The Razer Hammerhead True Wireless 2019 are truly wireless headphones with an onboard 'Gaming Mode' function for low latency via Bluetooth. They're decently well-built and do a good job of staying in your ears, but they're not especially comfortable due to their large buds and lack of other ear tip sizes. They have a bass-heavy sound profile, too, which makes mixes dark and muddy. Their sub-four-hour continuous battery life also isn't particularly impressive.
Our Verdict
The Razer Hammerhead True Wireless Bluetooth gaming earbuds are passable for neutral sound. Their default sound profile is very bass-heavy, which can clutter and muddy vocals and lead instruments. Like most in-ears, they also have a poor passive soundstage that feels small and limited. On the upside, they deliver audio very consistently.
- Consistent audio reproduction.
- Very limited sound customization via companion app.
The Razer Hammerhead True Wireless Bluetooth gaming earbuds are an unremarkable option for commuting. They barely reduce background noise like bus or plane engines, and they may not be comfortable for long periods of time. Although they're very portable, their sub-four-hour continuous battery life may not be enough to get you through most flights. Using their 'Gaming Mode' helps to drop latency on mobile devices, which is good if you enjoy watching videos on your way into the office or to class.
- Decently sturdy construction.
- Compact design.
- Low levels of audio leakage.
- Somewhat uncomfortable fit.
- Short continuous battery life.
- Bad noise isolation capability.
The Razer Hammerhead True Wireless Bluetooth gaming earbuds are very good for sports. These earbuds are easy to take with you to the gym, and even though they don't come with differently sized ear-tips, they should be stable enough for running or light workouts. They feel decently sturdy, and although we don't currently test for it, they also have an IPX4 rating for water resistance. However, not everyone is likely to find their fit comfortable.
- Stable in-ear fit.
- Decently sturdy construction.
- Compact design.
- Somewhat uncomfortable fit.
The Razer Hammerhead True Wireless Bluetooth gaming earbuds are disappointing for office use. Their bulky design isn't the most comfortable for long listening sessions. Their short continuous battery life also means that they need to be charged throughout your workday. They also don't really block out office chatter. However, they don't leak too much sound, so you can turn up the volume on your favorite tracks without annoying nearby coworkers.
- Low levels of audio leakage.
- Somewhat uncomfortable fit.
- Short continuous battery life.
- Bad noise isolation capability.
The Razer Hammerhead True Wireless Bluetooth gaming earbuds aren't suitable for wireless gaming. While they have a lower latency if you use their 'Gaming Mode', it's still likely to be too high for gaming. These headphones are also Bluetooth-only, so while you can use them on your mobile devices, they can't connect to consoles.
The Razer Hammerhead True Wireless Bluetooth gaming earbuds are Bluetooth-only headphones that can't be used wired.
The Razer Hammerhead True Wireless Bluetooth gaming earbuds are disappointing for phone calls. Recorded speech is muffled and lacking in detail. Their integrated mic struggles to separate speech from background noise, even in moderately loud environments. These earbuds also do a poor job of isolating background noise, so you may have trouble hearing what's being said on a call in louder environments.
- Consistent audio reproduction.
- Bad noise isolation capability.
- Middling mic recording quality and noise handling capability.
Changelog
- Updated Jul 22, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
- Updated Apr 27, 2021: Updated review for accuracy and clarity.
- Updated Feb 05, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.4.
- Updated Dec 20, 2019: Review published.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Razer Hammerhead True Wireless 2019 are available in three color variants: 'Black', 'Mercury', and 'Quartz'. We tested the 'Black' variant, but expect the other variants to perform similarly overall.
If you come across another variant, let us know in the discussions, and we'll update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Razer Hammerhead 2019 are true wireless earbuds with a 'Gaming Mode' feature via Bluetooth that reduces audio latency, which is helpful if you want to watch movies or videos on your phone, but it may still be too high for serious gamers. Unlike the EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid Truly Wireless, they don't require a secondary USB-C dongle to offer low-latency audio, though the Razer aren't as well-built or as comfortable. They also have fewer sound customization features than the Razer Hammerhead True Wireless Pro.
