Why you can trust TechRadar
We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you're buying the best. Learn more about how we test.
Razer BlackShark V3 X Review: One Minute Review
The luxurious version of Razer's latest BlackShark V3, the V3 Pro is one of the best wireless gaming headsets on the market. This model may share the name and basic chassis design, but it's available at a very different price, and that means the feature spec sheet looks very different, too.
Razer is positioning this as an esports model, building on the low-latency wireless connection offered by its 2.4GHz Hyperspeed wireless dongle and the impressively svelte 9.6oz/270g weight. In reality, as welcome as those attributes are, they're probably more relevant to a non-professional gamer who wants to save some money, stay comfortable while playing, and avoid connection dropouts than a professional gamer in a stadium.
One thing that translates very well across the BlackShark range is the comfort and adjustability of the headband and earcup design. There's a brilliant balance between clamping force and headband weight distribution that makes these headphones immediately comfortable and stay that way until the final moments of your 40 gamers. world of warcraft RAID.
The microphone isn't particularly notable, but it offers decent clarity and noise cancellation, and it's detachable, meaning that if you choose to connect the headphones to your smartphone via Bluetooth, you can use them on the train or bus without looking like you're marshalling air traffic.
Your mileage on 7.1 virtual surround sound may vary, but to this reviewer's ears, it sounds thin and artificial, inevitably detracting from the original audio source rather than expanding it. These aren't the same titanium drivers you'll find in the standard Razer BlackShark V3 and aren't as precise or authoritative in their sound production, meaning there's less headroom to affect audio sources with virtual surround sound.
But if you can simply live with good audio and microphone quality, the massive 70-hour battery, light weight, comfortable feel, and clean look are pretty considerable pluses.
Razer BlackShark V3 X review: Price and availability
- It costs $99.99 / £99.99 / about AU$141
- Comparable to Microsoft's Xbox Wireless Headset
- Considerably cheaper than the V3 and V3 Pro, so don't expect a similar experience.
This version of the Blackshark is really all about the price. Many of the V3 and V3 Pro's luxury trappings have been jettisoned to reach a sub-$100 price point, but Razer's decades of experience mean it knows which parts are essential: comfort, reliability, and usability. Those have stayed, of course.
The specs compare favorably to rivals at this price, such as the official Xbox wireless headset and the RIG R5 Spear Pro HS, a wired model we've been investigating lately in the sub-$100 bracket.
Razer BlackShark V3 X: Specifications
| Row 0 – Cell 0 |
Razer BlackShark V3X |
|
Price |
$99.99 / £99.99 / about AU$141 |
|
Weight |
9.5oz/270g |
|
Battery life |
70 hours |
|
Compatibility |
PC, Xbox Series X/S (Xbox version), Playstation 4/5, (PlayStation version), iOS/Android |
|
Connectivity |
2.4 GHz Wireless / Bluetooth / USB Wired |
|
Microphone |
Unidirectional detachable cardioid microphone |
Razer BlackShark V3 X: Design and features
- Design similar to the flagship BlackShark V3
- Hyperspeed and Bluetooth, but not simultaneously
- Simple control layout
The basic headband, earpiece, and hinge design will be familiar to anyone familiar with previous versions of the BlackShark, or even the more expensive variations of this current V3 generation. The wire-frame hinge allows for great adjustability, and there's a near-perfect balance between the weight supported by the wide, well-padded headband and the clamping force generated by the headphones against your temples.
Around those earcups, there's a generous helping of memory foam to keep the horizontal force from sinking in too much and becoming uncomfortable, and there's a good amount of extension in the wire frame to allow for larger heads.
The control design is simple and effective. On the left earcup, just above the USB-C cable input, there's a textured power button, a volume scroll wheel, and a microphone mute button, while on the right side you'll find the holy grail of gaming headsets, particularly the more affordable models: a scroll wheel for balancing gaming/chat. Having gotten used to having this luxury after years of use with the Arctis 7 headphones, I always miss it when they're not available, and I'm very grateful to find one on a cheaper headset like this.
