If Sony's new Inzone headset isn't cutesy enough for you, Razer has just the thing. Today, the flashy gaming brand unveiled the Kraken Kitty V3 Pro, a new version of its iconic (and Beyoncé-approved) cat-ear headset.
The updated Kraken Kitty features several subtle changes to its design and connectivity, new features designed with streamers in mind, plus a $20 cheaper price tag.
The Razer Kraken Kitty V3 Pro retails for $179.99 in Black, White, and Quartz (pink), and it's available now at Amazon, Best Buy, and Razer's website. It works with PC, Mac, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and mobile devices; a Razer rep confirmed that it's not licensed for Xbox consoles. Razer also released a more affordable version of the cat ears gaming headset, the Kraken Kitty V3 X, for $59.99.
Mashable has been testing the new V3 Pro headset, and we'll have more to share soon.
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What's new with the Kraken Kitty V3 Pro?
This is the third iteration of the streamer-favorite Kraken Kitty Pro, which Razer debuted in 2019 and upgraded in 2022 with swappable ear shapes. This time around, Razer has committed to pointy cat ears and slimmed the shape of the cups by a few millimeters for a more polished look. It's also put the cups on a swivel for a more comfortable fit and a better seal. They don't have noise cancellation, but they should fit flush enough against your head to block a lot of surrounding noise.
The Kraken Kitty V3 Pro's cups are now made with memory foam and a protein "leatherette" that's easier to wipe down than the previous version's half-fabric, half-leatherette material.
The sides of the cups have nine-zone Chroma RGB lighting that can produce pulsing and swirling effects, a feature adopted from Razer's standard (non-Kitty) Kraken line. The lighting effects are reactive, meaning they can sync with in-game action — if you take damage, for example, the ears will flash red. (This currently works with over 300 titles.)
The user can also customize the headset's cups to flash certain colors and patterns in accordance with Twitch chat alerts; a new sub might mean a ripple of rainbow.
The Kraken Kitty V3 Pro has 40mm drivers inside, a slight downgrade from the $199.99 Kraken Kitty V2 Pro's 50mm drivers. However, it brings added support for advanced THX Spatial Audio (instead of simulated surround sound) for a more immersive experience.
The mic on the Kraken Kitty V3 Pro is now retractable, and it fits completely flush inside the left ear cup when it's not in use.
The Kraken Kitty V2 Pro was limited to wired play, but its successor now supports two wireless modes: Bluetooth and Razer HyperSpeed, some proprietary tech that's said to be faster. (It works with a USB-C dongle.) You can press a button on its right ear cup to toggle between both wireless modes.
Razer has the Kraken Kitty V3 Pro rated at up to 70 hours of battery life sans Chroma effects, and up to 20 hours per charge with all of its lighting on. It comes with a detachable USB-A to USB-C cable so you can still play it in wired mode, and the headset will also charge at the same time.
The Kraken Kitty family grows
Razer is further expanding the Kraken Kitty lineup with the launch of the new Kraken Kitty V3 X, which has a lighter wired design with 40mm drivers and surround sound. It doesn't come with the V3 Pro's swiveling cups, Chroma RGB lighting, or retractable mic, but at $59.99, it's a significantly cheaper entry point.
Razer will continue to sell the 2023 Kraken Kitty V2 BT, a $99.99 wireless cat-ear headset with Chroma RGB, as a mid-range option.
