Brand | Razer |
---|---|
Series | Tartarus Pro |
Item model number | RZ07-03110100-R3U1 |
Hardware Platform | PC |
Item Weight | 12.8 ounces |
Product Dimensions | 5.95 x 7.96 x 2.5 inches |
Item Dimensions LxWxH | 5.95 x 7.96 x 2.5 inches |
Color | Classic Black |
Power Source | Corded Electric |
Manufacturer | Razer |
ASIN | B07YQKS4B5 |
Country of Origin | China |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Date First Available | October 24, 2019 |
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Razer Tartarus Pro Gaming Keypad: Analog-Optical Key Switches - 32 Programmable Keys, Macros - Customizable Chroma RGB Lighting - Variable Key Press Pressure Sensitivity - Classic Black
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Purchase options and add-ons
Brand | Razer |
Compatible Devices | Gaming Console |
Keyboard Description | Gaming |
Special Feature | Ergonomic, Volume Roller, Backlit, Wrist Rest, Programmable Keys |
Color | Classic Black |
Number of Keys | 32 |
Keyboard backlighting color support | RGB |
Style | Tartarus Pro - Optical Switches |
Product Dimensions | 5.95"L x 7.96"W x 2.5"H |
Included Components | Keyboard |
About this item
- The NPD Group,U.S. Retail Tracking Service, Keyboards, Mice, PC Headset/Pc Microphone, Gaming Designed, based on dollar sales, 2017-2021
- New, Pressure-Sensitive Inputs: Razer Analog Optical Switches register various levels of pressure similar to an analog joystick-like experience on a keypad
- 32 Keys for More Hotkeys and Actions: Perfect for gaming or integrating into creative workflows with fully programmable keys
- Thumbpad for Improved Movement Controls: The 8-way directional thumbpad allows for more natural controls for console-oriented players and a more ergonomic experience
- Fully Programmable Macros: Razer Hypershift allows for all keys and keypress combinations to be remapped to execute complex commands
- Ultimate Personalization & Gaming Immersion with Razer Chroma: Fully syncs with popular games, Razer hardware, Philips Hue, and gear from 30 plus partners; supports 16 8 million colors on individually backlit keys
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This Item Razer Tartarus Pro Gaming Keypad: Analog-Optical Key Switches - 32 Programmable Keys, Macros - Customizable Chroma RGB Lighting - Variable Key Press Pressure Sensitivity - Classic Black | Recommendations | dummy | dummy | dummy | dummy | |
Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | |
Price | $129.99$129.99 | $36.99$36.99 | -9% $63.99$63.99 List: $69.99 | -12% $49.99$49.99 Typical: $56.99 | $219.00$219.00 | $272.00$272.00 |
Delivery | Get it as soon as Thursday, May 16 | Get it as soon as Thursday, May 16 | — | Get it as soon as Thursday, May 16 | Get it Jun 3 - 24 | Get it Jun 3 - 24 |
Customer Ratings | ||||||
For gaming | 4.0 | 4.4 | 3.7 | 4.0 | 4.2 | 4.2 |
Ergonomic | 4.0 | 4.1 | 3.8 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 |
Value for money | 2.8 | 4.5 | 3.9 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.2 |
Quality of material | 3.9 | 4.2 | — | 4.1 | 3.7 | 3.7 |
Comfort | — | 4.8 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 3.5 | 3.5 |
Sold By | Amazon.com | Redragon Shop | Amazon.com | Redragon Shop | Azeron Store | Azeron Store |
connectivity tech | — | USB-C | Wired USB | Wireless | USB 2.0, USB 3.0 | USB-B |
number of keys | 32 | 42 | 104 | 42 | 29 | 29 |
compatible devices | Gaming Console | PC, Laptop | PC | PC, Laptop, Tablet | Gaming Console | Gaming Console |
keyboard description | Gaming | Gaming | Gaming | Wireless One-handed Gaming Keyboard | Gaming | Gaming |
operating system | — | PC/Mac/Linux/Unix | Microsoft Windows | Win/Mac/Linux/Unix | Windows 10, Windows 11 | Windows 10 |
From the manufacturer
React. Respond. Repeat.
