Razer Kraken X Ultralight vs SteelSeries Tusq Gaming Earphones at a Glance
• Razer Kraken X Ultralight: Over-ear fit, 250-gram weight, 40 mm drivers, and headset-mounted volume and mute controls; trade-off: it is a wired headset, not a compact in-ear option.
• SteelSeries Tusq Gaming Earphones: In-ear fit with three ear-cap options, ear hooks, and a detachable boom mic; trade-off: its cable is 1.2 meters long and it is not described as water-resistant.
• Choose Razer if you want an over-ear design for longer gaming sessions and a bendable microphone.
• Choose SteelSeries if you want a smaller wired setup with earphones that hook around your ears.
• For swimming: Neither sheet lists water protection, so neither is a suitable choice for use in a pool.
The Kraken X is the more conventional gaming headset in this matchup. It uses an over-ear design and weighs 250 grams, so its main appeal is a full headset that is intended to feel light during extended play. The aluminum frame is described as flexible, and the adjustable headband slider helps accommodate different head shapes. For someone who spends a long evening at a PC or console, that combination is more relevant than simply choosing the smallest device.
Its 40 mm dynamic drivers are tuned for gaming, and software-enabled 7.1 surround sound is available for PC gaming only. That limitation matters: the surround feature should not be assumed to work across every connected device. The headset also has a bendable cardioid microphone designed to focus more on the speaker’s voice and reduce sound arriving from the sides and rear. A volume wheel and mic-mute switch sit on the headset, making quick adjustments possible without reaching for a separate controller.
The Kraken X connects through a 3.5 mm jack and is listed for PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and mobile devices. An extension splitter cable is also described for setups with separate audio and microphone ports. Its over-ear shape, leatherette material, and indented channels for glasses are useful fit details, though personal comfort will still depend on head shape and preference. Skip it if you specifically want in-ear earphones, a wireless connection, or a product documented for swimming.
The Tusq takes the opposite approach: it is an in-ear gaming option, not a headset with cups around the ears. Its ear hooks are intended to help hold the earphones in place, while three types of replaceable ear caps give buyers options for matching their ear size. That makes it a practical form factor for someone who finds an over-ear headset too bulky or prefers a lighter-looking setup around the head.
For voice chat, the Tusq pairs its detachable boom microphone with a second microphone in a dual-mic system. The boom can be removed when it is not needed, which gives the design some flexibility between chat-focused play and ordinary listening. It connects by a wired 3.5 mm jack, and the listed cable length is 1.2 meters. That is a concrete consideration if the device you use sits far from where you are seated.
The earphones are wired, with passive noise cancellation listed in the product information. Their in-ear fit may offer a more contained listening experience than open placement, but the sheet does not give an isolation rating or promise that outside sound will be blocked. Nor does it state any water-resistance feature. Skip the Tusq if you want cushioned over-ear cups, onboard headset volume and mute controls, or a swimming-specific device.
• Best fit for long gaming sessions in an over-ear design → Razer Kraken X Ultralight. It weighs 250 grams and uses adjustable headband hardware, plus an over-ear shape.
• Best fit if you prefer earphones over a headband → SteelSeries Tusq. It uses an in-ear design with hooks and three ear-cap options.
• Best for a bendable voice-chat mic → Razer Kraken X Ultralight. Its cardioid microphone is attached to the headset and is designed to reduce sound from the sides and rear.
• Best if you want a detachable boom mic → SteelSeries Tusq. Its boom microphone can be removed, and the system includes a second microphone.
• Best for PC-only virtual surround as a stated feature → Razer Kraken X Ultralight. Its 7.1 surround sound requires software and is specified for PC gaming only.
• Best if you want simple physical audio controls on the headset → Razer Kraken X Ultralight. It includes a volume wheel and mic-mute switch.
• Best for an ear-hook setup with replaceable tips → SteelSeries Tusq. Its three ear-cap types let you choose among fit options.
• Best for swimming → Neither. Neither product’s listed features establish water protection, so choose a device explicitly designed for water use instead.
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-18 · 15 min read · Independent comparison
The comparison is not really about one brand defeating the other across every category. Razer provides more detail about its headset’s frame, microphone pattern, controls, and PC surround feature. SteelSeries offers a different format with ear hooks and detachable microphone hardware. The right pick follows the way you want the device to sit and the kind of setup you use.
In my opinion, I would choose the Razer Kraken X Ultralight for gaming because the 250-gram over-ear design, bendable cardioid mic, and on-headset controls make a coherent everyday package. I would pick the Tusq instead if compact in-ear fit and a detachable boom mic matter more. For swimming, I would buy neither: the listed information does not establish that either product is safe for use in water.
