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When I reviewed the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro (2023), I named it one of the very best wireless gaming headsets you could buy. A year later, and we finally got a console-friendly version that was just as good — but it could obviously be better.
Now we finally have the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro, and… I can’t believe how big of a jump this is. When Razer briefed me on its new flagship esports-focused headset, I was rendered speechless by the ceaseless list of improvements and upgrades, all while preserving the same iconic design language.
It may be more expensive and a little heavier now, but the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro is the closest to perfection I’ve ever seen a gaming headset reach. It’s made even better that we don’t have to wait for Xbox and PlayStation versions.
I don’t often do this, but I’m putting my recommendation front and center. If your budget is $250 for a high-performance wireless gaming headset, then save yourself some time and go get the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro for $249.99 at BestBuy.com.
Yeah, let’s just summarize those upgrades real quick
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Some of you may accuse me of being dramatic if I don’t lay it out loud and clear, so I’m starting by listing all the noticeable improvements Razer made with the new BlackShark V3 Pro.
- Upgraded audio. The BlackShark V3 Pro upgrades to Razer’s new TriForce Bio-Cellulose 50mm Gen-2 drivers, which are basically bigger and better versions of the drivers in the ultra-premium Razer Kraken V4 Pro I reviewed.
- Not content with just that, Razer also added THX Spatial Audio 7.1.4 support, which adds four virtual speakers above your head when you want that surround sound effect. The BlackShark V3 Pro supports the Xbox and PlayStation spatial audio equivalents, too.
- Bigger microphone. The BlackShark V2 Pro already had one of the best microphones on any headset, but Razer made it even better by increasing the physical size of the HyperClear Super Wideband microphone from 9mm to 12mm, and increased the sampling rate from 32KHz to 48KHz while it was at it.
- Improved performance. This headset is designed with competitive gaming in mind (especially first-person shooters), so improved performance was a guarantee.
- The greatest performance upgrade comes from Razer’s new HyperSpeed Wireless Gen-2. Yes, Razer HyperSpeed actually got a next-gen upgrade with greater efficiency and stability, but Razer also reduced the wireless latency to a mere 10ms — easily the best in the industry.
- Razer has continued working with esports athletes to develop professionally tuned audio profiles for six of the most popular FPS games, and you can now store a total of 9 unique audio profiles on the BlackShark V3 Pro.
- Refined ergonomics. Razer may have kept the same overall design language, but the BlackShark V3 Pro is still a lot more refined in a lot of ways.
- The yoke design has returned, but it’s further reinforced and now has a 15-degree swivel joint to provide a better fit to everyone’s unique head shape.
- The Memory Foam ear cushions are just as comfortable as ever, but Razer designed a new dual-layer fabric that uses leatherette for superior noise isolation underneath cloth for improved breathability.
- The design has been refined in other ways, too, like more distinct textures for the onboard controls and adding swappable magnetic faceplates (which have nothing to do with comfort, but could be great for customization).
- Better support. Unlike the BlackShark V2 Pro, Razer’s latest flagship gaming headset is coming out of the gate with PC, Xbox, and PlayStation versions — all available in black or white.
- Not only do we already have console-specific versions, but they also fully support Razer Synapse on PC this time, so you don’t have to choose one or the other.
- The BlackShark V3 Pro can also do simultaneous Bluetooth and 2.4GHz audio mixing, so you can have a voice call on one and your game on the other, or whatever combination you need in the moment.
- If you’d rather plug in, the BlackShark V3 Pro supports USB wired audio and even comes with a 3.5mm adapter for more traditional headphone jacks.
- You can customize your BlackShark V3 Pro using the Razer Audio App on Android and iOS, the Razer Headset Setup app on Xbox, and the Razer Synapse app on PC — and the increased onboard memory will remember all your changes.
- More features. The BlackShark V3 Pro also gains some brand-new features. I already mentioned the simultaneous Bluetooth and 2.4GHz audio, but there are a couple more, too.
- Razer has brought hybrid active noise cancellation to the BlackShark, with 4 microphones (2 internal and 2 external) dedicated to filtering out unwanted background noise to keep you in the game.
- In addition to the new ANC button for cycling through modes, Razer also added a customizable roller to the BlackShark V3 Pro, which handles chat balancing by default, but can also uniquely increase just the sounds of footsteps to give you a competitive advantage.
Whoo, that’s a lot. Let’s actually talk about my experience using the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro now.
It’ll be difficult for Razer to impress with the BlackShark V4
I already spent a lot of words just explaining what Razer did with the BlackShark V3 Pro, but the important question is if those upgrades actually make a difference. Um, yes. Yes, they do.
At first glance, the BlackShark V3 Pro isn’t a major departure from its predecessor, but this headset is noticeably more comfortable to wear, especially for long periods. A lot of that comes down to the new swivel joint, which is important for the fit but also improves isolation.
The BlackShark V3 Pro retains the iconic design of its predecessor, but with a ton of upgrades and refinements across the board.