Rapid Trigger Mode
Unlock maximum speed & response with the ability to release & repeatedly press keys at a faster rate
32 Programmable Keys
Infinite Commands
Take hold of your game with the Razer Tartarus Pro—a gaming keypad that will never let victory escape your grasp. From its measured, nuanced inputs to its 32 programmable keys, experience a level of control and customization made for the most demanding of MMO gamers.
Razer Analog Optical Switch
Registers variable levels of input in the same keystroke, providing a deeper degree of control similar to analog controller thumbsticks
Adjustable Actuation
Have the Razer Tartarus Pro calibrated for speed, control, or a balance of both by tuning the keypad's sensitivity
8 Quick-Toggle Profiles
Enjoy more convenience and utility with a button on the side of the keypad that changes your profile instantly
Dual-step Actuation
Bind two functions to each key—one that triggers on a partial keystroke, and another on a full keystroke
What is analog input?
Analog input allows you to have scaling levels of input (i.e. 0 to 255) rather than just 0 and 1. The most common type of analog input in gaming can be found in analog thumbsticks on controllers, where they are mainly used for character movement
What games will work with analog input?
Games with controller support will work with analog input out of the box. This includes Fortnite, Rocket League, FFXIV, World of Warcraft, and more
What are the benefits of Rapid Trigger?
With the ability to reset keys instantly as the switch travels upwards, going from a moving to stationary position faster than your opponent in FPS games would significantly increase your reaction time and shot accuracy
How do I enable Rapid Trigger Mode?
To enable Rapid Trigger Mode, please ensure that you have the latest version of Razer Synapse. In Razer Synapse, you can click on your keyboard and enable Rapid Trigger Mode, which can be found under the Actuation tab
Is the wrist rest adjustable?
Yes, the Razer Tartarus Pro wrist rest can be adjusted between two positions
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Honest Review of the Razer Tartarus Pro Gaming Keypad
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Customer Reviews |
4.4 out of 5 stars |
---|---|
Best Sellers Rank | #726 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games) #16 in PC Gamepads & Standard Controllers |
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Product Description
Nothing is faster than the speed of light—that’s why we designed a switch that utilizes light to register a keystroke. The Razer linear Optical switch features 1. 0mm Optical actuation so you can execute commands instantly, leaving no doubt When your kill is determined in the blink of an eye.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the ease of use of the keyboard. For example, they say it's relatively easy to program and intuitive. They appreciate the quick setup and the customization it offers. That said, some complain about the software. Opinions are mixed on buttons, quality, key quality, performance, and comfort.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers like the ease of use of the keyboard. They say it functions properly, is relatively easy to program, and extremely intuitive. They also say the setup is really quick, and the backlighting makes it easy to match their setup and show off their style. They mention that it has a macro setup program that they haven't used too much yet, but it activates much easier than the thumbstick. Overall, customers say the keyboard enhances the gaming experience for enthusiasts.
"...5. Macros are a breeze to set up. Just make sure the game you're playing allows macros and won't ban you for using them.6...." Read more
"...Doesn't slide around on my desktop. -Keys are very clicky and satisfying. I don't feel like I'll press a key by accident...." Read more
"...Every button or method of input is fully reprogrammable to a number of functions including the alpha-numeric section, navigation keys, F keys, mouse..." Read more
"...There is a slight learning curve but you'll feel 90% at home right out of the gate, needing to just feel out the nuanced differences between the..." Read more
Customers like the customization of the keyboard. They mention that it has excellent customization options, a one-handed design, and 32 programmable keys. The software allows them to customize everything from hot keys to keybinds and profiles. They also appreciate the 20+ programmability points and the ability to set up different keymaps.
"...They also added RGB support which is complete preference but it is customizable and looks rather decent honestly...." Read more
"...The keypad is highly customizable and the resting state of the hand feels very natural...." Read more
"...You can adjust the key actuation, macros, brightness and for all your RGB lighting needs, Razer's Chroma suite has you covered...." Read more
"...is really solid, and I appreciated that you can change the position of the palm pad for bigger hands (this is a MUST)...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the quality of the keyboard. Some mention that it's well-made, solid, and reliable, while others say that it breaks easily and poorly documented.