If you're looking for alternatives, check out our recommendations for the best truly wireless earbuds and the best wireless earbuds. If you need more noise isolation, see our picks for the best noise cancelling earbuds and in-ears.
The Apple AirPods (2nd generation) are slightly better than the Razer Hammerhead True Wireless 2019. The Apple are more comfortable, feel more premium, and have a better-balanced sound profile. On the other hand, the Razer have a more consistent listening experience among users, feel much more stable in the ear, and have much lower latency on non-iOS devices with 'Gaming Mode' enabled.
The Apple AirPods Pro are better truly wireless in-ears than the Razer Hammerhead True Wireless 2019. The Apple are much more comfortable, feel more premium, and have a much better-balanced sound profile. On the other hand, the listening experience is slightly more consistent among users with the Razer, and with gaming mode enabled, their latency is lower on non-iOS devices.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds are much better truly wireless in-ears than the Razer Hammerhead True Wireless 2019. The Samsung are comfier, feel better built, have a much better-balanced sound profile, block more background noise, and have a dedicated companion app with a broader range of sound customization features. On the other hand, the Razer have lower latency with gaming mode enabled.
The Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 are much better truly wireless in-ears than the Razer Hammerhead True Wireless 2019. The Anker have a much better-balanced sound profile, block more ambient noise, and are more comfortable. They also have better controls, better battery life, and feel more premium. They have a companion app with more customization features, including a graphic EQ. On the other hand, the Razer have a lower latency with gaming mode enabled.
The Turtle Beach Battle Buds are better gaming headphones than the Razer Hammerhead True Wireless 2019. While the Razer are better for daily use thanks to their truly wireless design, they're Bluetooth-only, and you can't use them with a PS4 or Xbox One. The Turtle Beach are wired and can be plugged directly into your console's controller. Their microphone also performs a lot better than the Razer.
The Monster Clarity 101 AirLinks Truly Wireless are more versatile Bluetooth earbuds than the Razer Hammerhead True Wireless 2019. Mobile gamers will appreciate the Razer's unique low-latency 'Gaming Mode' on iOS and Android, but the earbuds have a poorly balanced sound profile and mediocre fit. The Monster earbuds don't have the most balanced sound, but aren't as boomy, have a much longer battery life, and isolate against more noise.
The Razer Hammerhead True Wireless 2019 are better wireless earbuds than the JBL TUNE 220TWS Truly Wireless. The Razer have a much more bass-heavy sound profile, though some people may find this overwhelming. They also have a better battery life, a dedicated app with EQ presets, and lower latency. On the other hand, the JBL come in a wider range of colors and have a much better microphone.
The Razer Hammerhead True Wireless 2019 are better headphones for mixed-use than the Razer Hammerhead USB-C ANC. The True Wireless have a more stable fit and can deliver a significantly more thumpy, punchy bass. They also have a companion app with EQ presets. However, they have mediocre battery life and high latency across PC, iOS, and Android. In comparison, the wired USB-C ANC have a better build quality and include volume controls. Their in-line mic also performs better, and their audio latency is very low. Unfortunately, while they have an ANC feature, it struggles to cut down bass range noise.
The Razer Hammerhead True Wireless Pro are a better pair of headphones than the Razer Hammerhead True Wireless 2019. The Pro are more comfortable, better-built, and have graphic EQ and presets so that you can customize their sound profile. Their mic also offers a better recording quality, and they have longer continuous battery life. They block out more background noise too, although their ANC system's overall performance is still mediocre.
The Razer Hammerhead True Wireless 2021 are the next generation of the Razer Hammerhead True Wireless 2019 and offer better overall performance. The 2021 are more comfortable, feel better built, and have an active noise cancelling (ANC) system that helps them offer a better noise isolation performance. They also have a better battery performance, their companion app has a graphic EQ and presets, and they have customizable RGB lighting.
We've upgraded our Headphones Test Bench to 2.0! This update brings several key changes to our tests and usages, making it easier than ever to interpret our sound results based on your personal preferences. You'll also find a brand-new interactive graph tool featuring multiple targets (including our own!) for you to explore and compare.
