Razer has officially launched the Razer Viper V3 Pro Faker Edition, the latest gaming mouse in collaboration with League of Legends player and esports legend Lee ‘Faker’ Sang-Hyeok.

The mouse features a crimson body and a decal that recalls Faker’s nickname, the Unkillable Demon King. It is currently available for purchase for £179.99 (€189.99 for EU buyers).

According to Razer’s website, the first 500 customers to purchase the Razer Viper V3 Pro Faker Edition, from February 20th, will receive a matching Faker-themed mouse mat.

Following his victory at last year’s League of Legends World Championship, Razer has created a special edition mouse to celebrate Faker’s legacy. With five world championships and 10 LCK titles, Faker has been often regarded as the greatest of all time in the esports space.

The gaming hardware brand has been a long-standing partner for the Korean professional player, as he has been part of the Razer family since 2015. Faker was known for using Razer’s DeathAdder V3 Pro, which has also launched two special Faker editions.

Faker’s use of the DeathAdder changed last year when he switched over to the Razer Viper V3 Pro, which, according to Razer, is equipped with the Focus Pro 35K Optical Sensor Gen-2 for maximum precision.

Earlier last week, Faker and Razer announced a live stream for its 10-year partnership at the company’s Singapore HQ, which will take place on February 25th.

The Korean player’s popularity and achievements have allowed him to become a great ambassador for sponsors. Earlier last year, he partnered up with eyewear brand Stealer and launched a special edition Secretlab chair with streetwear designer VANDYTHEPINK.

As an endemic brand in the esports and gaming space, Faker is not the only one who collaborates with Razer. In 2024, the company announced partnerships with Movistar KOI (previously MAD Lions KOI), TALON Esports, as well as esports players such as Zachary ‘zekken’ Patrone in VALORANT.

League of Legends icon Lee ‘Faker’ Sang-hyeok is seemingly spending Valentine’s Day preparing to celebrate 10 years of partnering with Razer by hosting a live stream at the company’s Singapore HQ.

The special stream begins on February 25th, 2025 at 11:30am GMT (3:30am PT) and will feature Q&As and giveaways for fans of the veteran League of Legends player.

Faker has been competing with T1 since 2013 and has not only pushed the team to many victories but became part-owner of the organisation in 2020. The first Hall of Legends inductee has won 10 LCK titles, two Mid-Season Invitationals, and five World Championships.

Individually, Faker has broken tons of records, including being the first pro to reach 1,000, 2,000, and 3,000 kills, the first to have 5,000 assists, the first to have played 900 games, and the first player to have won 600 games in the LCK. Faker also has the most kills in World Championship matches.

As one of the best players of all time, Faker is no stranger to partnerships, sponsorships, and even appearing in South Korean advertisements. He recently appeared in an issue of Marie Claire Korea.

Ahead of the live stream, League of Legends fans are encouraged to join Razer’s Discord to start asking some questions that Faker will answer on stream.

On Razer’s official site, there are also multiple ways to enter a giveaway before the livestream. The items up for grabs include Razer merch and 20th-anniversary items, as well as a signed Faker jersey. With 11 days left, there are already over 8,400 entries for the jersey.

Fans can watch Faker’s special livestream on YouTube or Twitch.

Asian esports organisation TALON has announced a partnership with ZOWIE, a brand owned by BenQ and known for its high-quality gaming monitors.

As part of the collaboration, ZOWIE will provide its monitors to the team’s VALORANT roster for the 2025 VCT Pacific season.

According to the announcement, the partnership aims to bring ‘excellence in esports’ while sharing a common goal of ‘driving esports performance to new heights’.

“We are thrilled to partner with ZOWIE for our VCT Pacific 2025 campaign,” said Sean Zhang, CEO of TALON. “Our VALORANT team competes against the best in the region, and having ZOWIE as our monitor partner gives us a crucial advantage. Their monitors are trusted by professionals worldwide, and we are excited to bring this elite technology into our training and competition setup.” 

The team will use ZOWIE monitors for practice sessions and on-stage matches throughout the remainder of VCT Pacific Kickoff, as well as during Stage 1 and Stage 2.

ZOWIE has previously partnered with multiple other professional VALORANT teams in the past, including Sentinels and Bleed Esports in 2024.