"...replace the low profile Taryarus keys perfectly -lamd they are very affordable -X-keys Keycap Cherry MX Compatible" Read more
"...2 Weeks and it broke. I exchanged it. 1 month later that one broke. A week after that the one my sons broke too. Terrible design flaw...." Read more
"...4. Built like a tank (as discussed above)...." Read more
"...So yeah, worth the money and works as advertised. It has withstood some bumps and bruises as is common in gaming, and is none the worse for the wear...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the performance of the keyboard. Some mention that it works well, while others say that it doesn't work correctly. The device itself is really quite good, and the thumb stick works great. However, some customers have reported limited functionality and the d-pad genuinely does work to move their character.
"...I use this for gaming along with a G600 mouse, it works wonderfully and solved the problem I was having with needing more modifiers and being able..." Read more
"...action will always be triggered first and there is no way to bypass the primary function...." Read more
"...new spokesperson after what this thing has gone through and it still works perfectly...." Read more
"...The device itself is really quite good...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the key quality of the keyboard. Some mention that the ergonomic design, and responsive keys, enhance the gaming experience. They say the keys are all easily reached, spaced enough to not feel cramped. However, some say that the keys too uniform, lose their place when they move their hand, and that it doesn't retain key programming.
"...having 20 keys, a scroll wheel, a d-pad and a thumb button, there aren't enough keys. The 1-5 keys are mapped, of course, to 1-5...." Read more
"...and the hand positioning in general is relaxing, the shorter keycaps help with this. I found some better gripy texture tape for my most used keys...." Read more
"...5. Keymap switching does not work. You can only assign the default Keymap to a key so that pretty much limits you to two keymaps...." Read more
"...-The distance between the main area of the keypad and the "spacebar" key is too far and hitting it is uncomfortable..." Read more
Customers are mixed about the comfort of the keyboard. Some mention it's very comfortable to use, with the wrist rest beneath the keyboard, the pad feels great, and the keys feel good. However, others say that it'd be uncomfortable to stretch to all parts of the device, and that the switches feel a bit mushy.
"...I've adjusted to using it all the time for gaming and it is so incredibly comfortable...." Read more
"...1. Unbelievably comfortable.2...." Read more
"...first problem but then creates another by being too heavy and uncomfortable to use for long periods of time...." Read more
"...The ergonomic design of this thing feels great for my hand. I actually wish that the tilt-angle was a bit steeper, honestly...." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the buttons on the gamepad. Some find them satisfying to press and click perfectly. They say the buttons work smoothly and are easy to use, except the top row. However, some customers find the buttons too sensitive and awkward to reach.
"...If you are coming from the Logitech G13, the Razer has fewer buttons, is physically smaller, and seems to be made for smaller hands...." Read more
"...I am able to use all of the buttons easily except the top row which requires a little stretch to reach but that's fine with me, I just make those..." Read more
"...keyboard in most laptops, but they are definitely less clicky than true mechanical switches. It didn't take long to adapt to them however...." Read more
"...The buttons click perfectly, everything is responsive, nothing is wrong whatsoever...." Read more
Customers find the software for the keyboard atrocious, clunky, and a UI/UX nightmare. They also mention that the Synapses 3 software is pretty buggy and has glitches. Some complain that the software requires Razer's software to make it work.
"...EVERY OTHER ISSUE is a result of the poor software...." Read more
"...this Razer game board is glowing a billion colors...but the program didn't start up so the game board is in default mode...." Read more
"...First off, I would argue that the software is so buggy and so feature deficient as to really be at a pre-alpha level rather than beta...." Read more
"...This wouldn't be such a large issue were the software not unrelentingly terrible and slow...." Read more
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I am a professional graphic designer and digital illustrator who regularly uses Adobe's Creative Cloud suite. In particular, I use Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign and Xd daily. For some of these programs I tend to use a Wacom Intuos Pro medium in place of a mouse and, of course, a keyboard. This is the main reason I purchased this device. While I'm perfectly at home with a mouse and keyboard, I can attest to and must admit that having the Razer Tartarus Pro has sped up my workflow EXPONENTIALLY.
As some of you reading this may know, using a graphic tablet is great for countless applications but personally when I'm using a tablet for something other than digital painting, using the express keys makes it awkward to operate one-handed and flipping back and forth between having both hands on the tablet (1 on the express keys, 1 on the pen) or having one hand on the keyboard and the other on the pen. As you might imagine this can actually slow your process down somewhat significantly. Especially when you consider that the keyboard shortcuts that you use frequently can be between 3-4 simultaneous keystrokes which adds to the uncomfortable nature of switching.
