Portable keyboards are essential for professionals, students, or creators like travel YouTubers who carry thin and compact laptops or tablets. With a portable keyboard, you can place your device on a stand and comfortably work, create, or game. More importantly, a keyboard with a standard size layout is much more familiar than a laptop keyboard or a tablet’s virtual keypad.
While lightweight and compact size were priorities for portability, recently, latency has also become important due to usage in various environments like gaming. With the popularization of portable gaming devices like the Steam Deck or ROG Ally, the demand for keyboards that create a true mobile gaming environment is increasing.
In response, Razer, a global gaming gear specialist, has launched a new lineup called Razer Joro. Let’s take a look at the features of this product.
Product Specifications and Contents
Key Specifications
Form Factor: 75% Layout (Compact)
Size: 298mm x 112mm x 16.5mm
Weight: 374g
Case Material: 5052 Aluminum Alloy Top / ABS Plastic Bottom
Switch: Razer Ultra Low Profile Scissor Switch (1.6mm Key Travel)
Keycaps: UV Coated Laser Engraved ABS Keycaps
Connection: Bluetooth 5.0 / USB-C Wired
Polling Rate: 1000Hz (Wired Mode)
Battery Life: Up to 1,800 hours (Power Saving Mode)
RGB Lighting: Single Zone Razer Chroma RGB
The product box includes the main unit, a USB-C to C cable, and a user manual. The C to C cable is provided for connecting to laptops and tablets, and it is convenient as it can share chargers with most devices these days. However, the lack of an included protective case is somewhat disappointing.
Design and Features
The Razer Joro boasts an ultra-lightweight, ultra-thin design with a weight of 374g and a thickness of 16.5mm, making it the most portable product in the Razer keyboard lineup. Compared to the Apple Magic Keyboard (662g), it weighs about half, allowing you to carry it in a backpack or tote bag without burden.
Despite its compact form factor, it adopts a 75% layout with a full function key row and full-size arrow keys, ensuring all necessary keys are present without inconvenience in actual use. Although the function key row is designed in half size, the rest use standard-sized keycaps to maintain typing accuracy.
The top is made of 5052 aluminum alloy, providing sturdiness, and despite its thinness, it boasts a stable structure that does not flex during typing, a characteristic of portable keyboards. The ABS plastic bottom is also robustly finished to withstand shocks during transit.
The design of the Joro, featuring Razer Ultra Low Profile Switches, encourages ergonomic hand positioning to reduce wrist strain, minimizing fatigue even during long typing sessions and allowing for fast and accurate input in gaming environments. The 1.6mm key travel is slightly deeper than typical laptop keyboards (usually 1.5mm), providing a more satisfying typing experience.
The back of the keyboard features a toggle button for switching between Bluetooth wireless and wired modes, and it can be used for charging and wired connection via USB-C. Although there are no foldable feet for angle adjustment, the keyboard itself has a slight incline, providing a comfortable typing angle even on flat surfaces.
The keyboard has a standard size with a layout compatible with both Windows and Mac, easily switchable with the Fn+Tab shortcut. It also offers various function keys for productivity, such as a copilot launch button, media shortcuts, and navigation.
The Razer Snap Tap feature is also available. Snap Tap prioritizes the most recently pressed key among two selected keys, allowing for faster and more agile responses when changing directions in FPS games.
Connectivity and Compatibility
The Joro can connect to up to three devices in Bluetooth mode, easily switching between them using the F1-F3 buttons. It offers excellent convenience in a multi-device environment, allowing quick transitions between a laptop, tablet, and smartphone.
Supporting Windows Swift Pair and Google Fast Pair, the pairing process is very fast and simple. It can control various devices with Bluetooth support, such as mini PCs and portable gaming devices, with a single keyboard.
Software and RGB Lighting
Razer Synapse 4 is a powerful customization software supporting both PC and Mac. It offers various features such as key remapping, macro settings, RGB lighting control, and power management.
Activating gaming mode can disable keys like Alt+Tab or the Windows key, which might be accidentally pressed during gaming. You can also prioritize media keys over function keys or vice versa, adjusting to the user’s work environment.
You can customize the keyboard with 16.8 million colors and various RGB effects, enjoying dynamic lighting effects in hundreds of Chroma-integrated games. However, it only supports single-zone RGB lighting, so individual key lighting settings are not possible.
If you’re concerned about battery consumption, you can use power-saving mode. Even without Synapse, basic functions such as switching RGB effects, adjusting brightness, and switching Bluetooth devices can be used with Fn key combinations, offering convenience.
Typing Feel and Switches
The ultra-low profile scissor switch offers a quiet yet tactile typing feel, suitable for both gaming and office work. While it may be somewhat disappointing for those who desire the definitive typing feel of a mechanical keyboard, it is advantageous for use in quiet environments. It can be used without concern in cafes or libraries.
The UV-coated ABS keycaps may show fingerprints slightly, but they are highly durable due to the laser engraving method and resistant to scratches during transit. The keycaps have a smooth and sleek texture similar to laptop keyboards, which may feel slippery to those who prefer the rough texture of PBT keycaps.
The landing feel during typing is somewhat firm, which may cause wrist fatigue during prolonged use. However, thanks to the aluminum top plate, it provides stable and resilient feedback during typing. Initially, it may feel ordinary, but as you get used to the key feel, satisfaction increases.
User Experience
As a gaming keyboard, it supports various features. The Razer Snap Tap function allows prioritizing the most recently pressed key among two selected keys, offering faster and more agile responses when changing directions.
With N-key rollover and anti-ghosting features, all key inputs are accurately recognized, allowing for fast input and complex key combinations without mistakes or duplicate inputs. It supports a 1,000Hz polling rate, ensuring immediate responsiveness in wired mode.
In Bluetooth mode, there might be slight input lag, but it is not an issue for general gaming or work. However, for users enjoying esports-level competitive games, a wired connection or Hyperspeed dongle connection is considered essential.
In power-saving mode, it can be used for up to 1,800 hours, but with the lighting set to maximum brightness, it can be used for about 17.5 hours. Even at 50% brightness, you can enjoy sufficiently vibrant RGB, allowing you to enjoy both practical battery life and visual effects.
Conclusion
The Razer Joro is recommended for gamers who frequently move, office workers who alternate between remote work and office work, and those who enjoy working in cafes. Especially as an essential accessory for portable gaming devices like the Steam Deck and ROG Ally, its lightweight 374g weight and thin 16.5mm thickness allow you to carry it anywhere without burden.
With the ability to pair with three devices via Bluetooth, you can freely switch and use a work laptop, personal tablet, and smartphone with one keyboard, creating a multi-device environment.
The Razer Joro is a portable wireless keyboard with a compact size that fits into a backpack and excellent compatibility. If you’re looking for a multi-device keyboard that satisfies portability, gaming performance, and work productivity, the Razer Joro is highly recommended.
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