Editing Razer BlackWidow (section)

==History==
The range has been revised multiple times.

Early in the summer of 2010, Razer announced that it was planning to introduce a gaming keyboard with Cherry MX switches. Razer set up a online poll in which the public could vote for their favourite [[Cherry MX]]-switch.

'''2010''': The ''BlackWidow'' and the ''BlackWidow Ultimate'' were introduced in the fall of 2010. Instead of a diode per switch and 6-key rollover, the keyboards had only a [[Rollover, blocking and ghosting#Game optimized matrix|gaming-optimized matrix]]. The surface finish was gloss black, which was known to show fingerprints very well. The ''Ultimate'' had passthrough of USB and earphone/microphone, but the standard BlackWidow did not.

'''2011''': The ''BlackWidow Ultimate Stealth'' was introduced with non-clicky [[Cherry MX Brown]] switches. It was the first BlackWidow to have a diode per switch for 6-key rollover over USB. It also had a matte black case. The other keyboards in the line were largely unchanged.

'''2012''': The "2013 editions" were announced in the summer of 2012 and introduced later in the year. The backlight for the ''Ultimate'' models was changed from blue to (Razer) green and the switch mounting plate was recoloured from black to green to better show off the backlight. All full-sized keyboards now have 6-key rollover, matte rubberised case and passthrough for USB and ear phone/mic. The [[tenkeyless]] ''Tournament Edition'' was also introduced.<ref name="GH1" /><ref name="GS1" /> It featured [[Cherry MX Blue]] switches only.

'''2014''': Razer changes switch from [[Cherry MX]] to [[Razer switch|Razer-branded clones]] manufactured by [[Kailh]]. A switch with light Razer-green key stem replaces the Cherry MX Blue and a switch with orange key stem replaces Cherry MX Brown switches.<ref name="FW1" /> The keyboard case has a dark grey rubbery coating. Razer advertises the Ultimate 2014 as having 10KRO. Testing reveals that it is capable of 14 keys pressed at the same time, modifiers excluded.<ref name="CustomPC" />

'''2015''': Razer introduced the "BlackWidow Chroma" and "BlackWidow Chroma Tournament Edition" with full-colour [[backlighting]]. The Razer switches in these keyboards each has a wider slit on each switch housing for a matching RGB LED with all four legs in one row. [[Razer switch]]es are no longer manufactured exclusively by [[Kailh]].<ref name="th-razer-green-switches-not-kailh"/>

'''2016''': In mid-2106, Razer introduced the ''BlackWidow X'' line in Ultimate, Chroma and Tournament Edition models.
Razer also announced that it would be shifting back to using [[Cherry MX Blue]] switches for its ''BlackWidow Ultimate'', ''BlackWidow X Ultimate'' and ''BlackWidow X Tournament Edition''.
The Chroma models continue to have [[Razer switch]]es.<ref name="bit-tech-bwx"/>

'''2017''': at CES 2017, Razer announced a linear [[Razer Yellow|yellow]] switch (similar to [[Cherry MX Speed Silver]]) as an option for the new ''BlackWidow Chroma V2''. The ''Chroma V2'' has a thinner keycap font, classic spacing on the function-key row and a soft wrist rest with magnetic attachment.<ref name="th-chromav2handson"/>