Moreover, the company recently launched XL2586X+, the world’s ‘fastest esports monitor’, featuring a 600Hz refresh rate upgrade.

TALON, meanwhile, is currently on a lower bracket run in VCT Pacific Kickoff to qualify for Masters Bangkok and will face Gen.G next on February 7th. TALON need to qualify for the Grand Final to secure a spot in the international event.

“ZOWIE has always been dedicated to delivering the best tools for competitive gamers,” said Roger Chen, Country Manager at ZOWIE. “Partnering with TALON for VCT Pacific 2025 is an exciting step for us. We look forward to supporting their journey with our technology and witnessing their success on the global stage.” 

Gaming peripherals brand Razer has unveiled its latest project, an AI esports coach that aims to provide real-time insights and analysis.

Called Project AVA, the concept was introduced at tech trade show CES 2025 and has been described by the company as ‘the ultimate AI gaming copilot.’

One of Project AVA’s main functions is using artificial intelligence (AI) to provide esports coaching as users play games. According to the peripherals brand, gamers will be provided with real-time insights driven by data from Team Razer’s coaches and players.

Users will also be able to analyse and review performances through personalised post-match recaps that highlight areas of improvement.  

Team Razer consists of the brand’s various esports partners, such as teams and players. In 2024, Razer announced partnerships with Movistar KOI (previously MAD Lions KOI) and TALON as well as esports players Eric ‘Snip3down’ Wrona (Apex Legends) and Zachary ‘zekken’ Patrone (VALORANT).

Alongside esports coaching, Project AVA is expected to include an AI game guide. Utilising knowledge bases, the guide intends to help users through puzzles, bosses and quests within games.

Moreover, Project AVA also aims to optimise a user’s PC set-up. According to Razer, the AI concept will analyse and fine-tune a gamer’s PC based on its specs and the user’s desired game settings. Additionally, the project checks for the latest updates in hardware, software and firmware.

On Razer’s website explaining the new project, the company noted that Project AVA has been developed by its AI gaming team and uses vision analysis alongside several other data inputs, such as public APIs.

Interestingly, Razer also noted that Project AVA has been developed as a tool for game developers as well as gamers.

In the company’s FAQs, Razer stated: “Project AVA was developed by Razer’s AI gaming team as a tool for game developers and gamers.

“It is envisaged that Project AVA can be used by game developers in their games as an onboarding tool, tutorial guide and much more. Project AVA can also be used by gamers as a copilot in all games to assist as a coach, walkthrough buddy and optimization tool.”

Razer has revealed that it will announce a beta test for Project AVA later this year. 

Alongside the introduction of Project AVA, Razer also revealed Project Arielle, a heating and cooling Razer mesh gaming chair, and the Razer Blade 16, its thinnest gaming laptop yet.

Sim racing company Veloce Esports has announced a large-scale partnership with American simulation racing equipment brand Thrustmaster.

Thrustmaster will become the official sim racing equipment partner for Veloce Esports, helping equip Veloce drivers and create content together.

Thrustmaster is one of the world’s most popular brands of sim racing hardware. It produces a wide range of products, such as steering wheels and bases, pedals, shifters and gamepads. Thrustmaster is also a partner of various sim racing events and companies, such as the FIA Rally Star, 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual, Ferrari Esports and others.

The partnership with Veloce Esports will see Thrustmaster equip the organisation with its hardware, but also work on activations, product reviews, YouTube content and community events with the racing brand. In addition, Thrustmaster equipment “will be showcased in competitions, content series, and activations featuring Veloce’s talent.”

El Rey Guiri (David Castilla), Tiametmarduk (Benjamin Daly) and Aarava (Aarav Amin) were named as VeloceThrustmaster ambassadors.

The two companies have announced that the partnership will also be used to promote the newly-released Thrustmaster wheel, the T598. Éric Mindjimba, the Influence, Event & Esport Manager at Thrustmaster noted that the upcoming partnership will make the most out of the company’s 30-year experience in the gaming space.

Callum Upchurch, Group Business Development Director at Veloce Media Group, said: “We are excited to welcome Thrustmaster as our Official Sim Racing Equipment Partner. With a stellar reputation for innovation and quality, Thrustmaster consistently sets new benchmarks with cutting-edge products like the revolutionary Direct Axial Drive base: the T598.

