Eat, Sleep, Game, Repeat: The Best Gaming Headsets to Upgrade Your Gameplay
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A good gaming headset is one of the most important accessories you can use to improve your setup and is a necessity for playing online. The right headset will allow you to fully immerse yourself in the game you’re playing, and give you the ability to play all day and night without disturbing anyone you live with.
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If you’re ready to upgrade your gaming experience, we’ve rounded up some well-reviewed pairs of gaming headsets, from a solid, basic set of cups, to a premium package used by E-Sport pros.
What Are The Best Gaming Headsets?
The best gaming headsets combine style, multi-system compatibility and feature a comfortable fit, for long hours of wear. While there are many great brands that create gaming headsets, there are a few that particularly stand out. Here are our favorite gaming headsets of 2023.
Best Battery Life: HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless
Most Lightweight: Razer Kraken X
Editor’s Pick: HyperX Cloud II Gaming Headset
Professional Pick: SteelSeries Arctis Pro
Best Value: HyperX Cloud Stinger
Most Versatile: EPOS Audio H6PRO
1. HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless
HyperX’s newest wireless gaming headset boasts 300 hours of battery life on a single charge, according to the brand — and from our tests, this seems to be accurate. I was able to game on and off for a full week without losing much charge. Of course, if you were to increase volume to max, expect battery life to drop a little faster.
Similar to other HyperX headphones, you can expect powerful sound, with every in-game action sequence booming in your ears like it’s happening in front of you. The bass is great too, without getting overwhelming and the dialogue sounds clear as day. The end result is incredibly well-balanced sound, better than most competitors on this list.
The detachable microphone is a great feature too and as far as wireless headphones go, it produces decent enough audio. It’s not the clearest microphone on the market but that’s to be expected with the shift to wireless.
As for connectivity, setup was easy with my PC, and the brand claims it should work seamlessly with a PS5 as well. Unfortunately, I’m an Xbox and Nintendo Switch user which meant I couldn’t use this headset with either platform — definitely a limitation if you’re neither a PC or a PlayStation gamer. There’s also no 3.5mm unit, meaning you can’t attach a wire to use this headset with your other consoles either.
That’s the only con on this headset I could find though. The HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless is still one of the most comfortable headsets I’ve tested, allowing me to use this gadget for hours on end while feeling no discomfort. Plus, its battery life is unparalleled and if you’re a PC game or PS5 user it doesn’t get better than the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless.
HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless
2. Razer Kraken X
Gamers who crave total immersion when playing will find a lot to love with Razer’s Kraken X.
It supports 7.1 surround sound (only on PCs running Windows 10), and uses a standard 3.5mm for maximum compatibility — you can use this headset on all three big consoles.
There’s no way to change this headset’s EQ settings on the fly, but Razer used 40mm drivers (the part of the headphone that produces sound; the bigger they are, the better), so anything you play or listen to should sound pretty good. You can adjust your game’s volume via a volume wheel on the headset’s left earcup.
More professional players will also appreciate the headset’s microphone, which can be precisely positioned to their liking. The mic was also designed to block out external noise but picks up on voices very clearly.
Surround sound audio may be exclusive to PC gamers, but one of the Kraken X’s best features is available to everyone: it’s lightweight. This is an important factor for players who enter tournaments or are partial to all-night gaming sessions. At 250 grams, it’s the lightest headset in our guide.
If you’re a PC gamer who wants surround sound gaming without investing in a bunch of speakers or a console gamer who prioritizes comfort, this headset is an excellent choice.
Razer Kraken X
3. HyperX Cloud II Gaming Headset
The HyperX Cloud II is the official gaming headset of Intel Extreme Masters, a professional e-sports team that competes in international tournaments.
This headset caters to the pros by being stuffed with key features, like 7.1 surround sound audio (PC and PlayStation users only; Xbox owners need an adapter to use the headset), and an adjustable, noise-canceling microphone certified by TeamSpeak, the premier chat client for online gamers.
It features large, 53mm drivers for excellent audio quality, and a technology called echo canceling, which reduces the amount of ambient sound picked up by the microphone to minimize distractions. HyperX bundled this headset with an audio control box, which lets you enable or disable the 7.1 surround sound setting, or change your volume.
This level of audio quality and sound technology is necessary for professional play, but casual gamers will appreciate them, too. Unfortunately, this technology does come at the cost of added weight.
At 317 grams it’s not the heaviest headset on this list, but you’ll probably start to notice it more as your game session draws on. If you’re the type of person who plays in shorter bursts, this problem won’t be an issue.
HyperX Cloud II
4. SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless Headset
If you’re a serious gamer looking for a premium headset that rivals those seen on professional E-Sports players, you’ll want to pick up the Arctis Nova Pro Headset from SteelSeries.
This wireless headset is the best gaming gear we’ve ever tested, thanks to its multiplatform compatibility, noise cancellation features and comfortable earcups, built for long hours of gaming.
There’s a foldable microphone too, which automatically silences all ambient noise so your voice shines loud and clear — it will even muffle up those distracting keyboard and mouse clicks while you speak.
SteelSeries didn’t skimp out when it comes to audio quality — these headphones feature 360° Spatial Audio and High Fidelity drivers, so your in-game audio will sound clear and distortion-free.
There are other features too, including customizable EQ, and Chat Mix, which automatically balances the game sound and teammate chat to an optimal volume.
