Razer Barracuda Pro

Wireless gaming and lifestyle cans—and a compromise on both

- GUY COCKER

HEADPHONE manufacturers pitch a different set of cans for whatever we’re doing—one pair for using at your computer, another for when you’re out and about, and yet another for when you go to the gym. With the Razer Barracuda Pro, Razer has had the bright idea of combining PC headphones with lifestyle headphones so you can wear the same pair whether you’re playing Doom Eternal or walking into town.

As with most of Razer’s products, first impressions are great. The headphones are housed inside a sturdy and well-made carry case, which also stores the USB-C dongle and charging cable inside a magnetically-sealed compartment. Everything is matte-black and cleanly designed, and the headphones look more like the popular Sony WH-1000XM4 lifestyle cans than most gamer-centric models, Razer’s included.

The carry case is large compared with the equivalent cases of popular lifestyle models. Unlike Sony’s model, the Barracuda Pros don’t fold up, instead, the earcups turn 90 degrees so they can go flat into the case. The case will slide into a laptop bag or backpack, is sturdy, and is made from premium materials, but will take up a lot of space if you’re trying to pack light for a flight, for example.

The headphones themselves are extremely comfortable, thanks to their lightweight design and soft memory foam ear cushions. They’re not quite at the level of 'forget you’re wearing them' comfortable, but they’re a lot better than most bulky PC headsets.