Best gaming headset in 2024

The Razer BlackShark V2 Pro is a product that claims to do it all as a gaming headset, and it actually delivers. First and foremost, the wideband microphone is a joy to use, and you’ll never have teammates complain about your voice quality ever again.

Razer has essentially put an XLR quality microphone in the BlackShark V2 Pro, crazy as that may sound. Our testing shows that it delivers on the advertised features and sets a whole new standard for gaming headset microphones.

Fear not, as the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro isn’t just a fancy mic and little else, it also brings the same quality audio that we’ve come to expect from Razer over the years. TriForce Titanium 50mm drivers bring the noise with crystal clear clarity and it maintains this even at higher volumes where disruption tends to occur.

Comfort is also king, as despite tipping the scales at 320g, Razer’s lightweight framing helps make the V2 Pro feel far lighter. A winner on all fronts, the only downside to the V2 Pro is the lack of a wired connection option.

Read our Razer BlackShark V2 Pro review for more.

Alienware has always been a premium brand, but one that costs a lot and doesn’t typically offer the same quality as cheaper competitors. However, the Alienware Pro Wireless gaming headset is a peripheral that proves the company can still deliver some excellent hardware, and at a good price too.

Some issues with the PC software and earcup controls aside, the Alienware Pro Wireless delivers some of the best audio quality in a pair of wireless headphones on the market, as well as offering an equally incredible microphone. It’s also compatible with a variety of platforms, meaning you can easily switch from your PC, to your PS5, to your smartphone with ease.

However, one of the best features of the Alienware Pro is its comfort. It’s easy to praise all of the internal specs empowering the impressive headphones, but it’s just as important that the headset is comfortable. And, fortunately, that is the case with the Alienware Pro Wireless.

Check out our Alienware Pro Wireless review for our full experience.

The Asus TUF Gaming H3 is a budget gaming headset gladiator that doesn’t compromise on quality, and it gets a hell of a lot right for under $50 (£60). Solid build, subtle good looks, and great audio quality help this particular pair of cans steal the budget crown, serving as proof that you don’t have to spend a fortune to upgrade your gaming PC setup.

Off the bat, the Asus TUF Gaming H3 looks a lot more expensive than it actually is, and its build quality will fool you into believing it does. Its flexible headband and solid construction provide the durability needed to withstand intense daily use, and our tests confirm it’s as hardy as the brand name implies.

Many budget options struggle to strike a balance in terms of audio fidelity, but the TUF Gaming H3 provides excellent clarity using Asus’ 50mm Essence drivers. You won’t have to deal with muddy bass spoiling your mids, and treble rings true while avoiding sounding tinny. In addition, it wields a superb microphone that surprised us while testing, providing levels of capture clarity we’d usually expect from a more expensive headset.

There aren’t many cheap headsets out there that hit as hard as the Asus TUF Gaming H3, and it deserves its spot at the gaming audio table. Sure, we’ve used various other headsets that boast fancy features, but even premium options should feel threatened by the H3’s $49.99 (£59.99) price tag.

Read our Asus TUF Gaming H3 review.

If you aren’t looking for something that’s super fancy and expensive or something that’s really cheap, then we recommend the HyperX Cloud 3 – the baby bear choice, if you will. It’s a great headset that will serve you well, but it’s not quite up to the same standard as some of the more premium options on this list (most notably, with its bass profile).

It does look absolutely fantastic though, so it’s a good choice if you want to look stylish on streams – or just want to feel fabulous when gaming alone at home. It is a slightly heavier build though, so it can start to feel like a bit of a burden if you like to play for hours and hours on end.

Games and music both sound great through it though and ultimately that’s the most important thing for a headset. It’s more expensive than our truly ‘budget’ choice above, but it’s still really cheap for a headset and a notable step up.

Read our HyperX Cloud 3 review.

