ConsFirst / Gaming headsets

Razer

Razer BlackShark V3 Pro: the downsides first

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#2 of 8
$$$WirelessPC/PS5 version: PC, PS5, Switch, mobileScore 4.0/5
19%
of Amazon ratings are 1–2 stars
(checked 2026-10-10)Small sample: 494 ratings (PC version listing).

RTINGS' best upper mid-range pick. It adds ANC, a better mic and a 3.5 mm option to the V2 Pro and keeps 70 hours of battery. But it costs about $50 more than the V2 Pro and is heavier, the ANC is only decent, and Amazon owners are split on sound and reliability.

Top complaints

  • Mixed owner reports on sound and reliability

    Amazon's summary says owners are split on sound, ANC, mic, connectivity, adjustability and fit, and some report it stopped working after three days.

    Source: Amazon.com product page (Customers say)
  • High price and extra weight

    PCGamesN lists the very high price, the weight and a slightly loose fit as cons. TechRadar says ANC costs about $50 more than the V2 Pro.

    Source: PCGamesN review, TechRadar review
  • Only decent ANC and an awkward dongle

    RTINGS says the ANC doesn't compete with Bose, Sony or Apple, and that Bluetooth connects to only one device. TechRadar says the fabric pads limit the ANC and the HyperSpeed dongle needs a USB cable.

    Source: RTINGS best gaming headsets, TechRadar review

What owners love

Good for
  • Competitive players who want low latency and a great mic
  • Gaming in noisy rooms (ANC)
  • Listening to a phone over Bluetooth while gaming

Scores (tap for why)

What experts say

  • RTINGS: Best upper mid-range headset (updated 2026-09-02). It has V-shaped sound and decent ANC, connects to one Bluetooth device at a time, and has no built-in mic, so it can't be used without the boom.
  • PCGamesN: Its new favorite headset. The cons are the price, the weight and a slightly loose fit.
  • Wirecutter (NYT): Dismissed as too expensive to recommend (guide updated 2026-09-02).
Check price on AmazonWe don't list prices — they change daily. Paid link.

If that catch is a deal-breaker

Highly ranked gaming headsets whose biggest complaint is something else.

#1 in gaming headsetsSteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless

Tom's Guide's best gaming headset overall. It's light and comfortable, with a 60-hour battery and a phone app with 100+ game presets, for about $130. But it has no ANC, Wirecutter rejected the Xbox model over comfort or fit, and Amazon owners report connection problems and some failures.

Its catch: connection issues and units that stop working#3 in gaming headsetsRazer BlackShark V2 Pro (2024) for Xbox

Wirecutter's wireless upgrade pick. It's light and very comfortable with crisp sound and 48-70 hours of battery, and the Xbox version works with every platform. But there's no wired mode, Wirecutter finds the mic slightly compressed, and nearly a fifth of its small Amazon sample is 1-2 stars.

Its catch: no wired connection#4 in gaming headsetsAudeze Maxwell 2

RTINGS' best gaming headset and Tom's Guide's best for Xbox, with planar magnetic drivers, about 80 hours of battery and a strong mic. But it is heavy: SoundGuys found it hot and uncomfortable after a few hours, it slid off Wirecutter's tester, and 23% of its small Amazon sample is 1-2 stars.

Its catch: heavy, warm and hard to adjust

Head-to-head

See all 8 gaming headsets ranked →