The Best Gaming Headsets for Every System
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Thoughtful sound design is a touchstone of modern gaming, and one of the best ways to improve your experience is with a better pair of headphones. Plenty of headsets are designed just for this task, with mics for team chat, wired and wireless options, and comfortable designs for hours of play. We've rounded up the best gaming headsets, whether you're relaxing with a cozy game, crafting your way through space, or clicking heads in multiplayer games.
Right now, our top picks are the Arctis Nova 5X Wireless and Logitech G Pro X 2, both of which offer great sound, wireless connectivity to nearly every device imaginable, and decent microphone quality.
For the rest of your gaming accessory needs, be sure to check out our other guides, like the Best Gaming Keyboard, Best Gaming Mouse, and Best Game Controllers. We also have console-specific picks for the Best PS5 Accessories and Best Nintendo Switch Accessories.
Updated May 2025: We've added the Microsoft Xbox Gaming Headset, updated information on testing procedure, added additional buying tips.
Compatibility and Connectivity
Before anything else, you want to consider what systems you'll be playing on, and how you'd like to connect to them. There are both wired and wireless options for various systems, so make sure to double-check that your preferred consoles are listed on the box.
Bluetooth is ubiquitous across a ton of devices, which makes it an appealing option for wireless headsets, but it can add lag that makes gaming unpleasant or impossible. It's common for gaming headsets to include Bluetooth so you can use them while on the go, but they're also usually big and bulky.
The other common option is 2.4-GHz wireless, which solves the latency problem, but adds in an extra layer of complexity. That usually means an extra USB dongle, so you'll often see nearly identical headsets with different system compatibility.
Wired is always an option as well, and most of the wireless headsets on our list can be connected via USB, although some only use it for charging. There are some gaming headsets that use 3.5 mm, but they're increasingly rare.
Microphones
Microphones are common on most headphones and earbuds, but on gaming-specific headsets you're more likely to find boom mics sticking out from one of the ears. These tend to provide better audio quality, as well as a few other features you may want to consider when buying a new headset.
The first is a visual indicator for whether your mic is muted. I know that sounds a little funny, but it serves a dual purpose of letting you know that you're being heard when you're talking, and also ensuring your friends don't hear you snacking. This might be a light, or a hinge that lets it physically flip out of the way, but either way, it's essential for me when buying a headset.
I also like to keep an eye out for sidetone, or talkback, which is how much of what you say is piped back into the headset. Hearing a bit of your own voice can help you know how loud you're talking, especially with how good the sound isolation is on some of these headsets. Dedicated software will often let you adjust this, but if not, you might be stuck with the default setting.
Audio quality matters to an extent, but if you're interested in streaming or podcasting, you'll want to check out USB microphones. They require an extra investment, and some desk space, but will provide audio that's closer to what you might expect from professional-grade audio equipment.
Best for Multi-Platform Gaming
The Arctis Nova 5X Wireless (8/10, WIRED Review) is one of the few gaming headsets that can pair with every game console you could possibly have. The headset's USB dongle comes with a handy switch that lets you connect to your PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, or any other device that uses USB-C. I even used it while playing on my Steam Deck (though the dongle did block the power button a little bit on this device). On top of that, you can connect this headset via Bluetooth and swap between both connections with the press of a button. That makes it excellent for answering calls or switching to music on your phone.
The ear cups are soft and comfortable for longer gaming sessions, and the headset has a battery to match, lasting up to 60 hours on a single charge. The audio quality is surprisingly crisp and clear given how inexpensive this headset is. While playing Hades II, I was able to make out the clangs of Hephaestus' hammer or the whooshes of Chronos' scythe with enough clarity to save my life on more than one occasion. —Eric Ravenscraft
Also Check Out
The Logitech G Pro X 2 improves in almost every way on our previous top pick, the first version of the Pro X (8/10, WIRED Recommends). These over-ear headphones use Logitech's Lightspeed wireless connection to maintain ultrafast, low-latency audio, but you can also pair via Bluetooth, which the previous model could not. It also has the option for a 3.5-mm wired connection. All of this gives it more connectivity options than its predecessor, making it excellent for PC gaming, console gaming, and even just using it with your phone.