The Astro A50 X is the go-to headset for anyone rocking multiple game consoles alongside a gaming PC and mobile devices. Playsync is a game changer, bringing together all platforms into one low-latency wireless docking station, capable of video passthrough of up to 4K/120Hz via HDMI 2.1. The A50 X docking station can even change your display source at the press of a button for the ultimate convenience.

Using Logitech’s 40mm Pro G Graphene audio drivers alongside Dolby Atmos, there’s more than just convenience to the Astro A50 X, and you’d expect as much given the premium price. Likewise, a crystal clear microphone, capable of beating out some standalone options, is also included. Both the audio and microphone are fully customizable thanks to the Logitech G Hub app for PC and mobile, and you also have access to community EQ setups if you’re not keen on playing around with the settings yourself.

If you need more than just the 2.4GHz LIGHTSPEED connections available, Logitech also packs in Bluetooth to allow simultaneous connections, meaning you could be listening to music on your phone while owning lobbies on Xbox Series X or PS5. All of this comes packed into a super comfortable and light frame, available in either black or white, with 24-hour battery life and contact charging available via the docking station.

Read our Logitech Astro A50X review.

The Corsair HS65 Wireless feels like a familiar friend, as its wired sibling is also one of our favorite headsets. The latest edition to the company’s headset family embodies style, quality, and functionality, and manages to cut the cord without much compromise.

Both the wireless version and HS65 Surround have good looks on their side, with mesh detailing on the cups adding a fashionable flair. Pivoting cups mean you’ll also be able to comfortably wear the headset around your neck in between gaming sessions, and if the mic was detachable, we’d probably take it with us outside as an on-the-go audio solution.

Aesthetics aside, the HS65 Wireless boasts great fidelity and balanced audio that delivers on multiple fronts. Its 7.1 surround sound and spacial audio capabilities are present to enhance the best new PC games, but it’s going to bring an immersive level of audible delight to your entire Steam library using Corsair’s impressive 50mm drivers.

The HS65 Wireless is armed with both 2.4GHz low latency connectivity and Bluetooth, and the latter makes it, in our opinion, one of the best Steam Deck accessories. Whether you’re gaming on the go or on the couch, you’ll be able to stream sweet PC sounds to your ears for up to 24 hours on a full charge, while a quick 15-minute zap will provide you with six hours of playtime. Great battery life is just one of the reasons why Corsair’s cordless headset is our current favorite and deserves a spot at the best wireless gaming headset table.

Read our Corsair HS65 Wireless review.

We already spilled the beans above about how much we like the Corsair HS65 Surround while highlighting its newer wireless counterpart. Yet, the original wired model has a few unique tricks up its sleeve, as it matches style and fidelity with exceptional mic quality.

Headsets understandably struggle to hold up against the best gaming microphone options, but the Corsair HS65 Surround offers incredible capture performance at a low price. This stylish pair of gaming cans boasts levels of quality you’d expect from premium alternatives, and its sense of style proves you don’t need to clad all gaming gear in RGB and edgy aesthetics.

We’ve already covered the fact that the Corsair HS65 Surround is ridiculously stylish, and despite its $69.99 (£79.99) price tag, it looks almost exactly like the wireless version. It’s actually a bit of a trendsetter, as the latter model has its wired sibling to thank for its sense of fashion. It wears the same attractive metallic mesh design, and its pivoting cups provide the same level of wearable comfort.

We don’t find wires particularly offensive, and the HS65 Surround’s 3.5mm jack adds a pleasing element of versatility, facilitating compatibility with a variety of devices. You’ll have to use the included USB sound card to tap into the headset’s 7.1 surround sound capabilities, but if you’re looking for a pair of cans that’ll connect to the Steam Deck and the best PC controllers like the PS5 Dualsense, you’ll be able to do that without additional adapters.

Read the Corsair HS65 Surround review.

The H3 Pro Hybrid is an incredibly versatile wireless gaming headset that has literally every current mainstream feature you could want from a gaming headset, all for what is generally these days a fairly low price (it was expensive at its initial launch). You get USB wireless, Bluetooth, analog 3.5mm, and wired USB audio connections, plus there are detachable boom and internal mics, along with both virtual surround and stereo audio output.

