The Razer Opus Wireless 2021 are the stealth version of the Razer Opus Wireless 2020. Without any announcements, Razer quietly replaced their 2020 model with this variant. The differences in packaging and marketing between both models can be hard to catch: the manufacturer has updated the Bluetooth version from 4.2 to 5.0 and removed aptX codec support, which offers better audio quality. That said, although they otherwise look nearly identical to their predecessor, they don't perform quite similarly and are a slight step down from the original model. Their sound profile is warmer, and their noise cancelling system doesn't block out nearly as much background sound. On the upside, they now offer a 'Gaming Mode' for low latency, which is good if you like to stream video or play games on your mobile device. Their continuous battery life is much longer too.
If you'd like to know which variant of these headphones you have, Razer provides instructions on how to check your unit's serial number on their support page, under the 'FAQs' tab.
Our Verdict
The Razer Opus Wireless 2021 are good for neutral sound. Using their 'THX' EQ, they have a warm sound profile that delivers extra boom and warmth. That said, while vocals and lead instruments sound clear and accurate, their upper harmonics are veiled, while sibilants are dull. The headphones also lack low-bass, so if you like listening to genres like EDM and hip-hop, your mixes lack thump and rumble. While you won't get a flatter, more neutral sound using the EQ presets in their companion app, they're still worth using if you want a different sound.
- Comfortable and well-built design.
- EQ presets available.
- Closed-off passive soundstage.
The Razer Opus Wireless 2021 are great for commute and travel. They have a comfortable, well-built design and come with a carrying case to help protect them when you're on the go. They also have a very long continuous battery life that can last through long plane rides without an issue, and they have an active noise cancelling (ANC) system to help block out the low rumble of bus and plane engines. Their ANC can isolate you from passenger chatter too.
- Comfortable and well-built design.
- Long-lasting continuous battery life.
- ANC blocks out an excellent amount of ambient noise.
- Closed-off passive soundstage.
The Razer Opus Wireless 2021 are decent for sports and fitness. While over-ear headphones can be a bit bulky, and their design tends to trap heat around your ears, the Razer have a comfortable and stable fit that's worth considering for light to moderate workouts. They also have a great build quality, and their wireless design makes it difficult for something to snag the headphones off your head while moving.
- Comfortable and well-built design.
- Closed-off passive soundstage.
The Razer Opus Wireless 2021 are good for office use. They have a comfortable and well-built fit. Their long continuous battery life means you can use them for a few days in a row before recharging them. Unfortunately, they don't support multi-device pairing, which is disappointing if you want to stay connected to your smartphone and PC at the same time. If you're using these headphones for virtual meetings, you can also experience a dip in sound quality when using the mic and audio simultaneously. However, this isn't an issue with the headphones per se but is one of the limitations of Bluetooth.
- Comfortable and well-built design.
- Long-lasting continuous battery life.
- ANC blocks out an excellent amount of ambient noise.
- Mic has mediocre noise handling.
- No multi-device pairing.
The Razer Opus Wireless 2021 are Bluetooth-only headphones, so they aren't compatible with Xbox or PlayStation consoles. While you can connect them to a Bluetooth-enabled PC, the latency will likely be too high for gaming. That said, they're worth considering if you're interested in mobile gaming as they have a low latency mode to lower the risk of audio syncing issues.
The Razer Opus Wireless 2021 are good for wired gaming. You can plug them into your console's controller using the 1/8" TRRS cable with full audio and mic compatibility. Their warm sound profile can help emphasize sound effects like footsteps in gameplay, while their neutral mid range ensures that dialogue and lead instruments sound clear. Their mic also offers fair recording quality. Your voice sounds clear, but lacks depth.
- Comfortable and well-built design.
- Closed-off passive soundstage.
- Mic has mediocre noise handling.