This headset comes with the same high-quality 7.1 surround soundstage, Logitech software for customizing your microphone quality, and memory foam earpads from the previous model. The Logitech-owned Blue (of Blue Yeti fame) contributed to the mic and software design, so your voice comms sound excellent to your team. Also, just like the original, the price is extremely reasonable, making it an excellent value on one of the best gaming headsets we've tested. —Eric Ravenscraft
Upgrade Pick
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless (8/10, WIRED Recommends) produces immersive, expansive sound, and includes a desktop DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) with a built-in display and controls. It can be used to adjust volume, or the mix of voice, sidetone, and voice chat, and even change the equalizer setting. The over-ear headphones are super comfortable even for hours at a time, with an extra suspension band to take pressure off of the top of your head.
The wireless version comes with two batteries, each of which can provide around 25 hours on a full charge. When one is in use, the other can charge inside the DAC, so there's always a fresh battery when you need it. This is one of the most premium gaming headsets available, with a price tag to match. —Eric Ravenscraft
Best for PlayStation 5
PlayStation enthusiasts looking for a matching option should check out the Sony Pulse Elite (8/10, WIRED Recommends). It uses planar magnetic drivers to deliver clean audio with richer lows, more precise mids, and clear, distinct highs. It has both Bluetooth and wireless USB dongle connectivity options, which you can use simultaneously. The headset gets up to 30 hours of battery life on a single charge, and it also comes with a charging hanger that uses wireless contact points to charge the headset whenever you're done using it—so it rarely dies in the first place. It also matches the striking PS5 design, which means you don't need any RGB LEDs for people to know you're a GamerTM while wearing this thing. —Eric Ravenscraft
★ Alternative: The SteelSeries Arctis 7P+ ($150) is another solid PlayStation-focused headset. It reaches over 30 hours of battery life and has a USB-C dongle that makes it easier to also connect to devices like the Switch or your phone. It sounds great and the ear cups are reasonably comfortable for long gaming sessions.
Best for Xbox Series X/S
Microsoft's first-party Xbox Wireless Headset (8/10, WIRED Review) is a great pick for Xbox owners who don't want to mess around with dongles and extra steps. They shine in their simplicity, connecting directly to your console with the click of a button, and they have big volume knobs on the outside of each ear for quick adjustments. Even better, they support Dolby Atmos, which adds directional audio to compatible games for added realism and immersion.
There are more comfortable headsets out there, especially for larger heads, but if you're only playing a few nights a week, they should be just fine. They're also reasonably priced at just over $100, although you'll want to bring your own USB-C cable, as they don't include one.
Best Bang for Your Buck
I haven't stopped raving about HyperX's absurd 300-hour battery life on the Cloud Alpha Wireless (an achievement that no other headset I've tested has come close to replicating since then, by the way). But if I went looking for nits to pick with that headset, it's that it lacked advanced features like active noise canceling. Now, there's a more robust alternative: the HyperX Cloud Mix 2. This headset is comfortable, with soft, spacious ear cups and a subdued black design. The ANC performance is impressive for a pair of headphones at this price, and you can swap to transparency mode with the dedicated ANC button on the right ear cup.
