Showing how i have my orbweaver set up to easily play new games will little keybind changing.My Twitch Channel: Link. The Razer Orbweaver gaming keypad may not be for everyone, but for the serious gamer, the combination of intuitive control, adjustable design, and myriad programmable options makes it the ultimate. The Razer Orbweaver Chroma gives you total control in the palm of your hand. Get access to infinite commands and macros while enjoying the same clicky satisfaction as a mechanical keyboard. Get ready to reinvent the way you game. The Razer Orbweaver is the world’s first mechanical gaming keypad that binds every command and skill from any FPS, RTS, and MMORPG to 20 mechanical keys at your fingertips. With that many keys within quick reach, and requiring only 50 grams of force to actuate, you’ll be able to. Page 1 The Razer Orbweaver is the world’s first mechanical gaming keypad that binds every command and skill from any FPS, RTS, and MMORPG to 20 mechanical keys at your fingertips. With that many keys within quick reach, and requiring only 50g of force to actuate.
There are a few things separating the Orbweaver Chroma and Tartartus V2 – price, keys, and adjustability.
I’ll get into all the details.
But first, why Razer? Aren’t there other options?
Not really – it’s either Razer, or a no-name keypad from a dicey brand with questionable reviews.
Logitech used to make the G13, but it’s been discontinued for a couple of years.
The Nostromo Speedpad n52 was one of the first keypads with mass popularity. It hasn’t been around for about a decade, though.
Razer bought the rights to the Nostromo from Belkin and made it for a while, then came out with the Orbweaver and Tartarus lines to add more keys and features.
Read on. I’ll break down all the differences and why you should pick one keypad or the other.
Features
Since you’re here, you probably have a good reason for considering a keypad.
If you’ll be using a gamepad for World of Warcraft, Fortnite, real-time strategy games, and more complex FPS games like Battlefield, Fortnite, and Rainbow Six can benefit from a streamlined key layout and customization.
The keys are better aligned to your fingers than the “WASD” keys on a keyboard you’d usually use for movement.
Keypads aren’t only for gaming. To some, they’re better than keyboards for productivity apps.
3D modeling, Photoshop, Illustrator, and other pro software can take advantage of a keypad’s customization and layout.
It’s a good idea to think about how you’ll be using the keypad, and what features matter to you.
What features do the Orbweaver and Tartarus share?
Keys and buttons are fully customizable in the Razer Synapse software.
Both models have a similar ergonomic design for better comfort over long sessions.
Your thumb can reach a spacebar, directional pad, and thumb key to give you a lot more options than a keyboard.
The rest of your fingers can reach at least 20 programmable keys.
Hypershift can be assigned to any key. By holding it down, every other key can be given a second function.
Each key can be assigned macros of unlimited length.
Both the Orbweaver and Tartarus have full RGB lighting which can be configured down to the individual key.
So what’s different?
Keys and Buttons
One of the biggest differences between the Orbweaver and Tartarus is in the keys themselves.
The Orbweaver uses mechanical keys, while the Tartarus V2 has Mecha-Membrane keys.
The Orbweaver Chroma’s mechanical keys are Razer’s “green” key switches with 50g of actuation force. They’re tactile and clicky, with a great feel. Similar to Cherry Blue switches.
That doesn’t mean you should ignore the Tartarus V2. The Mecha-Mechanical keys, despite not being fully mechanical, have a good tactile feel as well. No mushy keys here.
If it’s fully mechanical keys or nothing for you, you’ll want the Orbweaver Chroma. Otherwise, continue on to the rest of the features.
The Orbweaver has 30 programmable keys, and the Tartarus V2 has 32.
The discontinued Tartarus V1 had only 25, so either is a step up.
The difference between 30 and 32 keys comes down to the added scroll wheel on the Tartarus V2.
It takes the place of one standard key, and can be given three functions – scroll up, scroll down, and press.
I find the extra scroll wheel is most helpful for zooming or scrolling through inventory items.
The thumb pads are different as well.
The Tartarus V2 gives you two options. It has a joystick cap for the thumb. This can be removed to expose a d-pad, similar to what you’d find on a console controller.
The Orbweaver has a hat button, also 8-way. I find it’s more wobbly and less precise than the Tartarus’s options. It’s best to program it for 2 or 4 functions so you don’t misclick.
One more thing on keys – there is also a model called the Tartarus Pro. About the only difference between the Tartarus Pro and V2 is that the pro has analog keys.
Analog keys respond to different levels of pressure from your fingers. The only good use I can think of is for analog keys is the throttle on racing games. But, you’re better off using a wheel and pedals if you’re serious about those.
I’d recommend most people skip over the Tartarus Pro and stick to comparing the Orbweaver Chroma and Tartarus V2 gaming keypads.
Shape and Adjustment
One big disclaimer on the shape – these keypads are for your left hand only.
Lefties who use their mice left-handed will need to look elsewhere. Seems the only options are off-brand keypads.
That said, Razer’s stuff is quite comfortable for left-handed use – more so than a typical keyboard.
The Orbweaver offers a lot more adjustment than the Tartarus.
This makes the Orbweaver a better choice if you have especially long or short fingers.
