Quick take
The Razer Kraken V3 Pro is an innovative wireless gaming headset with unique features like RGB lighting and HyperSense haptic feedback. There’s a lot to love about the Kraken’s ergonomics; the headset uses ultra-thick memory foam padding in the headband and ear cushions that ensure all-day comfort. The headset’s fit, sound quality, and Chroma RGB lighting live up to the premium price tag, but the haptic feedback feature can become a distraction if you’re trying to game at your best.
- Built with high-quality materials
- Plush ear cushions & headband
- Long-lasting battery
- No Bluetooth connectivity
- Annoying low-battery alert
Table of Contents
Headset specs
- Connectivity: Wireless, wired
- Design: Closed-back
- Compatibility: PC, Mac, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, Mobile
- Drivers: 50mm
- Weight: 372 grams
- Frequency Response: 20-20,000 Hz
- Microphone: Detachable boom
- Battery life: 44 hours
Alternative headsets
HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless
The HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless is a comfortable gaming headset with stellar sound quality that connects via low-latency 2.4 GHz wireless. Although the Cloud Alpha Wireless doesn’t have as many extra features as the Kraken V3 Pro, it does have an outstanding 300-hour battery life.
Logitech G735
The Logitech G735 features dual wireless connectivity, RGB lighting, and good sound for gaming and music. The Razer Kraken V3 is more comfortable with its plush ear cushions and headband, but the G735 is a more versatile headset compatible with a broader range of devices.
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is a premium gaming headset with tons of killer features like active noise canceling and hot-swappable batteries. The Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is better overall for gaming than the Razer Kraken V3 but is also considerably more expensive.
Ergonomics
Ear cups
The Kraken V3 Pro features ultra-plush oval ear cushions, some of the most comfortable we’ve tested. The ear cushions utilize an extra-thick layer of memory foam that creates an excellent seal on the face and makes it easy to wear the headset for hours without feeling fatigued. When wearing the headset, the large ear cushions provide enough space so my ears never feel cramped.
The exterior of the ear cushions is made from two materials, soft leatherette on the sides and synthetic fabric on the face. Razer was smart to combine the two materials; the leatherette helps isolate sounds, while the synthetic weave prevents heat buildup.
The outside of the Kraken V3 Pro’s ear cups is made from matte-black metal with perforations on the exterior that create the aesthetic of a premium headset. The middle of each ear cup displays the Razer logo, which lights up in RGB glory to cement the headset’s gamer status.
Headband
The Kraken V3 Pro’s headband cushion matches the ear cushions by including a thick layer of memory foam. The Kraken weighs a hefty 372 grams due to its mostly-metal construction, so the thick layer of padding is a welcome inclusion to help brace the headset’s weight.
The Kraken’s frame is made from a stiff metal that feels sturdy but isn’t as flexible as other metal-frame headsets like the HyperX Cloud II. Adjusting the headband’s length is easy; the metal arms glide smoothly to find the perfect fit, and notches on each arm hold the headband in place when the ideal size is found.
Clamping Force
The Krakens have a medium to weak clamping force that makes the headset feel loose on the head. Combine the loose fit with the hefty weight of the headset, and the Kraken V3 Pro falls off easily during any form of physical activity.
Audio
| Driver Size (mm) | Wired Frequency Range (Hz) | Wireless Frequency Range (Hz) | Nominal Impedance (ohms) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 20-20,000 | 20-20,000 | 32 |
Gaming
The Kraken V3 Pro features large 50mm drivers that provide a punchy, bass-heavy sound mix for gaming. The bassy audio mix is geared more towards fun and immersion than esports and isn’t as tuned for listening to footsteps as similarly-priced headsets like the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless.
My experience with the Kraken’s default audio varied depending on the game I was playing. The Kraken V3 Pro was one of the best headsets for Apex Legends, and I had no problem spatially locating enemies on the map from a far distance. While playing Warzone 2, I had a more challenging time hearing footsteps with the Krakens and felt like some of the more vital audio cues got lost during moments when there were lots of sounds happening at once.
Music
The Kraken’s bass-heavy sound mix is excellent for listening to tunes when you’re not using the headset for gaming. The distinction between notes isn’t as strong as in studio headsets like the Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X, but electronic and hip-hop fans will love how well the Kraken’s drivers pump the bassline.
