We've currently tested 30 Razer headphones. Razer mostly makes over-ear gaming headsets with good microphones that are suitable for live chat. However, they aren't the most comfortable for long gaming sessions, and because of their inconsistent fit, they won't deliver the same sound for everyone.
Updates
- 10/06/2023 Razer BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed Wireless reviewed
- 08/29/2023 Razer Moray reviewed
- 08/23/2023 Razer Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed True Wireless reviewed
- 08/07/2023 Razer Barracuda X Wireless 2021 updated
- 07/26/2023 Razer BlackShark V2 Pro Wireless 2023 reviewed
Best Razer Headphones
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Best Razer Headset
Neutral Sound7.6Commute/Travel7.9Sports/Fitness7.1Office7.7Wireless Gaming7.6Wired Gaming5.9Phone Calls7.5Type Over-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless YesTransducer DynamicNoise Cancelling YesMic YesThe Razer Barracuda Pro Wireless is the best Razer headset we've tested. These versatile headphones are a solid pick for gaming and casual use alike since they support both Bluetooth and low-latency wireless dongle connections. This setup lets you stay connected to your console and smartphone simultaneously. Their comfortable fit is suitable for long gaming marathons or days on the road, thanks to their powerful ANC system that blocks out a great amount of ambient noise around you. With their ANC on, they last over 34 hours continuously.
Part of their casual design involves swapping a bulkier, gamer-centric boom mic for an integrated mic. While this kind of mic tends to offer a worse overall performance, in this case, it still delivers a good performance, ensuring that your voice sounds clear. Their versatile sound suits most kinds of audio content, and you can fine-tune it to your liking using either their companion app or the software's graphic EQ and presets. For mobile gaming, they have a 'Gaming Mode' in their companion app that helps lower latency on mobile devices.
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Best Mid-Range Razer Headphones
Neutral Sound7.5Commute/Travel5.9Sports/Fitness5.8Office7.0Wireless Gaming7.4Wired Gaming7.7Phone Calls7.1Type Over-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless YesTransducer DynamicNoise Cancelling NoMic YesThe Razer Kraken V3 Pro Wireless is the best mid-range Razer headset we've tested. While these headphones don't support Bluetooth like the Razer Barracuda Pro Wireless, you can use them wired via their 1/8 inch TRRS cable or wireless via their USB dongle with low latency. Unlike most other gaming headphones on the market, they have a haptic bass feature that adds vibrations to your audio, which can help emphasize sound effects while you game. Even when the bass boost is put to its lowest setting, they have a boomy sound, which helps bring out sound effects like footsteps. If you like less bass, you can adjust them to your liking via their companion software's graphic EQ and presets. They're prone to inconsistencies in audio delivery, though, so it's important to take the time to adjust their fit to your head.
If you like to game with others, their detachable boom mic offers good overall performance, making your voice understandable even in noisy environments. These headphones also have a decently comfortable fit, and the ear cups have customizable RGB lighting, which will please some users. They also have a superb battery life performance. The manufacturer advertises 44 hours of battery time with the RGB lighting and haptic bass feature off, but we measured 45 hours with both these features engaged. However, you can only use these via their cable when gaming on Xbox. Xbox users searching for wireless compatibility can consider the Razer Kaira Pro Wireless.
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Best Lower Mid-Range Razer Headphones
Neutral Sound7.4Commute/Travel6.8Sports/Fitness7.1Office7.3Wireless Gaming7.6Wired Gaming7.6Phone Calls7.8Type Over-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless YesTransducer DynamicNoise Cancelling NoMic YesIf you're looking for the best Razer headsets at a cheaper price, the Razer BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed Wireless is well worth considering. Unlike the Razer Kraken V3 Pro Wireless, these hybrid casual and gaming headphones support Bluetooth alongside their low-latency wireless dongle, giving you the best of both worlds without sacrificing features. With a great microphone system that represents your voice well, you can rest assured whoever you're gaming with online will be able to understand you. Unfortunately, these don't connect wirelessly with Xbox, and unlike the Kraken, you also can't use them wired, so you can't connect them to your Xbox that way.
