The Razer Barracuda X is the most comfortable headset I've ever used, and it's great for both gaming and general use.
It offers simplicity and flexibility, allowing you to have one headset for gaming and listening to music when you're on the go. You also get a detachable microphone, so you don't need to pick up an external one to speak to your friends. Then there are the benefits that come with Razer Smart Switch, which lets you switch between 2.4gHz and Bluetooth with a single button.
You also get controls right on the earcup, so you don't need to open up your settings to adjust your volume or take your phone out of your pocket to pause your music. It's worth noting that this headset is not wireless compatible with Xbox, although it can be used wired with the console.
It comes in at a very competitive price point of £99.99, which is super cheap for a quality wireless gaming headset, let alone one that packs this much punch. The Logitech G733, which is similar in the fact that it is lightweight and wireless, comes in at £139.99, and at that price, you don't even get a connection switch feature.
You can currently pick up the black version of this headset for just £44.99 at Amazon right now, however, it's not confirmed when this will ship due to stock issues. The fact that you get everything this headset offers for just under £100 in the first place is already insane, so the ability to pick it up for £45 is a clear steal.
Razer Barracuda X headset – Design
I tested the quartz edition of the Razer Barracuda X, but if this isn't to your taste, it also comes in black and white. I have an all-pink set-up so the quartz products were right at home on my desk. The build itself is high quality, you get the ability to turn the cups so that it fits in your bag easier when on the go, and there is cushioning on the headband so you don't feel like it's digging into your head, even after long periods of use.
The cups on this headset are made of foam rather than the standard leather Razer has been known for. I've used both the Razer Kraken and Razer BT Kitty edition for years and honestly, can't emphasise enough how much nicer it is to have foam cups. The leather on my other headsets has started to peel after just a couple of years, so I'm glad I don't have to worry about this issue.
The headset is super comfortable, it feels very lightweight compared to other headsets I have tested in the past, coming in at just 250 grams. I could wear it for long periods, both indoors and outdoors, and didn't face any neck strain. I'm the type of person who instantly leaves the party and goes to bed at the first sign of discomfort when gaming, so my friends are grateful I got my hands on this headset.
As mentioned, you get a detachable microphone in the box which means you can use this as a purely gaming headset, but it also has a decent external microphone, so you can use it for phone calls when you're out and about.
Razer Barracuda X headset – Features
As to be expected from a Razer headset, you get tons of features jam-packed into this device. These all come together as a package, allowing you to use it both when gaming and in everyday use. There are buttons that allow you to control the volume, answer phone calls, skip songs and pause music right on your earcup.
You also get Razer Smart Switch, meaning you can swap between your 2.4gHz and Bluetooth connection with the tap of a button without ever having to remove your headset. I will admit, although a cool addition, I didn't really find myself using this feature often. But it does allow you to quickly answer phone calls while gaming if that's something you need to do.
You get up to 50 hours of battery life on offer here and I found this to ring true, I used the headset every evening for a couple of weeks and only needed to charge it once. You're able to charge it with a USB-C cable, a massive step up from the micro USB port on the BT Kitty since I, and I'm sure many others, have USB-C cables galore by now.
As I stated earlier, unfortunately, you can't use this headset wirelessly with Xbox consoles. It can be used wired, however, you lose the benefits of spatial audio, which kind of defeats the point. If you're looking for a wireless Xbox headset then be sure to pick up a dedicated one as Xbox wireless uses different frequencies. This headset works with PC, Mac, PS4, Nintendo Switch and Andriod.
Razer Barracuda X headset – Performance
I loved using this headset, I honestly don't think I can go back to leather cups ever again, foam is so comfortable. If you haven't used a foam headset before, go out and try one right now. The fact that it's so lightweight only further contributes to the comfort.
I will say, I was hesitant about using a gaming headset outdoors – I feel like you stick out like a sore thumb – but since the design is so sleek and simple, it was fine. If you know me at all, you'll know how much I adore RGB and unfortunately, this headset doesn't feature any. But this was actually a blessing as it made it feel more normal to wear outdoors. However, if you're a content creator or streamer and you want a headset that will look flashy on camera, then these might not do that for you.
I did encounter a weird issue, sometimes the headset would turn off in the middle of a gaming session - the same way my Razer BT Kitty does when it doesn't detect any input. I double-checked all of the settings and everything was correct, so I have no idea why it kept happening. All I needed to do was hit the power button on the cup and it turned back on and reconnected instantly, so this was relatively easy to overlook, but it was still annoying in the moment. I'll be honest, this issue is the only thing stopping me from giving this headset five stars.
Listening to music was a pleasant experience with the Barracuda X, which shocked me, as you don't really expect a gaming headset to have good bass. I'm not really a music snob though, as long as the music sounds good quality and you can hear all the different tones, I'm good. And this headset did all of that well.
Final thoughts on the Razer Baracuda X
I have loved using the Razer Baracuda X over the past couple of weeks, I have never worn headphones that are so comfortable. The quality, in regards to both build and sound, was impressive and I'm finding it hard to find significant faults. Although I didn't use it often Razer Smart Switch, which allows you to connect to two devices simultaneously, is a really handy feature. I also enjoyed the strong battery life, not having to charge a wireless headset every day is refreshing.
As stated earlier, the only thing stopping me from giving this headset five stars is the strange bug I experience, which caused it to switch off at random intervals while gaming. Although this doesn't create too much of an issue, as you are able to turn it back on super quickly with the touch of a button, it shouldn't be happening at all, particularly in the middle of an intense gaming session.
TL;DR The most comfortable headset I have ever used with great features including the ability to use it for both gaming and generally in day-to-day life.
Score: 4/5
