A good headset can make a big difference when playing games. Whether you like to get immersed in the game with the music of sound effects or if you need to hear every enemy footstep to know where they are, choosing the right pair of headphones for you can be quite a task. You should look at overall build quality, how comfortable they are, how they sound, and if the microphone sounds good. If you don’t need a microphone, most wired audiophile headphones would be a good option.
We've tested over 675 headphones, and below are our recommendations for the best headsets to buy for gaming. Also, see our recommendations for the best PS4 headsets, the best Xbox One headsets, the best PS5 headsets, and the best Xbox Series X/S headsets.
Best Gaming Headset
Neutral Sound7.9Commute/Travel6.0Sports/Fitness6.1Office7.3Wireless Gaming7.9Wired Gaming6.1Phone Calls7.2Type Over-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless YesNoise Cancelling NoMic YesTransducer DynamicThe best gaming headset we've tested is the ΗyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless. The manufacturer advertises that these headphones last for more than 300 hours off of a single charge, so they're worth considering if you find yourself running out of power at inconvenient times. Unlike some headsets, you don't have the option of using them wired, but their auto-off timer can also help conserve battery life when you're not using them.
They have a well-balanced, slightly v-shaped sound profile that adds extra thump and punch to your audio, while instruments and lead vocals are clear and detailed. Their companion app also includes a graphic EQ and presets for sound customization. Their mic makes your voice sound clear when you're gaming with friends, even if you're in a noisy environment, although they don't isolate you from very much ambient sound. They also offer a low latency wireless connection, so your game audio and visuals stay in sync.
Best Gaming Headset Under $100
Neutral Sound7.5Commute/Travel5.6Sports/Fitness5.7Office6.7Wireless Gaming7.3Wired Gaming7.5Phone Calls6.5Type Over-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless YesNoise Cancelling NoMic YesTransducer DynamicIf you want to spend less than $100 on a gaming headset, the SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless is the best we've tested in that price range. These headphones come with a wireless dongle that provides a low latency connection with PCs and PlayStation consoles, so you shouldn't have audio syncing issues while you game. You can also use them wired if you prefer. Out of the box, they have a warm default sound profile that adds punch to sound effects in action-packed games. Their companion software also features a graphic EQ and presets that you can use to customize their sound to your tastes.
The boom mic is detachable for when you want a more casual look. It performs decently overall, so when you're gaming with friends, they can understand you even with some noise in the background. The headphones are also decently comfortable and last just over 25 hours off a single charge. They have a somewhat plasticky build quality, but on the plus side, their audio cable is detachable, so you can replace it if it gets damaged.
Βest Βudget Gaming Ηeadset
Neutral Sound7.8Commute/Travel4.8Sports/Fitness5.6Office6.1Wireless Gaming5.8Wired Gaming7.7Phone Calls7.3Type Over-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless NoNoise Cancelling NoMic YesTransducer DynamicThe best budget gaming headset we've tested is the Logitech G433 Gaming Ηeadset. These wired headphones offer an excellent mic performance, so if you're gaming with friends, your voice sounds clear even if you're in a moderately noisy place. Their lightweight, comfortable fit is suitable for long gaming sessions as well. Their default sound profile is a bit light on low-bass, but the slightly overemphasized high-bass response adds extra boom to your audio, which can help bring out sound effects in games. They have a very accurate mid-range response, so dialogue in cutscenes reproduce clearly and accurately. Their companion app also offers a graphic EQ and presets for sound customization.
They come with a USB dongle that provides a low-latency connection, so your game audio and visuals should stay in sync while you're gaming. Unfortunately, the dongle doesn't work with Xbox, limiting the headphones' versatility a bit. You can plug them into a controller for full mic and audio support, but you can't use the customization features in the companion app when connected this way. Otherwise, if you're looking for the best PC gaming headset, these offer a strong mic performance and low latency for gaming.
Best Multi-Console Gaming Headset
Neutral Sound7.5Commute/Travel5.8Sports/Fitness6.4Office6.9Wireless Gaming7.8Wired Gaming7.8Phone Calls7.1Type Over-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless YesNoise Cancelling NoMic YesTransducer DynamicThe SteelSeries Arctis 7X Wireless is the best multi-console gaming headset we've tested. This headset comes with a USB dongle with a switch so you can connect wirelessly to PCs as well as Xbox and PlayStation consoles. It provides a low latency connection, so your game audio and visuals are in sync while you're playing. They last for about 23 hours off of a single charge, so you don't need to recharge them too often, and you can use them passively in a pinch. Their boom mic delivers a great performance, so they're suitable for online gaming, even if you're not in a totally quiet environment.
Their default sound profile is very boomy, which can help bring out sound effects like explosions in action-packed games. You can also tweak their sound profile with a graphic EQ and presets in the companion software. Unfortunately, their stretchy headband design makes them prone to inconsistent sound delivery, so it's important to adjust their fit and positioning to hear the same sound every time you use them. However, they don't support Βluetooth, so you can't pair them to your phone to stream music while you play.
Best Xbox Wireless Gaming Headset
Neutral Sound6.6Commute/Travel6.6Sports/Fitness6.8Office6.8Wireless Gaming7.3Wired Gaming5.7Phone Calls7.3Type Over-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless YesNoise Cancelling NoMic YesTransducer DynamicThe Razer Kaira Pro Wireless is the best gaming headset with Xbox Wireless that we've tested. These headphones offer a low latency wireless connection via Xbox Wireless, so you shouldn't notice audio syncing issues while you game. They're also Bluetooth-compatible, so you can stream music or chat from your phone and hear your game audio at the same time. They're very well-built and have a comfortable, well-padded design with customizable RGB lighting on the earcups. They also last for about 19 hours off of a single charge. Their boom mic has a very good overall performance, so your voice sounds clear and full-bodied when you're playing with friends, even with some noise in the background.
