The Razer Barracuda X Wireless 2021 are budget-friendly gaming headphones. They have a detachable boom microphone and a USB dongle that provides a wireless connection with PlayStation consoles and PCs. It has a USB-C connection, so you can connect with devices like an Android phone or Nintendo Switch. Otherwise, they're light on features since they don't have any companion software or sound customization features. The 2021 model also doesn't support Bluetooth, but Razer released an updated 2022 model to offer this feature.
Our Verdict
The Razer Barracuda X are satisfactory for neutral sound. Out-of-the-box, they have a fairly neutral, though slightly warm sound profile that adds a little extra thump and punch in the bass range. However, higher frequencies of vocals and lead instruments may be dark or dull. Unfortunately, no sound customization features are available to help you adjust their sound to your liking.
- Excellent imaging performance.
- No sound customization features.
The Razer Barracuda X are sub-par for commuting and travel. While these headphones are comfortable enough for long days on the go, they aren't very portable and don't come with a case to help protect them. Also, they have poor noise isolation, meaning you can hear ambient noises like bus and plane engines and people chatting nearby. That said, they have a long battery life that's suitable for long flights, and you can use them wired if you prefer.
- Over 24-hour continuous battery life.
- Comfortable fit.
- No carrying case included.
- Bulky design.
- Poor noise isolation.
The Razer Barracuda X are mediocre for sports use. While they're very comfortable, the manufacturer didn't design them for this purpose. They aren't stable enough to stay on your head during your workouts. Also, you have to use their wireless USB-C dongle to get them to work wirelessly, which isn't very suitable for bringing them on the go.
- Comfortable fit.
- Bulky design.
The Razer Barracuda X are fair for office use. Thanks to their over 24-hour continuous battery life, they can easily last through your 9-5 workday. They're also very comfortable, so you won't feel fatigued after long listening sessions. Unfortunately, they have poor noise isolation, so you can still hear coworkers talking nearby, which can be distracting.
- Over 24-hour continuous battery life.
- Comfortable fit.
- Poor noise isolation.
- Leak some noise.
The Razer Barracuda X are satisfactory for wireless gaming. Thanks to their wireless USB dongle, they support non-Bluetooth wireless gaming with low latency. They have a comfortable fit and come with a detachable mic that transmits your voice clearly to your teammates on the other end of the line. While they're compatible with your PC, PS4, and PS5, unfortunately, you can't use them wirelessly with Xbox consoles, and they don't have companion software.
- Comfortable fit.
- Low latency.
- No sound customization features.
- Poor noise isolation.
The Razer Barracuda X are decent for wired gaming. They come with a 1/8" TRRS cable to connect them to your PC, PlayStation, and Xbox consoles for full audio and microphone compatibility. Over a wired connection, they have negligible latency. Also, their boom microphone can transmit your voice clearly, even in noisy settings. Unfortunately, they don't offer any sound customization features.
- Comfortable fit.
- Low latency.
- No sound customization features.
- No companion app.
The Razer Barracuda X are reasonable for phone calls. They have a detachable boom microphone that offers satisfactory recording quality, so your voice is clear and natural but also a bit thin. The mic has good noise handling, so your voice isn't drowned out by background noises, even if you're calling from a noisy place. Unfortunately, they have poor noise isolation, meaning you can be distracted by ambient noise during your calls.
- Good noise handling performance.
- Poor noise isolation.
Changelog
- Updated Dec 12, 2023: The following test group's text has been updated following TB 1.6: Wireless Connection (Dongle). There have also been text changes made throughout the review, including to the product comparisons to match these results.
- Updated Dec 12, 2023: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.6 , which updates how we measure latency. We've updated and renamed the following test groups: Wired Connection, Bluetooth Connection, and Wireless Connection (Dongle). We've also added new codec latency measurements and provided an audio sample of recorded latency.
- Updated Aug 07, 2023: Made minor edits to the text to bring it up to date.
- Updated Feb 06, 2023: We've retested non-Bluetooth Latency in Non-Bluetooth Wireless and the scoring of this test has changed.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Razer Barracuda X 2021 variant comes in Black, Quartz (or Quartz Pink), and Mercury (or White). We tested them in 'Black', and you can see the label for the model we tested here. These headphones have also been updated by Razer in 2022. The Razer Barracuda X Wireless 2022 have slightly different features than the 2021 model we tested: they support Bluetooth and have longer battery life.
If you come across another version, let us know in the forums, and we'll update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Razer Barracuda X are entry-level headphones in the Barracuda lineup. Unlike their mid-level sibling, the Razer Barracuda Wireless, they have a boom mic instead of an integrated one, ensuring that your voice sounds decent when talking to others. Their USB dongle connects to devices via USB-C, which lets you connect with a phone or Nintendo Switch, as well as PlayStation consoles via non-Bluetooth wireless. Unlike other wallet-friendly gaming headphones, they don't offer companion software, and they don't come with any sound customization features.
See also our recommendations for the best wireless gaming headsets, the best gaming headsets, and the best PS5 headsets.
The Razer Barracuda X Wireless 2021 are the budget-level variant of the Razer Barracuda Wireless and have fewer overall features than their mid-range counterpart. While both headphones are comfortable, the Barracuda are wireless headphones that also support Bluetooth. They're better built, have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer, and they can access THX Spatial Audio, which can help create a more immersive gaming experience. They have longer continuous battery life and have companion app support. However, the Barracuda X have a better mic performance as the boom mic can sit closer to your mouth than the Barracuda's integrated mic.
The Razer BlackShark V2 and the Razer Barracuda X Wireless 2021 are both budget-friendly gaming headphones with similar wired gaming performances, but only the Barracuda X support wireless connectivity with the included USB dongle. The Barracuda X are also better built, and their microphone has a better noise handling performance. That said, the BlackShark V2 come with companion software that offers more customization features. They're also more stable, with a more neutral sound out-of-the-box and better frequency response consistency.
The Logitech G535 LIGHTSPEED Wireless and the Razer Barracuda X Wireless 2021 are comparable gaming headphones with different strengths. Both headphones are comfortable and equally sturdy. However, the Logitech have a longer battery life, while the Razer have a better-performing microphone and leak less audio, which might be important if you game around others.
The Razer Barracuda X Wireless 2021 are better wireless gaming headphones than the Logitech G435 LIGHTSPEED Wireless. The Razer are better built, have a better mic performance, and longer continuous battery life. You can also use them passively or while charging, which is handy in a pinch. However, the Logitech are significantly lighter, have a smaller fit and more neutral sound profile, and support Bluetooth, though they don't support multi-device pairing.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
Test Results
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