Opening Razer’s ‘crate of awesome’: The best unboxing of the year

In this line of work there are always packages arriving at the door, and there are always surprises. And there are surprise packages. This is definitely the latter. When Razer ships a giant box that doesn’t contain a gaming chair the brain cogs start to turn.

So just what is this thing? Well, it’s something quite unique and very spectacular, and also not something that Razer is planning to sell. At least, not right now. Then again, fans have been asking for the Razer Toaster for long enough, and this is probably a more realistic idea.

It is, in essence, a large flight case showcasing some of Razer’s best and latest equipment. Some of it we’ve reviewed before, some of it we haven’t. It doesn’t have a name, so I’ve taken to calling it the “Razer crate of awesome.”

Let’s open it up and take a look.

Inside the magic box

For fans of unboxings, this probably goes high up on the list of experiences. Inside the lid we find a large booklet (more on that later), and a pair of Razer’s best mousepads. The mousepad is often overlooked in its importance, but if you’re serious about your gaming then getting a good one is absolutely crucial. More so, getting a good one for you.

And that’s the theme of this crate. Helping a gamer find a good fit for them.

Beneath that we have a couple of keyboards. One of which we’ve spent good time with before, the Huntsman Tournament Edition and the other will be a forthcoming double-header review. I’ve already had the wireless BlackWidow V3 Pro for a little while but also included is the regular, wired BlackWidow V3 and it’s packing Razer’s yellow switches which offer a linear and silent operation.

Perhaps more exciting for the nerds out there (like myself) is this little USB-box Razer tossed in with one of each of its mechanical keyboard switches on. It’s also an important tool in keeping with the theme of the bundle. I’ve used each of these switches individually, and even examined their differences in the past but being able to feel each side-by-side offers the best comparison you can get. I’m not sure if Razer uses these in its retail stores, but I hope so. Unless you know what your preference is, being able to feel for yourself and compare can’t be beaten.

Next up is headsets, and both of these are from some of Razer’s most iconic ranges; The BlackShark V2 Pro and the Kraken. Both of these are familiar to us, with the most recently reviewed being the BlackShark V2 Pro but again, being able to compare is invaluable. Both have a lot to offer but in different ways.

The Kraken cocoons your head, holding it in snug, where the BlackShark is much lighter and feels more delicate on your head. I’ve been using the wired BlackShark V2 since launch and I’d put it up there with my top recommendations for a wired headset, and by all accounts, the wireless one is just as good.

Then we get to the final layer and the mice. Six of them to be precise, all touching a different niche. This is also a good reminder of how broad PC gaming has become. At one end you have the new Naga Pro which is geared towards MMO players, those looking for a ton of additional programmable buttons, and at the other end you have the Viper Mini and the DeathAdder V2 Mini. These are your entry level products, bringing the design of their more expensive siblings, a slightly reduced set of features but still solid performance and a great price.

And once again being able to feel all of these different products for yourself, side-by-side. There’s even a page in the accompanying booklet that helps you measure your hand and steer you towards a mouse that might be a good fit.

Likewise, the reading material is a pretty in-depth guide on each of the products, what they do, and more importantly, how you should consider choosing.

So who is it for?

Normally companies will send us products, we’ll review them (as I’ll be doing with some of the items in here), then offer an expert opinion on whether it’s something you should buy and give it a score. But this isn’t one of those since it’s not actually something Razer is selling. I mean, some of you might want to buy a box with six mice in the bottom, but most probably wouldn’t.

So what is it actually for?

One of the things that I appreciate the most about Razer is that as a company it’s not afraid to think outside the box. Also that genuinely, the thought process behind each and every product isn’t “how can we sell a ton of these” but “how can we make this for our customers.” That much is apparent every time any of us sits down for a product briefing, such as spending time looking at waves and graphs I didn’t really understand at an office in Germany while trying to learn about the latest mouse tech.

That’s where this sort of kit comes into play. Right now, it’s more of an exhibition, but in the long term, Razer has such a variety of products on offer that it could bundle up all kinds. How about a full broadcasting kit in a (smaller) flight case that you can take anywhere in the world? Pack in a Blade, a Seiren Mini, a Kiyo, a headset, mouse and keyboard, off you go.

And honestly, the flight case alone would probably sell a bunch. Of the people I’ve shown this to so far, the case has the most comments. My wife doesn’t care about PC gaming in the slightest but she’s in love with the flight case!

When the world is back to some kind of normal and people can do things like esports LAN events, gaming conventions and other such public activity, it’s a pretty sweet way to carry around and show off the latest and greatest. There’s even a pullout handle and wheels underneath so you could be the envy of all dragging your Razer case through the airport.

Maybe that’s the takeaway? Your PC gaming stuff is pretty fantastic, Razer, but maybe we could get some of these cases? And the toaster, of course.