Razer Blackshark V2 Pro Review – Apex Predator

Razer Blackshark V2 Pro Review

A few years ago my man Rhett reviewed Razer Blackshark V2 wireless headset and needless to say he was impressed calling them a “dream come true”. Everything from the comfort of the headset to the audio, Rhett didn’t have too many bad things to say about them, at all. Fast forward to the present and just like Rhett, I am pretty happy with what I have been experiencing with the Blackshark V2 Pro wireless headset. Sure, these cans aren’t the best in the business and you can certainly find higher-quality options. Yet for the price, the Blackshark V2 Pros is a superb sounding option for gamers looking for new cans.

Not to mention, they remain glasses friendly which is something Rhett really appreciated a few years back.

Granted, $199.99 USD (at the time of writing) isn’t exactly cheap. In fact, it’s significantly more than the Blackshark V2 but with all the features packed into these cans, it’s an excellent bang for the buck. The Blackshark V2 Pro includes a higher quality mic, 50mm drivers, “HyperSpeed Wireless” connection, audio profiles that have been tuned (and endorsed) by pros, noise-isolating memory foam earcups, and a whopping 70 hours of battery life.

Out of the box, the V2 Pros are a breeze to set up. Rip open the box and you have everything you need to get gaming right away. I mostly used the headset with my PS5, so it was merely a matter of plugging in the USB wireless dongle on the front of the console, powering on the headset, and just like that, audio began funneling through the earcups. I absolutely loved how easy it was to set them up. Likewise, pairing them with my mobile phone was simple too. Hold down the pairing button and my phone’s Bluetooth connectivity located the headset quickly.

I also like the overall look of the headset. My V2 Pros have a sporty white look with dark ear cushions and a dark comfort pad under the headband. Razer’s trademark logo is showcased on each earcup while “RAZER” is subtly etched into the top of the headband. The buttons are nicely tucked away and located on the rear of each earcup while a protruding volume knob is located on the left earcup. They look great. I would not feel embarrassed at all wearing them out in public. They have a clean modern design that should appeal to many.

Speaking of those buttons, there is a bit of a learning curve. I found in the early going I was referring to the instructions manual far more often than I would have liked. Not to mention, it was hard to tell the buttons apart as they blend into the white coating. Eventually; however, my muscle memory kicked in, so being able to differentiate between the power, EQ and mic mute button eventually became second nature. That said, I do love that big volume knob. As someone who has had to fiddle with volume sliders on headsets for the past 20 years, I appreciate having that knob that is easy to locate and adjust on the fly.

Built for Comfort

The headset itself is super light. They don’t feel big and clunky at all. It’s clear these cans are made for long gaming sessions and maintaining a lightweight design certainly appeared to be a priority for Razer. These are without question some of the most comfortable and lightweight headphones I have ever worn. The ear cushions feel great and I didn’t find my ears getting hot or sore at all, even after 3-4 hours of continuous play.

It goes without saying, the headset sounds fantastic. Those “Triforce Titanium” 50mm drivers deliver powerful sound. Just like its predecessor, the V2 Pros use THX Spatial Audio so you get a rich audio experience that isolates audio direction. Whether it be listening to a Clicker close in on you in The Last of Us or absorbing all those chaotic explosions and bullets whizzing by in the Shipment map from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, the V2 Pros do a superb job of bringing you closer to the action.

The EQ button on the right ear cup is a nice touch too. While you can customize your EQ setting using the Razer Synapse app, I was more than happy just using the default “music”, “movie” and “game” settings. You just jump from each setting by simply clicking the button on the right can. I appreciated that.

The mic appears to be significantly improved since the Blackshark V2 was released a few years ago. The mic is super clear. My buddies could hear me loud and clear with no crackling or any other glitches. I never experienced any lag or connectivity issues of any kind. The mic is detachable but I do wish it merely retracted into the headset or flipped up. I found myself disconnecting the mic when playing single-player games and it’s only a matter of time before I lose that mic.

Next Level Battery Power

As for the battery life, wow. I mean, wow! 70-hours of battery life is unreal. Granted, I didn’t have a timer with me over the past couple of weeks, so I do not know if that is truly accurate. I’ve been using them non-stop and I have yet to charge them. I keep waiting for them to die, but they don’t. It’s impressive. I don’t recall another headset I have reviewed lately that even comes close to V2 Pro’s battery life.

It isn’t all rainbows and unicorns with the Razer Blackshark V2 Pro. You cannot take advantage of any of Razer’s glorious RGB features, which have become a staple with their keyboards and soundbars. Likewise, there are no noise-canceling features with this headset which is a bit of a bummer, especially for frequent travelers like me. Not to mention, there is no storage case or bag for the headset, which is also a letdown.

While the Razer Blackshark V2 Pro isn’t exactly “a dream come true”, I am impressed with what you get out of the box. Featuring immersive clear sound, superior comfort, a sporty design, unreal battery life, and simple connectivity, the V2 Pro shines in nearly every department. It’s not a cheap headset and for the price, you could argue it’s missing some key features. That being said, if you are in the market for a new headset for your PC and/or PS5, the V2 Pro should not disappoint.

***A headset was provided by Razer for the purpose of this review***