Razer Kraken Kitty V3 Pro wireless headset review — Impawssibly great

Form follows function. At least, that’s the mantra. Razer has nailed function, so it’s time to add some form. While maybe not the most flattering headset for myself, Razer showed us the Kraken Kitty V3 Pro recently. Surely a headset with cat ears can’t offer the highs of Razer's audio arsenal? Turns out, that assumption is wrong, as this kitty has claws.

In the box, you’ll find the Razer Kraken Kitty V3 Pro, the USB-C Hyperspeed dongle, a USB adapter for the dongle, and a USB-C charging cable. Both cables are of top quality, exactly the excellence I expect to be bundled with a Razer product. The Hyperspeed dongle does scare me a bit, however. It’s TINY. As someone who hates misplacing or losing a dongle, as these are usually linked to your headset specifically, this seems like a piece that will go missing in no time. I’m guessing the size is intended to be easier to use with a phone, tablet, or Switch, but that also leads to it being a bit too small for my tastes.

As soon as I took the Kraken Kitty V3 Pro out of the box, I noticed how hefty it felt. I admittedly expected a more lightweight version, given that this is marketed towards streamers. At nearly a pound, it’s nearly as heavy as the Kraken V4 Pro. That said, it’s still comfortable, but very noticeable as you wear it.

Speaking of noticeable as you wear it, you cannot miss the cat ears atop this headset. This is the claim to fame for the Kraken Kitty V3 Pro – two triangular ears featuring RGB lighting. Where the Kraken Kitty V2 Pro had swappable ears of different designs, along with the ability to not even use them, the V3 Pro has them built in; something worth thinking about if you prefer modular capabilities. I’ll also mention that non-detachable ears also make the Kraken Kitty V3 Pro more challenging to take with you, depending on your bag size, although they are exceptionally sturdy and won’t go anywhere.

When you put the headset on, the leatherette memory foam ear cushions feel great, with the earcup width and thickness reduced from the original form-factor of the Kitty V2 Pro. Razer has also added a swivel mechanism to the earcups, which I can’t praise enough – similar to a change they made on the BlackShark V3 Pro. If you move the headset to your neck, the earcups can shift to accommodate that, and in general, the wearing is more comfortable with the mechanism providing a better fit by molding to your head shape and creating a better seal on your ears.

On the headset, you won’t be missing any controls, with a full suite of buttons alongside the mic, volume wheel, and USB-C port. Beyond the power button and mute on the left earcup, the right features a game/chat balance and Smartswitch button. The Smartswitch is something you’ll be familiar with from previous Razer headsets, allowing you to swap between audio profiles along with changing connectivity modes for Bluetooth and 2.4GHz.

There are two changes I’d make to the controls. First, move the game/chat balance to the volume wheel, which would require adding a button press to said wheel. Second, let the game/chat balance button become a custom button. Right now, you can change the Smartswitch button around in Synapse, but it already holds valuable functionality. Game/chat balance being stuck as what it is seems like a bad choice, but one that could be changed via a Synapse update.

The biggest change for the Kraken Kitty V3 Pro versus the V2 Pro is, of course, connectivity. While you’ve been stuck at your computer desk for functionality with the V2 Pro, the V3 Pro adds both Bluetooth and 2.4GHz compatibility. This means you’re finally wireless! While the regular V2 did offer wireless connectivity, it was limited to Bluetooth. That’s not great for gaming in comparison to a wired or 2.4GHz connection, and Razer’s HyperSpeed gives the headset a needed boost. Whether you’re on PlayStation, Switch, PC, Mobile, or other Bluetooth devices, the V3 Pro is certainly the better investment. I am sad that there isn’t Xbox support, and a lack of simultaneous Bluetooth and 2.4GHz, but this is a big step up for the Kitty Kraken line.

If you were worried that the aesthetic would hamper the audio abilities, you’d be dead wrong. Probably the most impressive thing about the Kraken Kitty V3 Pro is how well it handles any and every aspect of sound I’ve thrown at it. Even with what some would call a downgrade from 50mm TriForce Titanium drivers to 40mm, the audio is fantastic. It may not be the best competitive headset, lacking some bass, but I’ve been able to use the THX Spatial Audio in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 to put in the work as I’ve chased sound cues, clutching rounds based on the positioning or gunfire I’ve been able to hear. I really need to see NiKo playing Counter-Strike 2 in these – and I’ll bet he’d do it well.

Being more than competent in a competitive setting, it’s even better on the immersive side – similar to its older brother in the Kraken V4 Pro. There is good, detailed audio available, whether you’re spinning your tires at the beginning of a race on Forza or listening for an incoming guard in Hitman: World of Assassination. The feeling of being in these worlds we see on the screen in front of us requires great sound, and the Kraken Kitty V3 Pro has that capability. It’s also no slouch in the movies, TV, YouTube, or music department. While I still would like more bass for media listening, there’s quality here.

Another quality feature: the microphone. I didn’t expect much, as Razer’s included HyperClear Super Wideband is the same one you’ll find with the Kraken V4 Pro. I don’t know if the one I used in that review just had a couple of bad days or what, but the Kraken Kitty V3 Pro’s mic has sounded excellent. It’s still a headset mic, but there’s a clarity to it that comes through great in recordings. The lows aren’t great, so it can come across a bit tinny, but the crisp nature helps make up for that.

Battery life has been nothing short of outstanding. When I received this headset, it was on roughly 80% out of the box. I’ve only just passed the 20% threshold after using it as my primary headset for several days. Given you can use it in a wired mode via USB, you don’t have to worry about possibly running out of battery, but even if you prefer wireless, it’s going to last you a good while. I ran it with RGB on pretty intensely as well, so that speaks well for how good it’d be if I cut it off.

RGB lighting is certainly a selling point for the Kraken Kitty V3 Pro. Razer has always been known for its RGB prowess, and it’s no different here. Besides the cat ear lighting, the 9-zone chroma earcups give you a ton of customization, and you can even go further in choosing what colors appear in each zone. Razer’s Synapse software and Chroma Studio give you all kinds of options to tailor the Kraken Kitty V3 Pro to your personality, and that’s not all. It also supports a ton of reactive elements through both Razer’s own apps or third-parties, so if you’re a streamer, this capability will give you a lot of extra pizzazz.

Synapse also comes into play for making other adjustments for your Kraken Kitty V3 Pro. Just like other Razer headsets, you’ll recognize most of the settings available to you. There’s EQ you can customize for yourself, or choose from four presets. THX can also take over your game on PC and provide its optimal EQ. You can make adjustments to your mic sound, lighting effects, auto-off, and more. It’s what I’ve come to expect from Razer: software that works and offers a decent amount of settings to play with. My only disappointment with this headset would be few options for EQ settings – the BlackShark lets you drag and drop a few profiles in and out, the Kraken Kitty V3 Pro sticks with the status quo of previous headsets.