We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-04 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a flight-ready gaming headset with a retractable boom mic, a convertible USB-C/USB-A cable and virtual 7.1 surround tuning, choose Razer Kraken V4; if you need a lightweight wired set with a removable mic, a 3.5 mm jack and bigger 50 mm drivers for the money, choose ZaryMax Gaming Headset. Both are wired over-ear headsets built around one job: giving you headphones with mic that you can actually pack for a flight and still use at your desk when you land.
• Razer Kraken V4 — biggest strength: a retractable HyperClear cardioid mic plus a convertible USB-C to USB-A cable, so one headset covers PC, Mac, PS5, Switch 2, Steam Deck and phones.
• Razer Kraken V4 — biggest trade-off: it's wired and on the heavier side (listed at 0.63 kg), and the mic only works over USB-C/USB-A — there's no 3.5 mm fallback.
• ZaryMax Gaming Headset — biggest strength: 50 mm dynamic drivers, a detachable boom mic and a 3.5 mm jack that plugs into nearly anything with a headphone port.
• ZaryMax Gaming Headset — biggest trade-off: no USB-C audio path for the mic, no surround software control, and a shorter 1-year warranty.
• Pick Razer Kraken V4 if you want the cleaner travel setup for flights and a mic you can tuck away.
• Pick ZaryMax Gaming Headset if you want a lighter, simpler plug-in set with a mic you can remove entirely.
The Kraken V4 X is the more polished traveling companion of the two. The retractable HyperClear cardioid microphone is the headline for me: a cardioid pickup pattern is designed to favor your voice over room noise, and because it retracts into the housing, you're not leaving a boom sticking out of your bag between flights. That's a genuinely useful detail if you use a headset on a plane and then walk straight into a hotel room and a Discord call.
On the audio side, Razer's TriForce 40 mm drivers use a three-part driver design that separates highs, mids and lows rather than pushing everything through one diaphragm. The listed tuning runs 20 Hz to 20 kHz with 32 ohm impedance and 96 dB sensitivity, which is an easy load for a laptop, a handheld or a phone. Virtual 7.1 surround sound is handled through the app, so your positional audio is adjustable rather than fixed. The hybrid fabric-and-leatherette memory foam cushions are the part I'd care about most on a long flight: fabric against your ear, leatherette outside for isolation.
Who should buy it: someone who wants one headset for a gaming laptop, a console and a phone, who values a mic that disappears when it's not needed, and who wants app-level control over sound. Who should skip it: anyone who needs a 3.5 mm jack for an older controller, a dedicated MP3 player or an in-flight seat-back screen, and anyone who wants the lightest possible set on their head for hours.
The ZaryMax is the straightforward option, and it leans on two things: driver size and flexibility. Its 50 mm dynamic drivers are physically larger than the Kraken's 40 mm units, which in practice usually means more low-end weight and a bigger sense of space — useful for footsteps, explosions and the general rumble that makes a game feel physical. The virtual 7.1 surround processing is tuned for directional cues, which is exactly what you want in FPS and battle royale.
The mic here is a flexible boom that's also detachable, not retractable. That's a different philosophy: you get more freedom to position it, and you can pull it off completely for music or movies. The trade-off is that a detached mic is a small part you have to keep track of in a bag. Comfort is handled by soft, breathable over-ear cushions and a memory foam headband, and the construction is described as lightweight — a real plus if you're wearing it gate-to-gate.
Connectivity is where it splits from Razer: this is a 3.5 mm wired headset. That's an advantage on anything with a headphone jack — laptops, desktops, tablets, phones, a TV, even a seat-back entertainment system — and it means no dongle, no adapter, no app. Who should buy it: someone who wants a simple plug-and-play set with a removable mic, larger drivers and a light feel. Who should skip it: anyone who wants USB-C digital audio, app-based surround control, or a longer warranty.
• Best for flights → Razer Kraken V4. The retractable mic and convertible USB-C/USB-A cable make it the tidier travel kit; nothing dangles and nothing gets lost.
• Best for older gear and seat-back screens → ZaryMax Gaming Headset. The 3.5 mm jack plugs into things that simply don't accept USB audio.
• Best for bass and big-driver impact → ZaryMax Gaming Headset. 50 mm dynamic drivers vs 40 mm TriForce drivers on paper.
• Best clarity and separation across the range → Razer Kraken V4. The three-part driver design and 7.1 app tuning are aimed at keeping mids and highs from smearing.
• Best for mic convenience → Razer Kraken V4. Retracting beats detaching if you don't want to babysit a loose part.
• Best for mic versatility of placement → ZaryMax Gaming Headset. A flexible boom you can angle, and remove entirely when you're not talking.
• Best for multi-platform in one cable → Razer Kraken V4. PC, Mac, PS5, Switch 2, Steam Deck, ROG Ally and phones via the Type C/A adapter.
• Best for comfort on a budget-minded long session → ZaryMax Gaming Headset. Lightweight build plus a memory foam headband tuned to reduce pressure.
• Best warranty coverage → Razer Kraken V4. Two years versus one.
If I were buying for flights, I'd take the Razer Kraken V4. The retractable cardioid mic and the single convertible cable solve the two things that actually annoy me while traveling: a boom poking out of my bag and an adapter I forgot at home. The memory foam hybrid cushions and app-controlled 7.1 round out a headset that feels thought-through for plane-to-desk use. The ZaryMax Gaming Headset is the one I'd recommend to someone who wants bigger drivers, a lighter frame and a jack that fits everything — genuinely the more flexible connection, just less tidy in transit. Check the current price on Amazon for both before you commit, since that's the one variable I can't speak to.
Plug the headset in, then select it as both the output and input device in your system sound settings. The Razer Kraken V4 connects over USB-C or USB-A and is listed for PC and Mac; the ZaryMax Gaming Headset uses a 3.5 mm jack, so a desktop with separate mic and headphone ports may need a splitter.
For the Kraken V4, connect the USB-C end to your PC, or use the included Type C to Type A adapter for a standard USB port. For the ZaryMax, plug the 3.5 mm jack into the combined headphone/mic port. The Kraken V4's mic is retractable and built in; the ZaryMax's boom mic detaches, so make sure it's seated before you join a call.
The Kraken V4 is listed for phones via its USB-C connection, which is what most modern handsets use. The ZaryMax Gaming Headset works with cellphones through its 3.5 mm jack, provided your phone still has that port or you use an adapter. In both cases, pick the headset as the audio device once it's plugged in.
Play a track or a game and confirm both earcups produce sound, then open your system's input meter or a voice recorder and speak into the mic to check the level. The Kraken V4's cardioid mic is designed to favor voice over background noise, while the ZaryMax's flexible boom can be repositioned until your level looks consistent.
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