Georgia-based healthcare provider Piedmont has renewed its sponsorship of North American collegiate esports competition Georgia Esports League (GEL).

As a result, the healthcare provider will continue as the exclusive healthcare partner of the GEL and sponsor tournament broadcasts.

The GEL is operated by Resurgens Gaming, a gaming and media company that organises and broadcasts collegiate esports initiatives for a number of colleges and universities located in Georgia. Launched in 2022, the league runs esports competitions alongside integrating them into curriculums and initiatives to develop workforces.

The most recent season of the GEL featured competitions in Rocket League and Brawlhalla in addition to student projects in collaboration with Georgia-based esports organisation Ghost Gaming. Projects include students entering ambassadorial roles for their respective colleges and universities participating in the league.

The Georgia Esports League was one of the first initiatives in the United States to combine esports competition with education. Alongside the league, Georgia’s Department of Economic Development aims to grow its gaming and esports industries by offering companies tax incentives and through the workforce initiatives offered by the GEL.

Piedmont has partnered with the GEL since October 2022. Alongside sponsoring events and tournament broadcasts, the healthcare provider will also sponsor the league’s State of Esports webshow.

Douwe Bergsma, Chief Marketing Officer at Piedmont, spoke on the news: “Piedmont is a national destination for healthcare and we are looking forward to continuing our partnership to support gamers in Georgia and across the country.

“With Piedmont having more than 1,700 locations that serve communities across the state and with GEL competitors being located all over Georgia, it’s a natural fit for Piedmont to partner with Ghost Gaming and the Georgia Esports League.”

Founded in 2005, Razer is one of the oldest esports and gaming peripheral brands in the world.

Its first products, such as the Boomslang mouse and the first edition of its Blackwidow keyboard, are some of the most notable in gaming hardware. Today, Razer is a global brand with a wide range of products on offer, including peripherals, sound systems, chairs, apparel, and cameras. 

In this article, Esports Insider takes a deep dive into the Razer product lineup to understand what is on offer. Razer usually names their products by using a combination of three things: the name(Deathadder), then the version (V3) which describes the generation of the product, and the additional feature, such as Hyperspeed or Pro. The combination of the three words accurately places a product somewhere in the Razer range.

Usually, the products that are named with just the version are the company’s entry-level models. For example, the Deathadder V3 is the cheapest current generation of the Deathadder — but that is not always the case. 

With Razer, the ‘Hyperspeed’ models are usually stripped-down performance-oriented models, while the ‘Pro’ models are aimed at professional players and feature lighter weight and performance-optimised features. The regular models are somewhere in between the two, depending on the model.

Razer is arguably most known for its mice lineup, spanning several products aimed at different levels of play and game types. Named after snakes and reptiles, as well as the mythological beast Naga, Razer’s core lineup of mice consists of five models: Deathadder, Cobra, Viper, Basilisk and Naga, with every model range further expanded by specific models.

The Deathadder range starts with the Deathadder V3, a wired version of the cult classic mouse weighing 59g. Above it sits the V3 Hyperspeed, a wireless version that is slightly lighter at 55g, and the range tops with the V3 Pro, available in several finishes and colours, including a custom design co-created with T1’s Faker. 

More compact in its shape and form, the Razer Cobra is perhaps the least-known current model in Razer’s lineup but also perhaps the most visually appealing. The Cobra range has just two models: the regular Cobra and the Cobra Pro, with the Pro version having 11-zone RGB lighting, making it a very interesting piece of equipment to look at. 

The Razer Viper was created as the company’s esports-focused symmetric ultralight wireless mouse and has proven to be a hit with users across esports and casual gamers alike. The Viper is currently in its third iteration, and the lineup has two models: the Hyperspeed wireless model is its entry-level product, followed by the V3 Pro as Razer’s top-of-the-line mouse. There is also the Razer Viper Mini Signature Edition, which is Razer’s only semi-hollow mouse, similar to the honeycomb-inspired offerings from other brands such as Glorious or Xtrfy. Lastly, there is the Razer Viper V3 Pro Sentinels Edition, featuring a glossy red finish. 

To help a different kind of gamer, there is the Naga, one of the world’s most renowned MMO gaming mice. The Naga is in its second iteration and is aimed at a very niche MMO market, with just the Pro and Hyperspeed versions on offer. There is also the left-handed version of the Naga available, and several other models, such as the Razer Orochi mobile wireless gaming mouse.

