We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-28 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a wired, low-hassle gaming headset that works across PC, console and handheld with zero charging and a mic you can tuck away, choose Razer Kraken V4; if you need wireless freedom, long battery life and a detachable mic that doubles as an everyday headphone, choose AOC 2.4GHz.
• Razer Kraken V4 biggest strength: Wired USB-C with a Type A adapter, so it works on PC, Mac, PS5, Switch and handhelds without charging or pairing — and the retractable cardioid mic is always there when you need it.
• Razer Kraken V4 biggest trade-off: It's a wired headset only, so you're tethered to your device and there's no Bluetooth or battery-powered mode.
• AOC 2.4GHz biggest strength: Three ways to connect (2.4GHz USB dongle, Bluetooth 6.0, and a 3.5mm cable) plus up to 45 hours of battery, so it covers console gaming and everyday listening in one product.
• AOC 2.4GHz biggest trade-off: Wireless modes don't work on Xbox, and PS5/PS4 won't do Bluetooth audio — you have to use the dongle or the cable, which trips people up.
• Pick Razer Kraken V4 if you want a plug-in-and-play wired headset for long gaming sessions with no battery anxiety.
• Pick AOC 2.4GHz if you want one headset that goes from PS5 to your phone to your commute, with a mic you can pop off when you're not talking.
The Kraken V4 is built around a simple idea: plug in, and everything just works. It uses a convertible USB-C to USB-A cable, so the same headset connects to a PC, a Mac, a PS5, a Nintendo Switch, a Steam Deck or an ROG Ally. There's no dongle to lose, no pairing menu to fight with, and no battery meter to watch. For someone who games at a desk and hates managing charge cycles, that's a genuinely appealing design choice.
The audio side leans on Razer's patented TriForce 40mm drivers, a three-part driver design meant to keep highs, mids and lows from smearing into each other. Razer also lists 7.1 surround sound, which is the kind of feature that matters most in shooters and open-world games where you want to place footsteps and gunfire directionally. The mic is a retractable HyperClear cardioid unit — cardioid pickup patterns favor the voice directly in front of the mic and reject more of the room, and the retractable design means you can slide it back into the housing when you're just listening. Comfort is handled by hybrid fabric and leatherette memory foam cushions with close-fitting earcups, which Razer positions around sound isolation and long sessions.
AOC 2.4GHz: Who It's For
The AOC 2.4GHz headset is the opposite philosophy: it wants to be the only headphone you own. It ships with three connection paths — a 2.4GHz USB dongle, Bluetooth 6.0, and a 3.5mm audio cable. The dongle is the gaming path, and AOC rates it at 20ms or less of latency, which is the number that matters when you're trying to sync audio to what's happening on screen. Tuned 50mm drivers are larger than the Kraken's 40mm units, and AOC frames them around clear footstep, reload and dialogue audio for FPS and open-world titles. The closed over-ear design is there to keep you focused rather than to leak sound into the room.
The mic here is detachable and omni-directional with noise canceling, and AOC explicitly calls out busy environments — dorm rooms, shared living rooms — where background noise would otherwise bleed into voice chat. The flexible boom adjusts to your preferred angle, and pulling the mic off turns the headset into a normal pair of over-ear headphones for commuting or music at home. Battery life is the headline: up to 45 hours, dropping to about 20 hours with the RGB lighting on, with a 3-hour charge time. Comfort is addressed with memory-protein earmuffs and an extended adjustable headband that AOC says suits eyeglass wearers for 8+ hours.
Who should buy it: PS5, PS4, PC, Mac and Switch players who want wireless gaming audio, plus anyone who wants one headset for gaming and daily listening. Who should skip it: Xbox owners, because AOC states plainly that this headset doesn't work wirelessly or over Bluetooth on Xbox — you'd be limited to the 3.5mm cable through the controller. Also skip it if you expect Bluetooth to work on PlayStation; AOC is upfront that PS5 and PS4 don't support Bluetooth headset audio here, so the dongle is mandatory for wireless on those consoles.
• Best for zero charging hassle → Razer Kraken V4. Wired USB-C means it never dies mid-session.
• Best for battery life → AOC 2.4GHz. Up to 45 hours, or roughly 20 with RGB on, versus no battery at all on the Razer.
• Best for multi-device flexibility → AOC 2.4GHz. Dongle, Bluetooth 6.0 and 3.5mm cable cover consoles, phones, tablets and everyday listening.
• Best for a mic you can't lose → Razer Kraken V4. The retractable cardioid mic is built in and always available.
• Best for a mic you can remove → AOC 2.4GHz. The detachable boom comes off so the headset passes as normal headphones in public.
• Best for Xbox owners → Razer Kraken V4. The AOC's wireless and Bluetooth modes don't work on Xbox; the Razer's wired connection sidesteps that entirely.
• Best for long-session comfort builds → both, differently. Razer uses hybrid fabric and leatherette memory foam; AOC uses memory-protein earmuffs with an extended headband aimed at eyeglass wearers.
• Best for competitive low-latency wireless → AOC 2.4GHz. Its 2.4GHz dongle is rated at 20ms or less, which is the whole point of the dongle over Bluetooth.
In my opinion, the AOC 2.4GHz is the more versatile buy for most people, because one headset covering PS5, PC, Switch, phone and commute is hard to argue with — provided you're not on Xbox and you accept that PlayStation wireless means the dongle, not Bluetooth. I'd pick the Razer Kraken V4 instead if you're a desk player who wants a wired connection that never needs charging, a mic that's always attached, and platform-agnostic USB-C plug-and-play. Decide which of those two lifestyles sounds more like yours, then check the current price on Amazon before you commit.
how to connect headphones with mic on pc
On the Razer Kraken V4, connect the USB-C end to your PC or use the included USB-C to USB-A adapter, and it appears as a USB audio device. On the AOC 2.4GHz, plug the 2.4GHz USB dongle into your PC for low-latency wireless, or use Bluetooth 6.0, or the 3.5mm cable. AOC notes that if the mic isn't detected, the detachable mic must be fully seated, mute must be off, and the PC input device must be set to the headset.
how to use headphones with mic on phone
The Razer Kraken V4 connects over its USB-C cable, so it suits phones with a USB-C port. The AOC 2.4GHz is the more natural phone option: switch it to Bluetooth 6.0 mode for calls and music, since its 2.4GHz dongle is intended for consoles and computers. Both use their built-in mics, so no extra hardware is needed.
how to use headphones with mic on ps5
For the AOC 2.4GHz, use the 2.4GHz USB dongle — AOC states PS5 does not support Bluetooth audio for this model, so Bluetooth mode won't work for game audio or chat. The Razer Kraken V4 connects to PS5 over its USB-C cable. On either headset, set the PS5 input device to the headset if the mic isn't picked up.
how to test headphones with mic
Play a game or a voice clip and listen for clean separation of highs, mids and lows, then record a short voice memo to check mic pickup. On the Razer Kraken V4, extend the retractable cardioid mic toward your mouth for better voice capture. On the AOC 2.4GHz, insert the detachable mic firmly, confirm mute is off, and angle the flexible boom toward your mouth.
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