The great headset debate continues on, and the latest addition to the dialogue comes to us from Razer. Their BlackShark line of headsets dates back to 2012 and was originally patterned after aviation headsets and built for competitive Battlefield gaming. While historically the BlackShark line was just for PC gaming, it was introduced to consoles early in 2024, and the BlackShark V2 Pro was very impressive. Razer has now released their latest edition, the BlackShark V3 Pro, and it adds quite a few upgrades for both console and PC gamers.
Quality Upgrades from the BlackShark V2 Pro
The BlackShark V2 Pro headset was a welcome addition to console gaming, and Razer has taken that headset to another level with the V3 Pro edition. They called upon the e-sports gamers of the world to chime in and tell them what they would like to have upgraded after countless hours of V2 Pro use, and the amount of data Razer compiled was immense.
Razer upgraded the HyperClear 12mm detachable mic to include differing levels of sound canceling (adjusted from either the mobile app or from connecting to a PC), and the usage of low-latency HyperSpeed 2.4ghz connectivity means your audio is in real time. No other headset on the market can match the 10ms latency. The upgraded Tri-force Bio-Cellulose Gen 2 50mm drivers give clear and crisp sounds, and with Tempest 3D audio on the PS5, you get true-to-life acoustics. If you are going to use these on the PC, you will get access to THX Spatial Audio, giving you 7.1.4, which means you’ll hear precise sounds above you as well. The sound presentation Razer gave was mind-blowing.
Sound Tuning Made Easy
Razer brought back their Pro-Tuned FPS sound profiles and added even more save slots for you. There are profiles for six ultra-popular games included, but you can also create your own profiles. You can now store up to nine different profiles directly on your headset, which can then be switched either from the side button on the headset, using a PC, or your mobile app.
Don’t sleep on Razer’s mobile app. Once connected via Bluetooth to your phone (Android or IOS), the app allows you to access quite a few features, including the ability to set your noise canceling to one of four levels, or turn it off altogether. You can also switch between audio profiles or adjust your equalizer on the fly to find that perfect balance in-game. If you are in-game and your phone rings, you can answer it using your headset and still hear what’s going on in your game. This was previously only available on Razer’s Kraken V4 Pro headset, so this was a welcome addition.
Comfort and Style
For me, it doesn’t matter how good a headset sounds if they are uncomfortable to wear. Luckily, Razer made sure that’s not an issue with these as they are lightweight, and the ear pads are comfy and breathe well. The crossbar on the top is well padded, adding an extra layer of comfort, and the new swivel earpiece holders add a layer of comfort I wasn’t expecting. The sound canceling works exceptionally well, and sometimes you may need to move an ear cup off to the side of your ear. The ear cup swivels work great for this.
Another added feature for the BlackShark V3 Pro is the exchangeable side plates for the ear cups. Razer was nice enough to ship us a set that represents Team Alliance, but we haven’t heard how the different side plates will be made available. I would love to see some for my favorite gaming franchises like Destiny, Call of Duty, or maybe Killzone or Uncharted. When I met with the Razer team back in June, they couldn’t share much information on that topic.
Razer BlackShark V3 Pro Review: Final Verdict
Razer went to great lengths to figure out what gamers really wanted with their BlackShark V2 Pro headset, and once they released it, instead of resting on their laurels, they took the next step of asking what more they could do with it. Esports pros answered, and Razer reworked their design to come up with the BlackShark V3 Pro. It really is the next evolution of design and functionality that is worth the upgrade.
Disclosure: PlayStation LifeStyle received product from the distributor for our Razer BlackShark V3 Pro review.
