Razer Cynosa V2 Review, Keyboard, Gaming, Chroma

Razer Cynosa V2 Review

Razerthink – The Razer Cynosa Chroma gaming keyboard has an upgrade with the Razer Cynosa V2. The Cynosa V2 still uses a membrane lock switch to offer an affordable price point, too, at $60. The Razer Cynosa V2 is a sizeable wired gaming keyboard with full RGB backlighting and programmable macros. This keyboard features programmable macros and full RGB backlighting, both of which can be customized in the Razer Synapse 3 companion software. Unfortunately, there’s no onboard memory. Overall, it can be an excellent choice for casual gaming but is only suitable for some competitive hardcore gamers.

If you want to have a gaming keyboard for the first time, this is a great place to start. The Cynosa range has always been a good entry point into gaming keyboards, and the latest installment, the Razer Cynosa V2, doesn’t disappoint. More affordable than the price but reliable, it’s a budget product that doesn’t taste good ‘cheap.’ It enhances the legacy and replaces its predecessor. The high performance and low cost of the Razer Cynosa V2 membrane make it an excellent replacement for its predecessor. It’s cozy and familiar, yet a step up from the traditional ‘office’ alternative.

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Design

The Razer has consistently built on its qualities out of the ordinary, much like the Cynosa V2 has. They are all made of quality plastic and have the same level of flexibility as the Razer Cynosa Chroma. Keycaps are made of Doubleshot ABS plastic. The keys are pretty stable, except for the spacebar, shift, and enter keys. The incline is steady in a lower position but less stable when using a higher setting. Razer claims that it is spill-resistant.

In terms of appearance, Cynosa V2 does not stray far from the previous design. It’s similar to the Cynosa Chroma or Essentials variants: it still relies on a low-profile approach to using matte black plastic. The only noticeable differences are the media buttons and the absence of a glossy logo panel at the bottom.

New RGB lighting makes even more impact. It’s lively and attractive, helping the keyboard feel more expensive than it is. Nevertheless, if the Razer Cynosa V2 is your first gaming keyboard, it will be impressive. And remember, you’ll need to download and use the Razer Synapse software to take advantage of that functionality. The Mouse uses a membrane key switch, which provides a softer key feel and quieter keystrokes than typical high-end mechanical gaming keyboards.

Size

• Height: 1.2″ (3.0cm)
• Width:18.5″ (47.0cm)
• Depth: 6.6″ (16.8cm)
• Depth With Wrist Rest: N/A
• Weight: 1.92 pounds (0.872 kg)

Ergonomics

• Board Design: Straight
• Minimum Slope: 2°
• Medium Slope: 4°
• Maximum Slope: 7°
• Wrist Rest: No

Backlight

• Backlight: Yes
• Color: RGB
• Individual Backlit Button: Yes
• Color Mixing: Large
• Effect: Yes
• Programmable: Yes

Cables & Connectors

• Removable: No
• Length: 6.4 feet (2.0 m)
• Connector (Keyboard side): Non-Detachable

(The Razer Cynosa V2’s rubberized cables maintain kinks reasonably easily.)

Additional Features

• Media Keys: Dedicated
• Programmable Macro Buttons: All
• Trackpad / Tracking Ball: No
• Wheel: No
• USB Passthrough: No
• Numpad: Yes
• Windows Key Lock: Yes
• Indicator Lock: Caps, Scroll & Num lock

Features

The Razer Cynosa V2 has ‘Game Mode’ and ‘Sleep Mode’ buttons and dedicated media buttons. In addition, all keys are macro-programmable, including media keys, either via the Razer Synapse 3 companion software or directly on the keyboard itself. The Cynosa V2 makes some directional improvements. However, those who weren’t fans of the original membrane switch and were expecting something more mechanical might be a little disappointed.

Apart from that, keystrokes feel great when doing general typing and heavy gaming. Apart from having a 1000Hz polling rate and N-key rollover, it’s more than adequate for a first-person shooter or real-time strategy game. The Razer Cynosa V2 is also reasonably quiet, though still audible, during heavy typing. Many prefer the more expensive mechanical switches, but Razer seems to have improved its unique mesh switches substantially.

Razer also backs its keyboards with a two-year warranty in addition to a 14-day risk-free return if purchased directly from the Razer Store. For the Razer Cynosa V2’s price range, there’s a lot to like. The keyboard’s most significant update is the dedicated media controls. The Razer Cynosa V2 now has volume, play, skip, and mute buttons on the top right to give you more control. That’s what sets it apart from its predecessors: it adds superior cable management and is spill-resistant, and you’ll get a device that excels above its weight class.

Performance

The dome of the Razer Cynosa V2 uses rubber switches. As a result, the keys don’t require much force to move and feel soft when pressed. The long pre-travel distance can cause typing errors, but this keyboard delivers a responsive gaming experience for a membrane keyboard rival. On the other hand, typing on this keyboard is quiet enough not to disturb anyone around you. This keyboard has good compatibility. It is fully operational on Windows, but the Razer Synapse 3 does not work on macOS or Linux. Also, ‘Print Screen’, ‘Pause/Break’, and ‘Scroll Lock’ do not work on macOS.

