I must confess that the first time I interacted with these Razer headphones, I was quite puzzled to find a USB-C dongle in the box. What true wireless headphones keep you tethered to a device with a wireless adapter? Then I remembered that we're talking about a brand for gamers, by gamers, and everything made sense.
Razer Hammerhead Pro Hyperspeed
A gamer (one of the real ones) always wants to get the best response times whatever the peripheral. Fast mice, keyboards with little key travel, monitors with very high refresh rate, and headphones that can be wired. But the market has changed a lot, and so have the games, since now mobile phones and portable consoles have a lot of prominence, including the competitive sector. So which wireless headset would a mobile gamer buy?
That's the premise of the Razer Hammerhead Pro Hyperspeed , wireless headphones capable of reducing response time to spectacular levels, eliminating the typical lag of wireless communication. They achieve this using a USB adapter that connects your device (your phone, a Nintendo Switch, a Steam Deck, or whatever you like) to the headphones via a 2,4 GHz connection, avoiding interference and delivering maximum speed.
Simply plug the adapter into your console's USB port, and the headset starts getting sound right away. It's a pretty nice feeling for someone who hates the whole process of pairing a Bluetooth headset, especially if it doesn't have Android Fast Pair (and no, these models don't).
The Bluetooth Side
Switching from 2,4 GHz to Bluetooth is a significant change. This reveals the target user: using the Hammerhead Pro Hyperspeed via Bluetooth delivers a richer, fuller sound . This is obvious, as the 2,4 GHz dongle prioritizes speed over bitrate, and the difference is noticeable.
Connected via Bluetooth we get richer bass, more accurate treble, and overall sound quality that's much better than 2,4GHz mode. The good news is that you'll have both available, so if you're going to listen to music, Bluetooth is best. , and if you are going to play games, the adapter will offer you the best performance.
Best
These are very complete headphones, and their dual Bluetooth and 2,4 GHz profiles allow you to get the most out of them regardless of how you use them. They are extremely lightweight , and with the right ear tips, they fit perfectly. The noise cancellation is appreciated ; although it's not the best we've tested, it's effective. The wireless charging system is also a welcome feature , as it makes charging the case very convenient.
Worst
The earbuds' internal battery could last longer; we only got a little over 3 hours with active noise cancellation and Chroma lights on. At least we can count on the extra power boost from the charging case, which extends the total battery life to 16 hours. The USB adapter is an accessory that could easily get lost . The charging case doesn't have a slot for it, and although it can be plugged into the case's USB port, this seems like a rather dangerous area where the connector could break with the slightest bump.
It's also worth mentioning the significant loss of quality with the 2,4 GHz adapter compared to Bluetooth connectivity. This seems to be the price to pay for achieving the best latency.
How much does it cost?
The Razer Hammerhead Pro Hyperspeed has an official price of 229,99 euros , an amount that is close to the 265 euros for which we can buy AirPods Pro on Amazon, and much higher than the 165 euros that the Sony WF-1000XM4 currently cost, both very high-end models with an excellent noise cancellation system.
The trick that Razer plays for its part is to offer headphones that interest the gamer sector, and it seems that it does it very well, so they are quite appropriate for that audience. Still, we would like to see some markdowns to get them at a more affordable price.