The Razer Opus Wireless 2021 are fair for phone calls. They have an integrated mic that doesn't sit very close to your mouth. While the mic can capture your voice clearly, it struggles to separate speech from ambient sound. If you're taking a call from a busy office, your voice can be drowned out. In addition, if you're making a conference call, audio quality can drop, which is normal as it's a limitation of Bluetooth. On the upside, their ANC system can help block out an excellent amount of ambient noise around you.
- Comfortable and well-built design.
- ANC blocks out an excellent amount of ambient noise.
- Mic has mediocre noise handling.
- No multi-device pairing.
Changelog
- Updated Dec 21, 2023: We have updated the Battery text to clarify our 'Audio While Charging' results.
- Updated Feb 06, 2023: We've retested these headphones using FW 1.3.1.0 and with the 'THX' preset enabled. All tests within Sound, Noise Isolation, and Microphone have changed. We've also updated Test Settings and uploaded a new App Support image to better reflect the app's capabilities.
- Updated Jul 11, 2022: We've retested 'Virtual Soundstage'. They have a THX feature available in the companion app, but we don't consider this a virtual soundstage feature as it acts more as an EQ preset. We have updated the text and the scoring of this box has changed.
- Updated May 10, 2022: We've looked into user reports of the volume lowering when gaming on an Xbox console using the following settings: wired, with the headphones on, and ANC on. The max volume we reached using this setting on our Xbox console is lower than when used wirelessly or when listening to non-game audio files on the Xbox. You can find more detail about our testing process in 'Xbox Compatibility'.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Razer Opus Wireless 2021 come in two color variants: 'Black' and 'Razer x *A Bathing Ape', which is a black variant with a green snake-like print. We tested the Black variant, and you can see our model's label here. These headphones are the updated stealth variant of the Razer Opus Wireless 2020. If you want to check which version you have, Razer has instructions on how to check their serial number via their support page in the 'FAQs' tab.
If you come across another variant of these headphones, please let us know in the discussions, and we'll update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Razer Opus Wireless 2021 are the updated variant of the Razer Opus Wireless 2020. While they have a similarly comfortable and sleek design, their ANC's noise isolation performance is a slight step down from their predecessor. That said, the ANC still blocks an excellent amount of ambient sound. They're also better built than the AKG N700NC M2 and have a long-lasting continuous battery life. Their warm sound profile with rolled-off treble is well-suited for genres like jazz, but if you're looking for a more neutral sound from Razer, you'll want to check out the Razer Opus X Wireless.
Check out our recommendations for the best wireless Bluetooth headphones, the best noise cancelling headphones, and the best headphones for music.
The Razer Opus Wireless 2021 are the stealth update of the Razer Opus Wireless 2020 and there have been some downgrades in performance. While both headphones have a similarly comfortable and well-built design, the 2020 variant have a much more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer, and their noise isolation performance is better. They also support aptX codec, which is nice if you're looking for better audio quality via Bluetooth. That said, the 2021 have a 'Gaming Mode' for a lower latency audio experience.
The AKG N700NC M2 are slightly better headphones than the Razer Opus Wireless 2021. While both headphones are comfortable and have similar levels of noise isolation, the AKG have a more neutral overall sound profile, which some users may prefer, and have more sound customization features to help you adjust their sound to your liking. They also support multi-device pairing so you can connect them to your laptop and smartphone at the same time. That said, the Razer are better built and have a better overall battery life.
The Razer Opus Wireless 2021 are slightly better headphones than the Razer Opus X Wireless. While both headphones are comfortable, the Opus are better-built, have a better noise isolation performance, and support passive playback. They also come with a carrying case and have better frequency response consistency. However, you may still prefer the Opus X if you're looking for more colorful headphones at a lower price point.
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018 are better headphones than the Razer Opus Wireless 2021. The Bose are more comfortable, have a neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer, and their ANC offers a significantly better noise isolation performance. They also support multi-device pairing, meaning you can stay connected to your PC and smartphone at the same time. However, the Razer are better-built.
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