Sometimes, gaming headset lineups get so packed with similar products that it’s no longer easy for customers to make a decision. I’ve leveled this particular criticism at HyperX over their absurdly massive Cloud Stinger lineup in the past, and now it’s Razer’s turn.

This week, Razer launched the Kraken “V3” X (official site here), which in spite of the name isn’t actually an update of the classic aluminum Razer Kraken series, but is in fact a revised version of the cheaper plastic Razer Kraken X. This new release gets a dramatic price bump up to $70, which puts it firmly out of the budget headset price range that the Kraken X used to occupy. It still uses the basic frame from the older X models, but has new drivers, a new microphone, new pads, and Razer Chroma lighting.

When I said “new” above, that wasn’t entirely true. The pads, mic, and drivers are all based on tech developed for the Razer BlackShark V2, an excellent headset lineup that essentially replaced the Kraken X in my mind. In fact, I’m surprised that Razer didn’t quietly retire the Kraken X in favor of the new BlackShark altogether. The one thing that makes the Kraken V3 X stick out compared to the BlackShark is the Chroma RGB lighting, but there’s no universe where that suddenly elevates this headset to being worth $70. You can get the same mic, ear pads, and bigger drivers inside a BlackShark V2 X for less money.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad that Razer isn’t letting the Kraken branding fade into obscurity. But I wish they had started with an update that put the TriForce sound system and better mic into the aluminum frame of the standard Krakens, instead of the cheaper X model. That’s a hypothetical product that would still make some amount of sense in today’s market, and among the rest of Razer’s lineup.

The Kraken X is supposed to be Razer’s cheapest and most basic headset, and those that want a step up should check out the BlackShark V2 X or the standard Kraken. This new Kraken V3 X nightmare is an amalgam of a premium price and recycled parts inside a frame originally designed to sell for a far lower price. Please don’t fall for this. Razer simply makes better headsets for a lower price. Sure, they don’t have RGB, but the excellent build, sound, comfort, and design of the standard Kraken and the BlackShark V2 X make both of them far better options.

When this was announced as the first headset to bear the “Kraken V3” moniker, I got paranoid that the old excellent aluminum Kraken V2 design might be permanently retired in favor of the cheaper Kraken X frame. So, I finally bought a Kraken Tournament Edition to review and own in my personal collection. It offers Razer’s best ear pads and a THX surround dongle for just $20 more than this ridiculous new headset, and sometimes goes on sale for cheaper! Look for that review to drop next week.

And if you must buy a new Kraken, wait and hope like me that these internal updates are also coming to the better frame. The Kraken V3 X is a completely unnecessary update and I can’t figure out who this is for or how it’s supposed to fit elegantly into Razer’s current product stack. It’s a stop gap measure that’s inflating the price of their budget headset in the quest to bring a “new” Kraken to the market at any cost.