Razer BlackShark V3 Pro Review: Superior Low Latency

Razer’s new BlackShark V3 Pro is hitting the market today, and it’s building off the backbone of the company’s highly regarded predecessor, the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro from 2023.

As of this month, the BlackShark V2 Pro is regarded as the #1 Headset, according to ProSettings. This means that this year’s installment of Razer’s esports-centric headsets has big shoes to fill. After spending over a week with the headset, I must say that the company has pulled off an exceptional feat.

The BlackShark V3 Pro is ultimately curated for esports players but is widely designed for everyday users as well. From the design of the headset to its improved low-latency support, this year’s pro-level headphones are made for competitive games where accuracy and speed are of the utmost importance. However, for those looking for an immersive audio experience while playing their favourite narrative games or the next big RPG, the BlackShark V3 Pro is a great all-around kit. BlackShark V3 Pro is available in Canada today for $359.

Out of the box

From a design perspective, the BlackShark V3 Pro doesn’t reinvent the wheel when compared to its predecessor. These over-ear headphones feature pressure-relieving memory foam cushions around the headband and the noise-isolating ear cups, offering a comfortable fit for hours on end. The earcups are measured at 1.65 x 2.44 inches, making them large enough for most ears to fit with ease. The headband is also paired with an elegant PU leather. The earcups and band are also built with a wire-frame design with a 15-degree swivel, attaching one to the other. If you’re a fan of the BlackShark V2 Pro, you’ll likely have little to nitpick about when it comes to the overall design of these premium-looking headphones.

On the left-hand ear cup, Razer has installed the power button and the mute function. With these small buttons built into the ear cup, I’m happy to see Razer design a textured overlay on the power button to avoid accidentally hitting it if I reach to mute momentarily. Additionally, the left ear cup offers a volume roller, USB-C charging port, and a port for the removable 12mm microphone. Looking at the right ear cup, Razer has built in the game and chat balance wheel (which was absent in prior models), SmartSwitch button (featuring 9 EQ presets and wireless modes), and a new ANC toggle, supporting an Ambient Mode.

For its battery, Razer promises a battery life of up to 70 hours while using the BlackShark V3 Pro on PC. The battery life is diminished to around 48 hours on Xbox or PlayStation. Playing primarily on console, the 48-hour battery life is still very sufficient. In the week spent with the headset, I’ve only had to charge the headset once. Of course, depending on your play styles, you may only have to charge the device once or twice a week. With up to 70 hours, however, the BlackShark V3 Pro does offer a subtly improved total battery life over its predecessor’s 65 hours.

The new audio device comes in both ‘Black’ and ‘White’ colourways. BlackShark V3 Pro supports Mac, PC, smartphones and devices supporting Bluetooth 5.2. Additionally, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One are all compatible. If you’re in the mood for customization and tweaking, BlackShark V3 Pro supports the Razer app on mobile, allowing you to personalize the sound. There’s also the Razer Audio Setup on Xbox, allowing you to tweak EQ settings and ANC preferences on the console.

Improved low latency

The big marquee improvement in this year’s BlackShark V3 Pro is the adoption of Razer’s Gen-2 HyperSpeed Wireless tech. This is the first headset to feature the new technology, improving the speed at which action on-screen is reflected in the audio you hear while playing. The Gen-2 Hyperspeed Wireless tech is able to reduce audio latency down to as low as 10ms. This is a substantial improvement over many competitive devices on the market. For instance, PlayStation’s Pulse Elite headphones have a 27ms latency rating. Turtle Beach’s Stealth 600 (Gen 3), on the other hand, has a 37ms response time.

Across various games and scenarios, I couldn’t notice any sort of lag or latency in audio while using the BlackShark V3 Pro. The 10ms response time is a blessing in a competitive setting when hearing the first instance of gunfire is key to reacting and getting to cover. Having this sort of low latency is also key in hearing enemy footsteps and understanding their location before they have the chance to move and flank you. Low latency also helps in cinematic games where lip-sync is as accurate as can be during cutscenes.

Complimenting the low-latency audio, the BlackShark V3 Pro also introduces a hybrid ANC system. Built with a four-microphone array, the BlackShark V3 Pro is able to intelligently filter out ambient noise. This, combined with the memory foam ear cushions, allows for a minimal amount of noise to impact the audio of the game. Even at times when I had my patio door open in my condo, letting in the sounds of downtown Toronto into my unit, the BlackShark V3 Pro was able to drown out the sirens and honks of nearby vehicles.

Better comms and immersion

Returning to the fold is the detachable 12mm microphone. On the BlackShark V3 Pro, the microphone offers “studio-grade” voice capture, ensuring your voice comes in clear when communicating with other players. In and out of party chat, I was told my voice was crystal clear and not distorted. Friends told me that even in peak moments of gunfire with loud audio, my voice could be heard without any glaring issues. Razer’s microphone is supported with a sample rate of 48kHz, an upgrade from BlackShark V2 Pro’s 32kHz rate. The microphone also offers a frequency response between 100Hz to 10Hz, the same as its predecessor.

BlackShark V3 Pro also comes paired with the Gen-2 TriForce 50mm drivers in the earcups. With ultra-thin bio-cellulose diaphragms, the device offers far sharper and immersive audio, even when compared to some of the leading headsets offered by Razer. Throughout my review period, I was playing Death Stranding 2: On the Beach on PlayStation 5. How Woodkid’s music filled was delivered was rich-sounding and impactful as I drove across the map delivering packages. The difference in ambience and even dialogue delivery was clear as day when using the BlackShark V3 Pro in comparison to PlayStation’s Pulse Elite headset.

Razer’s BlackShark V3 Pro also sports some pretty impactful surround sound options across PC, PlayStation and Xbox. In the case of PC, BlackShark V3 Pro offers 7.1 Surround Sound support with THX Spatial Audio. 3D Tempest audio and Windows Sonic are also available on PlayStation and Xbox, respectively. Each of these advanced surround sound features helps add layers to the audio, avoiding that flat sound when listening to audio.

Final thoughts

Having been using the BlackShark series now for years, I’m pleasantly surprised by the refinements and upgrades Razer has offered this year. Raising the ceiling on esports-centric headsets, the BlackShark V3 Pro is a worthy successor to one of my favourite headphones from the company. The all-day comfort and battery life ensures that your gaming sessions aren’t cut short. The improvements made to latency and immersion are also key features that are making me grab the BlackShark V3 Pro time and time again when booting up my Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5.

BlackShark V3 Pro are available in Canada for $359, starting today.