It’s still a predominantly plastic headset, but the BlackShark V3 Pro does feel very well put together, and there are a lot of fine details and accents that remind you that this is a premium headset, including real stitching on the headband that’s color-matched to the version you bought (black for PC, green for Xbox, blue for PlayStation).
Razer also made the faceplates easily swappable via magnets; right now, Razer isn’t selling custom options to make your BlackShark V3 Pro your own, but I can’t imagine Razer made this deliberate design decision without some intent to take advantage of it.
The only downside is that the BlackShark V3 Pro is about 47g heavier than before, which is a noticeable increase. It’s still extremely comfortable to wear, but the added baggage is worth noting.
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Performance has also evolved by a significant degree, and for two main reasons. First are the new Bio-Cellulose 50mm Drivers Gen-2, which results in a much warmer and deeper sound profile similar to the Kraken V4 Pro headset, but with some precision, soundscape, and responsiveness improvements.
The BlackShark V3 Pro does sound excellent for gaming, music, movies, and everything in between, with powerful bass and sub-bass response and clean mids. Lots of onboard memory and a solid equalizer mean you can tailor the BlackShark V3 Pro to every use case.
From audio to wireless connectivity, the BlackShark V3 Pro spares no expense when it comes to offering best-in-class performance.
I did notice some distortion at higher frequencies, especially when the active noise cancellation (ANC) is enabled, and this headset sometimes struggles when switching between audio profiles, becoming hollow-sounding overall for a few (long) seconds. Overall, though, the BlackShark V3 Pro is a substantial improvement over the 2023 model.
The second major performance upgrade? Razer HyperSpeed Wireless Gen-2, which debuted with the Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro gaming mouse I reviewed. The BlackShark V3 Pro sadly doesn’t get the new wireless receiver design, but it does benefit from improved stability (even with a lot of interference from competing wireless signals) and lower latency.
Razer told me it probably could’ve made the latency even lower than 10ms, but there was no point — 10ms is how long it takes for a healthy brain to process audio, apparently. I can’t really claim to tell the difference, but I can tell you the BlackShark V3 Pro sounds instant and is incredible with competitive gaming.
One area where the BlackShark V3 Pro is a bit shakier compared to its predecessor is with endurance. I wrote an editorial years ago about how it felt like it took forever to kill the BlackShark V2 Pro, and the new headset does boast similar longevity… but if you take advantage of its new features, like active noise cancellation and simultaneous audio mixing, you can absolutely kill it faster.
Speaking of ANC, the BlackShark V3 Pro utilizes 4 microphones (separate from its main mic, which you’ll need for voice calls) to filter out unwanted noise, and it does work, albeit subtly. The BlackShark V3 Pro certainly isn’t usurping Sony or Bose for the best ANC headphones any time soon, but the ANC does make a (positive) difference, and you do get a fair amount of control over it, including an ambient mode that is equally fine.
I also understand why it exists for marketing reasons, but the PC-only BlackShark V3 Pro does feel pointless this time around. The Xbox and PlayStation versions rightfully have full compatibility and feature parity with Windows PC (apart from the PlayStation version missing the Halo-focused audio profile), so there’s no real reason to get the PC-only version.
BlackShark V3 Pro review: My final thoughts
✅You should buy this if …
- You want a high-quality gaming headset that works across platforms.
- You want the best performance possible out of a wireless headset.
- You value features like ANC and a class-leading microphone.
❌You should not buy this if …
- You won’t take advantage of this headset’s competitive performance.
- You need a headset for exclusively one platform (and want to save money).
What even is left for Razer to do? Perhaps the BlackShark V4 Pro will be a bit lighter, and last a bit longer, and sound a bit better, and block out background noise a bit more, but fundamentally, it feels like Razer truly nailed it with this iteration.
Razer took every piece of legitimate criticism from every review (mine included), and actively worked to fix those weaknesses with this headset. It’s the culmination of years of refinement and innovation, and the end result is easily one of the best Xbox and PC gaming headsets ever made.
The BlackShark V3 Pro may cost $50 higher starting out, but it’s worth every penny you spend on it, even if you’re not the most competitive gamer to walk the earth. If you’d like to save money, the standard Razer BlackShark V3 seems to basically be the BlackShark V2 Pro but with some upgrades (like simultaneous Bluetooth/2.4GHz audio) for just $150 — but bear in mind that I haven’t personally used that headset.
With upgraded audio, active noise cancellation, and a bevy of other upgrades, the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro is an incredibly easy recommendation for $249.99 at BestBuy.com or $249.99 at Amazon.com. Xbox or PC, it doesn’t matter — this is the headset I’m using from now on, and it’s all because Razer actually listened to us.
Razer took every bit of BlackShark V2 Pro criticism to heart when designing the BlackShark V3 Pro, resulting in one of the finest and most polished wireless gaming headsets of all time. This is a phenomenal accessory for competitive gamers, but it’s simply awesome all around. If $250 is your budget, this is the one to get.
