Razer Kraken V4 Pro Gaming Headset Review – A New Level of Immersion

The Razer Kraken V4 Pro gaming headset offers several unique features: powerful audio, four connection modes, built-in vibration feedback, and an included control unit with an OLED display. Let’s take a closer look at this new headset.

Technical specifications

Headphones

• Driver size: 40mm, Razer TriForce Bio-Cellulose
• Frequency range: 20 – 28,000 Hz
• Impedance: 32 ohms at 1 kHz
• Sensitivity: 98 dB SPL/mW at 1 kHz (HATS)
• Connection type: wireless Razer HyperSpeed ​​Wireless (2.4 GHz) and Bluetooth 5.2, wired USB Type-A and 3.5 mm (via control unit)
• Charging connector type: USB-C
• Headphone noise cancellation: passive
• Battery life: up to 50 hours (vibration/lighting off, 2.4 GHz connection), up to 45 hours (vibration/lighting off, 2.4 GHz + Bluetooth connection), up to 13 hours (vibration/lighting on, 2.4 GHz connection)
• Full charge time: 4 hours, 15 minutes of charging will give about 5 hours of play time
• USB cable length: 1.5 m
• 3.5mm cable length: 1.25m
• Backlight: yes
• Weight: 390 g
• Configuration software: yes
• Compatibility: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 , Nintendo Switch , Steam Deck , iOS, Android

Microphone

• Type: Razer HyperClear Retractable Ultra-Wideband Microphone
• Polar pattern: unidirectional
• Frequency range: 100–10,000 Hz
• Sensitivity (at 1 kHz): –42 ± 3 dB
• Signal-to-noise ratio: ≥ 60 dB

Control unit

• Inputs: 2 x USB Type-C, 1 x AUX 3.5 mm input
• Screen: 2-inch OLED screen
• Controls: Control stick, Back button
• Power supply: via USB connection to a PC or console, no separate power supply required
• Dimensions (L x W x H): 128 x 88 x 55 mm

Equipment and design

The Razer Kraken V4 Pro comes packaged in a generously sized cardboard box, finished in black and green. It features an image of the headset and control unit, along with key features and specifications. The packaging provides comprehensive information about the device’s features and capabilities, so you’ll know everything you need to know before you even unbox it.

The headset and control unit are stored on a padded surface. A separate compartment holds the USB-A to USB-C, USB-C to USB-C, and 3.5mm cables, as well as a fabric pouch for storing the headphones and the user manual.

The new model features a design that, while consistent with the spirit of the Kraken line, differs from previous versions with its less massive cups and more polished appearance. Nevertheless, the style is recognizable at first glance.

The model is finished entirely in black. The headband is covered in eco-leather on the outside and has a fabric lining with soft foam on the inside. The earcups are mounted on swivel brackets that rotate more than 90 degrees, allowing the headset to be worn around the neck or stored compactly in a backpack .

The earcups are made of matte plastic. The outer surface of each earcup features a perforated area through which the backlighting is visible . The Razer logo in the center of the outer earcup is also illuminated. Again, this follows the familiar style of the Kraken line.

The ear pads are made of protein-based synthetic leather and memory foam. They not only provide comfort for your ears and head, but also provide passive noise isolation. They’re also soft enough to accommodate glasses. The 40mm dynamic biocellulose drivers are covered with fabric inserts marked with the earpiece designations—R (right) and L (left).

The headphones’ controls are located on the earcups. On the left is a retractable microphone, a USB-C port, a power button, a volume control wheel, and a microphone mute button. On the right is a multifunction key (equalizer, mode switch, Bluetooth pairing), a vibration feedback control, and a game/chat volume balance button. Notably, the keys vary in both size and tactile feel, making it easier to locate them by touch and identify which key you’re pressing. The volume control wheel is serrated for a better grip.

The Razer Kraken V4 Pro’s microphone is non-removable and retractable. It retracts into the body when not in use, and can be easily pulled out and positioned comfortably thanks to a flexible boom.

The control unit is compact, shaped like a truncated parallelepiped. Its front panel houses an OLED display, a large, knurled rotary knob, and a “Back” button. The rear panel houses 3.5mm AUX jacks, USB-C “PC” and “Console” ports. The base features a rubberized grip for improved traction .

The Razer Kraken V4 Pro, as expected, looks and feels premium. It’s well-built, tactilely pleasing, and overall creates the impression of a premium product, which it is.

Connection and setup

The model supports four connection modes, but with a few caveats: since the OLED control unit acts as a headphone dongle, it’s used even when using the 3.5mm jack. This means the AUX cable connects to the unit, not to the headphones, to which the signal is transmitted wirelessly. The same applies to the 2.4 GHz mode.

When connecting via USB, the cable connects to the headset. For a Bluetooth connection, you need to press and hold the multifunction button to enter pairing mode, search for the device on your PC or smartphone , and connect.

The buttons on the headphones control various functions: switching haptic feedback modes and equalizer presets, selecting wireless connection modes, and more. An LED indicator near the power button indicates statuses: for example, it flashes blue when Bluetooth is paired and glows green, yellow, and red when the battery is high, medium, and low, respectively. The indicator on the microphone will turn red if you mute it by pressing a button.

