Design and Features
The Razer BlackShark V3 Pro maintains a design that's familiar to those who have used previous iterations of the BlackShark lineup. It features thin, aluminum yokes that extend outward as telescoping arms for fit adjustments. The headband is made of flexible aluminum wrapped in a leatherette upper with a padded sports mesh cushion underneath for comfort. Despite its weight of 376g, it feels lighter due to its thoughtful design.
The earcups are oval-shaped, giving the headset a pilot-like appearance but with a slim profile and rounded edges that prevent it from feeling bulky. The earpads are made with dense memory foam and wrapped in a velvety sports mesh for breathability. This combination ensures comfort during long gaming sessions without causing fatigue. Unlike some other headsets, the sports mesh minimizes sweat around the ears, making it ideal for extended use.
On the right earcup, there are buttons for cycling through EQ presets, adjusting chat volume, and toggling ANC and ambient modes. These settings switch quickly, eliminating the need to hold a button or wait for changes. On the left side, there is a mic mute toggle, power button, USB-C charging port, and microphone jack. A master volume knob protrudes from the left earcup for easy access, allowing digital volume control on the platform being used.
The BlackShark V3 Pro also includes a 45-degree inward swivel for the earcups, which makes it easier to store when not in use. While not as wide as some other headsets, this feature adds convenience. Additional features include active noise cancellation, simultaneous audio, and a wired analog input. The ANC is strong at its highest setting, though it can affect sound tuning if overused. Simultaneous Bluetooth allows for an additional audio feed, useful for mobile devices. A USB-C to 3.5mm converter is included for compatibility with various devices.
Software and Battery Life
Razer Synapse remains a crucial part of the BlackShark V3 Pro experience, offering customization options for EQ settings and other features. While the software can be finicky, it works well enough to bring out the best in the headset. Customization is primarily focused on EQ settings, which are essential for optimizing performance. Synapse includes built-in profiles for popular games like Counter-Strike 2, Valorant, and Call of Duty Warzone. Users can also create custom EQ settings across 10 bands.
Other settings include ANC/ambient noise control, simultaneous audio mix, and audio enhancements such as bass boost and vocal clarity. Features like sidetone and noise gate levels are available, along with microphone tweaks. All settings are saved on the headset itself, ensuring preferences are maintained even without Synapse.
Battery life is rated at 70 hours, and real-world usage typically matches this. Factors like ANC, HyperSpeed latency, and simultaneous audio affect actual battery life. From personal testing, a full charge lasted about 50 hours over a week, which is more than sufficient for most users.
Sound Quality and Performance
Sound quality is a key highlight of the BlackShark V3 Pro. It delivers balanced and punchy audio, with spatial audio performance that enhances the gaming experience. While not as bass-heavy as some competitors, the default EQ settings offer good bass response. Users can adjust the EQ to suit their preferences, with many finding a universal profile for both music and games.
Testing across different games, including Call of Duty: Warzone and Counter-Strike 2, showed improved soundstage and audio cues. The positional audio and overall sound quality reflect improvements in the 50mm drivers, which reduce distortion and enhance detail in both games and music.
The microphone, while not as strong as the previous model, still performs well compared to other premium headsets. In recordings, the voice came through clearly and warmly, rivaling models like the Audeze Maxwell and SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro.
Purchasing Guide
The Razer BlackShark V3 Pro is available for $249.99 at retailers like Amazon and directly from the Razer Store. It comes in a white color scheme to match the PlayStation 5 and a black variant with green stitching for Xbox users. The latter is recommended for Xbox players due to wireless connectivity requirements.
