Razer has been part of the wireless earbud market for a while now with itsHammerhead True Wireless line, but the company is hoping to push itself to the next level with the introduction of the Razer Hammerhead Pro Hyperspeed. Boasting its own connectivity option, Razer has given the Hammerhead Pro Hyperspeed a little extra attention to provide gamers with more versatility while seemingly maintaining the audio excellence the company is known for.
In terms of their design, theRazer Hammerhead Pro Hyperspeedearbuds fit the brand’s aesthetic well. The wireless charging case has a brushed metal feel with a top hinge that pops open or closed effortlessly. There are different schools of thought as to where the USB-C charging port should go on an earbuds case, and Razer has opted to place it on the bottom. More importantly, the case supports wireless charging just by laying it on a compatible charging pad.
Taking the earbuds out of the case will reveal the familiar “earphones with their wires cut off” look that has been popularized byApple’s AirPods. In a more polished black, the earbuds stand out thanks to their bold Razer logo on each bud, which has support for full RGB for some extra style points.
The Razer Hammerhead Pro Hyperspeed package includes a set of rubber tips already attached to the buds as well as two additional sizing options. Mileage will vary on which tips are ideal but we had no major issues with the fit on the earbuds and Razer’s audio software includes a quick fit test to help. There is also a USB-C dongle to take advantage ofRazer’s 2.4GHz Hyperspeedtechnology for low latency audio, a USB-A to USB-C adapter cable for situations where a USB-C port is not available for the dongle, and a USB charging cable for the case.
It’s a fairly standard set of items for the higher-end earbud market and will allow users to ensure a snug fit and the ability to connect their earbuds to practically any device they wish. And those that can’t connect via the Hyperspeed dongle can use Bluetooth, which is as effortless as advertised.
Plugging the Hyperspeed dongle in and putting the earbuds into one’s ears results in an instant pairing right out of the case with no additional setup required. We tested the Razer Hammerhead Pro Hyperspeed earbuds on the PlayStation 5 and PC and were connected within less than a minute. In total, the earbuds could last around 4 and a half hours with a single charge and then popping them into the case gets at least 3-4 extra uses before the case itself needs to be charged (which takes less than an hour). Battery life is situational for a lot of earbuds and in this case, the Razer Hammerhead Pro Hyperspeed earbuds are a little on the low end but not to the point it becomes a major hindrance. Only long gaming sessions will make the limited battery life that noticeable.
Sound quality on the Razer Hammerhead Pro Hyperspeed earbuds is great. Details like footsteps or sword swings come through sharp and clear, while more complex soundtracks have a surprising amount of bass punching through the mids and the highs. We tested the earbuds on everything from more action, sound effects-heavy games likeRemnant 2and found the audio experience to be excellent. Meanwhile, dialogue-focused games like Baldur’s Gate 3 brought the character’s monologues to the forefront without muddying the nuance of their performances.
At $199.99, one would expect that the Razer Hammerhead Pro Hyperspeed deliver high-quality sound and they do. There is no support for any surround sound or faux surround sound, though, so players will be experiencing their games in stereo only. However, we never found the aural experience of the Razer Hammerhead Pro Hyperspeed to be lacking in terms of dynamism or that feeling of depth of sound. It’s just not at the level that blew us away.
The Razer Hammerhead Pro Hyperspeed earbuds include support for Active Noise Cancellation, which is a huge bonus for gaming or general use. Being able to eliminate the noises of the outside world while immersed in a compelling gaming experience is always a plus and the ANC on the Razer Hammerhead Pro Hyperspeed earbuds is good but not great. The ANC doesn’t feel like it is able to completely envelope the user in silence but it’s strong enough to keep things like the hum of a fan or distant traffic as quiet as possible. Users can also customize the intensity of the ANC on the Razer Hammerhead Pro Hyperspeed or turn on an Ambient mode to act as a type of pass-through option for listening to the outside world.
Of course, not every situation will allow for that Hyperspeed connection, which is where Bluetooth comes in. With just a triple tap on either earbud, the Razer Hammerhead Pro Hyperspeed earbuds will switch between Bluetooth and the 2.4GHz connection. Bluetooth isn’t going to give the lowest latency connection possible but the Razer Hammerhead Pro Hyperspeed earbuds do offer a Gaming Mode that bumps up to a faster wireless connectivity over BT.
Controlling the audio on Razer Hammerhead Pro Hyperspeed is done through taps or taps and holds on either earbud. While it works fairly well, the tap controls sometimes require a bit more deliberate effort to get right. Occasionally the earbuds will register a press as a hold or vice versa but it’s nothing that is too troublesome. For the most part, gamers will just connect the headset and go; it’s while watching media or answering calls where the controls really come into play and we never had any major problems pausing a video or muting the microphone.
The Razer Hammerhead Pro Hyperspeed does feature a microphone for game chat or voice calls but we didn’t find it met the same quality as the earbuds. It’s fine for talking with friends while partying up in Diablo 4 but there are some obvious limitations to its quality. For example, the microphone struggles to isolate the user’s voice if there is a lot of background noise.
Bluetooth connectivity also allows for using the Razer app to customize the ANC level, setting different EQ profiles, changing the RGB, and toggling the Gaming Mode on, among other things. It is a solid app for customization but as mentioned, the Razer Hammerhead Pro Hyperspeed are great right out of the box if just connecting the dongle and jumping right into gaming.
The Razer Hammerhead Pro Hyperspeed earbuds are a solid option when it comes to the higher end of gaming earbuds. The sound quality is great, with the lack of support for any surround sound-esque formats being the one major drawback. ANC is similarly satisfactory but not at the level of some of the premiere earbuds on the market. What the $200 price point really gets gamers is the exceptional low latency audio connectivity combined with a more stylish aesthetic thanks to the RGB.
For us, the Razer Hammerhead Pro Hyperspeed fall somewhere in the middle and that is what their price point suggests. The earbuds deliver sound quality that does not have any noticeable drawbacks in their ability to reproduce dynamic audio, and a feature set that allows some freedom for customization. Earbuds are unlikely to ever compete with headphones but Razer has put together a promising enough package to ensure anyone that prefers this form factor won’t be disappointed by the Razer Hammerhead Pro Hyperspeed.
Razer Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed
The Razer Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed wireless gaming earbuds prove that headsets aren’t the only viable option for gamers. With both a 2.4 GHz HyperSpeed USB dongle and Bluetooth, buyers can connect the Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed to PCs, PlayStation consoles, or mobile devices. Adjustable Active Noise Cancellation can isolate gamers from background distractions. The included fast charging case supplies an additional 24 hours of battery life and is compatible with Razer’s wireless charging pad.
The Razer Hammerhead Pro Hyperspeed earbuds are available now for $199. Game Rant was provided a unit for this review.
