Razer's past few generations of flagship PC gaming headsets have been its most divergent. First, the Blackshark V2 line[1] arrived, looking less like Razer's traditional Kraken aesthetic and more like something a helicopter pilot would wear. Then, the Kraken line itself (V3, to be specific[2]) was updated with cleaner lines and smaller-looking earcups.
Now Razer is again breaking the mold for its refreshed Barracuda line of "hybrid gaming & street" headsets. Just like the Blackshark V2s before it, this line eschews design cues from its predecessors in favor of a style seen elsewhere: premium noise-canceling headphones from the likes of Sony, Bose, and other premium audio equipment makers.
This shaped the Barracuda Pro I'm reviewing today into a strange mix of features that nails media consumption use cases while leaving behind core priorities the company is known for. The result is a device that barely looks like a headset (thanks to the lack of any recognizable microphone) and struggles to justify its price point due to a major flaw in the very feature meant to define it. Let's take a look at Razer's most confusing and frustrating product in years.
Specifications
| Type | Over-ear wireless |
|---|---|
| Connections | 2.4GHz wireless or Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Audio specs | Frequency response: 20 Hz - 20 kHz | Imedpance: 32 Ω | Driver size: 50mm |
| Charging | USB-A to USB-C cable provided |
| Battery life | 40 hours |
| Microphone |
"Dual Integrated MEMS Beamforming Noise-Canceling" |
| RGB lighting |
No |
| Supported platforms |
PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4/5, mobile devices |
| Weight |
340g (0.75 pounds) |
Despite being almost entirely plastic, the headset feels solid in hand.