Razer Kraken X Ultralight Gaming Headset Review: A Budget Champion with a Critical Flaw?

I remember the days of marathon gaming sessions that ended not with a triumphant victory, but with a dull ache around my ears and the top of my head. My old headset, a clunky, heavy beast, felt more like a piece of medieval torture equipment after the three-hour mark. It was a constant, distracting pressure that pulled me out of the immersive worlds I was trying to escape into. The search for a replacement was daunting. The market is flooded with options, many promising “pro-level” features at eye-watering prices. All I wanted was something simple: a headset so light and comfortable I’d forget I was wearing it, with audio clear enough to pinpoint enemy footsteps and a microphone that didn’t make me sound like I was broadcasting from the bottom of a well. This quest for an affordable, comfortable, and capable gaming headset is a familiar one for millions of gamers, and it’s precisely where the Razer Kraken X Ultralight Gaming Headset aims to make its mark.

What to Consider Before Buying a Gaming Headset

A gaming headset is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for immersion, communication, and competitive advantage. A quality headset transports you directly into the game’s environment, allowing you to hear subtle audio cues—the rustle of leaves, a distant reload, the whisper of an approaching enemy—that you’d miss with standard speakers. It fosters teamwork with crystal-clear voice chat, turning a group of individuals into a coordinated unit. For those long gaming nights, comfort is paramount, preventing the physical fatigue that can cut a session short. Choosing the right headset isn’t just an upgrade to your gear; it’s an upgrade to your entire gaming experience.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone who values comfort and performance but is also conscious of their budget. This includes dedicated PC gamers who can take advantage of features like virtual surround sound, console players on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, or Switch looking for a simple plug-and-play upgrade, and even remote workers who need a comfortable headset for all-day video calls. However, it might not be suitable for those who demand wireless freedom, as this is a strictly wired device. Audiophiles seeking studio-grade sound reproduction or professional esports athletes who require the absolute pinnacle of audio fidelity and durability might also want to look at higher-end models.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Comfort & Weight: For a device you’ll wear for hours, this is non-negotiable. Look at the total weight (under 300 grams is considered lightweight), the material of the earcups (memory foam is excellent), and the clamping force of the headband. An overly tight headset can cause headaches, while one that’s too loose will feel unstable.
• Audio Performance & Features: The heart of a headset is its drivers. Driver size, typically measured in millimeters (40mm or 50mm are common), can influence the bass response and overall richness of the sound. Pay attention to features like virtual 7.1 surround sound, which can provide a significant competitive advantage in games by simulating a 360-degree soundscape, though its effectiveness can vary.
• Materials & Durability: This is where many budget headsets falter. A metal-reinforced headband (often steel or aluminum) offers far greater longevity than an all-plastic construction. Check the connection points between the earcups and the headband, as these are common points of stress and failure. Reading user experiences regarding long-term durability is crucial.
• Microphone Quality & Controls: Your teammates need to hear you clearly. A cardioid microphone is designed to capture your voice while rejecting ambient noise from the sides and back, making it ideal for gaming. A flexible, bendable boom arm allows you to position it perfectly. On-ear controls for volume and mute are a massive quality-of-life feature, allowing for quick adjustments without tabbing out of your game.

Keeping these factors in mind, the Razer Kraken X Ultralight Gaming Headset stands out in several areas, particularly comfort and audio for its price point. You can explore its detailed specifications here.

While the Razer Kraken X Ultralight Gaming Headset is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

Unboxing the Kraken X: First Impressions and Core Features

Pulling the Razer Kraken X Ultralight Gaming Headset from its signature black-and-green packaging, the first thing I noticed was its astonishing lack of heft. At a mere 250 grams, it feels almost ethereal in the hands, a stark contrast to the bulky headsets I’ve used in the past. This isn’t a product that tries to wow you with premium heft or flashy RGB lighting; its design philosophy is one of purpose-driven minimalism. The construction is primarily a matte black plastic, which contributes to its lightness, though it immediately raises questions about long-term durability. The earcups are adorned with a subtle Razer logo and are fitted with plush, soft cushions that feel gentle against the skin. The headband has a soft padded cushion on the underside, and the adjustment mechanism clicks into place with satisfying detents. The non-detachable, bendable cardioid microphone feels sturdy yet flexible, and the 3.5mm cable is long enough for most PC and console setups. On the left earcup, you’ll find the only on-board controls: a simple volume wheel and a push-button for muting the microphone, conveniently placed for quick, intuitive access.

