Thoughtful sound design is simply a touchstone of modern gaming, and 1 of nan champion ways to amended your acquisition is pinch a amended brace of headphones. Plenty of headsets are designed conscionable for this task, pinch mics for squad chat, wired and wireless options, and comfortable designs for hours of play. We've rounded up nan champion gaming headsets, whether you're relaxing pinch a cozy game, crafting your measurement done space, aliases clicking heads successful multiplayer games.
Right now, our apical picks are nan Arctis Nova 5X Wireless and Logitech G Pro X 2, some of which connection awesome sound, wireless connectivity to astir each instrumentality imaginable, and decent microphone quality.
For nan remainder of your gaming accessory needs, beryllium judge to cheque retired our different guides, for illustration nan Best Gaming Keyboard, Best Gaming Mouse, and Best Game Controllers. We besides person console-specific picks for nan Best PS5 Accessories and Best Nintendo Switch Accessories.
Updated May 2025: We've added nan Microsoft Xbox Gaming Headset, updated accusation connected testing procedure, added further buying tips.
Compatibility and Connectivity
Before thing else, you want to see what systems you'll beryllium playing on, and really you'd for illustration to link to them. There are some wired and wireless options for various systems, truthful make judge to double-check that your preferred consoles are listed connected nan box.
Bluetooth is ubiquitous crossed a ton of devices, which makes it an appealing action for wireless headsets, but it tin adhd lag that makes gaming unpleasant aliases impossible. It's communal for gaming headsets to see Bluetooth truthful you tin usage them while connected nan go, but they're besides usually large and bulky.
The different communal action is 2.4-GHz wireless, which solves nan latency problem, but adds successful an other furniture of complexity. That usually intends an other USB dongle, truthful you'll often spot astir identical headsets pinch different strategy compatibility.
Wired is ever an action arsenic well, and astir of nan wireless headsets connected our database tin beryllium connected via USB, though immoderate only usage it for charging. There are immoderate gaming headsets that usage 3.5 mm, but they're progressively rare.
Microphones are communal connected astir headphones and earbuds, but connected gaming-specific headsets you're much apt to find roar mics sticking retired from 1 of nan ears. These thin to supply amended audio quality, arsenic good arsenic a fewer different features you whitethorn want to see erstwhile buying a caller headset.
The first is simply a ocular parameter for whether your mic is muted. I cognize that sounds a small funny, but it serves a dual intent of letting you cognize that you're being heard erstwhile you're talking, and besides ensuring your friends don't perceive you snacking. This mightiness beryllium a light, aliases a hinge that lets it physically flip retired of nan way, but either way, it's basal for maine erstwhile buying a headset.
I besides for illustration to support an oculus retired for sidetone, aliases talkback, which is really overmuch of what you opportunity is piped backmost into nan headset. Hearing a spot of your ain sound tin thief you cognize really large you're talking, particularly pinch really bully nan sound isolation is connected immoderate of these headsets. Dedicated package will often fto you set this, but if not, you mightiness beryllium stuck pinch nan default setting.
Audio value matters to an extent, but if you're willing successful streaming aliases podcasting, you'll want to cheque retired USB microphones. They require an other investment, and immoderate table space, but will supply audio that's person to what you mightiness expect from professional-grade audio equipment.