The last mouse in Razer’s lineup is more focused on home use and more casual players, with the Basilisk V3 being an ergonomic right-handed model. The Basilisk V3 X Hyperspeed is the entry-level model, followed by the regular V3 35K and the Basilisk V3 Pro 35k, with 35K being the maximum sensitivity of the mouse sensor (dpi). 

With keyboards, Razer has three distinct product lines, the mechanical switch equipped BlackWidow range, the Huntsman range with optical switches, and the low-profile Deathstalker and Ornata ranges of boards. Each of the lines has an array of products that differ in shape, size, and switch used. Razer also offers an office-friendly keyboard called the Razer Pro Type Ultra, which is aimed at both office workers and gamers alike, with a more subdued colour scheme and presence. 

Currently, there are more than 50 versions of the BlackWidow on sale through Razer’s shop alone, but the current iteration is the V4 model. The lineup starts with the budget-oriented V4 X, followed by the regular V4, the V4 75%, the V4 Pro and the V4 Pro 75%. The BlackWidow series is the essential Razer keyboard, offering all of the company’s notable features, such as RGB lighting and mechanical switches designed in-house.

A step up from the BlackWidow range is the Huntsman series, now in its third iteration. The Huntsman is aimed at the competitive segment of the market and is usually the keyboard of choice for esports teams that are partnered with Razer. The Huntsman’s cheapest model is the Mini and Mini Analog boards, featuring a 60% layout with either analogue or standard optical switches. A bit larger than those two boards is the TKL version, essentially a regular board without the number pad, called the Huntsman V3 Pro Tenkeyless. The largest model is simply called the Huntsman V3 Pro.

Besides the two main keyboard lineups, Razer also has a low-profile lineup called DeathStalker, which includes a regular keyboard, a TKL version of the Pro model, and a regular-sized Pro model. The Ornata line is similar to the DeathStalker but differs in switches. Ornata keyboards feature mecha-membrane switches, while the Deathstalkers feature optical low-profile switches.

To top it all off, Razer offers the Tartarus range, which is a crossover between a mouse and keyboard with 19 programmable keys, a joystick, a scroll wheel and a thumb button. 

Headsets are an integral part of the esports and gaming experience, and Razer has a wide range of headsets that are separated into three models: Barracuda, BlackShark, and Kraken. In addition to headsets, the company produces soundbars and speakers.

The Razer Kraken range kicks off with the Kraken V4 X, a wired headset that offers most of the Kraken features at a lower price point. Next up is the ‘regular’ model, the Kraken V4, whilst the Kraken V4 Pro model sits at the top of the lineup. Similar to previous editions of the Kraken, the top-of-the-line model also features haptic engines for a more immersive experience and adds an OLED control hub as well.

The Razer BlackShark is the company’s esports-focused headset that has no RGB lighting and resembles an aircraft headset. Focused on lightweight and performance, the range consists of three models: the BlackShark V2 X and V2 X USB, the BlackShark V2 Pro and the BlackShark V2 Pro Hyperspeed. The Pro model is the most expensive, offering Bluetooth and 2.4 Ghz wireless connectivity and a more advanced microphone. 

The Barracuda range is a hybrid headset that Razer markets as a device that can be worn on the go, as well as for gaming and one that supports multiple platforms. These models are tailored to mobile gaming and music, and come in four different variations: the Barracuda X, Barracuda, Barracuda X Chroma and Barracuda Pro. The Pro model also offers hybrid ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) for more sound isolation, and the X Chroma offers RGB lighting on the earcups. 

The Razer speaker lineup consists of two models: the Nommo, which is a 2.0 or 2.1 desktop speaker system that comes in three price ranges, and the Leviathan, a soundbar that also comes in three variations with or without a dedicated subwoofer. Razer headsets also offer a range of colours and additional features, such as cat ears that can be attached to the headsets. 

Razer is known for developing dozens of products, too many to be included in a single article. Apart from the mentioned devices, the company also produces a range of laptops, called the Razer Blade, which come in different sizes ranging from 14 to 18 inches. Moreover, the company has created an arcade controller for PS5 and PC called the Razer Kitsune, as well as monitor light bars, lighting kits, mobile, PC and console controllers, cameras and a range of carrying cases and backpacks. There are also three models of gaming chairs, each with separate levels similar to mice and keyboards called Iskur, Enki and Fujin.