Performance Deep Dive: Living with the Razer Kraken X

A headset’s true character is only revealed after hours of intense gameplay, chaotic team chats, and relaxed media consumption. We put the Razer Kraken X Ultralight Gaming Headset through its paces across a variety of platforms and genres to see if its performance could live up to its initial promise, and to investigate the worrying whispers about its longevity.

Featherlight Comfort for Marathon Sessions

The single greatest strength of the Razer Kraken X Ultralight Gaming Headset is, without a doubt, its comfort. This is the headset you put on and genuinely forget is there. The 250-gram weight is not just a number on a spec sheet; it’s a game-changer. During an eight-hour session of Baldur’s Gate 3, I experienced none of the usual pressure points or neck strain that heavier headsets induce. The clamping force is perfectly calibrated—firm enough to feel secure during quick head movements, but gentle enough to avoid causing headaches. This was a sentiment shared by users with larger heads, one of whom noted it “fits great” on their “larger than normal noggin” and doesn’t become a distraction during extended play.

The plush earpads contribute significantly to this comfort. They create a decent seal around the ears, providing some passive noise isolation from household distractions. For glasses-wearers like myself, this headset is a revelation. Razer has incorporated hidden eyewear channels into the cushions, small indentations that relieve the pressure glasses frames can create. This small detail makes a world of difference, eliminating the painful digging sensation that plagues so many other over-ear designs. The adjustable headband offers plenty of range, though it’s this very component that becomes the focal point of our durability concerns, which we’ll dissect later. For pure, unadulterated comfort in the budget category, the Kraken X is an undisputed champion.

Audio Performance: Punching Above Its Weight Class

For a headset at this price point, my audio expectations were modest, but the Razer Kraken X Ultralight Gaming Headset delivered a surprisingly punchy and engaging sound profile. The custom-tuned 40mm drivers are clearly geared towards gaming. In fast-paced shooters like Apex Legends, the soundscape was clear and directional. Footsteps were discernible, and the crack of a sniper rifle had a satisfying weight to it. One user perfectly captured this feeling, stating, “Gunshots feel more like they are being fired from a gun.” The bass is present without being muddy or overwhelming, while the mids and highs remain clear enough for dialogue in RPGs and crucial callouts from teammates.

For PC gamers, the experience is elevated by Razer’s 7.1 Surround Sound software (available via a download code included with the headset). Once enabled, the positional audio becomes significantly more precise. It creates a convincing 360-degree soundscape, making it much easier to pinpoint the origin of sounds from off-screen. While it’s a virtual simulation and not true hardware-driven surround sound, it’s a fantastic value-add that provides a tangible competitive edge. It’s important to note, as some users pointed out, that the sound can feel a bit “dull” without the software, so PC users should consider its installation mandatory for the best experience. For console and mobile players, you’re limited to the standard stereo output, which is still crisp and more than capable for an immersive gaming session. If you want to experience this impressive virtual surround sound for yourself, it offers a compelling reason to choose this headset for your PC setup.

The Achilles’ Heel: A Deep Dive into Durability

Here we arrive at the most critical part of this review, and the one issue that prevents the Razer Kraken X Ultralight Gaming Headset from being an easy, universal recommendation. While the headset feels light, that lightness comes at the cost of robust materials. During our weeks of testing, we treated the headset with care and encountered no issues. However, the sheer volume of user feedback detailing the same critical failure point is impossible to ignore and represents a significant design flaw.

The weak point is the thin plastic of the headband, specifically right above the earcups where the size adjustment slider is located. Countless users report that after several months to a year of completely normal use—simply stretching the band to put it on and take it off—stress fractures appear, which eventually lead to the plastic snapping entirely. One user lamented, “had my first pair replaced and now the second pair have just broken in the same place.” Another was “disappointed” when theirs cracked in “the same spot as a bunch of other reviewers seem to picture” after just over a year. This isn’t a case of user misuse or accidental drops; it’s a material and structural failure resulting from routine operation. The fact that this specific breakage is so consistently reported by so many different people, often with photographic evidence, confirms it’s a widespread problem. While Razer advertises a “Lightweight Aluminum Frame,” this core frame doesn’t seem to extend to the crucial, high-stress adjustment points, which are left to brittle plastic. This is a massive gamble for any potential buyer.

