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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you are looking for a budget-friendly option with the convenience of being wireless and having a compact design, the Apple Earpods are a good choice; they are great for casual listening and taking calls on the go. However, if you're after a more immersive sound experience with better bass and sound isolation for gaming or enjoying music, and you don’t mind a bulkier design with wires, the Razer Kraken can be worth the extra cost. Keep in mind that the Kraken, with its built-in microphone and comfort designed for longer use, is more suited for gamers or those spending long periods wearing headphones. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Apple Earpods
- Very good for phone calls
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Razer Kraken
- The Razer Kraken has no clear advantages over the Apple Earpods.
Key differences
Music
7.8
7.1
The Apple Earpods and Razer Kraken are both good for music, though the Apple Earpods is somewhat better.
Phone Calls
8.0
5.5
The Apple Earpods is very good for phone calls, while the Razer Kraken is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.4
4.7
The Apple Earpods is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Razer Kraken is poor.
Noise Reduction
2.5
6.5
The Razer Kraken is only fair for noise reduction, while the Apple Earpods is poor.
Cost
$20
$50
$0
$10
$20
$30
$40
$50
The Apple Earpods has a price of $20 and the Razer Kraken costs $50.
Build Quality
7.6
8.5
The Razer Kraken has very good build quality, while the Apple Earpods has good build quality.
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Key similarities
Gaming
8.3
8.3
The Apple Earpods and Razer Kraken are both very good for gaming.
TV and Video
7.4
7.4
The Apple Earpods and Razer Kraken are both good for TV and video.
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How the Apple Earpods and the Razer Kraken compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple Earpods | Razer Kraken |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$20 | $50 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Apple | Razer | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2012 | March 1, 2019 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.9/10 | 7.1/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 8/10 | 5.5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 8.4/10 | 8.4/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 7.4/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.1/10 | 4.2/10 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | N/A | No | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 8.3/10 | 9/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 7.6/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Small | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 6.5 Grams | 322 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | In-Line | Boom | |
Shopping
Apple Earpods
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Dig into reviews and images
CNN Underscored
Michael Andronico | May 2023
"Apple’s wired buds sound just fine for the price, and their handy inline controls and clear microphone give them an edge on wireless earbuds that are much more expensive. Plus, you never have to worry about running out of battery — or worse, a stray earbud going missing."
Razer Kraken
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Dig into reviews and images
PC Gamer
Rob Dwiar | March 2019
"Generally the Kraken is a very comfortable headset and there’s nothing that really identifies it as anything else. All in, the Kraken performed exactly as I’d expect a premium, designated gaming headset to perform: performing well in game audio, though not quite with the same quality of those headsets further up the price scale."
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About Apple
Apple Inc. is an American technology company, founded in 1976, known for its wide range of premium products, including smartphones, computers, and audio solutions. Apple offers the very popular personal audio line AirPods, highly regarded for their wireless, smart capabilities and their seamless integration with the iPhone, iPad and Mac devices. They provide a high-quality sound, comfort and lifestyle features perfect for all users invested in their ecosystem.
About Razer
Razer is an American-Singaporean hardware manufacturer aimed specifically toward the gaming market. They manufacture a very wide array of gaming laptops, tablets, phones, peripherals and, of course, headphones and earbuds both wired and wireless. Since 2016, Razer has owned the THX suite, aimed at quality assurance of audiovisual systems such as speaker sets, video game consoles and even movie theaters.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Luis Torres
Earbuds and Headphones Expert
Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.
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