For this reason, some people start to look at editing consoles/controllers to help with this. The main two I personally had been considering were the Tour Box ($169 MSRP at time of review) and one of the Loupedeck devices ($250-500). While both were fine products, I heard this mentioned in passing and decided to investigate. I was a bit surprised because I've pretty much always used Logitech products, I knew nothing about Razer's catalog except that they were popular with people who take gaming much more seriously than I do and that's about it. At a MSRP of $129 I had to at least try it. When it suddenly went on sale from $129 to $79, I pulled the trigger. This has been my experience so far:
The short: I wholeheartedly recommend this device if you are looking to use it the way I am. I cannot speak to this device's use in games because I haven't used it for that, I wasn't planning on it and frankly, the other thousands of reviews have that aspect covered pretty thoroughly.
The long: I chose the Pro over the V2 for a few reasons I think you'll find important. The main advantages the Pro has over the V2 are that it has optical switches, the keys are dual-action and the keys actuation is adjustable. If you're used to mechanical keyboards, the key "feel" may mess with you at first but unless you're a particularly heavy-handed typer I don't foresee any adjustment issues. The keys on the Pro are a little on the heavy side but because of the nature of the dual-action keys, they kind of have to be. While you can set the actuation (ostensibly how hard you press before the unit recognizes that it's been pressed far enough to trigger the secondary action) to your preference, it will take some light adjusting. The primary function triggered by the initial keypress can be extremely light and the secondary action is generally triggered around half way to "bottoming out" (key being pressed in all the way). It's also important to know that regardless of what you have assigned to the primary and secondary actions to any given key, the primary action will always be triggered first and there is no way to bypass the primary function. While that may sound limiting, it just means you have to be thoughtful about what you assign. I'll talk about this more later.
The beauty of the dual-action keys for design software is that you can just set all of your most-used functions to single key presses as there is no string limit per key. That said, as I mentioned, the way you stack keys matters. For instance, if you wanted to set up a key to "Save" on primary and "Save-As" on secondary - it's still gonna overwrite your file because it has to "Save" before it can get to "Save As". A better way of grouping similar commands would be to set "Copy" as primary and "Cut" as secondary so that it doesn't matter that you only need to cut as copying won't prevent you from cutting immediately after. And it's not just the keys - you can even program the scroll wheel and D-pad. Might sound useless to a mouse user, but being able to immediately switch between scrolling and zooming on that wheel without having to move your hand - it's just one of those little things that, in tandem with the rest of your efficiency binding, make this thing fast and fun to use. You also have them ability to designate a key as a "Hypershift" key in Razer's Synapse software (more in that in a sec) wherein instead of tweaking the actuation to your liking to make use of the dual-action keys, you can sacrifice a key to be the modifier instead of using the "pressure" settings. Feels a bit silly to sacrifice a key for that reason to me but it's a reasonable alternative for the more heavy-handed among us.
Razer's Synapse 3 software (needed to program your keys and lighting) is not the most immediately intuitive, but once you get the hang of it - it becomes fairly easy to use. From Synapse, you can create profiles for your respective games/applications with their own independent layout and lighting options. You can adjust the key actuation, macros, brightness and for all your RGB lighting needs, Razer's Chroma suite has you covered. You can even sync your other Razer devices or have the lighting effect(s) (Yes, you can even layer lighting schemes and effects) or incorporate multiple Razer devices into a single continuous effect.
This is one of the other reasons I opted for the Pro over the V2. I tend to work in little to no light, so the per-key RGB lighting (Yes, even the scroll wheel) is much better than the V2 in that there is no light bleed on the Pro. Depending on the environment, the light bleed on the V2 is pretty egregious by comparison. On the Tartarus Pro, I've never been confused as to which key I'm about to hit and while that may sound like a minor issue for a difference of $50, like any other piece of equipment, there's gonna be a learning curve. That learning curve can be shortened drastically if you start out by color-coding keys which is a huge help until muscle memory develops. Some have complained that the unit has no onboard memory and while this is true, Synapse has cloud storage for settings, so unless you intend to take this device with you everywhere and need to use it in 100 different machines...I'd argue that's a bit of a moot point. I know everyone's needs are different, but realistically I see most people using it on their main workstation and maybe a laptop...even if I still worked at an agency on-site, I'd be hesitant to request IT clear Synapse for my work machine but maybe we're different.