Oh, and a plush snake called Sneki Snek, Razer’s mascot.

Esports mouse customisation company Mouseskins has announced a limited edition series of skins co-developed with renowned Counter-Strike skin artists.

The series will include five designs inspired by well-known Counter-Strike skins such as Hyperbeast and BloodSport and will be available through the Mouseskins online shop.

The drop, called Case 001, will include the five mice co-designed with notable Counter-Strike skin designers Cimota, Baddrock, Moonfighter, Ariata, ChrisParraArt, Sa_22 and SLIMEface. Mouseskins will customise the mice by hand polishing them, assembling them and putting them through a quality control process in-house, making them ready for use right from the box.

According to Mouseskins founder Steven McKerrow, the project was in the works for just over two years and has pushed the limits of manufacturing. He also noted that the artists and the company had a simple unified goal: to create the absolute best version of a mouse “by whatever means necessary.”

Although details of the manufacturing process are scarce, its creators noted that the mice aimed to replicate the original artwork as closely as possible. The designs are created in full colour, with up to 10m possible colours available. In addition, Mouseskins ensured that the skins “pop” and offer more grip levels than the regular mouse “in the areas that need it,” according to McKerrow.

Steven McKerrow, Founder of Mouseskins, told Esports Insider: “The mice are the pinnacle of advanced manufacturing to date, combined and distilled with CounterStrike sweat, blood, tears, and ultimately a passion for CS Skins.

“For us, it’s super exciting to finally have everything come to fruition, and I just want to say a BIG thank you to the artists and our partners who have been working on this over the last two years.”

In esports, great audio peripherals are even more crucial. Sure, a good mouse might help you aim better, but it would be difficult to aim if you can not hear them coming. Today, Esports Insider looks at the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro gaming headset, one of the flagship products in Razer’s audio range. With a design inspired by squared aeroplane headsets, the headset suits well for gaming and, in particular, esports titles.

The Razer BlackShark V2 Pro headset is the company’s esports-oriented wireless headset, part of its Pro line of products. As expected from a product aimed at professional gamers, the BlackShark features high-end construction and build quality. Moreover, it looks and feels premium, despite being made mostly out of plastic. The headset has a removable microphone, square-shaped ear cups and mesh ear pads, reminiscent of airplane headsets.

There is no RGB lighting, which is in line with some of the other Pro products, such as the Viper V3 Pro. Instead, Razer has decided on a blacked-out design. The only splash of colour on the headset is the tiny button for toggling the microphone on or off — everything else is either matte or shiny black plastic. 

The microphone is removable and the headset is wireless, so it is great for both playing games and working your daily job. Given its design, the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro is lightweight, making sure that the user experience is pleasant. When compared to the AceZone A-Spire we’ve reviewed recently, the BlackShark is a much more forgiving, comfortable and relaxed headset, but that also means that it lacks many of the isolation features that the AceZone has. 

Razer advertises the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro as an esports-focused product. However, given its relatively low isolation of outside noises and the lack of active noise cancellation (ANC), it might be best suited to online events and home or BootCamp and practice use as opposed to offline tournaments (most of which provide players with headsets anyway). Still, according to ProSettings, a website that tracks equipment used by esports pros, more than 20 players actively use the headsets, including those from MOUZ, Heroic and FaZe Clan. 

The headset can be adjusted easily via a sliding metal mechanism, which works well and is easier to adjust than the step-based system that most other competitors use. The headset, however, does not fold, so portability is limited. Razer also doesn’t ship the headset with a hard case, making it difficult to transport easily due to its bulk. Some third-party solutions solve this problem, but at least a cloth case would be very helpful at this price point. 

Nevertheless, these are some of the best-wearing headphones that this writer has worn. They are very comfortable for long periods of time, very breathable, and do not make your ears hot like some competitors (a surprising upside of not having a high clamping force).

A handy feature on this headset is the rotary control knob. The knob controls the volume of the headset altogether, and it proved to be very useful. Of course, when using a keyboard that has its own dedicated volume knob, this feature becomes less relevant, but in other situations, adjusting volume constantly through the Blackshark is a great experience. One downside is that, visually, it looks a bit odd sticking out from the left earcup. 

