Razer vs. SteelSeries: Which is Better?

Razer and SteelSeries are two of the most well-known peripheral computer manufacturers. They produce some of the most high-quality headsets, mice, and keyboards on the market. However, which one is better? Let’s take a quick look at Razer vs. SteelSeries, both as companies and we’ll look at individual products, to determine which is better for your needs.

Razer vs. SteelSeries: Side-By-Side Comparison

Affordable Without Compromising Speed

Razer DeathAdder V2 Pro Wireless Gaming Mouse

$69.03

• Focus plus 20K DPI Optical Sensor: Auto-calibrates and reduces cursor drift
• Extreme low-latency and interference reduction for true wireless freedom
• Customizable Chroma RGB Lighting supports 16.8 million colors w, included preset profiles; syncs with gameplay and Razer Chroma-enabled peripherals and Philips Hue products
• Enjoy up to 120 hours of battery life in Bluetooth mode, or up to 70 hours of ultra-fast performance when switching to HyperSpeed Wireless
• 88g Lightweight Design: Redesigned for better FPS gaming in the most iconic, ergonomic design on the market

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08/29/2023 01:44 am GMT

Razer vs. SteelSeries: What’s the Difference?

While Razer and SteelSeries are undoubtedly competitors, they’re also very different companies. It’s not just a matter of which product you buy; the whole company should be considered when upgrading your peripherals. Let’s take a look at the differences between Razer and SteelSeries in-depth.

Manufacturing Focus

One massive difference between Razer and SteelSeries is their manufacturing focus. SteelSeries specifically focuses on manufacturing gaming peripherals and hasn’t made much of an effort to expand its focus.

On the other hand, Razer has expanded into gaming PCs and heavier-duty peripherals like monitors. This change in manufacturing focus affects the quality and efficacy of its other products, as the company has begun doing market and technical research on new products that can help improve its existing product lines.

If you’re looking for the most cutting-edge designs and concepts, you’ll probably want to look at Razer, as their market research goes beyond that of SteelSeries in general. Razer’s additional market research into PCs and laptops allows them to deliver higher quality in both sectors.

Design Manifesto

Razer and SteelSeries also have different design manifestos that penetrate the designs of their products. SteelSeries has historically focused on producing minimalist, simple, functional designs. Conversely, Razer tends towards creating cutting-edge, hi-tech designs that catch your eye and have a striking, space-tech-esque appeal. If the look of you gear matters — and it’s totally valid if it does — you’ll want to make sure you picked a company that produces gear that matches your personal aesthetic.

Mouse Design

Razer and SteelSeries make mice, but they produce different types of mice and feature other things. SteelSeries tends to make lightweight designs with additional buttons, while Razer focuses on cutting-edge lighting and swappable plates that allow you to use multiple mouse button configurations. Razer mice also have a higher DPI, a better sensor, and less latency, making them the ideal choice for gamers. However, people who don’t play heavy games or want to balance work and play might want to consider not spending so much money on a mouse.

Headset Design

Headset design is crucial to consider when buying a new headset. The headset’s design will determine things like comfort and sound quality. So, it makes sense to compare many options when deciding on a new headset.

SteelSeries is widely regarded as producing some of the most high-quality and comfortable headsets. However, Razer’s headsets are also award-winning and are considered comfortable and reliable. One of the primary features that Razer’s headsets have is customizable ear muffs. The standard headset comes with circular ear muffs, but the user can change the size and shape of the ear muffs to another preset to improve their personal experience with the device. Still, most user reviews regard SteelSeries as having a more comfortable overall selection when compared with Razer. 

Keyboard Design

Another thing to compare between SteelSeries and Razer is their keyboard designs. Both companies specialize in producing mechanical keyboards. However, Razer has further options for keyboards than SteelSeries. Razer includes options for customizing and fine-tuning your keyboard experience as well as higher-tech switches, including optical switches as an option.