In terms of performance, a lot has stayed the same from its predecessor, which is equally significant. The Razer Cynosa V2 is great for typing and playing games, making it like being at home in the office, like when playing Valorant, CS: GO, and Apex Legends, but not at the professional level. In particular, the speed and durability of each button are spot on. Your fingers fly across them as you type, but the keycaps require enough force to move them, so they don’t feel cheap.

Razer Cynosa v2 Gaming keyboard

The Razer Cynosa V2 is an excellent keyboard for gaming. While it scores much better than the original Razer Cynosa Chroma, it offers a very similar typing experience and feels almost the same. It has customizable RGB backlighting. Unfortunately, it uses ABS plastic keycaps that feel very slippery. Also, the switches are very light and may not be the best choice for problematic gaming.

Razer Cynosa V2, in my opinion, is very suitable for gaming; However, this keyboard uses membrane keys. The keys work well, and I did not notice any delay when I played the Valorant game mode at 144fps.

Razer’s membrane keys actually have an advantage over its competitors’ keys, such as the absence of wobble in the keys; Razer’s keys fit into a square sleeve that allows them to move up and down with almost no play. With my fingers resting on the keys, they don’t wobble and tilt like the keys on most mechanical keyboards. This design is similar to what I’ve seen on some high-end Logitech keyboards with Romer-G switches.

The lack of wobble is a comfort, as it makes it much easier to type and stay on top of the WASD keys while gaming. I’ve never reached out to press a button in a game only to slip and press the wrong button because the control I wanted was tilted.

This error when pressing the end of a button is something I’ve previously noticed with the buttons on Razer’s fight sticks. But it’s more understandable here. If you don’t type much or if you rely more on the left shift key – respectively), you can ignore this issue, as it never appears on any of the keys near WASD. However, if you type a lot, you may be irritated by typos.

At $60, this is a solid offering. However, it doesn’t exist in a vacuum. The Corsair K55 costs almost the same but includes macro keys and a wrist rest. Meanwhile, IOGear’s $70 HVER Pro RGB abandons per-button RGB lighting in favour of a metal frame and mechanical button switches, and Cooler Master’s CK530 offers a metal frame, per-button RGB, and automatic controls, all for $70. Neither is superior in my experience, but they may be better choices depending on your priorities.

Razer Cynosa v2 keycaps

The main reason why the Razer Cynosa V2 isn’t too expensive for a gaming keyboard is that it uses membrane keys instead of mechanical keys. While I usually recommend mechanical keyboards, their high price makes them expensive for novice PC gamers. For a membrane keyboard, the Cynosa V2 is really okay, although it feels similar to Dell, HP, or Microsoft Office models.

From a qualitative perspective, the Cynosa V2’s keys are unremarkable. You press them; they give tactile feedback, and they pop back up. The keys are comfortably spaced, and the spacing between letters is quite good. However, there’s nothing really satisfying about using it; it’s quiet and feels like little.

But it could be a better keyboard for typing. Using the Typing.com test, I scored 119 words per minute with 98% accuracy on the Cynosa V2, compared to 135 words per minute with 99% accuracy on my usual Logitech G810. The keys can’t be registered or returned as quickly as mechanical keys.

• Operating Power: 58 gf
• Actuation Force: 40 gf
• Pre-travel: 2.3 mm
• Total Travel: 3.6 mm

The Razer Cynosa V2 uses rubber dome switches. These keys do not require much force to move and feel soft when pressed. 

Razer Cynosa v2 software

The Cynosa V2 relies on Razer’s Synapse 3 software for customization. The software is easy to use in general, but Razer has grouped its various features, requiring different modules to access additional functions, such as advanced RGB lighting customization. It’s not a big deal, but it can feel overwhelming if this is your only Razer peripheral.

Note: See our post, follow the steps we have written about How to install Razer Synapse 3

Note: You can see in our post How to use Chroma Studio in Synapse 3

Price

The Razer Cynosa V2 is now available on the Razer website for US$59.99

Overall

The Razer Cynosa V2 is an inexpensive but quality gaming keyboard. The keyboard build feels like it costs more, the keystrokes feel great, the media controls are a great addition, and the two-year warranty is a killer—all for a low price. Having the buttons light up individually means the level of customization via Razer’s Synapse app should appease users of all proficiency levels. The Razer Cynosa V2 brings back an old favorite, and now it’s better than ever.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Razer Cynosa V2 worth buying?

The Razer Cynosa V2 is a decent keyboard for programming. The typing quality is OK, and you won’t feel tired for a long time. The build quality is also OK, as it is made of suitable plastic and uses ABS plastic keycaps.

Is the Cynosa V2 a good keyboard?

The Razer Cynosa V2 Gaming Keyboard offers a solid gaming experience at an affordable price. The customizable RGB lighting is a standout feature, allowing you to personalize your settings. The membrane switches provide a tactile feel, although fans of mechanical keyboards may prefer a different option.

Is Cynosa V2 quiet?

With premium per-key lighting that offers deeper RGB customization, every keystroke you make on the Razer Cynosa V2 is also quiet and cushioned, making it very comfortable to use for hours of gaming.

Is the Razer Cynosa any good?

The EVGA Z12 and Razer Cynosa Chroma are both excellent gaming keyboards with non-mechanical switches. The rubber dome keys on the EVGA are lighter to press and have a shorter travel distance for a more responsive gaming experience. Typing also feels better on the EVGA as it has better ergonomics.