What Other Users Are Saying

Scouring through dozens of user experiences reveals a starkly divided consensus on the Razer Kraken X Ultralight Gaming Headset. The praise is almost always directed at its core performance-for-price ratio. Many users, like one who was switching from cheap, generic headphones, were blown away by the difference in audio and microphone quality, stating they noticed sounds in games they never had before. Another user was pleasantly surprised, saying the headset “definitely exceeded my expectations” for the price, highlighting its excellent fit and long-term comfort.

However, the praise is almost always followed by a cautionary tale. The shadow of the headband’s durability looms large over every positive review. The negative feedback is remarkably consistent. “I have purchased this headset twice now,” one frustrated user wrote, “and both times… one of the ears had broken near where it extends.” Another noted that after just five months of careful use, “the frame to start snapping at the ear cup.” This issue transcends simple disappointment and points to a fundamental flaw in its construction. Some users also reported receiving units that were missing the advertised volume wheel and mute button, suggesting potential lapses in quality control during manufacturing.

Alternatives to the Razer Kraken X Ultralight Gaming Headset

If the durability concerns of the Kraken X have you looking elsewhere, there are several strong competitors worth considering, each catering to slightly different needs and budgets.

1. EPOS H6Pro Open Acoustic Gaming Headset

For those willing to invest more in pure audio fidelity, the EPOS H6Pro is a significant step up. As an open-acoustic headset, it provides a much wider, more natural, and speaker-like soundstage compared to the Kraken X’s closed-back design. This means less sound isolation but a more immersive and less fatiguing listening experience, which is preferred by many audiophiles. The build quality is far more premium, with higher-grade materials designed for longevity. It’s the ideal choice for a gamer in a quiet environment who prioritizes natural audio reproduction and build quality over a budget price tag.

2. Razer Kaira Pro Wireless Xbox Headset

If you love the Razer ecosystem but crave wireless freedom and a more robust build, the Kaira Pro is an excellent alternative, particularly for Xbox and PC gamers. It features Razer’s superior TriForce Titanium 50mm drivers for a richer, more detailed sound profile. The wireless connectivity cuts the cord, offering a cleaner and more convenient setup. While it comes at a higher price, you’re paying for wireless technology, better drivers, and a sturdier overall construction, making it a worthy upgrade for those who want to stick with the Razer brand but avoid the Kraken X’s specific pitfalls.

3. Corsair HS35 v2 Gaming Headset

The Corsair HS35 v2 is perhaps the most direct competitor to the Kraken X, operating in the same budget-friendly, multi-platform wired headset space. It offers a similar plug-and-play experience with a 3.5mm connection, making it compatible with virtually every console and PC. Corsair is well-regarded for its reliable peripherals, and the HS35 v2 presents a compelling alternative for gamers who are rightly wary of the Kraken X’s documented headband issues. While its audio profile and comfort may differ slightly, it stands as a safer bet for those who prioritize durability in an entry-level gaming headset.

Final Verdict: A Brilliant Headset Betrayed by Its Build

The Razer Kraken X Ultralight Gaming Headset is a product of frustrating contradictions. In a vacuum, its performance is exceptional for the price. The comfort is top-tier, genuinely rivalling headsets that cost two or three times as much. The audio is crisp and gaming-focused, and the PC-exclusive 7.1 surround sound is a fantastic feature that adds real value. The microphone is clear and reliable. On paper, and indeed for the first few months of use, it feels like the undisputed king of budget gaming headsets.

However, we cannot in good conscience ignore the overwhelming evidence of its critical design flaw. The plastic headband’s propensity to snap under normal use turns this purchase from a smart investment into a risky gamble. It’s a shame, because everything else about this headset is executed so well. We can only recommend the Razer Kraken X to those on the strictest of budgets who prioritize featherlight comfort above all else and are willing to treat the headset with the utmost fragility. For everyone else, the risk of it breaking within a year is simply too high, and exploring a more durable alternative like the Corsair HS35 v2 is the more prudent choice.

If you’ve weighed the risks and decided the unparalleled comfort of the Razer Kraken X Ultralight Gaming Headset is the right fit for you, you can check its current price and purchase it here.