In keeping with HyperX's pattern of battery life dominance, the Cloud Mix 2 gets more than 100 hours of battery life under normal usage, though that can drop down to the 70 to 80 hour range while using ANC. That's still multiple times longer than many other competing headsets without ANC, which continues to baffle me. Whatever dark magic HyperX is using to maximize battery life, it's working. It comes with a USB-C dongle that can plug into gaming handhelds like the Switch or Steam Deck, but HyperX also provides a tiny dongle dock that you can use to easily connect it to a desktop. —Eric Ravenscraft
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Best Under $100
Turtle Beach has been a mainstay in our guide over the years for its Stealth series of headsets, and the latest generation has proven why they're a worthy inclusion. The Stealth 600 (Gen 3) headset adds a wireless USB-A dongle with a switch that allows it to pair with the Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, or any other device you can plug a USB device into. My one gripe is that most devices I'd want to use this on have USB-C ports, but if you don't mind getting a USB-C adapter, it's not a huge deal. The headset lasted more than 80 hours on a single charge in my testing, and the flip-down microphone provides decent audio for team chat. In terms of audio quality, the Stealth 600 is a little bass-y for my tastes, but for a relatively inexpensive headset, it's solid for most gaming uses. —Eric Ravenscraft
★ Alternative: The third-generation Stealth 500 ($80) is a similar device that's slightly cheaper, but comes with the same widely-compatible USB dongle. It doesn't last quite as long on a single charge, though. Turtle Beach claims battery life of 40 hours, and while it lasted a little longer than that in my testing, it didn't approach the 80 hours of the Stealth 600. Still, if you want to save a bit of cash, charging more often isn't a huge sacrifice to make.
Versatile Earbuds
Gaming Earbuds sound odd at first, but you might be surprised by the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds (9/10, WIRED Recommends). These earbuds offer such a comfortable fit that I actually use them as my daily earbuds for walking my dog or running errands. They sound great for gaming, music, or watching videos, and the SteelSeries app enables game-specific audio profiles that can help dial everything in.
Battery life is really the only thing holding back the GameBuds when you compare them to other gaming headsets. They'll run for about 10 hours on a single charge, and 40 total with the case. That's enough for irregular gaming or daily use, but you'll have to remember to keep them topped up if you're putting in the hours every night. —Eric Ravenscraft
Unreal Battery Life
HyperX is known for getting you the most bang for your buck, and the Cloud Alpha Wireless headset (10/10, WIRED Recommends) raised that bar by a country mile. Most gaming headsets—including several others we recommend on this list—offer 30 hours of battery life. This one, however, is rated for 300 hours. Yes, 300. In my testing, it lasted for over 325 hours of continuous usage on a single charge. It's such a baffling achievement that our friends over at iFixit did a teardown just to figure out how they pulled it off.
Combined with shockingly comfortable cans, impressive audio, and a measly sub-$200 price tag (it's been “on sale” for $170 for months at this point and often drops even lower), this is one of the few gadgets that's ever earned our perfect review score. The only downside is that it lacks a headphone jack or any non-dongle wireless options, like Bluetooth. But for wireless battery life, this headset is quite literally an order of magnitude above the rest of the competition. —Eric Ravenscraft
★ Alternative: HyperX also makes the Cloud III Wireless, which is usually a bit cheaper than the Cloud Alpha Wireless. It “only” gets around 120 hours of battery, which is still several times longer than most other headsets on the market. It also comes with a USB-C dongle, with a USB-A adapter, so you have more options for connecting it to devices like the Switch.
Nostalgic Style
You might not think the aesthetics of your headset matter much if you can't see them on your own head, but try wearing your headphones into an office or on stream and you'll quickly appreciate some good-looking cans. That's why I love the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro (8/10, WIRED Review). Its ear cups are held on by wire frames with angular tubes that give it a slight retro feel, reminiscent of those ’90s headphones every elementary school had. It doesn't hurt that they're also super comfy, get up to 70 hours of battery life on a single charge, and produce excellent sound—especially on the bass-y end of the spectrum. If you want to make sure you hear every Reaper footstep in Overwatch 2, these headphones will have your back right out of the box. —Eric Ravenscraft
A Wired Option
NZXT makes some pretty great accessories for PC gamers, and the company's first foray into audio gear has impressed us out of the gate. The Relay Headset (7/10, WIRED Review) is a wired gaming option that feels more premium than the $100 price tag might suggest. It has smooth, white ear cups that are comfortable to wear for long periods, a volume wheel and mute toggle embedded in the cable, and comfy cushioning along the headband. If aesthetics are a concern for you, they also happen to look great alongside the company's Relay Speakers. —Eric Ravenscraft
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