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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you’re looking for affordability and primarily use your headphones for gaming or at home activities, the Razer Kraken offers good sound quality and a superior microphone, making it suitable for voice chat while gaming. However, they are not portable and lack wireless capabilities. The Sony WF1000XM5, despite being more expensive, provides excellent sound quality with the added benefits of active noise cancelling and true wireless freedom, making them ideal for commuting and air travel. They also have a more compact form with a convenient carry case, and they support an app that allows for sound customization. If you're often on the move or need to block out ambient noise, the Sonys are the better choice, while the Razers are solid for home use and saving money. 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 Razer Kraken
- Very good for gaming
- Good for TV and video
Advantages of the Sony WF1000XM5
- Very good for music
- Very good for air travel
Key differences
Music
7.1
8.0
The Sony WF1000XM5 is very good for music, while the Razer Kraken is good.
Gaming
8.3
5.1
The Razer Kraken is very good for gaming, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is poor.
Phone Calls
5.5
5.0
The Razer Kraken and Sony WF1000XM5 are both poor for phone calls, though the Razer Kraken is somewhat better.
TV and Video
7.4
5.4
The Razer Kraken is good for TV and video, while the Sony WF1000XM5 is poor.
Noise Reduction
6.5
8.7
The Sony WF1000XM5 is very good for noise reduction, while the Razer Kraken is only fair.
Battery
N/A
9.0 Hours
The Razer Kraken does not have a battery. The Sony WF1000XM5 has 9 hours of battery life.
Cost
$50
$298
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The Razer Kraken has a price of $50 and the Sony WF1000XM5 costs $298.
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Key similarities
Podcasts and Audiobooks
4.7
4.9
The Sony WF1000XM5 and Razer Kraken are both poor for podcasts and audiobooks.
Build Quality
8.5
8.5
The Razer Kraken and Sony WF1000XM5 both have very good build quality.
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How the Razer Kraken and the Sony WF1000XM5 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Razer Kraken | Sony WF1000XM5 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$50 | $298 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Razer | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2019 | July 1, 2023 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.1/10 | 8.1/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.5/10 | 5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 8.4/10 | 5.2/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 7.4/10 | 5.5/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.2/10 | 6.2/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | N/A | 9 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | N/A | Yes | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | N/A | 1.5 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | N/A | 5.3 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | N/A | 18 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 6.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | N/A | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | N/A | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 9/10 | 6.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Medium | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 322 Grams | 6 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Boom | Integrated | |
Shopping
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."
Sony WF1000XM5
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Sound Guys
Harley Maranan | July 2023
"The Sony WF-1000XM5 is among the best noise canceling earbuds currently on the market, and they aren’t cheap. These earbuds aren’t the best choice for budget-conscious listeners. But if you prioritize active noise cancelation, sound quality, and extensive software support, the WF-1000XM5 is worth its premium price tag."
Get a great deal on the Razer Kraken or the Sony WF1000XM5
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.
About Sony
Sony is a multinational corporation, based out of Japan, with over 75 years of experience in the consumer electronics industry. In the audio market, Sony has been a trendsetter several times throughout its history. In 1979 they released the first-ever portable music player, the Sony Walkman, followed by the Discman 20 years later. Today, Sony is one of the leaders in the wireless headphone and earbud market, especially in terms of Active Noise Cancellation technology.
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Why trust us
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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