While their build quality feels a little flimsier than the Kraken's, these are comfortable headphones, and their over 80-hour battery life means you'll get through several gaming marathons before having to recharge. By default, they have plenty of warmth and sparkle on tap, so footsteps feel immersive and voices clear, but they lack a little low bass, which means effects like explosions can feel a little thin and lacking in rumble. Fortunately, you can EQ these to taste via their great companion app. If you're a PC or PlayStation gamer looking for good performance at a decent price, these headphones are well worth considering.
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Best Budget Razer Headset
Neutral Sound7.1Commute/Travel4.8Sports/Fitness5.5Office6.1Wireless Gaming5.2Wired Gaming7.2Phone Calls7.1Type Over-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless NoTransducer DynamicNoise Cancelling NoMic YesThe Razer Kaira X are the best Razer headphones at the budget level we've tested. These headphones have fewer features than the previous picks, and you can only use them wired. That said, they offer solid gaming performance at a lower price and are pretty comfortable without internal batteries to weigh them down. Their boom mic performs similarly to the Razer BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed Wireless, so your voice is clear and understandable when playing online, even with some noise in the background.
Out of the box, they have a somewhat warm sound profile, with some extra boom that brings out sound effects in games. However, elements like voices lack some detail. You get dedicated buttons for controls and a dial for volume for straightforward operation. Since they use an analog connection, they work with Xbox, PC, and PlayStation consoles with no latency or battery to recharge.
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Best Razer Earbuds
Neutral Sound7.2Commute/Travel7.7Sports/Fitness8.1Office7.1Wireless Gaming6.9Wired Gaming5.5Phone Calls7.4Type In-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless Truly WirelessTransducer DynamicNoise Cancelling YesMic YesTry the Razer Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed True Wireless for a portable in-ear option. These headphones come with a USB-C dongle that provides a low-latency connection to your PlayStation or PC, and they also support Bluetooth, so you can easily pair them with your phone. These headphones have a balanced sound profile out of the box that works well for music and games alike, so they can double up as your daily driver and gaming headset. There's plenty of thump and rumble out of the box, but if you'd prefer to tailor these to suit your preferences, their companion app has a 10-band EQ.
These buds have a good microphone that renders your voice accurately and with detail, so whoever you're talking to will be able to understand you, even if you're gaming in a noisy space like a shared living room. They come with an ANC system that does a very good job blocking out noise around you, but having it activated leaves their continuous battery life at around five hours. Still, while these might not rival the Razer Barracuda Pro Wireless when it comes to long gaming marathons, their case supplies four extra charges, which might be handy if you're using these while out and about.
Compared To Other Brands
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Good microphone performance.
Even in a loud environment, whoever's listening on the other end won't have too many problems understanding you.
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Software support.
Although it isn't available for all their headphones, the Razer Synapse software offers a graphic equalizer with presets and control over your microphone's sensitivity levels. -
Haptic feedback feature.
Certain Razer headphones give you physical, haptic feedback when playing games, which can deepen your immersion.
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Low in long-term comfort.
Most of these headphones generally have a fit that's comfortable for a little while but can become fatiguing when worn for long gaming sessions. -
Inconsistent frequency response.
You may not get the same sound reproduction each time you use Razer's over-ear headphones. Depending on fit, seal, and positioning, they can sound different depending on who's wearing them.
Razer vs Logitech
Logitech makes a line of gaming headsets in a similar price range. Even Logitech's cheaper options tend to be customizable, with in-app sound and mic customization options, so you may want to check out the brand's offerings if you're on a budget. However, they don't make headphones that support Xbox wireless. They also have a more gamer-centric look than Razer headphones and don't usually support Bluetooth, so Razer is the better brand for mixed-use gaming and casual headsets.
