Razer’s new truly wireless earbuds feature noise cancellation and low latency for mobile gaming

Razer released its first set of true wireless headphones in 2019, with the main draw being a low latency mode which makes them better suited for mobile gaming. Now the company is ready with its second pair, the Hammerhead True Wireless Pro, which goes on sale today for $ 199.99 and adds active noise cancellation and THX audio certification to the mix. “The Hammerhead True Wireless Pro uses hybrid ANC to cancel out internal external and unwanted noise by simultaneously generating reverse sound waves,” Razer wrote in its press release for New Buds.

Passive noise isolation contributes to this as well, and Razer has gone for a proper in-ear design – unlike the open-styled AirPods of the original Hammerhead True Wireless. (There’s a “quick attention mode” to stream outside audio when you want to hear what’s going on near you.) In addition to the usual silicone options (six different sets), the company includes a set of mid-size Comply foam ear tips in the box to help you get the most secure and tight fit possible to improve sound quality.

Image: Razer

The Hammerhead True Wireless Pro is rated IPX4 for its water and sweat resistance, and Razer says they last up to 20 hours in total with the case taken into account; the headphones can spend four hours of continuous listening, which is about an hour less than competitors like the AirPods Pro and Bose QuietComfort headphones. There is also no wireless charging, which is disappointing to see at this level. You control the buttons with the Razer logo touch button on each one.

Regarding THX certification, Razer states that “fine details such as frequency range and response are evaluated, and the device must be able to deliver clear, detailed vocals and deep, punchy bass without distortion to high volumes. The Hammerhead True Wireless Pro has 10mm speakers and still includes a game mode which the company says can cut latency in half “compared to other true wireless headphones that support SBC / AAC codecs. “. Razer isn’t the only one to offer a low latency mode; Samsung and OnePlus are also reducing the response time of audio effects in games when using their respective headphones and phones together.

Image: Razer

The Hammerhead True Wireless Pro are priced to match their name, $ 199.99, which puts them firmly in the next level of true wireless headphones. That’s slightly lower than the usual cost of Sony’s 1000XM3 headphones or newer options like the Jabra Elite 85t, but holiday deals and discounts will likely end up putting all of these on par. I’ll be checking them out over the next few days to see how they stack up against the competition for noise cancellation for games and everything in between.