Razer’s Pokémon collab gets a bit of an evolution
Razer is on a bit of a hot streak with its growing collection of Pokémon-themed peripherals, having dropped line-ups based on the Kanto starters, Gengar, Pikachu and Eevee, and Espeon and Umbreon. Now, the iconic Lucario joins the fray with the debut of the Razer BlackShark V3 X Hyperspeed Lucario Edition, which not only looks great but gives Pokémon and Razer fans the most fully-featured bit of gear to come out of this licensing exercise so far.
The key here is in the headset itself, the BlackShark V3 X Hyperspeed, which is Razer’s entry-level BlackShark headset – a range geared towards eSports enthusiasts. The company has so far kept its Pokémon collaborations to more approachable products, but this is the first time we’ve seen a Pokémon version of a wireless peripheral, which feels somewhat momentous. Being wired-only is sure to have put potential punters off in the past, so it’s great to see a more “serious” option finally enter the fray.
Having not used this particular headset before, I was just as curious about its general capabilities, but first impressions are obviously fixed squarely on the new coat of paint. The BlackShark range already cuts a fairly unique figure with wireframe hinges attached to almost free-floating earcups, but the bright blue treatment on the cups along with the bold artwork on the band makes this quite the handsome headset. The star, Lucario, features on the top of the headband, depicted in striking line art next to a pale yellow Razer logo, as well as in an identical pose on the inside of both earcups, against a background of the same pale yellow. Soft grey accents and some cool, textural detail complete the look, and make this – at least in my eyes – the best-looking Razer x Pokémon product to date.
Everything else about this headset is, otherwise, exactly what one would normally get out the BlackShark V3 X Hyperspeed. That means it’s incredibly lightweight at just 270g, sports Razer’s Triforce 50mm Gen-2 drivers, a detachable 9.9mm cardioid mic, three modes of connectivity and a massive 70-hour battery life.
After spending a little over a week using it as my daily set of cans, there’s no arguing that this competes with Razer’s best high-end gaming headsets, but it sounds decent enough. There’s a sensible, balanced quality to the sound that the BlackShark V3 X produces that’s not going to blow anyone away in highly cinematic gaming situations, but will absolutely serve you well in competitive online play – which is most of the point of this headset. Setting it up for 7.1 surround sound via the Windows software, I could catch plenty of helpful directional audio in Fortnite, where gunshots and environmental audio sounded appropriately mixed and easy to pick out.
Less can be said about the detachable mic, which is aggressively fine. I’m fortunate to have a freestanding desktop microphone that I use for recording or chatting, so I simply leave the included one detached – I prefer the look of the headset without it, anyway. Either way, this is a remarkably comfortable bit of gear, the lightness and hinge design meaning it doesn’t put a huge amount of pressure on my head even over long sessions, and the big memory foam cushions remain cool and plush while offering good isolation.
Battery life and connectivity are where you’ll find the real wins with the BlackShark V3 X Hyperspeed. Although I don’t have a strictly scientific way of measuring it, Razer’s claim of a 70-hour lifespan on a single charge seems to hold water based on my use. Even if you came out just shy of that, it’s plenty to get you through a solid chunk of gaming before needing to top up. As I mentioned up top, wireless connectivity is quite novel for a Pokémon-themed Razer product, and I hope that the trend continues. You get a USB-C to USB-A cable in the box for a wired option, and charging, but also a USB-A to USB-C adapter cable for the included Hyperspeed wireless dongle, in case USB-C isn’t an option.
Sample product provided by Razer for review purposes.
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Great
- Lucario branding looks great
- The BlackShark headset design is a winner
- Fully-featured, including wireless connectivity
- Sound is basic, but nicely balanced
- Very decent battery life
Not great
- Audio isn't as impactful as the higher-end BlackShark range
- Microphone is just okay
Born into the world of video games through SEGA, and in particular Sonic the Hedgehog, Kieron’s gaming tastes now consist of the latest, shiny AAA thing, an indie darling or two, and an embarrassing number of hours of Balatro.