For a full breakdown, check out our changelog, which includes detailed commentary from our test designer explaining the rationale behind our update.
We'd also love to hear your thoughts: your feedback helps us keep improving, so join us in the comments!
Test Results
The Razer Hammerhead 2019 have a sleek, matte finish. While their ear-stem design is reminiscent of the Apple AirPods (2nd generation) Truly Wireless, they also have shorter stems and a green Razer logo on both earbuds' backs. They also have the manufacturer's logo engraved on their carrying case. Aside from the monochrome black colorway of our test unit, these earbuds are also available in white or pink.
These earbuds are reasonably comfortable. They're relatively large and don't come with any differently sized ear tips. Even though they don't go too deep into your ear canal, they can still apply a lot of pressure to the inside of your ear, which can cause some discomfort during longer listening sessions. If you're looking for more comfortable Razer in-ears, consider the Razer Hammerhead True Wireless 2021 instead.
These earbuds have a disappointing control scheme. Although basic commands are easy to use, these earbuds don't have on-board volume controls, so you have to adjust the volume on your device. The overall list of controls can be a little complicated to remember. You can turn on an individual bud by holding it down for two seconds, which also rejects incoming calls or enables your phone's voice assistant. Touching and holding either bud for half a second answers or ends calls and pauses or plays media. Double tapping either bud accepts incoming calls, allows you to switch to another call, or skips to the next track. A triple tap of either bud skips to the previous track. Tapping and holding either for six seconds puts them into their Bluetooth pairing mode. You can enable their 'Gaming Mode' with a double-tap followed by a two-second hold, which also clears all paired devices from the buds. You should receive audio prompts for answering and rejecting calls, enabling your phone's voice assistant, powering on your earbud, enabling and disabling 'Gaming Mode', and Bluetooth pairing.
The Razer Hammerhead 2019 are remarkably breathable. They don't really trap heat in your ear so if you wear them during a workout, you shouldn't sweat more than usual.
Like most truly wireless earbuds, the Razer Hammerhead 2019 are exceptionally portable and can easily fit into most pockets. Their charging case is also fairly small.
The Razer Hammerhead 2019's carrying case is okay. While it looks and feels similar to that of the Anker SoundCore Life P2 Truly Wireless, the lid is very wobbly and can easily open when dropped or bumped.
These headphones have satisfactory build quality. Although both the earbuds and the case are made of plastic, the earbuds feel more durable, while the case has a wobbly lid and loose hinges, making it feel cheap. The earbuds are also rated IPX4 for water resistance, but we don't currently test for this.
The Razer Hammerhead True Wireless 2019 are stable earbuds. They should stay in place if you're running or working out. On the downside, they don't come with differently-sized ear tips to help you find the right fit for your ear size.
- Razer Hammerhead True Wireless 2019 headphones
- 1x silicone tips
- Charging case
- USB-C charging cable
- Wrist strap
- Manuals
The Razer Hammerhead 2019's sound profile is very bass-heavy and muddy. While the extra bass emphasizes the thump and rumble of genres like EDM and hip-hop, it can also help to immerse you in action-packed gameplay. However, the dark treble reduces the clarity and detail of your mixes so they may not be as well-suited for vocal-centric content. If you aren't a fan of their default audio reproduction, they also have 'Bass Boost' and 'Treble Boost' EQ presets that can be enabled via their companion app.
The frequency response consistency is superb. Sound reproduction should be consistent every time you use them.
The Razer Hammerhead True Wireless 2019's bass accuracy is poor. There's an overall overemphasis across the range that emphasizes the thump and punch of EDM and hip-hop tracks. However, some may find this muddy and boomy.
The Razer Hammerhead True Wireless 2019's mid accuracy is okay. The overemphasis in the low-mids clutters vocals and lead instruments, while the dip throughout the rest of the mid-range nudges vocals and lead instruments to the back of the mix and makes them sound weak and distant.
The Razer Hammerhead True Wireless 2019's treble accuracy is mediocre. Most of the treble range is underemphasized, so instruments lose their detail and presence while sibilants like S and T are slightly dull.
