Razer’s product collaboration with Pokémon continues with their BlackShark V3 X HyperSpeed Charizard Edition wireless headset. This spotlights one of the most iconic Pokémon of all time, which is particularly appealing to this aging generation of Pokémon fans. Equally appealing is the promise Razer makes about the BlackShark V3’s performance over a long gaming session – or, as I hope, a long day of remote work calls.
Like much of Razer’s product lineup, the BlackShark V3 X HyperSpeed Charizard Edition wireless headset is certainly a visual statement. That statement is different than a standard Razer product, however. There’s no excessive RGB lighting to be found; instead, Charizard’s fire typing takes center stage. Vibrant red flames paint the ears and band of the headset, and they stand out against the black soft-touch plastic.
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Charizard features in the design, of course. The not-a-dragon Pokémon has an inverted profile on both ends of the headset band that recalls the light grey shiny variant from the games. Charizard’s normal orange color informs the rest of the headset, with all the padding matched to that specific shade.
A different Charizard image hides in the ear cups as well. Altogether, the visual design is a step above the average Pokémon merchandise collaboration, even with safe, straightforward marketing assets.
The BlackShark V3 X HyperSpeed Charizard Edition wireless headset isn’t subtle, but it’s great.
Even without the standard lighting of the gamers, this headset stands out. The lack of subtlety does align with the extra $20 premium this edition of the BlackShark V3 X HyperSpeed headset commands. What’s more, in comparison to the Lucario edition of the same headset, the Charizard design is more cohesive. It resists coating itself primarily in orange in the same way the Lucario one does with that Pokémon’s primary scheme.
Regardless of which edition is used, both are cosmetic additions and are the same BlackShark V3 X HyperSpeed underneath. Two 50 mm drivers, built using Razer’s proprietary TriForce design, sit in the ear cups. Those drivers are encircled by memory foam pads covered in hybrid fabric and leatherette material.
For audio input, the headset uses a detachable 9.9 cardioid unidirectional microphone with an optional pop filter. The headset can connect to devices either with the included USB-C 2.4 GHz adapter, over Bluetooth, or used via a direct cable connection.
The BlackShark V3 X HyperSpeed Charizard Edition is compatible across a broad swath of devices, both with Razer Synapse software support and without. I tried out multiple devices: a gaming PC that’s still on Windows 10, two different Macs, a PS5, and a Nintendo Switch 2. In every instance, the headset connected with full functionality with no issues, though using the 2.4 GHz adapter is the easiest way to do so.
Simply connecting the headset provides a surprisingly good quality audio experience without any configuration. The output quality is on par for a headset in this category. While the noise canceling doesn’t compare to a set of premium headphones, the memory foam ear cups do a good job limiting noise from filtering in or letting game audio out. Those ear cups and the headset band sit comfortably without adding any additional weight.
Microphone quality is also crisp, if a little flat. The priority is on clarity of communication, and it gets the job done. I could easily maintain an hour-long Discord call from my PS5 using the BlackShark V3 X HyperSpeed Charizard Edition without issue or my friends mishearing my own speech. There is some background noise that can be picked up if it’s loud enough, but a handy mic tone dial on the headset adds some ability to pick that up if you can tolerate hearing yourself – which I cannot.
Synapse remains a barrier for Razer making the most of products.
It’s when trying to get a bit more particular with settings that some problems arise. Razer’s Synapse application has improved over time compared to the days of being actively malware. Even so, it’s not the lightest running application and takes a bit of time to set up. That’s if the software is helpful at all.
Synapse does have some Mac support, but the devices covered are a slim amount of Razer’s overall product offerings, and this headset is not one of them. Sure, macOS is not a common platform for gamers, so it makes some sense not to prioritize the platform. At the same time, Mac support is advertised. The headset works natively – and without any difference in audio or connectivity – but if Synapse isn’t that important, why push it at all?
On Windows, Synapse is unsurprisingly much more robust. Here, I could make custom adjustments or use alternate presets without friction. However, the promised 7.1 Surround Sound functionality that requires device registration with a Razer account never seemed to function for me. There may be some troubleshooting to do, but the base Synapse offerings have been sufficient for most games.
Another advertised supported platform also eluded my full testing: mobile. The BlackShark V3 X HyperSpeed Charizard Edition does promise support for mobile devices, and Razer even offers a companion app called Razer Audio to go with it. Unfortunately, during my time using the headset for review, the app did not have support for this particular edition. At the time of writing, the Razer Audio app has been updated to support this Charizard edition.
As an alternative, I did successfully finagle the headset to connect to my phone via direct Bluetooth connection. Once I did, the headset behaved as any other would, even being able to connect to both my phone over Bluetooth and my computer via the adapter simultaneously. This way, the headset could notify me of a phone call while audio played from another device. It’s a really convenient function for when I am deep in focus playing a game.
I put away my five-year-old Logitech Pro X wireless headset to test out the BlackShark V3 X HyperSpeed Charizard Edition in my daily life, not just for games. That meant wearing the headset for sometimes hours at a time on calls or just throwing some Twitch on in the background while plugging along on tasks.
That Pro X has served me well, but this Charizard headset’s ear cup design affords just a bit more comfort over an extended period of time. Stepping away – I’m one of those guys who paces during calls – was also easier without audio disruption.
The BlackShark V3 X HyperSpeed Charizard Edition wireless headset’s battery life is simply amazing.
The real highlight, and the crowning achievement of the BlackShark V3 X HyperSpeed Charizard Edition, is the battery life. Razer touts up to 70 hours using the headset with the adapter connection, and my tests bear that out.
So far, I’ve only recharged this headset one time since receiving it. By comparison, that Logitech Pro X only rates at 20 hours. That’s a huge difference, especially for use both as a conferencing headset and for gaming. A long call won’t necessarily punish me when the time comes to switch over to games.
While the performance really excels, there are some sour spots. Instead of using the band to adjust the ear cups, the BlackShark V3 X HyperSpeed has a plastic and metal piston that glides smoothly but could be susceptible to bending.
This also means the actual connectivity of the cups to the rest of the headset is one braided cable running between the cup and the band, with just enough slack to compensate for the cups being adjusted all the way down. I haven’t had any issues so far, but this design makes me paranoid that some sort of issue, be it damage or a short, presents itself after long-term use.
Also, this is definitely a nitpick; it is disappointing that there’s no kind of case included. The Charizard Edition already has a price increase over the base BlackShark V3 X HyperSpeed, and both advertise mobile support. The instinct to try to protect the headset when on the go is a reasonable one. It’s not a deal breaker, but it is a noticeable omission for a premium product. That premium does get Pokémon fans a quality headset that will meet whatever you throw at it.
The Razer BlackShark V3 X HyperSpeed Charizard Edition is worthy of the iconic Pokémon it is adorned with and will face any challenge in its path. Compared to other headsets in its price range, this one is absolutely worth the splurge to wear Pokémon Red Version’s iconic mascot on your ears.
