mouse. The Huntsman V3 Pro Mini is available for $180 viaAmazon,Best Buy, and other retailers.
Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Mini
The Huntsman V3 Pro Mini is the most compact version of Razer’s innovative mechanical gaming keyboard. Even at its 60% form factor, the Huntsman V3 Pro Mini offers cutting-edge Gen 2 analog optical switches with precise actuation adjustments. This diminutive keyboard utilizes modifier keys on its bottom right, which can act as the arrow keys found on full-sized alternatives. Gamers will also make no sacrifices in build quality since the Huntsman V3 Pro Mini features an aluminum top plate and doubleshot PBT keycaps, which can survive years of intense gaming.
Snap Tap Challengers
It’s not just Razer that has introduced this new feature to its premium keyboards. Wooting has followed suit and made its version of Snap Tap, which it simply calls SOCD, available to all its keyboards through a software update. It also has its own version of Rapid Trigger called Rappy Snappy. That being said, other manufacturers like Keychron and other QMK-based keyboards are also releasing similar functionality for their keyboards.
FAQ
Q: How do you enable or disable Snap Tap on the fly?
On the Razer Huntsman V3 Pro series of keyboards, you can press FN + Left Shift to toggle Snap Tap on or off. The paired keys will turn white to indicate the feature is on and red to indicate it is off.
Q: What Razer keyboards have Snap Tap?
The Razer Huntsman V3 Pro lineup of keyboards which includes three variants are compatible with Snap Tap.