They have a boomy sound profile that can help to emphasize sound effects like footsteps and explosions in games. It may sound muddy to some, but the headphones' companion app has a graphic EQ and presets for sound customization. They also have inconsistent bass and treble delivery, so you need to take the time to adjust their fit and positioning on your head to hear the same sound each time you wear them.
Most Versatile Gaming Headset
Neutral Sound7.6Commute/Travel7.7Sports/Fitness7.1Office7.7Wireless Gaming7.5Wired Gaming5.9Phone Calls7.5Type Over-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless YesNoise Cancelling YesMic YesTransducer DynamicIf you're looking for a gaming headset that you can use during your commute or at work, consider the Razer Barracuda Pro Wireless. These comfortable, well-built headphones have an integrated mic instead of a boom mic, so they don't have a gamer-centric look. It doesn't perform quite as well as the boom mics on this list but gives the headset a more casual appearance and makes your voice sound clear. You can use them with your phone via Βluetooth when you're out and about, and they also come with a wireless USB dongle that works with PCs and PlayStation consoles and provides a low latency connection.
Unlike most gaming headsets, they have an adjustable active noise cancelling (ANC) feature. Set to the highest setting, it does a great job blocking ambient sound, like background conversations. It also does a good job of reducing bass-range noise like rumbling engines, although many dedicated casual-use headphones are better for that purpose. These headphones also have a well-balanced sound profile suitable for a variety of genres.
Best Wired Gaming Headset
Neutral Sound8.1Commute/Travel4.3Sports/Fitness5.5Office5.7Wireless Gaming6.3Wired Gaming8.2Phone Calls7.0Type Over-earWireless NoNoise Cancelling NoMic YesTransducer DynamicEnclosure Open-BackThe Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2019 is the best wired gaming headset we've tested. There are separate PS4 and Xbox One variants of these headphones, so you need to be sure to get the right version for your console. Their MixAmp offers controls like channel mixing, EQ presets, and volume as you game. They have a comfortable fit with soft padding and feel well-built. Their ear cups have swappable speaker tags, and you can purchase different styles from the manufacturer to give the headphones a different look. They also have a warm default sound profile to help bring out sound effects in your gameplay.
Their detachable boom mic does a great job recording your voice and can separate it from background noise so that you're heard clearly. Thanks to their open-back design, they have a great passive soundstage to help immerse you in your audio. This design also means they leak a lot of audio and block out practically no audio, so they aren't ideal for noisy or shared spaces. The separate variants for PlayStation and Xbox make it a little less versatile, but it's a solid choice if you only use one console or if you're looking for the best PC gaming headset.
Notable Mentions
- Astro A50 Gen 4 Wireless 2019: The Astro A50 Gen 4 Wireless 2019 are a good alternative to the HyperX Cloud Alpha S if you prioritize microphone performance. However, their base is console-locked, and they have a much shorter continuous battery life. See our review
- HyperX Cloud 2/Cloud II: The HyperX Cloud 2/Cloud II is a very well-built wired gaming headset that's impressively comfortable, but they have an underemphasized treble response that makes your audio sound less detailed. Unlike the Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2019, they don't have a companion app or come with sound customization features. See our review
- Xbox Wireless Headset: The Xbox Wireless Ηeadset is about the same price as the SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless, and you may prefer it if you use an Xbox since it supports Xbox Wireless as well as Βluetooth. However, it's not as versatile since it's not compatible with PlayStation. Its continuous battery life is also shorter. See our review
- SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless: The SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless perform similarly to the SteelSeries Arctis 7X Wireless and also support Βluetooth. However, their USΒ dongle isn't compatible with PlayStation consoles, and they have higher non-Βluetooth latency. See our review
- SteelSeries Arctis 7+ Wireless: The SteelSeries Arctis 7+ Wireless are gaming headphones with low latency, roughly 60 hours of battery life, and an in-app parametric EQ for sound customization. However, they aren't as comfortable as the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless, and their mic has a worse noise handling performance. See our review
Recent Updates
Jul 11, 2022: Replaced the Astro A50 Gen 4 Wireless 2019 with the ΗyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless as the 'Best Gaming Headset' and the Logitech G432 with the Logitech G433 as the 'Best Budget Gaming Headset'. Added the SteelSeries Arctis 7X Wireless as the 'Best Multi-Console Gaming Headset' and the Razer Barracuda Pro Wireless as the 'Most Versatile Gaming Headset'.
May 20, 2022: Added the ΗyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless as the 'Best Wireless Gaming Headset For Battery Life'. Moved the Logitech G PRO X WIRELESS LIGHTSPEED Gaming Headset to Notable Mentions.
Apr 22, 2022: Checked that picks represent the best recommendations and that the products are in stock.
Mar 22, 2022: Replaced the Logitech G533 Wireless Gaming Headset with the SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless because the Logitech's price has increased.
Feb 17, 2022: Checked that picks represent the best recommendations and that the products are available.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best gaming headphones to buy for most people in each price range. We factor in the price (cheaper headphones win over pricier ones if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no headphones that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you would like to choose for yourself, here is the list of all our headphones reviews, sorted by their wireless gaming performance. Be careful not to get caught up in the details. There are no perfect headphones. Personal taste, preference, and listening habits will matter more in your selection, especially if you don't care about having a microphone or wireless features.