The Razer Hammerhead True Wireless 2019's peaks and dips performance is alright. The extended bump from the mid-bass to low-mid range adds boominess and muddies vocals and lead instruments. Most of the mid-mid and high-mid range is recessed, which weakens vocals and leads and pushes them to the back of the mix. The uneven low-treble range can give an alternatively harsh quality to the upper harmonics of vocals and lead instruments and make them sound somewhat dull, depending on their frequency. Another peak in the mid-treble range makes sibilants, like S and T sounds, piercing and painful.
The Razer Hammerhead True Wireless 2019's stereo imaging is excellent. The group delay is below the audibility threshold for the entire range, ensuring a tight bass and transparent treble. The L/R drivers of our unit are also very well-matched in regards to phase, amplitude, and frequency response, which should ensure the accurate placement of objects like voices and footsteps in the stereo image. However, these results are only valid for our unit, and yours may perform differently.
Like most in-ears, the Razer Hammerhead True Wireless 2019 have a terrible passive soundstage. A large and spacious soundstage depends on interaction with the outer ear, which earbuds bypass. While these earbuds have a more open soundstage than other closed-back in-ears, it still sounds fairly small and limited.
The Razer Hammerhead True Wireless 2019's weighted harmonic distortion is decent. There's a couple of peaks in the low-treble range at moderate listening volumes, but it may not be noticeable to all listeners. Otherwise, the rest of the frequency responses fall within good limits and should result in fairly clear and pure audio reproduction.
These results are only valid for these test settings. We only tested 'Gaming Mode' for its Bluetooth latency.
The Razer Hammerhead True Wireless 2019 have terrible noise isolation capability. They don't block out any bass-range ambient noise like the low rumble of bus or plane engines. They do a similarly terrible job of filtering out background chatter. They do a little better when it comes to treble-range ambient noise, like the high-pitched hum of an A/C unit, but their performance in this respect is still poor.
These headphones have good leakage performance. Most of the leakage is concentrated in the higher frequencies and sounds thin. If you like to listen to your music at high volumes, it shouldn't bother those around you unless you're in a very quiet setting like a library.
The microphone's recording quality on these headphones is disappointing. While your voice should sound natural, it's likely to be muffled, thin, distorted, and lacking in detail.
The microphone's noise handling capability is middling. If you're talking in even moderately noisy spaces like a busy street, people on the other end of the line are likely to have trouble understanding what you're saying.
These headphones have a mediocre battery performance. Their sub-four-hour continuous battery life is much shorter than other truly wireless headphones, like the EarFun Air Pro True Wireless, but it's worth noting that battery life can vary with usage. Their case supplies roughly three additional charges, which should last you more than a day of use. They take about an hour to fully charge so you shouldn't be away from your music for too long. They also have standby mode to help conserve battery life, and you can also use either earbud while the other one is charging.
The Razer Hammerhead True Wireless 2019's companion app is passable. It's fairly limited in terms of overall functionality, as it only shows the remaining charge and allows you to toggle between their 'Default', 'Bass Boost', and 'Treble Boost' EQ presets. If you're looking for a pair of truly wireless Razer headphones with a graphic EQ, try the Razer Hammerhead True Wireless Pro.
The Razer Hammerhead True Wireless 2019 have acceptable Bluetooth connectivity. They support Bluetooth 5.0, but not NFC or multi-device pairing, so you can't stream music from your phone while remaining connected to your computer. Without using their 'Gaming Mode', latency on PC and iOS devices is quite high, which could be disruptive while streaming videos or movies. They perform better in this respect when it comes to mobile Android devices. They perform significantly better in this regard across most devices when using their 'Gaming Mode'. However, it's worth noting that different apps and devices compensate to varying degrees for latency, so your real-world experience may vary.
Note: Enabling the earbuds' 'Gaming Mode' reduced their latency on PC to 111ms, on Android to 22ms, and on iOS to 6ms.
These headphones are Bluetooth-only and can't be used wired. They come with a USB-C to USB-A cable to charge the carrying case. If you're looking for wired gaming headphones that are still in-ears, check out the Turtle Beach Battle Buds or the Razer Hammerhead USB-C ANC.