Great sound is the forgotten branch of the gaming tree, often taking the back seat to bigger and better screens, and more powerful hardware. But it's a must. Playing your games with one of the best gaming headsets instead of low quality speakers or uncomfortable headphones, can take your games to a whole new level of immersion.

Right now, we consider the SteelSeries Arctis 7 the best headset for most people, offering a great all-round audio experience with an affordable price and solid platform support. It has well-balanced audio, with a comfortable fit and it looks pretty good too. Sadly, it only works fully wirelessly on PC and PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. If you have other consoles and devices, you can upgrade to the excellent Steelseries Arctis Pro, or opt for one of the many other excellent gaming headsets recommended below.

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Best Gaming Headset Overall

SteelSeries Arctis 7

SteelSeries Arctis 7 Wireless Gaming Headset

  • Pros: Very comfortable, well-balanced sound, quality mic, great battery life
  • Cons: Bass could be a bit better
  • Compatibility: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5; Partially Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, Mobile

SteelSeries has long been one of the top players in the gaming accessories world, and for good reason. The SteelSeries Arctis 7 is a well-balanced headset that offers a sleek design, extremely comfortable fit, and wireless connectivity (only on PS4, PS5 and PC, cable required elsewhere) that should retain a good connection for the length of your gaming session. The headset has a hefty 24-hour battery life, too.

Many people swear by SteelSeries sound, which prefers turning down the bass to more easily invite other subtle sounds into your ear. The retractable microphone is also one of the best you’ll find.

Best Wired Gaming Headset

Steelseries Arctis Pro

SteelSeries Arctis Pro High Fidelity Gaming Headset

  • Pros: Hi-Res Speaker Drivers, comfortable fit, DTS virtual surround sound, far cheaper than wireless alternative
  • Cons: Lacks fine tune controls of DAC version
  • Compatibility: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Mobile

The DAC-less, far more affordable alternative to the Steelseries Arctis Pro Wireless, the standard Arctis Pro is still the best wired headset you can buy and it's now at a much more competitive price. It enjoys high-quality, hi-res speaker drivers which deliver a gorgeously rich sound for music, games, and movies, with twice the frequency range of most gaming headsets.

Supremely comfortable with foam cushioned ear cups and a ski goggle-style headband, this headset gives just about anyone a snug, comfortable fit without putting undue pressure on their head or ears. The steel and aluminum frame is light, and doesn't creak when you move your head.

The ClearCast microphone is Discord Certified and provides incredibly clear audio for your teammates, so they'll never miss a call from you again. That goes hand in hand with the Steelseries ChatMix dial which lets you tune the mix of game audio and voice communications with friends and foes alike. That way you can turn up your game audio when playing alone, and focus more on your teammates when that's more important.

Best Wireless Gaming Headset

SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless

SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless Gaming Headset

  • Pros: Premium steel design, feature-packed base station, removable battery, Bluetooth
  • Cons: Pricey, limited compatibility
  • Compatibility: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5; Partially with Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, Mobile

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For the ultimate in wireless versatility, check out the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless. Building on that award-winning Arctis sound, this gaming headset is one of the few on the market supporting hi-res audio with DTS Headphone:X 2.0. With a wide open frequency range, you’ll get crisp, clear sound over a lossless 2.4GHz connection. You can also use the Bluetooth connection to simultaneously listen in on another device, like your smartphone — great for quick switching between devices, or pulling from multiple audio sources at once.

The included base station has an OLED screen and physical nobs for dialing in your perfect volume and game balance, plus myriad audio ports for routing in your various sound systems.

That’s also where you’ll charge one of two included removable batteries, a choice design for those who worry about its longevity. They’ll last 10 hours each, and you won’t need to stay tethered when it’s time to top up. Add in a retractable noise-cancelling microphone and a steel headband with premium comfort straps, and the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless more than earns its lofty price tag.

Best Budget Gaming Headset

HyperX Cloud Stinger Core

HyperX Cloud Stinger Core Gaming Headset

  • Pros: Solid sound, decently comfortable, extremely affordable
  • Cons: Dual audio cables
  • Compatibility: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Mobile

You’re not doomed for having a meager budget with headsets like the HyperX Cloud Stinger Core. Its design is sharp, but unassuming, and HyperX makes the most out of its 40mm drivers with excellent tuning. The adjustable boom microphone is one of the best in its price range, to boot. This platform-agnostic headset works on PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and mobile.

Best Gaming Headset for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4

SteelSeries Arctis 7P

SteelSeries Arctis 7P Wireless Gaming Headset

  • Pros: Very comfortable, balanced sound, quality mic, great battery, slick color scheme
  • Cons: Weak on bass
  • Compatibility: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5; Partially Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, Mobile

If the Arctis Pro Wireless is too much for you, the SteelSeries Arctis 7P is less than half the price, but still delivers solid wireless sound. Designed to work with both PS4 and PS5, the Arctis 7P features the same steel frame (decked out in a slick blue-on-white colorway) and high-quality retractable microphone. You’ll also get better battery on a single charge at 24 hours, but you’ll need to recharge it with a cable.