The last thing to touch on are the ergonomics. I have large, but not huge hands and I find (for my purposes) that reaching all the keys is comfortable and intuitive (even when you start building speed - and you will). If you have larger hands, the palm/wrist rest is adjustable but if you have smaller hands, I could see this being less wieldy although not uncomfortable. If you have average to large hands I think you'll be at home. The palm base/ wrist rest is lightly padded but not so much so that you notice it which is great because I've dealt with a myriad of "comfort" features that only served to irk during extended periods of use. Thankfully, in the case of the Razer Tartarus Pro, I can use it for HOURS without any discomfort whatsoever. There's something extremely cathartic about being able to work without moving your hands unnecessarily. It's a huge help if you deal with strain from carpal tunnel or tendonitis especially.
Whether you're a mouse, tablet (or both) user, I think everyone considering this to speed up their design workflow should at least try it. Do some experimentation with your binds both in physical placement and how you "stack" commands and group your keys colors by tool/function and I'm willing to bet it won't take long before you start wondering how you were getting by without it.
Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2021
I am a professional graphic designer and digital illustrator who regularly uses Adobe's Creative Cloud suite. In particular, I use Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign and Xd daily. For some of these programs I tend to use a Wacom Intuos Pro medium in place of a mouse and, of course, a keyboard. This is the main reason I purchased this device. While I'm perfectly at home with a mouse and keyboard, I can attest to and must admit that having the Razer Tartarus Pro has sped up my workflow EXPONENTIALLY.
As some of you reading this may know, using a graphic tablet is great for countless applications but personally when I'm using a tablet for something other than digital painting, using the express keys makes it awkward to operate one-handed and flipping back and forth between having both hands on the tablet (1 on the express keys, 1 on the pen) or having one hand on the keyboard and the other on the pen. As you might imagine this can actually slow your process down somewhat significantly. Especially when you consider that the keyboard shortcuts that you use frequently can be between 3-4 simultaneous keystrokes which adds to the uncomfortable nature of switching.
For this reason, some people start to look at editing consoles/controllers to help with this. The main two I personally had been considering were the Tour Box ($169 MSRP at time of review) and one of the Loupedeck devices ($250-500). While both were fine products, I heard this mentioned in passing and decided to investigate. I was a bit surprised because I've pretty much always used Logitech products, I knew nothing about Razer's catalog except that they were popular with people who take gaming much more seriously than I do and that's about it. At a MSRP of $129 I had to at least try it. When it suddenly went on sale from $129 to $79, I pulled the trigger. This has been my experience so far:
The short: I wholeheartedly recommend this device if you are looking to use it the way I am. I cannot speak to this device's use in games because I haven't used it for that, I wasn't planning on it and frankly, the other thousands of reviews have that aspect covered pretty thoroughly.
The long: I chose the Pro over the V2 for a few reasons I think you'll find important. The main advantages the Pro has over the V2 are that it has optical switches, the keys are dual-action and the keys actuation is adjustable. If you're used to mechanical keyboards, the key "feel" may mess with you at first but unless you're a particularly heavy-handed typer I don't foresee any adjustment issues. The keys on the Pro are a little on the heavy side but because of the nature of the dual-action keys, they kind of have to be. While you can set the actuation (ostensibly how hard you press before the unit recognizes that it's been pressed far enough to trigger the secondary action) to your preference, it will take some light adjusting. The primary function triggered by the initial keypress can be extremely light and the secondary action is generally triggered around half way to "bottoming out" (key being pressed in all the way). It's also important to know that regardless of what you have assigned to the primary and secondary actions to any given key, the primary action will always be triggered first and there is no way to bypass the primary function. While that may sound limiting, it just means you have to be thoughtful about what you assign. I'll talk about this more later.
