We've currently tested 30 Razer headphones. Razer makes mostly over-ear gaming headsets with good microphones 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 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 Razer headset for gaming. You can use these well-built gaming headphones 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. They have a boomy sound, even when the bass boost is set to its lowest setting, but you can adjust them to your liking via their companion software's graphic EQ and presets. They're also prone to inconsistencies in audio delivery, 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 them wired with Xbox consoles. For wireless Xbox compatibility, check out the next pick. If you want Bluetooth compatibility, check out the Razer Barracuda Pro Wireless, although their integrated mic performance isn't as good.
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Best Mid-Range Razer Headset For Gaming
Neutral Sound6.6Commute/Travel6.6Sports/Fitness6.8Office6.8Wireless Gaming7.3Wired Gaming5.7Phone Calls7.3Type Over-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless YesTransducer DynamicNoise Cancelling NoMic YesIf you want to save money but don't want to skimp out too much on performance, then the Razer Kaira Pro Wireless is the best Razer headset we've tested at this price point. You'll have to settle for a shorter battery life of only 19 hours against the Razer Kraken V3 Pro Wireless's 45 hours and fewer PC-centric software features, but you do gain Bluetooth compatibility. This means you can listen to music on your phone while simultaneously hearing your console's audio. They're also better built and comfortable to wear during marathon gaming sessions. You can pick between variants for Xbox and PlayStation for wireless gaming.
Out of the box, they have a warm but pretty uneven sound profile, adding boom and muddiness to your audio. Unfortunately, they're also very prone to inconsistencies in audio delivery, so it's important to take the time to adjust their fit on your head to ensure a more consistent sound. Luckily, with the Xbox variant, you can access their companion software's graphic EQ and presets to help you adjust their sound to your liking. Their boom mic does an excellent job recording your voice so that you're heard clearly, even in moderately noisy environments, and they tend to be cheaper than our top pick.
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Best Budget Razer Headset For Gaming
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 a solid performance for gaming at a lower price and are pretty comfortable because internal batteries don't weigh them down. Their boom mic performs similarly to the Razer Kaira Pro Wireless, so your voice is clear and understandable when playing online, even with some noise in the background.
They have a somewhat warm sound profile out of the box, 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 Bluetooth Razer Headphones
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 are the best Bluetooth Razer headphones we've tested. Unlike the Razer Kraken V3 Pro Wireless, they're hybrid casual and gaming headphones, giving you the best of both worlds without sacrificing features. In addition to Bluetooth, they come with a low-latency wireless dongle. This setup also 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 means swapping the gamer-centric boom mic for an integrated mic. While this kind of mic tends to offer a worse overall performance, their mic still delivers a decent 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.
Try the Razer Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed True Wireless for a portable in-ear option. You can connect via Bluetooth and a wireless dongle so you can use them with your device, PC, and PlayStation. Their ANC performs similarly for suppressing low-pitched rumbles but isolates high-pitched noise worse than the Barracuda Pro. You'll also deal with significantly shorter continuous battery life, so the over-ears are better if you anticipate lengthy game and music sessions.
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Best Budget Bluetooth Razer Headphones
Neutral Sound7.7Commute/Travel7.3Sports/Fitness7.1Office7.1Wireless Gaming5.8Wired Gaming5.6Phone Calls6.4Type Over-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless YesTransducer DynamicNoise Cancelling YesMic YesIf you want something more wallet-friendly, check out the Razer Opus X Wireless. These headphones look similar to the Razer Barracuda Pro Wireless and are similarly comfortable, well-built, and come in various colorways. However, their features don't offer quite the same level of performance. They have a somewhat neutral sound profile with a bump in the high bass to add extra warmth to your audio, but if you prefer a different sound, their companion app has EQ presets to help you customize them. They're also a good choice if you like to play games on your mobile device and want wireless headphones that don't create audio syncing issues. With their 'Gaming Mode,' they provide a low-latency connection with iOS and Android devices.
The manufacturer advertises them to last for roughly 30 hours off a single charge, but we measured 68 hours of continuous battery life, so they'll easily last through long trips. Unfortunately, they don't have an AUX port, so you don't have the option to use them passively if the battery dies. Their ANC feature also struggles to block out bass-range noise like rumbling bus and plane engines, which is disappointing if you're looking for headphones to use during a trip or for your daily commute. On the plus side, they do a great job isolating you from sounds like ambient chatter or a humming computer fan.
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. -
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 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 line of gaming headsets 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 lines of gaming headphones 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 focusing 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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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.
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Nov 07, 2023: We replaced the Razer Nari Ultimate Wireless with the Razer Kraken V3 Pro Wireless as the top pick due to their superior battery life and mic performance.
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Aug 11, 2023: Replaced the Razer Barracuda Wireless with the Razer Kaira X for PlayStation as the 'Best Budget' pick because they're more consistently available for a budget-friendly price.
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Feb 03, 2023: Replaced the Razer Kaira X for PlayStation with the Razer Barracuda Wireless. Added information about Razer's product lineup.
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.