With standard 40mm SteelSeries drivers, you won’t get the same level of sound the much more expensive option provides, but they get close enough. Besides, if you’re on PS5, you’re still getting a headset compatible with Sony’s Tempest 3D Audio, which heightens the realism of spatial audio in supported games. SteelSeries includes a USB-C dongle in the box that makes it compatible with Android devices, PC and Nintendo Switch, too.

Best Gaming Headset for Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One

Microsoft Xbox Wireless Headset

Microsoft - Xbox Wireless Headset for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows 10 - Black

  • Pros: Excellent sound quality, heavily customizable, well priced
  • Cons: Requires out of the box tuning, side tone volume is too low
  • Compatibility: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

Microsoft absolutely nailed the design of its Xbox Wireless headset, releasing not only the best gaming headset for the Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One, but one of the best headsets for PC in a single package. This wireless headset supports both 2.4GHz and Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity, offers high quality sound, and an extremely customizable EQ that lets everyone and anyone tweak the audio to their liking.

The only real downside to them is that you have to make those adjustments to make the most of it. The out of the box audio isn't quite as good as most audiophiles would like, with a little too much emphasis put on bass—though that's hardly uncommon with modern headphones. The companion app lets you create multiple sound profiles for different games and uses, so you can easily tweak them to what you're playing and switch out when you change games.

Some users have also reported that the mic monitoring/side tone volume is too low, which could be a problem for streamers. For most users who want to focus on the game and their teammates, that's a relatively minor issue.

Best Premium Headset for Xbox

Bang and Olufsen Beoplay Portal

Bang & Olufsen Beoplay Portal

  • Pros: Active noise cancelling, Dolby Atmos support, gorgeous sound
  • Cons: Can't use Bluetooth and Xbox wireless simultaneously, price is hard to justify
  • Compatibility: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

Bang and Olufsen is a premium speaker and headphone manufacturer, so it's perhaps no surprise that its first foray into Xbox gaming headsets is the most expensive one on this list. At $500, you would expect a premium audio experience, and the Beoplay Portal certainly delivers—though there are more affordable headsets which get pretty close.

Where they can't compete, however, is in the overall fit, look, and feel of the Portal headset, which has a fantastic build quality and a supremely comfortable fit. It supports the latest AAC and aptX audio codecs when operating over Bluetooth, and enjoys full support for Microsoft's Xbox Wireless system. Dolby Atmos adds depth to all supporting games and movies, and battery life can last all day under the right circumstances. Active noise cancelling is a nice touch too, making this a good headset for those trying to game in noisy households.

Most Comfortable Gaming Headset

HyperX Cloud II

HyperX - Cloud II Pro Wired Gaming Headset - Red

  • Pros: Super comfortable fit, fantastic build quality, aluminum frame
  • Cons: Underwhelming microphone
  • Compatibility: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4/5, Switch, Mobile

If you like to play games wearing a headset for long periods of time, a comfortable fit is almost as important as sound quality. If you want the ultimate in long-term comfort without sacrificing audio, the HyperX Cloud II headset is one of the best options. It features a heavenly foam padding in the headrest and thick, leatherette-covered earcups that rest gently around your ears. This is one headset you can wear for hours at a time without it wearing on you.

The build quality on this headset is excellent too. The all-aluminum frame means there is absolutely zero creaking when you turn your head, making this a great option if you play on multiple monitors, stream while you game or want to substitute the stock headphones on your VR headset. The microphone isn't the best, but it's more than adequate for most gamers. Not a fan of wires? There's also a wireless option, though it does come at double the price.

Best Value Wireless Headset

Roccat Elo 7.1 Air

ROCCAT Elo 7.1 Air Wireless Surround Sound RGB Gaming Headset, Black

  • Pros: Excellent battery life, virtual surround sound, comfortable fit
  • Cons: LEDs drain battery, Swarm software isn't very intuitive
  • Compatibility: PC, PS4, PS5

Wireless headsets can be far more expensive than their wired cousins, but they don't have to be. The Roccat Elo Air is an entirely wireless virtual surround sound headset priced under $100, making it less than a third of the price of our favorite wireless gaming headset. Even with such a steeply cut price, it offers decent sound quality, great battery life and a comfortable fit.

There are a collection of controls on the headset itself for turning it on, adjusting volume, and sidetone, with a greater array of customization options available in the capable Roccat Swarm software. There you can tweak the earcup LED color and lighting effects, as well as the headset's EQ if you like a particular kind of sound for your gaming sessions.

One of the most impressive features with this headset is its battery life. Able to last a whole 24-hours with the LEDs turned off and around two thirds of that with them on, it's not a headset you'll constantly need to have plugged in for charging.

