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.
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You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
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