Start with fit, not brand. The Kraken X rests over the ears and uses a headband, while the Tusq sits in the ears and uses hooks. If you wear glasses, Razer specifically describes indented channels intended to reduce pressure around eyewear. If you prefer to avoid a headband altogether, the SteelSeries shape is the more relevant one, though the fit depends on the ear caps and ear hooks working for you.
Think about where the microphone will be used. Razer’s attached, bendable cardioid mic is designed to reject some noise from the sides and back, and its mute switch is built into the headset. Tusq’s boom can be detached and is paired with a second microphone. Those are different conveniences: Razer gives you a fixed, adjustable gaming mic with quick mute access; SteelSeries gives you the option to remove the boom when you do not want it.
Your device and cable arrangement matter, too. Both products use a wired 3.5 mm connection. Razer lists broad console and mobile compatibility and includes a splitter cable for separate input and output ports. Tusq lists a 1.2-meter cable, so check whether that reach suits your seating and device placement. Razer’s virtual 7.1 feature is specifically limited to PC gaming and depends on software; it should not be the deciding feature if you mainly play on a console.
Finally, do not read “earphones” as “ready for water.” The Tusq’s in-ear shape may seem more convenient than a full headset for exercise or travel, but that does not establish water resistance. The Razer sheet likewise gives no swimming protection. Anyone searching for a best touch control bluetooth headset for swimming or rotatable ear cups neckband headphones for swimming should note the mismatch: these are wired gaming products, and neither has the stated Bluetooth or water-use features in those descriptions.
If the deciding factor is everyday gaming, compare the physical controls, microphone arrangement, and fit you would actually use. If your main need is pool listening, look for a product whose specifications explicitly cover water use rather than guessing from a compact shape or an ear-hook design.
The Kraken X is the clearer fit if you want an over-ear headset, headset-mounted volume and mute controls, and a bendable cardioid mic. The Tusq is a better match if you prefer in-ear earphones, ear hooks, and a detachable boom mic.
Neither product’s listed information specifies water resistance or swimming use. I would not use either as a swimming headset based on these details; choose a device explicitly designed for water use.
No. Both are listed as wired products with a 3.5 mm jack. The data does not describe Bluetooth connectivity for either one.
Razer specifically describes indented channels intended to relieve pressure for glasses-wearing gamers, along with an adjustable headband. SteelSeries instead uses in-ear tips and ear hooks; the sheet does not describe a glasses-specific feature, so fit preference is the deciding factor.
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If you want an over-ear gaming headset for comfortable sessions, choose Razer Kraken X Ultralight; if you need compact in-ear audio for swimming, choose SteelSeries Tusq Gaming Earphones. Neither product is specified as waterproof, so I would not treat either as a headphone for swimming in water. This SteelSeries vs Razer headset comparison comes down to fit and intended use: a lightweight headset with a boom mic, or wired earphones with an ear-hook design.
• Razer Kraken X Ultralight: Over-ear fit, 250-gram weight, 40 mm drivers, and headset-mounted volume and mute controls; trade-off: it is a wired headset, not a compact in-ear option.
• SteelSeries Tusq Gaming Earphones: In-ear fit with three ear-cap options, ear hooks, and a detachable boom mic; trade-off: its cable is 1.2 meters long and it is not described as water-resistant.
• Choose Razer if you want an over-ear design for longer gaming sessions and a bendable microphone.
• Choose SteelSeries if you want a smaller wired setup with earphones that hook around your ears.
• For swimming: Neither sheet lists water protection, so neither is a suitable choice for use in a pool.
The Kraken X is the more conventional gaming headset in this matchup. It uses an over-ear design and weighs 250 grams, so its main appeal is a full headset intended to feel light during extended play. The aluminum frame is described as flexible, and the adjustable headband slider helps accommodate different head shapes. For someone who spends a long evening at a PC or console, that combination is more relevant than simply choosing the smallest device.
Its 40 mm dynamic drivers are tuned for gaming, and software-enabled 7.1 surround sound is available for PC gaming only. That limitation matters: the surround feature should not be assumed to work across every connected device. The headset also has a bendable cardioid microphone designed to focus more on the speaker’s voice and reduce sound arriving from the sides and rear. A volume wheel and mic-mute switch sit on the headset, making quick adjustments possible without reaching for a separate controller.
The Kraken X connects through a 3.5 mm jack and is listed for PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and mobile devices. An extension splitter cable is also described for setups with separate audio and microphone ports. Its over-ear shape, leatherette material, and indented channels for glasses are useful fit details, though personal comfort will still depend on head shape and preference. Skip it if you specifically want in-ear earphones, a wireless connection, or a product documented for swimming.
