Last time I wrote about the Razer Hammerhead V3 X Hyperspeed earbuds, they replaced my Samsung earbuds with them. Now, I’m back to talk about the Kuromi Edition of the Hammerhead V3S and how it’s replacing my Labubu, at least when I won’t be out for too long.
The Kuromi buds are just as good as their matte-black, less-cute predecessor. It offers almost the same feature set as its counterpart, minus the dongle for a better connection. That said, the gaming-grade 2.4 GHz wireless audio delivers no drop in quality across platforms (compatible with mobile, PC, PlayStation 5, Switch 2, and Steam Deck).
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The THX Spatial Audio, which offers 7.1.4 surround sound, holds up on PC. In fact, I used these earbuds while playing Phantom Blade Zero, and they didn’t skip a beat or lose anything you’d expect from a full headset.
Additionally, the IPX4-rated design offers water resistance, making it easy to choose while you’re working out or even if you’re clumsy. The earbud design isn’t just for practicality. The earbuds themselves are a lilac color that matches the Kuromi-inspired case; the earbuds also feature small skulls that are synonymous with the Sanrio character.
The Razer Hammerhead V3 X HyperSpeed – Kuromi Edition puts cuteness first.
The HyperSpeed Case doubles as a wireless receiver and charging case, while Razer SmartSwitch moves seamlessly between 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth devices based on how you connect the earbuds; with 2.4 GHz, you connect the case to your device via USB-C. That said, switching between the two didn’t cause a noticeable drop in quality for me, so I ended up using the Kuromi Hammerhead earbuds over Bluetooth more often than not.
Using Bluetooth also makes the most sense with what the Kuromi Edition Hammerhead V3 X Hyperspeed earbuds are doing in my life. They stay in my purse while I wait in line for early voting, hang on my backpack while I wait to board my plane at an airport bar, and are there for any other time you’d go, “oh, let me put my earbuds in.”
While the case is large, making it hard to be discreet, its design includes a keyring that fits the included carabiner to clip on the Kuromi earbuds. This also makes adding the case to your bag (of any kind) feel as natural as adding any other bag charm. In fact, while traveling last weekend with the Hammerhead V3 X Hyperspeed – Kuromi Edition, I got compliments on my Kuromi plush. Only, it wasn’t a plush bag charm; it was my headphone case.
The Kuromi Hammerhead V3 X HyperSpeed earbuds case is right at home on any bag.
The Kuromi earbuds case is really why you should add it to your cart. It’s an accessory that feels natural, and the silicone design makes it extremely easy to clean. Whether it’s a bit of dirt from a drop, makeup residue from tossing it into a bag, or the contents we all pretend don’t exist in airplane seat pockets, the case cleans easily. Additionally, the case is durable, with the tips of Kuromi’s ears surprisingly sturdy.
With 35 hours of total battery, they’re an easy peripheral to set and forget, depending on how much you use them. After two travel days (each about eight hours), the Hammerhead V3 X Hyperspeed – Kuromi Edition still didn’t need a charge.
Instead, the promised battery life between the charge held in the case and the earbuds themselves isn’t anything to scoff at. That was the primary comparison point I needed to verify, given how much I have been using my non-licensed Hammerhead V3 earbuds. And the Kuromi Edition does what it says on the tin.
Additionally, the Razer Hammerhead V3 X Hyperspeed – Kuromi Edition earbuds also have full touch controls to pause, skip, and switch audio sources with just a tap. They also detect movement and automatically pause what you’re listening to if you remove one. The small LED light also shows whether the earbuds are charged, paired, or receiving alerts.
The Kuromi earbuds are beautiful, but they’re surprisingly practical too.
As a small complaint, the microphone on the earbuds isn’t sensitive enough, or it is actively canceling background noise too much to pick up your voice at about the loudness you would be in a public space. With other earbuds, like my old Samsungs, in crowded airports, I never had an issue speaking loud enough for someone on the other end to hear me. Even the Kraken Kitty V3 Pro has no problem. But like its predecessor, this one is hard to use for calls unless it’s mostly quiet or you’re projecting your voice.
But there is a major flaw with my beloved Kuromi earbuds: they don’t stay closed. Now, to set the scene, any time I’ve been out with my new cute earbuds for short periods of time that involved a lot of quick movement (think of them on my purse at the grocery store or waiting in line), the case opening hasn’t been a problem.
However, while traveling, with the case on my backpack strap (the one that sits over my shoulder), rushing through a terminal at even a brisk pace meant that, with my other luggage, needing to maneuver around people would make the case open. Kuromi’s long ears make the case easy to open, and when it’s purposeful, that’s refreshing given the awkward design of its predecessor. But it’s not always intentional.
The Kuromi case, while one of my favorite things, easily gets snagged on things and pops right open. The case itself is sealed with what I believe is a magnetic closure that, while relatively strong, the ear situation makes it difficult to withstand getting knocked as you try to get to your gate.
To its credit, though, it has opened about a total of 14 times. The earbuds themselves didn’t tumble out. To check this, I even replicated it. And by replicated it, I mean that I opened the case and shook it hard upside down to see if the earbuds would, well, budge. And they didn’t.
The Razer Hammerhead V3 X HyperSpeed – Kuromi Edition should be at the top of your Holiday gift list.
A completely surprising act of magnetism, the same little bit of pull that gives you the satisfying dopamine hit of the slight click as your earbud goes into the case correctly is also strong enough to keep the earbuds in place even when the case is open. And, given how the case hangs, with the keychain hole on its base, the earbuds are dangling in a position that you think would make falling out easy.
Overall, the Kuromi Edition earbuds are a surprising find, especially given how much the case passes off as a bag charm. Additionally, the Kuromi earbuds also highlight a general drawback of the Hammerhead V3: the lack of first-party cases.
For my other pair of plain Hammerhead V3, I had to buy a third-party case off of Amazon, and its questionable quality made it an easy one to return. If this is a proof of concept for standalone cases, I hope Razer finds it worth fulfilling.
Not much about the hardware on the Kuromi earbuds differs from the regular Hammerhead V3 X Hyperspeed earbuds. Still, the case design alone makes it worth picking up, and without the pink tax affecting quality, it should be at the top of the list for holiday shopping.
The Hammerhead V3 X Hyperspeed – Kuromi Edition is available now from Razer’s website.
