I’ve reviewed a ton of Razer gear as of late, from the company’s cute brand collaborations to its premium peripherals, but this is my first time covering gaming earbuds, let alone learning of their existence. These wired USB-C gaming earbuds feature active noise cancellation, which I didn’t even know was a thing until I received these.
It’s funny to talk about the positives of wired headphones, but I was also surprised that AirPods were released nearly a decade ago. We’ve all gotten accustomed to wireless headphones ever since Apple and Samsung abandoned the 3.5mm headphone jack. Using a wired pair of earbuds again after so many years reminds me of how convenient and reliable they can be. Wired earbuds are harder to lose, easier to connect, have no battery, and sound better than most wireless earbuds on the market.
Managing all your battery-powered devices can be tedious, so the Hammerhead V3 Chroma comes as a welcome surprise. No internal battery or charging case is needed, as they draw power straight from your device.
The Design & Build
The Hammerhead V3 Chroma was absolutely designed for mobile gamers. The earbuds weigh a light 27.1 grams and feature an IPX4 water resistance rating, so these will easily handle accidental splashes or sweat. Adding to the practical design, I like the tangle-resistant rubber cable. Braided cables are heavier and can fray/kink easily, making rubber a much better choice here.
Visually, the earbuds feature Razer Chroma RGB lighting, which looks great on camera, especially if you’re streaming. People underestimate and rarely acknowledge how Razer popularized RGB accessories. Some brands overdo it, and some brands don’t do it well enough. It has even crossed over into vehicle interiors, with some calling it tasteless and gaudy. What I have to give Razer credit for is the company’s ability to rein in its use of RGB; the originator still seems to be the master here. I think it’s one of the most tasteful implementations of Chroma, as these stand out more than any other pair of earbuds that I’ve seen on the market when they’re in-ear.
Further down the cable, there is an in-line remote that handles your volume, playback, and a toggle for the active noise cancellation. The cable also houses an omnidirectional microphone with a 63dB signal-to-noise ratio. It is good enough for a quick Discord call, but I wouldn’t trust it for dedicated audio recording.
The most controversial decision, however, was bending the USB-C plug at a 90-degree angle. This lets it sit flush on your device, but it actually makes it difficult for phone users with an average-thickness case to connect to it. I personally had to remove my case any time I wanted to use these. I feel like this is an issue that could’ve been easily remedied with a slightly longer body for the connector.
Audio Performance
Under the hood, Razer fit 11mm dynamic drivers and 6mm tweeters inside each bud, boasting a 20Hz to 28kHz frequency response and 32 ohms of impedance. Because these utilize a wired USB-C connection, you don’t have to worry about experiencing any wireless compression or audio lag, which is a massive advantage for handheld gaming, especially when playing on something like the Nintendo Switch 2.
In practice, the dynamic drivers deliver surprisingly punchy bass for a pair of earbuds, which sounds great for my personal music tastes. Meanwhile, the dedicated tweeters are there to excellently handle the highs, which helps you easily pick up critical in-game audio cues like approaching footsteps. To top it all off, the active noise cancellation is pretty impressive. I could easily see myself relying on these to block out the cabin noise on an airplane to get a good nap in.
Synapse Software and Profiles
The versatility of USB-C is great, as you’re not limited to just mobile. You can plug these into a PC and use Razer Synapse to unlock THX 7.1 Spatial surround sound. This feature artificially widens the soundstage, which makes the audio sound closer to a home theater, all with just earbuds.
You also have four default audio presets, those being Gaming (which boosts your footsteps and spatial awareness), Music (a more balanced and dynamic sound), Movies (increased vocal clarity and cinematic bass), and Call (prioritizes the midrange). If none of these presets work for you, there is a fairly robust custom EQ menu to tweak the sound profile exactly as you’d like.
Are They Worth Buying?
These earbuds truly found their purpose for me when I plugged them into my Nintendo Switch 2 for the new Ocarina of Time Remake. Hearing the new orchestrated soundtrack through them was a real treat, and the 90-degree bend actually works great while playing in handheld mode.
Still, they aren’t without some frustrating quirks. As I noted earlier in this review, the 90-degree plug is annoying for anyone who is using a phone case. However, if you can look past having to pop your case off anytime you want to use these, these are remarkably versatile for anyone who is looking to upgrade their portable audio.
Disclaimer: Razer provided Final Weapon with the Razer Hammerhead V3 Chroma Wired ANC Gaming Earbuds for review purposes.