The beauty of the dual-action keys for design software is that you can just set all of your most-used functions to single key presses as there is no string limit per key. That said, as I mentioned, the way you stack keys matters. For instance, if you wanted to set up a key to "Save" on primary and "Save-As" on secondary - it's still gonna overwrite your file because it has to "Save" before it can get to "Save As". A better way of grouping similar commands would be to set "Copy" as primary and "Cut" as secondary so that it doesn't matter that you only need to cut as copying won't prevent you from cutting immediately after. And it's not just the keys - you can even program the scroll wheel and D-pad. Might sound useless to a mouse user, but being able to immediately switch between scrolling and zooming on that wheel without having to move your hand - it's just one of those little things that, in tandem with the rest of your efficiency binding, make this thing fast and fun to use. You also have them ability to designate a key as a "Hypershift" key in Razer's Synapse software (more in that in a sec) wherein instead of tweaking the actuation to your liking to make use of the dual-action keys, you can sacrifice a key to be the modifier instead of using the "pressure" settings. Feels a bit silly to sacrifice a key for that reason to me but it's a reasonable alternative for the more heavy-handed among us.
Razer's Synapse 3 software (needed to program your keys and lighting) is not the most immediately intuitive, but once you get the hang of it - it becomes fairly easy to use. From Synapse, you can create profiles for your respective games/applications with their own independent layout and lighting options. You can adjust the key actuation, macros, brightness and for all your RGB lighting needs, Razer's Chroma suite has you covered. You can even sync your other Razer devices or have the lighting effect(s) (Yes, you can even layer lighting schemes and effects) or incorporate multiple Razer devices into a single continuous effect.
This is one of the other reasons I opted for the Pro over the V2. I tend to work in little to no light, so the per-key RGB lighting (Yes, even the scroll wheel) is much better than the V2 in that there is no light bleed on the Pro. Depending on the environment, the light bleed on the V2 is pretty egregious by comparison. On the Tartarus Pro, I've never been confused as to which key I'm about to hit and while that may sound like a minor issue for a difference of $50, like any other piece of equipment, there's gonna be a learning curve. That learning curve can be shortened drastically if you start out by color-coding keys which is a huge help until muscle memory develops. Some have complained that the unit has no onboard memory and while this is true, Synapse has cloud storage for settings, so unless you intend to take this device with you everywhere and need to use it in 100 different machines...I'd argue that's a bit of a moot point. I know everyone's needs are different, but realistically I see most people using it on their main workstation and maybe a laptop...even if I still worked at an agency on-site, I'd be hesitant to request IT clear Synapse for my work machine but maybe we're different.
The last thing to touch on are the ergonomics. I have large, but not huge hands and I find (for my purposes) that reaching all the keys is comfortable and intuitive (even when you start building speed - and you will). If you have larger hands, the palm/wrist rest is adjustable but if you have smaller hands, I could see this being less wieldy although not uncomfortable. If you have average to large hands I think you'll be at home. The palm base/ wrist rest is lightly padded but not so much so that you notice it which is great because I've dealt with a myriad of "comfort" features that only served to irk during extended periods of use. Thankfully, in the case of the Razer Tartarus Pro, I can use it for HOURS without any discomfort whatsoever. There's something extremely cathartic about being able to work without moving your hands unnecessarily. It's a huge help if you deal with strain from carpal tunnel or tendonitis especially.
Whether you're a mouse, tablet (or both) user, I think everyone considering this to speed up their design workflow should at least try it. Do some experimentation with your binds both in physical placement and how you "stack" commands and group your keys colors by tool/function and I'm willing to bet it won't take long before you start wondering how you were getting by without it.
After I used the old product for 10 years I decided to upgrade because it was slowly losing compatibility. Belkin had sold the product to Razer a while back and they made the TERRIBLE Tartarus v1. That thing looked amazing and I was finally going to upgrade away from my old N52te. But 2 weeks after getting it the thumb flap snapped off. Razer thought it would be a good idea to incorporate a flimsy flap instead of the supported thumb button you see like on this current V2 model. 2 Weeks and it broke. I exchanged it. 1 month later that one broke. A week after that the one my sons broke too. Terrible design flaw.
So I went back to the n52te and waited. I complained and wrote reviews everywhere I could on the terrible quality of the other one. Finally Razer releases this version 2.
So.. What they did right. They removed the mouse wheel from the n52te and replaced it with another button. Perfect.. needed that. They went back to the supported thumb button for the space bar. Perfect. They went back to the D-Pad on the thumb area instead of a multi directional wheel. Amazing because that other directional wheel essentially removed buttons cause you couldn't pick a single direction when you wanted to. It was terrible. If it wasnt broke.. dont fix it. They tried to fix it and failed and reverted back. this was the best decision they could have made.
