Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition review: All pro, no fun

Razer's latest Huntsman gaming keyboard takes itself a bit too seriously

razer huntsman tournament edition review feature small
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition review: All pro, no fun
MSRP $129.99
“The Huntsman Tournament Edition is perfect for e-sports, just ok for everything else.”
Pros
  • Quieter than the original Huntsman
  • Lightning-fast key response
  • Sleek, lightweight, and efficient design
  • Replaceable and durable PBT keys
  • Removable USB 3.0 cable
Cons
  • Lack of tactile feedback
  • PBT keycaps attract lots of dust
  • RGB lighting is flat
  • Doesn’t come in different colors

The original Huntsman does a lot of things right. It’s responsive, satisfyingly clicky, sturdy, and attractive. Razer’s latest addition to the line, the Huntsman Tournament Edition, takes it a step further by iterating on an already solid keyboard. With an even faster key response, replaceable and more durable keys, and slightly more compact design, it delivers on performance and practicality — but loses major points in style along the way.

Recommended Videos

Here for business

Razer wants you to know that its latest Huntsman keyboard is made with e-sports players in mind. The Tournament Edition is all about performance and well, it performs. I’m no e-sports legend but, plugging it in for the first time, I felt the difference immediately. I normally use the original Huntsman for PC Gaming at home, so I was surprised by how different the Tournament Edition feels.

The most noticeable difference isn’t the speed, but how the keyboard feels and sounds. The switch to PBT keycaps dulls the satisfying clickiness of the original, which doesn’t feel as good to the touch and is sorely missed. The payoff is the improvement to how it sounds. The original Huntsman is a notorious noise-maker. An intense gaming session can sound like a boxing match with your keyboard. The Huntsman Tournament Edition is whisper-quiet by comparison.

The keys not only sound different but look different, too. They have a textured matte finish that keys your fingertips in place and creates a pleasant sense of friction. The keys are a magnet for dust and pet hair, though, so keep some keyboard cleaner handy if you like to keep your setup looking mint.

A magnet for dust and hair Image used with permission by copyright holder

The keys feel faster as well, which is something I don’t find myself saying often with keyboards that tout “faster actuation.” Your fingers barely have to push the keys for them to respond, and even in cases when I was pressing multiple buttons at the same time, I noticed no delay from the keyboard.

The ugly duckling

The Tournament Edition performs well. Its style, however, leaves much to be desired. It’s not as customizable as the original Huntsman and lacks the wrist rest of the Elite. The RGB lights are limited to the backlit keys, so it isn’t as vibrant as other Huntsman keyboards. The PBT keycaps add durability and texture but take away from the sleek aluminum matte finish of the base. While the keys are removable and replaceable, the Huntsman Tournament Edition only comes in black, so customization is limited to changing the keycaps.

Removable 3.0 USB Image used with permission by copyright holder

It doesn’t inspire the premium feel of its kin. It’s hard to justify the $130 price tag when it resembles a keyboard you can pick up on Amazon for $40.

This is a “tenkeyless” keyboard, so it doesn’t include the number pad on the side. That makes it lighter and more compact than the original Huntsman. If you’ll be taking your keyboard with you or need a little extra space on your desk, this design will appeal to you. If you use the number pad often, the tenkeyless design of this keyboard will feel insufficient. The Huntsman Tournament Edition also features a removable braided USB 3.0  cable that feels sturdy and should hold up to rough use.

Onboard memory Image used with permission by copyright holder

As for software, the Huntsman Tournament Edition does use Razer Synapse. It offers all the standard keyboard options such as custom key binds, macros, and lighting customization with Chroma Studio support. You can be very meticulous with your settings if you want, but frankly, it’s not all that exciting. It’s a standard inclusion for most modern gaming keyboards, so I wouldn’t call it a standout feature.

Keeping with its theme of easy transport, the Tournament Edition features onboard memory. With a total of five profile slots available, you can drag and drop which profiles you want to store in the keyboard’s onboard memory and select which profile you want to use with a simple dropdown.

There’s also the added convenience of not requiring users to log in to Razer Synapse to access the saved profiles on the keyboard which, if you know Synapse’s penchant for logging users out, makes this small but valuable inclusion a godsend. You do need to at least open the software and sign-in as a guest to assign a stored profile to the keyboard.

Our Take

The Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition is designed for e-sports. It’s faster than the original Huntsman, and the switch to PBT keycaps makes it more durable. It’s lightweight and compact for frequent trips to gaming tournaments. However, it doesn’t have the style of its older siblings, and that will make it less appealing to most gamers.

Is there a better alternative?

No. When it comes to e-sports performance and design, the Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition delivers on exactly what it’s supposed to.

How long will it last?

Razer says the Huntsman Tournament Edition has a 100 million keystroke lifespan.

Should you buy it?

No. I wouldn’t recommend purchasing the Huntsman Tournament Edition because it lacks so many features but still has a high $130 price. You can pick up a Huntsman for about the same as the Tournament Edition is going for now, and you’ll get more for your money.

Felicia Miranda
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Born in '89 and raised through the 90s, I experienced what I consider to be the golden age of video games. At an early age, I…
How to turn off damage numbers in Avowed
A player fights a bear in Avowed

One of the simple tips and tricks RPGs rely on to show how powerful you are is to display your damage in numbers. Avowed does this for every attack and ability you use, meaning you will see a ton of numbers pop up during your adventure. While they can be helpful at times, enemies also have health bars to see how much damage you're doing so having those numbers pop up can be more distracting than anything else, especially in third-person. Thankfully the game lets you turn these off to get a slightly more grounded experience. Here's how to quickly toggle this setting off.

Read more
PlayStation might skip its standard summer showcase this year
Housemarque's newest IP, Saros.

Summer has always been the season of announcements for the latest and greatest in gaming, but Sony might skip its normal showcase in favor of a smaller State of Play. This would make it the second year in a row Sony has decided against a major show, as 2024 also saw a smaller conference than normal. The news comes from Jeff Grubb of Giant Bomb fame, who says that a decision has not yet been made.

"Internally it sounds like they're debating, and flopping between, maybe making this summer a full showcase versus another State of Play. But they are considering a showcase," Grubb said. "And if they have a showcase, that means they'll have a lot of stuff to talk about. And at that point, you would definitely expect to see Wolverine and a lot of other games that could come out next year."

Read more
How to craft materials in Avowed
A castle wall in Avowed.

One of the first tips and tricks Avowed teaches the player is that they are not limited to any specific weapon or armor. Because there are no classes, you can unlock any abilities you want and combine them with your favorite weapons and armor types. That's all well and good, but you still need to upgrade your gear with materials to keep them effective as you get further into the game. All materials can be found while exploring, but you can also craft your basic materials into better ones if you know how.

Read more