Razer vs SteelSeries
SteelSeries' higher-end models come with digital-to-audio converters for improved sound quality or base stations that put controls for line chat mixing within easy reach. However, Razer offers more budget-friendly options. They have more headphones that support Bluetooth and more headphones intended for hybrid gaming and casual use. If you're looking for a high-end headset with many features, check out SteelSeries' best headphones.
Razer vs Astro
Astro's gaming headset line includes fewer budget options. More of Razer's headsets support Bluetooth as well as non-Bluetooth wireless. Astro's headsets usually have a bulkier, less versatile design. Then again, higher-end Astro models offer a more comfortable fit and often have an open-back design, which helps create a wider, more natural soundstage. If you're interested in a more immersive listening experience and don't care about noise isolation or leakage, it's worth checking out Astro's best headsets.
Razer vs HyperX
This brand doesn't make hybrid gaming and casual-use over-ear headphones like Razer does, but it makes some true wireless earbuds. Still, if you're looking for dedicated gaming headphones, HyperX's best headphones are more comfortable and sturdier. However, unlike Razer headphones, many don't include sound customization features and are less likely to have features like customizable RGB lighting.
Razer is well-known for making gaming headphones that have good-performing microphones. While pro gamers will like the extensive customization the companion software offers, not all headphones are compatible, especially those in the lower price range. These headphones also aren't the most comfortable if you tend to game for long periods. Due to their fit, you might not get a consistent sound.
Lineup
Razer has a few different gaming headphone lineups that offer different features.
Barracuda: Hybrid gaming and casual use headphones that have an integrated or detachable boom mic. They support Bluetooth and non-Bluetooth wireless connections for gaming.
Kraken: Dedicated gaming headsets with virtual surround sound and RGB lighting. More recent models have a haptic feedback feature called 'HyperSense.'
Blackshark: Marketed as esports headsets that focus on comfort and microphone noise handling.
Kaira: Gaming headsets that come in separate PlayStation and Xbox variants.
Nari: Wireless headset with HyperSense for haptic feedback.
Opus: Wireless casual-use headphones with active noise cancelling (ANC) and Bluetooth. They don't support a wireless connection with consoles but have a 'Gaming Mode' for low latency via Bluetooth.
Hammerhead: True wireless earbuds with Bluetooth and sometimes wireless dongle connectivity for casual use. Select models have ANC and a 'Gaming Mode' to optimize low latency over Bluetooth.
Recent Updates
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We've reshuffled this article to make it more concise and easier for our readers to understand. Our top pick is now the Razer Barracuda Pro Wireless for their versatile performance, with the Razer Kraken V3 Pro becoming our mid-range pick. The Razer BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed are our lower mid-range pick, with the Razer Kaira X remaining as our budget pick. Finally, the Razer Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed True Wireless are our 'Best Earbud' pick.
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There hasn't been any new Razer headsets tested since our last update, so we've checked to make sure our picks are still available and accurate.
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Aug 15, 2024: We checked that our picks are up to date and in stock but made only minor edits to the text for clarity.
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May 21, 2024: We've made minor updates to the text and checked that the products are in stock. However, our recommendations have remained unchanged.
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Feb 16, 2024: This article has been checked, and the picks are unchanged. We added a mention of the Razer Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed Wireless. We updated the text to make console compatibility clearer and made minor text edits throughout.
Conclusion
Razer is a well-known gaming brand. While they produce a variety of great gaming accessories, their headphones aren't particularly outstanding. While their haptic feedback feature is interesting, these headphones aren't suited for marathon gamers. Their fit isn't the most comfortable for long listening sessions, and you won't always get a consistent fit, either.
Test Results
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Best Razer Headphones: Main Discussion
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Update: We’ve reshuffled this article to make it more concise and easier for our readers to understand. Our top pick is now the Razer Barracuda Pro Wireless for their versatile performance, with the Razer Kraken V3 Pro becoming our mid-range pick. The Razer BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed are our lower mid-range pick, with the Razer Kaira X remaining as our budget pick. Finally, the Razer Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed True Wireless are our Best Earbud pick.
What do you think of these changes? Let us know