The Tusq takes the opposite approach: it is an in-ear gaming option, not a headset with cups around the ears. Its ear hooks are intended to help hold the earphones in place, while three types of replaceable ear caps give buyers options for matching their ear size. That makes it a practical form factor for someone who finds an over-ear headset too bulky or prefers a lighter-looking setup around the head.
For voice chat, the Tusq pairs its detachable boom microphone with a second microphone in a dual-mic system. The boom can be removed when it is not needed, which gives the design some flexibility between chat-focused play and ordinary listening. It connects by a wired 3.5 mm jack, and the listed cable length is 1.2 meters. That is a concrete consideration if the device you use sits far from where you are seated.
The earphones are wired, with passive noise cancellation listed in the product information. Their in-ear fit may offer a more contained listening experience than an over-ear design, but the sheet does not give an isolation rating or promise that outside sound will be blocked. Nor does it state any water-resistance feature. Skip the Tusq if you want cushioned over-ear cups, onboard headset volume and mute controls, or a swimming-specific device.
• Best fit for long gaming sessions in an over-ear design → Razer Kraken X Ultralight. It weighs 250 grams and uses adjustable headband hardware, along with an over-ear shape.
• Best fit if you prefer earphones over a headband → SteelSeries Tusq. It uses an in-ear design with hooks and three ear-cap options.
• Best for a bendable voice-chat mic → Razer Kraken X Ultralight. Its cardioid microphone is attached to the headset and is designed to reduce sound from the sides and rear.
• Best if you want a detachable boom mic → SteelSeries Tusq. Its boom microphone can be removed, and the system includes a second microphone.
• Best for PC-only virtual surround as a stated feature → Razer Kraken X Ultralight. Its 7.1 surround sound requires software and is specified for PC gaming only.
• Best if you want simple physical audio controls on the headset → Razer Kraken X Ultralight. It includes a volume wheel and mic-mute switch.
• Best for an ear-hook setup with replaceable tips → SteelSeries Tusq. Its three ear-cap types let you choose among fit options.
• Best for swimming → Neither. Neither product’s listed features establish water protection, so choose a device explicitly designed for water use instead.
The comparison is not really about one brand defeating the other across every category. Razer provides more detail about its headset’s frame, microphone pattern, controls, and PC surround feature. SteelSeries offers a different format with ear hooks and detachable microphone hardware. The right pick follows the way you want the device to sit and the kind of setup you use.
In my opinion, I would choose the Razer Kraken X Ultralight for gaming because the 250-gram over-ear design, bendable cardioid mic, and on-headset controls make a coherent everyday package. I would pick the Tusq instead if compact in-ear fit and a detachable boom mic matter more. For swimming, I would buy neither: the listed information does not establish that either product is safe for use in water.
Buying Considerations
Think about where the microphone will be used. Razer’s attached, bendable cardioid mic is designed to reject some noise from the sides and back, and its mute switch is built into the headset. Tusq’s boom can be detached and is paired with a second microphone. Those are different conveniences: Razer gives you a fixed, adjustable gaming mic with quick mute access; SteelSeries gives you the option to remove the boom when you do not want it.
Your device and cable arrangement matter, too. Both products use a wired 3.5 mm connection. Razer lists broad console and mobile compatibility and includes a splitter cable for separate input and output ports. Tusq lists a 1.2-meter cable, so check whether that reach suits your seating and device placement. Razer’s virtual 7.1 feature is specifically limited to PC gaming and depends on software; it should not be the deciding feature if you mainly play on a console.
Finally, do not read “earphones” as “ready for water.” The Tusq’s in-ear shape may seem more convenient than a full headset for exercise or travel, but that does not establish water resistance. The Razer sheet likewise gives no swimming protection. Anyone searching for a best touch control bluetooth headset for swimming or rotatable ear cups neckband headphones for swimming should note the mismatch: these are wired gaming products, and neither has the stated Bluetooth or water-use features in those descriptions.
If the deciding factor is everyday gaming, compare the physical controls, microphone arrangement, and fit you would actually use. If your main need is pool listening, look for a product whose specifications explicitly cover water use rather than guessing from a compact shape or an ear-hook design.
The Kraken X is the clearer fit if you want an over-ear headset, headset-mounted volume and mute controls, and a bendable cardioid mic. The Tusq is a better match if you prefer in-ear earphones, ear hooks, and a detachable boom mic.
Neither product’s listed information specifies water resistance or swimming use. I would not use either as a swimming headset based on these details; choose a device explicitly designed for water use.
No. Both are listed as wired products with a 3.5 mm jack. The data does not describe Bluetooth connectivity for either one.
Razer specifically describes indented channels intended to relieve pressure for glasses-wearing gamers, along with an adjustable headband. SteelSeries instead uses in-ear tips and ear hooks; the sheet does not describe a glasses-specific feature, so fit preference is the deciding factor.
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