With either the boom mic or internal mics you can also activate active noise cancelling so you can easily block out the din around you when traveling. The headset’s also lightweight and compact too, and it’s very comfortable as well. Battery life is pretty decent too, while overall sound quality is top-class, other than a slightly fiddly mic splitter (which is really us splitting hairs) there’s not a lot to criticize.

Read our full the EPOS H3Pro Hybrid review.

We love some RGB, and the Roccat Syn Max Air implements this beautifully across not only the headset itself but also the handy magnetic charging dock.

Aesthetics aside, when we reviewed this headset, we found the comfort to be somewhat missing. If it happens to be the right fit for you, there is very little about the Syn Max Air that misses, beyond its microphone that is a little too sensitive to ambient sound.

Roccat gets its 50mm driver tech from parent company Turtle Beach, meaning there is an incredible level of quality on show here, including the addition of Superhuman Hearing, a must-have feature for shooters. 3D Audio is also in play and offers a level of immersion to take all of your gaming to the next level.

Read our Roccat Syn Max Air review for more.

The idea of a vibrating headset might sound gimmicky, but hear us out, as the Kraken V3 Hypersense more than justifies haptic accessories. In a way, Razer’s rumbly tech feels almost like a subwoofer, as it adds a sense of audio physicality to the device’s 7.1 surround sound capabilities (though 7.1 is Windows-only). If you’re a fan of FPS experiences like Halo Infinite, then you’ll love Kraken V3 Hypersense’s dedication to immersion, as its haptics transform every gunshot and explosion into directional, tactical information.

Haptics aside, the Kraken V3 also is an exceptional headset in its own right. A mix of durable plastics, metals, and leatherette gives the V3 Hypersense a premium feel, while its detachable mic boasts clarity and efficient noise reduction.

Of course, if you’re a fan of colorful accessories, then you’ll be pleased to know that the Kraken V3 Hypersense is clad in Chroma RGB, and the company’s lighting tech looks better than ever.

Read the Razer Kraken V3 HyperSense review.

It’s not often that the only negative we have for a headset is the software you use with it, and in the case of the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, it’s truly the only fault we could find after weeks of testing.

The price may turn away potential customers, but the reality is that the Nova Pro Wireless is worth it. If you want to improve your gaming experience, few headsets can compete. A big factor in this is the AI audio cancellation. Rather than being a feature you turn on and off, the Nova Pro Wireless is listening to your surroundings and making adjustments on the fly.

Simultaneous connection, 40mm drivers, 20-hour battery life, and a reasonable 336g weight all combine to create what we called “The total package” during our review. The final point in favor of the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is their customizability, as you can purchase booster packs for $34.99 to change the earcups and headband, a nice touch even if it comes with a cost.

Read our SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless review for more.

Get portable true wireless earbud convenience and easy gaming PC connectivity in one with the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds. Thanks to their included 2.4GHz wireless USB dongle, you can connect to any PC with ease, while Bluetooth gets you an easy connection for your phone or laptop too.

That portability comes with great battery too, with 10 hours of listening per bud and another 30 hours of charge time in the carry case. With active noise canceling also built in you can block out the din or trains or planes around you when using these as travel earbuds too.

Crucially, they’re also really comfortable, assuming you don’t mind the style of fit where the eartips push into your ear canals. They’re also secure so can stand up to use in moderate exercise as well as remaining comfortable for all day working or gaming.

Sound quality is excellent, with a sound that’s very similar to the AirPods Pro. They have bass presence without it sounding forced and plenty of mid-range warmth and top-end clarity. For gaming, you also get over 100 sound profiles tuned specifically for different games. Audiophiles will still want to seek out heigh-end wired earbuds but for general listening the GameBuds are great.

The GameBuds aren’t a cheap option but are competitively priced compared to other wireless earbuds. Read our full SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds review to find our more.