Razer produces its own switches, while the standard SteelSeries keyboard comes with Red, Brown, or Blue Cherry MX switches. Steelseries also offers OptiPoint switches for people who want to get their feet wet with optical switches.

Warranty Period

SteelSeries has one of the most generous warranty periods on the computer market. They offer a full manufacturer warranty for up to one year, covering any mechanical faults that might have arisen during manufacturing.

Conversely, Razer’s warranty period is much more rigid at just 90 days. However, despite their seemingly rigid warranty policy, Razer is well-known for replacing units with manufacturing faults or otherwise broken ones. Some even report Razer being willing to replace items that were damaged by the user, despite those cases not being covered by the warranty.

If you purchased your product through either the SteelSeries or Razer website, you can RMA them through their respective websites. However, if you purchased your product from a reseller like Amazon, you’ll need to contact Amazon to see what they provide for warranty service.

Return Policy

Unlike their warranty policy, the SteelSeries return policy isn’t anything amazing. They offer full refunds on anything purchased from their website within 30 days. The refund price includes only the amount on your receipt. You’ll be responsible for any shipping costs to return the item to their warehouse.

Razer’s return policy is even more rigid than SteelSeries. You’ll need to return your items in the original packaging within 14 days of purchase, with no visible signs of wear and tear, to get a refund. You’ll also need proof of purchase to file a return with Razer. If you don’t have proof of purchase, you can contact the seller to see if they have the proof of purchase archived. Without proof of purchase, no refund can be processed through Razer.

Like warranties, these policies only cover items purchased directly from the companies’ websites. You can process your return through their customer service if you purchased an item from the company’s online storefront. But if you purchased your item from a reseller, you must abide by the reseller’s terms of service regarding returns.

Pricing

It would be impossible to compare two consumer manufacturers without at least considering price differences. While it can be hard to compare computer part manufacturers on price — the intricacies of the internal components used make them hard to compare sometimes — SteelSeries and Razer have relatively similar product lines and focus, making their prices more of a direct comparison.

Razer products tend to be more expensive than SteelSeries on the whole. However, both companies produce items at multiple price points, high and low. It’s also important to remember that SteelSeries and Razer both produce premium gaming gear. Their prices will naturally fall toward the higher end of the spectrum because they’re premium products to begin with.

Best for Sound Quality

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless Multi-System Gaming Headset

$310.82

• Customizable sound experience
• Comes with Active Noise Cancellation
• Features an Infinity power system
• 2 USB ports to connect your PC, Mac, PlayStation, or Switch

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08/30/2023 01:04 am GMT

Razer vs. SteelSeries: 5 Must-Know Facts

• Razer’s logo is based on the South African Boomslang snake.
• Razer’s fans are sometimes called the Cult of Razer, known for their loyalty and enthusiasm for the brand and its products.
• SteelSeries first began their venture by producing the Icemat, a mousepad that offered superior performance to the average mousepad.
• SteelSeries has worked with several companies to produce unique gear that integrates with players’ favorite games, such as World of Warcraft.
• Razer and SteelSeries both have a unique software platform that allows users to customize their gear to better suit their playstyles.

Razer vs. SteelSeries: Which is Better? Which Should I Choose?

When it comes to choosing between Razer and SteelSeries, it really comes down to your personal playstyle and preferences. Players who play many games that require mouse precision, like rhythm games or shooters, might prefer Razer for its higher DPI on mice, for instance. The key is to ask yourself what features you want to see in your gear and choose based on that rather than being “loyal” to a brand.

Some key use cases where one might want to choose one brand over the other typically surround the need for higher DPI (Razer), the desire for industry-standard keyboard switches (SteelSeries), and the desire for optical switches over mechanical switches (either). You’ll want to thoroughly assess each option’s risk reward to determine which is ultimately better for your specific setup.

Final Thoughts

No matter whether you choose Razer or SteelSeries, you’re sure to get a high-quality product! We hope you enjoyed your little journey through the intricacies of the gaming peripheral industry with us. If our article helped you choose your next peripheral purchase, leave us a comment so we know you’ve been helped!