Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed Review
On paper, the Razer Hammerhead Pro Hyperspeeds would convince you that they are undoubtedly the series’ most prized possessions to date. There’s Qi-compatible wireless charging, ~40ms wireless connectivity and an ambient sound mode to boot.
But that’s just on paper – and paper doesn’t mean ssshh*
So, we got to grips with the Razer Hammerhead Pro Hyperspeed Earbuds to test out their design, sound quality, battery, connectivity options and just about everything you need to know as a gamer before you make a purchase.
Here’s what we found! 👇
Razer Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed Review Contents:
- Design
- Sound Quality
- Microphone
- Razer Audio App
- Connectivity
- Battery Life & Charging
- Price & Value
- Why Buy
- Review Verdict
Design
The Razer Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed adorns the same sleek form factor as its predecessors with an all-black, lollipop-style finish that screams “play with me”.
As a serial earbud hater, I was extremely sceptical over whether I could make the switch to this style of design but was humbled pretty quickly by the comfort. The popularised lollipop-style buds ensure that the Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeeds will fit snuggly into the caverns of just about every earhole and there are 3 different-sized ear tips to choose from. Personally, I went for the smaller tips, despite the risk of sound leakage, as the earbuds are natively quite wide.
Inside the box, you will find a USB-C dongle, a USB-A to USB-C charging cable, a Qi-compatible wireless charging case and a charging pad with Razer Chroma. At the back of the earbuds, there is, of course, the stunning Razer logo that lights up with Chroma the moment you take the buds out of the case. This is where you will manage some of the Pro HyperSpeed’s touch controls.
As far as overall design goes, the Hammerheads are well-considered and durable. Despite only weighing 6 grams per bud, there is a strength to the exterior that doesn’t worry me too much should I ever drop them and there is very little to fault here in general. I would expect nothing less given that this would technically be Razer’s 4th or 5th iteration of this series (I’ve genuinely lost count).
But, that’s good news for you!
Sound Quality
If you have ever experienced Razer Hammerheads, you will know that they are no slouch in the sound department. With the Pro Hyperspeed, Razer has improved slightly on the Razer Hammerhead Pro through the introduction of an ambient sound mode and the ability to control ANC via a slider on the app.
As much as the ambient mode drains the battery, the phenomenal difference in sound quality means that you will want to keep this switched on at all times. It really is that good; no matter where you are playing.
That said, some of the preset EQs are a little overkill in my personal opinion. The enhanced bass mode makes you feel like you have your ears pressed to a subwoofer and the vocal enhancers are opposingly too distant. This is not your type of vocal enhancer that is good enough for music.
Surprisingly, the default setting was actually my favourite.
In the highs and lows (which is what you want for gaming) the Razer Hammerhead Hyperspeed Pro earbuds deliver rich and vibrant sound. They will tail off in the mids which will dampen speech quality but gamers will be frequently treated to a good amount of 3D space with atmospherics.
It would be unfair to compare the Hammerhead Pro Hyperspeed’s to my bose earbuds as they are in the same sport but different leagues. Yet, as far as gaming earbuds go, the low-latency 40ms connectivity coupled with more options than you can shake a stick at is very impressive.
Microphone
For the microphone, I won’t wax lyrical on this too much as nearly all gaming earbuds suffer from a fairly average mic and the Razer Hammerhead Pro Hyperspeed’s are no different. If you’re desperate for crystal clear comms then a standalone gaming microphone will provide better performance.
What I will say though is that the microphone does isolate background noise around the house fairly well. From the washing machine to a television, there’s a good amount of noise suppression whilst keeping your voice nice and clear.
However, if you plan on making phone calls when it’s windy, you will notice the noise suppression software working quite aggressively. Here, your voice may sound choppy to the recipient and the overall experience is sub-par as expected.
Razer Audio App
Typically, I am an advocate against companion apps but with the Razer Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed, this is definitely something you want to install.
The app is the heartbeat of the earbuds.
Right from the offset, the app will intuitively inform you whether you are using the right earbuds via a calibration test and you can quickly make adjustments to the positioning for accurate noise cancellation. I couldn’t tell whether this genuinely makes a difference or not, but what I can tell you is that the buds were instantly more comfortable once I had them in the right position. Remember, I hate earbuds.
Once you’ve skipped past combat training, the dashboard is super easy on the eye and simple to navigate too. There are preset EQs for all of your standard stuff such as vocals, increased bass and increased trebles as well as a customiser. You can toggle both ambient mode and Chroma on and off via the app as well as switch to do not disturb mode for those ultimate clutch moments.
I have played around with a lot of companion apps over my years of testing technology and would have to say that Razer’s is one of the most simplest, but effective to use.
Connectivity & Compatibility
One of the most exciting features of the Razer Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed True Wireless Earbuds is its cross-platform compatibility and dual connectivity.
Sounds like it should be a given, right? Well, you’ll be surprised at how many gaming earbuds don’t connect to multiple devices.
Conversely, the Hammerhead Pro Hyperspeed True Wireless Gaming Earbuds are compatible with almost anything with a USB-C port and failed to disappoint when connecting either wirelessly or through Bluetooth.