As for connectivity, Razer does include a lot in the box. A dongle is provided for a 2.4 GHz wireless connection with a PC and the headphones have Bluetooth for connection with phones or PCs and laptops without a dongle. The headphones can be used on the PS4 and PS5 with the dongle, but are not supported by Xbox. The headphones come with a USB-C to USB-A charging cable, as well as an extension that is useful in some cases. 

The claimed battery life is around 70 hours, but while reviewing this product, the headphones lasted just a bit longer due to lower listening volumes. Still, charging is very fast, and the headphones can, of course, be used while charging. 

I have to admit that I never did enjoy Razer’s sound signature too much, starting from the days of the first Kraken. Being more of an audiophile than the average gamer, I found the signature of most gaming headsets (including Razer) a bit too bass-heavy for my liking. 

The Blackshark V2 Pro fixes these issues to a certain degree, but having 50mm drivers does mean that the headset naturally wants to move more air and provide more bass. However, for bass-heavy scenarios such as certain games or music genres, this is an ideal sound. The bass is full and deep and helps to set the stage. Fire up some electronic music, and you’ll enjoy it very much.

The headset can be customised in detail through the Synapse app, which allows for THX Spatial Audio to be toggled on or off. This system, when used in games that support it, allows for more immersion and better surround sound. When playing the likes of Forza Horizon and Red Dead Redemption, two fully-supported games, the system did create a better experience, but the headset’s sound is good without spatial audio so we just left it off most of the time.

Razer provides several EQ profiles in its Synapse app, ranging from music and movies to a more broad game mode. In addition, you can toggle a ‘bass boost’ mode, enhanced voice clarity, and sound normalisation features on or off. The normalisation feature is interesting, accenting some mid-range sounds such as footsteps and can be useful in a variety of games. 

There are also enhancements for the microphone, ranging from a dedicated equaliser with its own settings to a very good noise cancellation feature for the mic and sidetone (the amount of your own voice you hear through the headset). All in all, the Synapse provides a wide range of tweaks and adjustments to make the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro really shine in any gaming situation. Since Razer has recently announced a new version of Synapse we can expect even better features and easier tweaking for upcoming models. 

The Blackshark likes to be used in more quiet settings, due to its lack of active noise cancellation. Passive isolation is okay, helping with some of the background noise, but the headset will not be useful if you try and game outside an open window next to a busy street — unless you crank the volume all the way up. If you are in a quiet room, the Blackshark is very good and its combination of lightweight and excellent cushioning can actually make you forget you have it on, which is very impressive. 

The THX spatial emulation and the sheer amount of tweaks you can make really help personalise the headset. I often tweaked the sound while in-game to find the perfect balance, and I felt like the headset did everything it needed to create an immersive experience no matter the game. For Counter-Strike 2,  I could hear footsteps and other sounds very loudly and clearly. Others who heard me through the headset’s microphone also complimented how clear and crisp the sound of my voice was despite background noise being present most of the time. 

Overall, the BlackShark V2 Pro’s all-day comfort and robust feature set make it a very easy product to live with. Personally, it is not as neutral as I’d like it to be for music listening and does not have active noise cancelling, but it has good battery life, a great microphone, lightweight, and great comfort that make up for missing features. 

There are concerns about how it would perform while travelling due to the plastic construction and overall lack of many metal parts, but for home use, it is a great piece of gear that looks as good as it sounds. 

Despite never really favouring this idea, the Hexgears Immersion A3 — a board from a relatively lesser-known company — might just be enough to change my (and your) mind.

The Hexgears Immersion A3 (Immersion A3) is one of those boards that tries to do a lot at the same time, which is apparent from the first time you see it. It is a tenkeyless (TKL) board that features an additional row of buttons on the top, a screen, and a brushed aluminium front plate for rigidity. All in all, design-wise the Immersion A3 looks the part — not too cluttered, but not too simple either. The keyboard feels solid but also lightweight and is on par with offerings from some more expensive brands. 

The top buttons control the connections and the screen and below them, you’ll find your regular function row and number keys. On the right side, there’s a screen which, while not exactly unique to gaming keyboards, is always an interesting addition. It provides basic information about the keyboard and is used to customise lighting and can show a GIF. The Immersion A3 also has two levels of height adjustment, which is a very good feature to have. 