While one probably wouldn't expect simultaneous 2.4GHz wireless and Bluetooth connectivity at this price, it should still be noted that unlike the V3 and V3 Pro, it is not available on this model.
However, in my experience, the Hyperspeed wireless connection is very stable and has had no interruptions over the several years that I have been connecting wirelessly to Razer devices. In my experience, it causes some very infrequent audio artifacts, but that only manifests itself as half a second of glitchy audio here and there when connected to a PC.
Overall, this model's combination of comfort and looks makes it a powerful one-two punch. The choice of materials and quality of finish are fantastic in this price range and really set these headphones apart from their similarly priced rivals.
Razer BlackShark V3 X review: Performance
- Decent sound but it lacks that spark.
- Large capacity battery
- The microphone does the job
The drivers inside the earbuds of this V3 They're all 50mm in size, but while the V3 Pro uses a biocellulose construction for its flagship version of the Tri-Force driver and the V3 uses titanium, this cheaper version uses… something else. It does not appear in Razer materials.
That's all academic until you start testing the sound on the road, and I'm mentioning the materials of several driver variations because those materials allow for faster, more flexible articulation, which in turn gives you brighter high frequencies and more compelling, visceral bass. It's in the raw sound quality category where I most obviously felt the price of the V3 X, and that certainly doesn't mean they sound bad.
They're clearly tuned for balanced sound reproduction rather than wow factor, and that's the right decision. While at the extremes of the frequency response range they sound a little dull, the overall quality is pleasant and neutral, and that speaks to the positioning of these headphones in esports. Pro gamers would probably use a more expensive model, of course, but if they used this one, they wouldn't have to deal with vital audio signals drowned out by overemphasized bass.
Otherwise, the battery deserves serious praise. All BlackShark V3s boast a 70-hour battery life, and while that's partly due to the lack of RGB, it's still an incredible number. And it stays true. I found that it could even last a little over 70 hours on a single charge, and charging is very fast via USB-C.
More muted praise (if you'll pardon the excellent pun) for the microphone, which is simply useful. The audio playback lacks a little body, but it's certainly crisp enough to cut through the mix and ensure your calls are heard.
Should you buy the Razer BlackShark V3 X?
Buy it if…
Don't buy it if…
Also consider…
Is the Razer BlackShark V3 X not sold yet? Here's how it compares to two similar sets.
| Row 0 – Cell 0 |
Razer BlackShark V3 X Hyperspeed |
Xbox Wireless Headset |
RIG R5 Lance Pro HS |
|
Price |
$99.99 / £99.99 / about AU$141 |
$99.99 / £89.99 / AU$149.95 |
$69.99 / £69.99 (around AU$99) |
|
Weight |
9.5oz/270g |
11.2oz/320g |
11.9oz/340g |
|
Battery life |
70 hours |
20 hours |
N/A |
|
Connection type |
Bluetooth, 2.4GHz wireless (Hyperspeed dongle), wired USB |
Bluetooth, wired USB |
3.5mm wiring. |
|
Compatibility |
PC, Xbox Series X/S (Xbox version), Playstation 4/5, (PlayStation version), iOS/Android |
PC, Xbox X/S |
PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, Switch 2, PC |
How I tested the Razer BlackShark V3
- Weeks of daily use on PC and Xbox Series S
- Both connection types tested
- Compared to the flagship Razer BlackShark V3 Pro
I swam in the budget gaming headset waters for two weeks with the V3
Cairn's ambient and meditative soundscapes comprised much of that time, along with some heavy calls. Counterattack 2 sessions, some cooperatives minecraft adventures and some long trips in Assetto Corsa Evo.
Both compatible devices were tested and I tracked the duration of each charge to verify that the 70 hours stated by Razer were real.
First review in January 2026
Read more about how we test