Best Gaming Headset For Haptic Feedback

Corsair HS60 Haptic

CORSAIR - HS60 HAPTIC Stereo Gaming Headset with Haptic Bass

  • Pros: Unique haptic feedback for games and movies, good sound quality, great quality microphone
  • Cons: Sound is a little bassy, bespoke haptic support isn't widely supported
  • Compatibility: PC, PS4, PS5

Capable gaming headsets all offer good sound and a comfortable pair of earcups, but some headsets have something that others don't. In the case of the Corsair HS60, that's a unique rumble function which delivers a new way to enjoy your games and music. It gives you a way to feel them.

Where rumble effects have been part of games controllers since the late '90s, its inclusion in headsets is a relatively novel concept. Other headsets have done it before, but none quite as well as Corsair. The HS60 Haptic employs rumble motors in the earcups that provide a physical response to heavy bass with music and movies, and to specific low-frequency notes in games.

The effect is an immersive one, and you can dial the intensity up and down as you see fit, so you can find the perfect head-rattling rumble for your play style. It adds a new layer of immersion that just isn't present with other gaming headsets, making the HS60 Haptic one of the best gaming headsets for a unique gaming experience.

Best Gaming Headset for PC

Logitech G Pro X Wireless

Logitech - G PRO X Wireless DTS Headphone:X 2.0 Gaming Headset for Windows with Blue VO!CE Mic Filter Tech and LIGHTSPEED Wireless - Black

  • Pros: Great design, amazing comfort, 1ms wireless latency, detachable microphone, best-in-class sound
  • Cons:
  • Compatibility: PC, PS4, PS5

Logitech is one of the best makers of wireless PC tech, and that reputation has only been strengthened by the G Pro X Wireless. With its proprietary Lightspeed wireless protocol, the headset delivers audio with near-zero latency up to 43 feet. Logitech packs its best 50mm Pro-G drivers, which support DTS Headphone:X 2.0 surround sound positional audio. The microphone is of high quality, as well, and it’s detachable. Both are customizable to find the perfect balance for your specific needs in Logitech G Hub.

The G Pro X is certainly the most stylish headset we’re featuring here. A steel headband holds a pair of matte oval cans with a brushed silver Logitech G cherry on top. The memory foam padding is generous and looks the part, as well, with reviewers swearing by this headset’s comfort. The Logitech G Pro X works on PC, PS4 and PS5; not the longest list, but it’s one of the best headsets you’ll find in this range if that’s all you’re gaming on.

Best Gaming Headset for Nintendo Switch

Astro A10

Astro A10 Wired Gaming Headset - The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

  • Pros: Extremely affordable, powerful sound, quality swivel-t0-mute mic, detachable cable, mobile splitter included
  • Cons: Not the most comfortable
  • Compatibility: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Mobile

Switch gamers should give this unique version of the Astro A10 a try. It’s black with golden print inspired by The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. A dapper presentation isn’t the the only reason you’re buying it, though. It’s really affordable, and you’d be surprised how well the 40mm neodymium magnet Astro Audio drivers sound for the money. Like the big brother A50, the Astro A10’s flip-to-mute microphone carries your voice in powerful fashion.

This headset attaches to your Nintendo Switch (and almost any other console or mobile device) over a standard 3.5mm connection, and if you want Switch Online voice chat mixed in with your game audio, Astro includes a splitter cable in the box.

What to look for in a gaming headset

There are a few things to consider before pulling the trigger on a new gaming headset. Notably, you’ll want to think about whether you want a wired headset or a wireless headset. Wired headsets sound slightly better and offer a reduced latency, but wireless headsets are more convenient—and most modern wireless headsets employ special wireless tech to reduce latency anyway.

Compatibility is another important consideration. If you own just one gaming device, you can get away with highly specialized options like the Logitech G Pro X, which is one of the best available, but only works with PC. As a general rule of thumb, wireless headsets tend to work on either Xbox or PlayStation, but not both. Planning to play on multiple consoles and mobile? Make sure the one you’re getting can easily move between everything you own.

You’ll also want to think about whether your headset has a retractable microphone or a removable one. Ditto for the cable. No matter how well you care for your headset, these components can degrade in time. With removable options, you can skip the annoying warranty process and replace them for far less money than it’d cost to replace the headset entirely.

Lastly, you’ll want to ensure whatever you’re getting is comfortable. A headset can make you feel like you’ve traveled through time and space to the very setting of whichever content you’re consuming, but that doesn’t mean much if you can’t stand to wear it more than an hour.

Will I get better sound by spending more money?

Generally speaking, you can expect the most expensive headsets to have the best sound, but that doesn’t mean the sound coming out of lesser options is bad, or that the most expensive options sound the best.

Most gaming headsets from reputable manufacturers sound great no matter the cost, especially with many using the very same drivers as the costlier upgrades, just dropping a few quality of life features to cut costs. Much of the difference in cost for gaming headsets is attributed to material and build quality, extra features and wireless connectivity.