The keyboard will connect to just about any device you might throw at it. It features both wired and wireless connections through either Bluetooth or a dedicated 2.4 Ghz dongle (that conveniently stores in the keyboard when not in use). Its sizable battery will easily last you through the better part of a week (Hexgears says around 50 hours of gaming is expected). There’s also per-key RGB lighting and full support for MacOS, meaning that users can switch between Windows and Mac shortcuts on the go — a welcome addition for someone who, like myself, uses both platforms regularly. I admit there might not be many users that will benefit from this, but since I use both platforms daily, the ability to switch between them was a pleasant surprise.

As for the keys, they are Kailh’s linear White Rain switches, which feature 50g of actuation force and are factory-lubed. The switches are hot-swappable and Hexgears offers clicky and tactile alternatives for the same price (£99).

Then, there’s the screen. It allows you to control the lighting modes of the keyboard, can show a status screen with a clock and can store one GIF that will loop on the board continuously if you so desire. All in all, it’s an easier alternative than combining buttons to turn modes on or off, but it does take a while to get used to. 

You control the screen through a little rocker switch to switch modes. Users then use the four keys to the left of the screen to enter and exit the different menus. Alongside the clock, the screen shows other useful information such as battery life, mode of connection and whether the keyboard is in PC or Mac mode. As a bit of extra information, it’s important to connect the keyboard to a Windows PC when first using it, otherwise it will be stuck in whatever time zone it had when it was tested in the factory. 

The board also has a companion app for Windows that lets you customise a lot of its features. It is also where you can upload GIFs if you so desire. The app is not as polished as some of its competition, but it does allow you to create macros, customise lighting (it has a rhythm mode that pulses to your music, for example), create custom profiles and other interesting options. All in all, it works and is reasonably intuitive. 

The low-profile keyboard is a unique idea — the main advantage is that it is much quieter than a regular mechanical keyboard, and the low-profile switches make the typing experience similar to that of a laptop, which is something many people enjoy. The switches on the Immersion A3 have a lower actuation point than a regular keyboard, and despite needing the same force as other reds on the market, you will feel a big difference due to their low profile. It’s a strange feeling at first, but once you get used to it, your typing experience will improve a lot. During my testing, I constantly switched between the Immersion A3 and some of the other keyboards I have (ranging from Razer to Xtrfy to Keychron and Ducky) and I have to say that I prefer the Immersion A3 for writing and daily work. 

The combination of lower profile switches, their high quality and lube with a sturdy and damped case, makes the Immersion A3 feel like typing on air as opposed to a metal and plastic piece of hardware. This experience should be recommended to individuals who play games and type a lot. Still, some users, especially those playing more competitively, will have a hard time getting used to the low-profile switches due to their design. 

On the other hand, using the Immersion A3 in games was somewhat of a mixed experience. I did enjoy using it because the keys still felt familiar to other red switches I’ve used, but the lower profile does mean that sometimes the keys will not be where you expect them to be. The fact that the keys are much lower on the board also means that you’ll likely miss a key or two when you first start using it. Nevertheless, after a couple of hours, these issues will ease out and the Immersion A3 will perform as well as you’d expect it to — just don’t expect an esports tournament board, because this is not it. 

The feature set this board has is really hard to beat, even at this price point. You get all the connectivity you might need, support for Mac and PC, as well as RGB lighting, well-made keycaps that do not fade easily, an interesting screen that helps a tiny bit with overall usage and a nice finish that looks expensive. A lot of thought was given when creating this board and it does show.

The Immersion A3 offers an extensive set of features, a great typing experience and good performance for everyday use and gaming. As a main keyboard for competitive gaming, there are better models out there, but it will definitely shine on the desk of someone who plays games a lot and enjoys a laptop-like typing experience. 

The price of the keyboard is also attractive — coming in at around £100 — especially because every new keyboard seems to be more expensive than those before it. For example, the Razer DeathStalker costs around twice as much, the Corsair K70 low profile is around 50% more expensive and the Logitech G915 Lightspeed is around the same price. Of course, if you’re a user of either of the big brands, you’ll tend to gravitate towards them, but if you’re not worried about that — the Hexgears Immersion A3 is a very solid pick.