Features
Tech
The Kraken V3 Pro features unique tech, including customizable RGB lighting and HyperSense haptic feedback. The RGB lighting on both ear cups can be toggled on/off with the headset’s onboard controls and is customized via the Razer Synapse software. Users can create lighting configurations that sync up across multiple devices to create a harmonized setup.
Pro tip
Check out other Razer RGB products that sync with the Kraken V3 Pro in our best gaming mouse guide.
The HyperSense feature is one of the major selling points of the Razer Kraken V3 Pro. HyperSense produces haptic feedback vibrations that sync to the headset’s audio when enabled. Three intensity levels determine what sounds will create vibrations within the headset. When HyperSense is at minimum intensity, vibration is only felt during loud sounds like explosions and gunfire. When HyperSense is maxed-out, the headset vibrates to most sounds, including footsteps, and reloads.
I have mixed feelings about HyperSense. The feature delivers as advertised. The haptic feedback vibrations create an intense, head-rumbling experience that immerses you in whatever game you’re playing. On the other hand, I felt like HyperSense was detracting from my ability to hear vital in-game sounds. If you’re focused on playing your best and winning games, I recommend disabling the HyperSense feature.
Software
The Kraken V3 Pro is compatible with the Razer Synapse companion software available for download on the Razer website. Synapse features an audio mixer with preset and custom profiles for each game, THX Spatial Audio, a microphone equalizer, and Razer Chroma lighting customization.
The Razer Chroma lighting studio is surprisingly in-depth, with many color and pattern customization options allowing users to fine-tune their RGBs. Chroma also synchronizes lighting across multiple devices, so if you own a Razer mouse and keyboard, you can create an excellent uniform setup with preset patterns like Fire, Breathing, Spectrum Cycling, and more.
Carrying case
The Razer Kraken V3 Pro does not include a carrying case or pouch.
Controls
The Kraken V3 Pro features onboard controls on both ear cups that control the essential functions of the headset. The left ear cup houses a power button, mute toggle, and volume wheel. The power button can be single, double, and triple pressed to play/pause, skip track, and select the previous track. A button on the right ear cup controls HyperSense; press the button once to cycle through intensity levels.
Connectivity
Connections
| 3.5mm (wired) | USB (wired) | Bluetooth (wireless) | 2.4 GHz (wireless) | Dual Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
The Kraken V3 Pro can connect via low-latency 2.4 GHz wireless using a small USB transmitter or a braided 3.5mm audio cable. The headset can also be used while charging with the USB charging cable, but HyperSense will be disabled.
Compatibility
| PC | Mac | PS4 | PS5 | Xbox One | Xbox Series X/S | Switch | Mobile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
The Kraken V3 Pro is compatible with a broad range of devices, but Xbox owners won’t be able to use the headset wirelessly. If you want a wireless gaming headset that’s compatible with Xbox consoles, check out the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless. Also, Nintendo Switch owners can only use the V3 Pro wirelessly while the Switch is docked.
Battery life
The Kraken V3 Pro can last 44 hours on a full charge using 2.4 GHz wireless. The RGB lighting and HyperSense features significantly shorten the Kraken’s battery life, so you’ll have to disable them if you want to get all 44 hours before recharging.
One thing to note about the battery life is the low battery warning, which repeats a low-battery message when you have about an hour of battery left. The low-battery message repeats approximately every 60 seconds, ruining your last hour of gaming with the headset. It’s an odd slip-up for a large company like Razer that should have these things figured out for wireless products.
Microphone
The Kraken V3 Pro uses a detachable boom microphone with a removable foam pop filter. The microphone has good enough clarity for communicating with teammates, although sound is a little muffled on the other end. The Kraken’s microphone isn’t as clear as the Razer Blackshark V2, which is disappointing since the Blackshark is the less expensive model. Listen to the voice recording below to judge the Kraken’s microphone clarity.
In the box
- Razer Kraken V3 Pro headphones
- Wireless USB dongle
- Port covers
- Detachable boom mic
- 1/8″ to 1/8″ TRRS cable
- USB-A to USB-C charging cable
- Manuals
