PRODUCT REVIEW: The Portable Razer Joro Is A Travel Gamechanger

The reality is that I have usually avoided travel keyboards like the plague. They’ve traditionally been too heavy to carry around all day, too flimsy to put up with sitting in my backpack, or too flat, not allowing for that sticky mechanical feeling that I’ve come to love. Still, after seeing some of the highlights of the Razer Joro in a pre-briefing, the sleek design and promise of durability made me give it a shot.

While there are many portable keyboards on the market, none boast the same gaming-specific keyboard features that you’d find for stationary use. Razer is stepping in to try and fill that niche, particularly with more players switching to mobile play thanks to the Steam Deck, ROG Ally, and others. Additionally, with tablets also becoming one of the primary ways to work on the go, and mobile games themselves expanding, a high-quality keyboard is something I’ve been waiting for.

Ultimately, the Razer Joro has excelled. The lightweight design doesn’t add much to any backpack or purse, but even with its thin design, it doesn’t feel like it will break if you put it down too hard. The metal itself is soft, and the ultra-low profile scissor switches that it’s designed with delivering the perfect amount of tactile feedback for mechanical keyboard users.

When I spoke to the Razer representatives, they explained that the scissor switches were those they used on Razer laptops, which gave them confidence in their durability. The scissor switches also allow quick key presses for gaming or productivity and help reduce wobble for even keystrokes. In terms of durability, the etched keycaps are fade-resistant, and the top plate is a 5052 aluminum alloy that helps prevent any flexing while in transport. While I initially doubted their ability to deliver the right touchback when pressed, I wasn’t disappointed.

The Razer Joro has all the ingredients for high durability. 

In comparison to the Apple Magic Keyboard or even Microsoft Surface keyboards, the Razer Joro has found the perfect balance between performance (delivering tactile feedback with minimal disruptive sound for travel environments) and design (a thin and sleek portable size that easily slips into a sling bag). The Razer Joro is only 11.7in x 4.4in x 0.65in and weighs a shocking 0.8lb.

Another additional feature of the Razer Joro is that it’s built with a slight angle, raising the top end of the keyboard up. While there aren’t any adjustable feet to increase the incline for ergonomic function, the slight raise is enough not to be too distracting when typing. While the comfort isn’t immediate, once you settle in, the Joro hits a sweet spot I didn’t expect, especially for a keyboard about as tall as a dime. Yes, a dime.

The compact size of the Razer Joro does mean that it is missing a 10-keypad, but that’s to be expected with keyboards of this size. Still, the Joro does feature a suite of buttons often missing from its competitors: full-size arrow keys. Since the Razer Joro was designed with gaming on the go in mind, this element seemed essential. Razer Joro’s F-row also has all of the features you’d need. It includes volume buttons, a lock button, brightness buttons, a print screen, pause, play, previous and next track buttons, as well as one to open task view.

The portable keyboard is equipped with all of the Microsoft Windows buttons for easy access (Windows button and a Co-Pilot button). More shockingly, the Razer Joro also comes with the Apple and Command keys for Apple users and is fully compatible with macOS, iOS, and iPadOS.

It may seem small, but using third-party keyboards or any peripherals with MacBooks can be extremely difficult, given that most products are designed with Windows products in mind. Still, the Razer Joro has met the challenge and ensures that Mac users won’t feel left behind and instead have a fantastic rival to the Magic Keyboard, which has remained relatively the same since its launch.

The Razer Joro gives Mac users a new keyboard option.

The Razer Joro also marks the first time that Razer Synapse, the customization app for Razer products, is available for Mac in preview. This brings customization and control features to macOS with no restraints. This also means Mac users can utilize one of Joro’s most interesting features: Snap Tap. With more games coming to Mac, like Pearl Abyss‘ upcoming adventure RPG Crimson Desert, this feature allows Mac users to take advantage of the Razer technology on the Joro.

If you’re not aware of the Razer Snap Tap, it all has to do with inputs. As illustrated on the company website, if you register two different inputs simultaneously, a character you’re moving in-game will typically stop moving altogether. When Snap Tap is enabled, the Razer Joro will read the last keystroke as the intended one and give it priority, allowing your character to keep moving in the direction you’re planning.

While this isn’t a feature that I’m too invested in using myself, given my focus will be on productivity, the option highlights how compatibility is changing for Mac users, and that’s a good thing. Even without Snap Tap enabled, the Razer Joro has your needs in mind. It also features N-key rollover and anti-ghosting that help ensure every key press is registered without duplication, which is vital for those productivity tasks as much as gaming.

One of the other customizable elements of the Razer Joro is that it also comes with Razer Chroma lighting. The adjustable RGB lighting emits one solid color beneath the keyboard and can be adjusted in Razer Synapse. While this element is just an added cosmetic feature, it’s a nice addition, though connecting to the Synapse app to adjust the light settings is ideal when working on the go on, especially on planes.

There is nothing as gorgeous as the Razer Joro, but more importantly, it functions so incredibly well that I’ve begun using it even when not on the go. Switching out my old wireless keyboard attached to my work laptop with the Joro was a little adjustment. The size is substantially smaller than anything designed to be used at home, but once you get used to the spacing of the keys, it’s hard to stop using it. The best thing about the Joro, in terms of functionality, is how easy it is to move it between different devices.

Switching Bluetooth connections has never been easier than with the Joro.

With the ability to connect to and save up to three Bluetooth 5.0 connections, the Razer Joro can be easily moved from one spot to another or swapped between equipment on the go. First, connect the Joro to the desired device, and then press the F1-F3 keys corresponding to the Bluetooth profile you’d like to assign it to. I am using Bluetooth 1 and Bluetooth 2, and switching is effortless. This is even easier when using Windows and Android products, with the Joro supporting both Windows and Google Swift Pair.

One is for my work laptop, and the other is for my personal laptop, on which I do my critical work. To switch between the two, press the Bluetooth connection you want to use, and that’s it. I can not stress enough how seamless it is to move the Joro from one device to another. There is no headache, no mess, and no convoluted instructions. Additionally, you can store up to five profiles, allowing you to have designated settings for different situations. For me, I’ve set up a plane setting, a desk setting, and an on-the-go setting.

While I’ve primarily used the Razer Joro wirelessly and with no input delay, those looking for an even more reliable connection can connect the portable keyboard with the included USB-C cord. After launch, the Razer Joro will also be compatible with Razer dongles for your other Razer peripherals.

One of the last important features of any portable product is the battery life, and the Razer Joro boasts a long one. With Razer stating that the Joro’s battery life is up to 1800 hours when in power saving mode, having used it with the RGB on the entire time and connection switching mode on I haven’t had to charge it for the week I’ve had it. That said, power-saving mode will let you keep working on the go without any worry for long trips.

If I have any complaint, it’s just that I tend not to buy black peripherals for my setups, often deferring to pastels, white, or any variation of pink. This is a tiny gripe, but I hope the Razer team will release a silver or white version. The truth is that I want to keep using the keyboard even when at home and would love to do so without disrupting my pastel girlie desk aesthetic. Selfish? Yes, absolutely.

At the end of the day, as a critic who is often working on a plane, in line at a festival, on small still in between interviews, and all the other weird places you set up shop to get a little bit done when you have time, the Razer Joro is an absolute must-have. Great to look at, reliable to use, and uncompromising when it comes to bringing all of Razer’s gaming features on the go, the Razer Joro is a travel game-changer. It’s as simple as that.

The Razer Joro is available for orders now for $139.99 USD from participating retailers.