The control unit has several quick access modes: headphone volume, equalizer, vibration feedback intensity, signal source selection, and microphone volume. However, holding the rotary knob for a few seconds accesses other menus: home screen settings, backlight settings , equalizer, haptic feedback, signal source, and general settings.

However, to access advanced settings, you need to download and install the Razer Synapse app, a kind of hub for all the brand’s devices connected to a PC.

The application is divided into several tabs where you can configure various functions of the headset and control unit:

Sound – here you can adjust the volume level and game/chat balance, select an equalizer preset or create your own, and set sound profiles for installed games (current, game, music, movie , custom, or THX immersive mode). You can also activate THX Spatial Audio, a spatial sound that provides maximum sound depth and positional awareness.

Enhancements – A tab for software sound upgrades, including sound normalization (which amplifies footsteps and muffled conversations), bass boosting, and clear voice transmission.

Microphone – everything related to microphone settings: volume, equalizer, sound enhancement, as well as listening to your voice directly from the headset.

Haptics – haptic feedback settings. Here you can adjust the vibration strength from weak to strong, or disable it completely. In compatible games, such as Dune: Awakening , Battlefield 6 , and Borderlands 4 , feedback effects are automatically enabled, but even in unsupported games, as well as when watching videos and listening to music, vibration feedback will also work, converting sound into haptic feedback in real time. The user can also select a desired feedback profile: Controlled – for powerful bass, Balanced – for a smooth response in soft scenes and strong in intense scenes, Dynamic – for maximum response to every action, and Custom – where you can customize the feedback level.

OLED – This tab is for customizing the control unit. There are numerous options: for example, you can set an animation, image, smiley face, text banner, volume indicator with track title display, system information ( GPU and CPU temperature ), and headset status (volume level, remaining battery) on the OLED screen. A variety of preset animations and images are available, as well as the ability to upload your own content. You can also adjust the display brightness, sleep time, and enable a screensaver.

Backlight – customize the headphone’s RGB lighting. You can adjust the illumination brightness, choose one of the presets, or create your own using the Razer Chroma module, which allows you to customize the lighting for each of the nine zones on the earcups.

Power – power saving settings: here you can set the time before the headphones turn off when idle.

The demo is a visual demonstration of the advantages of THX Spatial Audio over conventional stereo sound.

Overall, if you want to fully unlock the model’s potential, you can’t do without installing the software—only here can you fine-tune the headset to suit your preferences.

Impressions of use

Well, the Razer Kraken V4 Pro not only looks great, but also sounds great. Out of the box, there’s a noticeable bias toward the lows and mids, but that’s not surprising—they’re gaming headphones, after all, designed to pump up the user with rich bass. Regardless, you can use the equalizer to customize the sound—for example, you can select Gaming mode, which emphasizes the mids and highs for improved positioning, or select Music mode, which evens out the frequency balance, allowing you to discern every nuance of a track.

Overall, the new product is quite versatile. It features presets for different types of content and THX Spatial Audio—everything you need for maximum immersion in your favorite game, movie , or music track. The list of THX-supported games includes popular titles such as Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 , Counter-Strike 2, Battlefield 6, The Finals , Doom: The Dark Ages , Grand Theft Auto V, PEAK , and many others.

Sensa HD Haptics haptic feedback will enhance immersion. This is a truly impressive feature that lets you not only hear but also feel the vibrations of enemy footsteps or the rumble of a nearby explosion. It’s especially effective in supported games: for example, in Forza Horizon 5, you can feel changing road surfaces and collisions, and in Borderlands 4, every shotgun blast vibrates.

Over time, the haptic feedback can become tiresome; in some games, it’s more distracting than helpful. But the wow factor is definitely there, and you wouldn’t want to give up Sensa HD Haptics completely. Simply lower the vibration strength to near-minimum levels to get subtle, yet noticeable, feedback in games.

The microphone does an excellent job of capturing voices and suppressing noise. Sometimes, the person I’m talking to remarked that my speech sounded a bit muffled, but it was still understandable. In any case, the microphone is suitable for both in-game communication and streaming .

Battery life is where the Razer Kraken V4 Pro doesn’t shine. With the backlight and haptic feedback enabled, the headphones last no more than 13 hours without recharging. However, the model charges in just 4 hours, which is quite a long time.

Of course, you can turn off the illumination and vibration feedback, which would increase battery life to a respectable 40-50 hours, but I don’t really want to deprive myself of these premium features. Yes, you can sacrifice the illumination if you’re not a streamer, but you’re unlikely to give up the haptic feedback.

As for the OLED control unit, it’s quite a handy feature, allowing you to adjust the headset’s volume, monitor the battery level, and switch between sound profiles. However, it’s another gadget on your gaming desk, so you’ll need to find some space for it.

Conclusion

The Razer Kraken V4 Pro is a truly flagship gaming headset, offering a wealth of features and impressive audio with haptic feedback. Although the headset is positioned as a universal option and easily connects to consoles and mobile devices, it’s still a PC product in its DNA, as you’ll have access to all its features on a PC.

Besides the average battery life, we found another drawback to the new product—the high price. The Razer Kraken V4 Pro is pricey, although considering the device’s functionality, you get what you’re paying for. However, the lineup includes a more affordable model, the Razer Kraken V4, which lacks haptic feedback and an OLED control panel, but costs half as much. You might want to opt for the less expensive version, but in any case, the decision is yours alone.