Review of Razer Lycosa V2 Gaming membrane keyboard

If you are looking for a gaming keyboard, but don't have any sympathy for the mechanics, you will still have a choice. For example, Razer has several interesting models, and specifically today we will talk about Cynosa V2. It is distinguished by soft keys, customizable RGB backlight, proprietary software with the ability to reconfigure all keys without exception. The only thing you need to be prepared for the price, which is about 4.5 thousand rubles.

Razer Cynosa V2

The keyboard is delivered in a cardboard package of classic sizes. The set includes an instruction book, a set of stickers is hidden in it. That's actually the whole package – well, unless you also write the cap on the USB plug into accessories.

Let's start with the fact that the keyboard is made in a strict black color and has quite large frames on all sides. The dimensions of the keyboard are 463x167x30 mm, the weight is impressive (by the standards of the membrane plastic keyboard) 850 grams. There is a characteristic bevel on the bottom of the case – although it is not as long as it is customary to see at wrist stands, but the palm is automatically located on this bevel.

The keys are membrane, but let's just say that subjectively they are a little softer than the classic ones. Not significantly, but still softer, and with active printing, fingers get less tired. The layout is almost standard, Latin and Cyrillic are located at different levels, it pleases. Surprisingly, there are additional keys in place of the usual location of the LEDs – in the upper right corner. There are playback control keys and an interesting large volume control rocker. And the LEDs themselves are offset - look for them above the arrows. Well, according to the classics, some of the function keys have additional functions.

The keyboard looks no less interesting from below. Firstly, there are a couple of grooves for laying the cable so that it can be brought closer to the side, and not just in the center of the keyboard. Secondly, the retractable legs here are two-level – you can choose an angle of inclination of 6 or 9 degrees. The cable is two meters long, without a braid, a plug with a branded green middle. There is a rubber non-removable tie on the cable, it allows you to collect and tie the excess cable.

Software

When we say "Razer" in our head, we immediately remember about proprietary software. Without it, you can't squeeze all the juices out of the keyboard. Synapse is used to adjust the keys and a simple backlight setting, and Chroma Studio is used to fine–tune the backlight (with the ability to synchronize with other Razer products).

Of course, the most interesting thing is the ability to configure the function of absolutely any key on the keyboard. You can create several profiles and reconfigure the keyboard as you like, even if you assign automatic printing of text with emoticons to Esc, and launching the program to the space bar. There is also mouse emulation, and the execution of various commands. In general, you can configure everything as you want.

Impressions from use

Now let's talk about my personal impressions. The first thing to mention, of course, is ergonomics and keys. Although I have already talked about this a little earlier: firstly, the brushes themselves rest against the bevel on the body, the hands themselves find a comfortable position, and it is really very convenient. Secondly, the membrane keys are slightly softer than the average ones, and when printing fingers get tired a little less, and in games active presses are given a little easier. Of course, the mechanics have their own charm, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't put up with the noise of even "quiet" brown switches when actively printing. In this part, membrane keys are out of competition, at least if we do not talk about very expensive custom models. In general, from the point of view of comfort - Razer Lycosa M2 is slightly higher than the usual membrane keyboards - competitors.

I liked the backlight because it highlights not only the space between the keys, but also the characters themselves on the keyboards (like mechanics). Of course, there are a bunch of colors, modes, brightness settings, plus the backlight can be turned off altogether. Again, by the standards of the membrane, the keyboard is decent.

Also, if you look closely, you can see the drain holes from below – the manufacturer claims that Razer Cynosa V2 is not afraid of a small spill of liquid, so if you suddenly spill something on the keyboard, let the liquid flow out through the holes yourself, and most likely you will get off with a slight fright, and not a replacement keyboard.

And one more extremely important point for the gaming keyboard. More precisely, two: the polling frequency is 1000 Hz, this is important for active games. The manufacturer also promises us "N-key roll over, any number of simultaneously pressed keys", but in fact of course Razer Cynosa V2 is unable to demonstrate the ability of mechanics in the Anti-ghosting part, but still I managed to fix the processing of about 15 simultaneously pressed keys. This is more than the number of fingers on two hands, so in practice there will be no difference from the mechanics (in terms of the number of keys pressed simultaneously). Many membranes, by the way, "hold" about 9-12 keys, so even here Razer Cynosa V2 turns out to be better than competitors.

Conclusions

Well, in the end I have to answer the question - is it worth buying Razer Cynosa V2? Of course, everyone should make their own purchase decision, but I have to express my personal opinion. And my opinion is that Razer Synapse V2 is probably one of the best membrane keyboards that I have been able to test. It is better in almost everything than its membrane counterparts, and in some moments it strives to give what mechanics gives. There is no doubt – for the price of Cynosa V2 you will find a huge number of game mechanics, but if you have 5 thousand rubles and are purposefully looking for a membrane, not mechanics, but so that it does not disappoint, be sure to look at Razer Cynosa V2. It is quite possible that this is exactly what you are looking for.

Lutovinov Maxim (aka. Kok)
10/10.2021