What you need to know
- Razer is beginning the rollout of a brand-new software feature exclusively to the Razer Huntsman V3 Pro line of premium gaming keyboards.
- "Snap Tap" takes advantage of these keyboards' adjustable actuation to eliminate any delays when switching movement directions and strafing in competitive games.
- Enabled or disabled on the fly like the Huntsman V3 Pro's other features, Snap Tap specifically targets the "A" and "D" keys and only recognizes the latest input between the two.
I'll be honest, this isn't the most exciting news in the world (for most people), seeing as it's one new software feature for exactly three premium gaming keyboards. Still, it's another example of Razer striving to go above and beyond with its software and hardware features, and makes the expensive and technically advanced Razer Huntsman V3 Pro line of gaming keyboards even more enticing for hardcore and esports players.
"Snap Tap" is an innovative use of the adjustable actuation only possible on keyboards like the Huntsman V3 Pro, which use analog optical switches. What does "adjustable actuation" mean? Well, traditional keyboards switches need to be depressed to a certain point to be registered, and released back to a certain point to enable another input. Analog optical switches have no such restrictions, and can register inputs with any amount of pressure and reset with any release of that pressure, between 0.1 and 4mm of distance with the Huntsman V3 Pro keyboards.
Razer isn't the only company with these advanced, hardcore gaming keyboards, but the Huntsman V3 Pro is probably the very best in the category. This new feature further proves that. The new Snap Tap feature specifically applies to the "A" and "D" keys on the keyboard, and makes it so that only the newest input (regardless of the pressure used) will be recognized. This means that, in competitive games like Valorant, Counter-Strike 2, or Apex Legends, strafing and counter-strafing no longer comes with that brief hesitation when switching between left and right directions. Your movement will be instant, always.
This is admittedly a very small advantage, but the highest-level players will (and apparently are) seeing improvements when enabling Snap Tap. When no chance of opposing directions being recognized simultaneously, players' movements are the highest level of responsive. This also pairs with the Rapid Trigger Mode, which makes every key register inputs instantly rather than waiting for a specific actuation distance to be reached.
In my Razer Huntsman V3 Pro review, I speak in-depth on this keyboard's many advanced features and customization options, many of which can be tailored to the player without any software. It's a seriously impressive accessory with genuine utility for a competitive player, and Snap Tap simply adds another tool to its arsenal. However, this certainly doesn't help the Huntsman V3 Pro be easier for casual players to wrangle, as the overwhelming amount of features and options leads to a steep learning curve for new users.
Still, it's one of the best gaming keyboards you can buy, and Snap Tap will add some extra value for current or future owners (even if it's likely not a reason on its own to buy this keyboard over another). Snap Tap begins rolling out to Razer Huntsman V3 Pro today via a firmware update delivered through Razer Synapse, although it may take up to a week for all players to see the update.