On the Orbweaver Chroma, you can do the following:
- Slide wrist rest forward or back
- Tilt the angle of the palm rest
- Slide the thumb buttons closer or further away
On the Tartarus, you only get one level of adjustment. The hand rest can be pulled off and repositioned. Forward position for shorter hands, back position for longer hands.
Value
Both models come with a 2-year warranty, which is pretty good compared to the 1-year warranty many peripherals come with.
The Tartarus V2 has a lower selling price than the Orbweaver.
Typically, it’s about $30 less on Amazon.
Overall, the Tartarus is a better value.
It largely has the same features – with the exception of mechanical keys and some additional adjustment.
Conclusion
Orbweaver Chroma Keyboard
The Mecha-Mechanical keys on the Tartarus V2 are surprisingly good. The addition of the scroll wheel is nice. The thumb pad gives you more options and is more precise.
Top that off with a lower price, and the Tartarus V2 looks like the better way to go for most people.
Should anybody go with the Orbweaver Chroma instead?
If you have short or very long fingers and value comfort, yes, you should opt for the Orbweaver. It’s far more adjustable.
Or, if you’re dead-set on fully mechanical keys, the Orbweaver is the one to buy.
Otherwise, save some money. I think you’d be quite pleased with choosing the Tartarus V2 instead.
Razer Orbweaver Gaming Keypad
Razer introduced the Orbweaver, to use a different approach to the traditional way of gaming through the keyboard and mouse. The Orbweaver comes with twenty keys, two buttons, and an 8-direction thumbstick. All of these buttons are on a device that is shaped according to your hand. The Razer Orbweaver aims to bring comfort and control, and it delivers on that promise.
Design
Compared to the Logitech G13 Advanced Gameboard, the Razer Orbweaver is narrower in size, which helps as it won’t take much space on your table. The Orbweaver measured 2.2 by 6.1 by 8.0 inches (HWD). Moreover, you get a long USB cable measuring about 6 foot. The palm rest is higher than what the G13 provides, so that’s another plus point for the Orbweaver.
Rubber Feet
Once you decide the position of the Razer Orbweaver, it will most likely stay in that place thanks to its large rubber feet. The Orbweaver aims to bring comfort, which it does as it’s made to make your control keys easily accessible. Since the way the Orbweaver is designed, it will save you from wrist strain, even on longer gaming sessions.
With the Razer Orbweaver, you get about twenty programmable buttons while the center buttons are placed precisely where your fingertips can reach them easily. Mechanical switches are behind the keys which are easily pressed using a minimal amount of force. This makes the Razer Orbweaver easy to use.
One thing missing from the Razer Orbweaver is the indentation that differentiates the WASD keys from the surrounding buttons. There are tiny symbols on the edge of the tickets, just like the ones used on a keyboard, but they could be a lot better.
Better thumb controls
The thumb controls on the Razer Orbweaver are one of the best you will find from the currently available gaming pads. The controls have been improved over the Razer Nostromo. The joystick that comes with the Razer Orbweaver is sensitive and thumb-friendly. Along with the joystick, you get a bottom button to be used as a spacebar.
This button comes with a mechanical switch and a lever design which will be pressed by using the perfect amount of force. The button is firm enough to prevent any unintentional clicks, but at the same time, it requires little force to click, making it quite comfortable to use.
Completely programmable buttons
Along with the adjustable modules that provide comfort and control, the Razer Orbweaver comes with buttons that are all programmable using the Razer Synapse 2.0 app. Each key can be remapped, multiple profiles can be saved, and every detail of the Razer Orbweaver can be changed according to the game you are about to play next. The cool thing about Razer Synapse is that all your Razer products can be customized through this one single app, which saves you from multiple driver installations and management programs.
You can pair up this keyboard with SkullCandy headphones, they are half the price of Apple’s iPod and they are designed with stabilizing gel to offer a great fit.
Performance
Buy Razer Orbweaver
The performance of the Razer Orbweaver is something that will stop you from going back to the traditional keyboard setup. Even games that are heavily dependent on the keyboard, deliver a pleasant experience with the Razer Orbweaver. The gameplay experience is smooth and comfortable with the Orbweaver, whether you are slaying monsters in an MMO or running across rooftops in a game like Mirror’s Edge. The only problem worth mentioning is the lack of proper indentation which we talked about earlier, other than that, the Orbweaver showed no weaknesses.
Buttons positioned to deliver control
The thumb buttons that come with the Razer Orbweaver use a little actuation force and are placed in a way that prevents unintentional clicking. Moreover, the joystick and the thumb buttons are also way better positioned than the Razer Nostromo. This is because the entire thumb module of the Orbweaver can be repositioned according to your needs.
Comfort and support better than the traditional keyboard
Orbweaver Vs Keyboard
Once you play with a gaming keypad such as the Razer Orbweaver, you will have some hard time going back to the conventional keyboard. The comfort and support are way better with the Orbweaver as the experience is better than even the best keyboards such as the Corsair Vengeance K90.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The way the Orbweaver plays and looks, it’s not for everyone. However, serious gamers who seek to achieve superior control, a comfortable design, and programmable keys, will find no better option than the Razer Orbweaver.
Orbweaver Chroma
Looking for an affordable gaming wheel? Check Thrustmaster t150, it can rotate up to 1080 degrees and it is compatible with PS3, PS4, and PS5.