There’s Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity for Android, iOS, Windows & Switch with a USB-C dongle for PlayStation – each option as easy to use as the other. Just pop your earbuds back in their case, open the flap and away you go with pairing mode. Heck, even your grandma could work these buds out.
Officially, the Razer Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeeds are compatible with:
- PC: Wireless via USB-C dongle OR Bluetooth 5.3
- PlayStation: Wireless via USB-C dongle
- Nintendo Switch: Wireless via USB-C dongle OR Bluetooth 5.3
- Android Devices: Wireless Via USB-C dongle OR Bluetooth 5.3
- iOS/iPad OS Devices: Bluetooth 5.3
- Any other devices with Bluetooth audio capability
Unofficially, the petite USB dongle will pretty much sidestep anything that has a USB-C port and the Bluetooth pairs well with nearly all devices.
However, for Xbox gamers, you are once more cursed by Microsoft’s persistence to be difficult and will have to wait for a dedicated Xbox version to arrive. Razer has already done this with the Standard Razer Hammerhead Hyperspeed Earbuds and I have no doubt that the Pro version will follow suit.
Battery Life & Charging
By switching off ANC and Razer Chroma, the Razer Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed earbuds will last up to 30 hours (6.5 hours + 24 hours with case charging) which is fairly respectable. However, when using both active noise cancellation and Razer Chroma, the degradation of the battery life is severe.
A measly 16.5 hours of playtime (3.5 hours + 13 hours with case charging).
Although Razer has extended the total battery life by 10 hours, compared to the Razer Hammerhead Pro’s, I often found myself switching off Chroma when gaming to squeeze an extra few hours before having to hunt down the charging case. As someone who plays for no more than 4-5 hours at a time, that’s not really a big deal.
However, if you are clocking 6-8 hours of gameplay at one time, be warned.
On the flip side, whilst the battery life is questionable, the brand-new USB-C passthrough Qi-compatible wireless charging case and charging pad are absolutely incredible. Simply slap your case onto the pad and enjoy fully charged earbuds after 90 minutes. It’s super simple to use and for those Chroma lovers out there, you will be pleased to know that the base of the charging pad dons Razer Chroma too.
A quick 20-minute recharge in the charging case when you’re playing will eek out approximately 50-60 more minutes of gameplay which is also a good compromise.
Price & Value
In Australia, the Razer Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed Earbuds are available directly from the Razer Store at a fairly steep $369.95. But for good reason.
At this price range, you would obviously expect superior features and Razer delivers endlessly on this with its charging capabilities, ANC, ambient sound modes, equalisers and more. It’s a bit of a sandbox for gamers and each preset EQ is just as great as the other. The ambient mode, of course, taking the cake.
That said, I do feel like you are paying for some of the gimmicks here, such as Razer Chroma which is a little ironic. Chroma is what makes Razer Gear so indistinguishable, however, you will ultimately be switching this off at times to extend the battery life.
As a dedicated set of gaming earbuds, there is an expectancy to be on the move and the need to extend the battery life will take precedence.
There is value for money here. Yet, give me a few more hours of battery life at a slightly cheaper price (by removing Chroma) and I would be all over these.
Why Buy?
If you are still on the fence as to whether the Razer Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed earbuds will be a good purchase, here are some reasons why you should and shouldn’t buy these earbuds.
You should buy Razer Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed earbuds if:
- You play on multiple platforms.
- You play for no more than 4-6 hours at a time.
- You often play games on mobile.
- You play when travelling.
- You are happy to play without Razer Chroma.
- You exercise with earbuds.
You shouldn’t buy Razer Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed earbuds if:
- You play for longer than 6 hours at a time.
- You only play at home (buy a Razer Headset instead)
- You hate earbuds with short battery life.
- You are not interested in Razer Chroma.
- Your ears are very small.
Razer Hammerhead HyperSpeed Pro Wireless Earbuds Review Verdict.
Despite the mediocre battery life, the Razer Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed gaming earbuds are a solid choice for gamers who frequently play mobile games or are upgrading from previous Hammerhead models. As such, our Razer Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed Review scores a solid 90%.
Whilst I would love to see the next iteration of Hammerhead earbuds sporting at least 8-10 hours of battery life with all functions switched on, you can quickly compromise with the Pro HyperSpeed by switching the Chroma off when playing. The Qi-compatible wireless charging case is also a massive bonus.
Beyond that, there is great comfort across all ear tip sizes, incredible active noise cancelling with ambient sound and plenty of EQ equalisers to explore via the Razer App. The overall sound quality is undeniable and you will enjoy next to zero latency with both Bluetooth and wireless dongle connectivity which is a massive win.
Although dedicated music headphones will deliver a richer sound across mids and highs, the Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed also delivers respectably here. But it’s all about that dedicated gaming mode!
What’s your take on the Razer Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed? Hit the comments below with any questions you have and let’s start a conversation.
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Content Disclaimer: This Razer Hammerhead True Wireless Pro Hyperspeed Review has been independently written using a demo version of the product. GamePro has not been financially commissioned by Razer, nor have we received any royalties for this article.
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