They also went the extra mile and added a whole extra row of 5 buttons on the top. This threw me way off. Here I have been using the same device for 12 years and now im hitting all the wrong keys cause there is an extra row. It took some getting used to for my hand to get the muscle memory of the new row but I eventually did. Its solid now and more versatile than ever cause I have so many extra buttons. Before I was always missing like 1 ability I needed to add to the device but couldnt figure out what to take off of the configuration. This is perfect cause now I always have 2 to 3 extra buttons that are not doing anything. Always better to have too much than not enough.
They also added RGB support which is complete preference but it is customizable and looks rather decent honestly. If thats one thing razer does well its their lights. LOL.
The bad part about this device is that the software is now razer synapse 3. And everyone who is a gamer knows that razer software is GARBAGE. Like dont get me wrong.. it functions its just not polished at all. Not to mention teh settings application pops up when you start your computer even though you tell it not to. Its layout editor leaves a lot to be desired and its Profile system takes forever to update. On the n52te that thing had onboard memory so you could store a profile or 3 on the device itself. You cant do that anymore which is a complete trash decision by Razer. On board memory meant I could plug that thing in anywhere and it would remember my key layout without having any software installed. Anytime I want to use my Razer tartarus I have to install the software if it isnt on that computer already.
So...
Pros.
-More buttons than previous model
-Scroll Wheel removed
-D pad is back
-Thumb button is supported again
-Original round top button for thumb area (instead of crappy triangle one)
-RGB looks rather good due to its layout under the buttons.
-You can make tons of macos and save them to individual keys (example... if you play minecraft and are familiar with the /home command you can make a macro that will push / then h then o..m...e and then press enter and save that and place it all on one button. You can record longer macros that do all kind of things. I had one set to Teleport me to my sons location by name all in one button and all he had to do was accept the request and I was there.)
Cons
-NO ONBOARD MEMORY (reason for 4 stars instead of 5)
-Requires Razer Synapse 3 be installed to use. (If there was onboard memory I could only open this program when I needed a new profile.. thus allowing me to still give a 5 star rating but this program is enough of a reason to lose a star itself. )
-Macro editor was easier to use in the past but the functionality is the same still
-Profile editor was easier to use in the past
-Profile cloud updating can be slow and often required a manual refresh in the settings. (this is really only an issue if you make a profile on one computer and want to use it on another computer. It can take a minute to get the profile to show up. It would almost be quicker just to remake the profile)
-No ability to upload profiles from the profile file (The ability is there.. says you can do it.. just doesnt work. Remember what I said about Razer Synapse 3 being garbage? yeah!)
-Razer Synapse 3 pops up on its own about a minute after you start windows. (Usually when you are doing something else. Really annoying. Usually wouldnt matter but since its required to use this device its getting reviewed too. The setting to have it startup in the task bar doesnt do anything. )
-No hand area adjuster like every model before it has had. Shame.
So once you step back and really look at this device you will realize that the majority of the problems come from its software. The device itself is really quite good. The major issues being lack of onboard memory and the hand rest adjuster no longer being available as of this model. EVERY OTHER ISSUE is a result of the poor software. Once you get past the software aspect of it this device is really good and you wont need to get into the software very often. Creating new profiles for a game is basically it and once you are done you can hide it away back in the taskbar and never see it again until you start playing a new game. The profiles can even be linked to specific games so it will auto switch for you. Or you can manually switch it from the task bar menu.
Hopefully one day Razer will hire some decent programmers and the software issue will be fixed.. Then the only thing holding this back from a 5 start will be onboard memory. Maybe v3 can get onboard memory and the hand adjuster back and the device itself will be perfect in every way.
I do highly recommend this product. It will change your gaming life. Its just teh minor software inconveniences that really hold it back.
Top reviews from other countries
não tem mais o regulador para apoiar mão grande como no modelo anterior
para quem joga é muito bom, mas para quem trabalha com programas cheios de atalho é maravilhoso terá que investir tempo configurando mas vale cada segundo depois de pronto
Reviewed in Canada on December 15, 2022