The Arctis Pro is the best sounding and most capable headset in our guide, plus, it weighs well under a pound so it shouldn’t feel too heavy and uncomfortable on your head — I tried gaming with it for a couple of hours and had no problems.
If you’re looking for a well-rounded headset that can function wirelessly with your console, chose the Arctis Nova Pro Headset
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro
5. HyperX Cloud Stinger
If you’re a new player, looking for a great wired gaming headset that won’t break the bank, you can’t go wrong with the HyperX Cloud Stinger. This lightweight pair weighs just about 275 grams so it shouldn’t feel too heavy on your head even after a few hours into your favorite new game. Plus, the cushiony memory foam material makes for a more comfortable fit.
The sound should be great too as these gaming headphones come equipped with powerful 50mm drivers, almost on par with some of the more expensive options on this list. This particular pair features Stereo sound but you can upgrade to the 7.1 surround sound if you’re willing to shell a few extra bucks. You’ve even got built-on passive noise cancelation which will help cut the background noise as you speak into the mic.
There’s multi-platform compatibility too so this audio accessory will work with your new Xbox SeriesS/X, Playstation 5 and Nintendo Switch. It’s also compatible with older consoles like the Xbox One and PlayStation 4.
Amazon customers had a lot to love about this product with many complimenting the clear, immersive audio and snug fit.
HyperX Cloud Stinger Gaming Headset
6. EPOS Audio H6PRO
EPOS is known for its high-quality headsets and the H6PRO is one you don’t want to miss. This particular style is specially designed to block out ambient noise, keeping you focused on the game in front of you.
There’s a detachable mic as well, just in case you’re in the midst of a collaborative game session and need to speak to your teammates. They’re also super lightweight, as they weigh just under 330 grams — you’ll have no issues wearing them for an extended period of time.
Since they’re wired, you’ll be able to use them with many platforms including the Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X and even your laptop or tablet. The brand also claims they use BrainAdapt™ Technology, which supports the way the brain processes sound, to reduce the cognitive load and enable better decision-making.
If you’re looking for a versatile, comfortable pair of headphones, the H6PRO are the best in the industry.
EPOS Audio H6PRO Closed Acoustic Gaming Headset (Ghost White)
What to Look For in a Gaming Headset
There are many factors to consider when choosing the right gaming headset for you; below are the most important ones, which we considered while we were researching this list.
Console compatibility: All three major video game consoles (Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S, and PlayStation 5) support headsets. But, not all headsets are cross-compatible, meaning you may need an additional dongle or specific version to work with your console of choice. We prioritized headsets that work across consoles for the sake of simplicity.
Wired or Wireless: Wireless headphones are the future of casual music listening, but you’ll actually want a wired headset when playing games. Bluetooth headphones all suffer from latency, a slight delay from when you hit the play button on a song, and when you hear it. Gamers want as little latency as possible when playing games because even a few milliseconds of audio delay gives their competitors an advantage.
Headphone style: Headphones come in three basic styles: in-ear, on-ear, and over-the-ear; every headset on this list falls into that last category because it provides the greatest level of immersion when you’re playing a game.
Surround sound: Some high-end headsets use a combination of speaker placement and software to simulate a surround sound system. The effect works better than you’d expect and can be critical if you’re playing first-person shooter games, which require you to know the exact position of your opponents at all times.
Microphone: Part of the online gaming experience is coordinating with the other players on your team. We made sure all of the headphones in our guide had a built-in microphone, so you don’t have to set up another accessory.
Weight: You’re going to be wearing these headphones for hours at a time, so their weight will have a big impact on your overall comfort. More advanced headphones are usually filled with extra audio components, or larger speakers, which makes them heavier, which is something to consider.
1. HyperX Cloud II
The HyperX Cloud II is the official gaming headset of Intel Extreme Masters, a professional e-sports team who compete in international tournaments.
This headset caters to the pros by being stuffed with key features, like 7.1 surround sound audio (PC and PlayStation 4 only; Xbox One owners need an adapter to use the headset), and an adjustable, noise-cancelling microphone certified by TeamSpeak, the premier chat client for online gamers.
It features large, 53mm drivers for excellent audio quality, and a technology called echo cancelling, which reduces the amount of ambient sound picked up by the microphone to minimize distractions. HyperX bundled this headset with an audio control box, which lets you enable or disable the 7.1 surround sound setting, or change your volume.
This level of audio quality and sound technology are necessary for professional play, but casual gamers will appreciate them, too. Unfortunately this technology does come at the cost of added weight.
At 317 grams it’s not the heaviest headset on this list, but you’ll probably start to notice it more as your game session draws on. If you’re the type of person who plays in shorter bursts, this problem won’t be an issue.
HyperX Cloud II
2. SteelSeries Arctis Pro
If you’re a serious gamer looking for a premium headset that rivals those seen on professional E-Sports players, you’ll want to pick up the Arctis Pro High Fidelity Headset from SteelSeries.
It won’t work with game consoles, but the headset can connect to your computer or console via a 3.5mm audio cable, or SteelSeries’ “ChatMix Dial,” which connects to your computer over USB lets you control the volume of your game and microphone.
Speaking of, the retractable, bidirectional microphone on this headset is constructed to only pick up your voice. This is a hardware feature, so no latency is introduced from software noise cancelling.
SteelSeries didn’t skimp out when it comes to audio quality — the Arctis Pro supports surround sound created by DTS, the company who helped pioneer the format, and worked on films like Jurassic Park. It features 40mm drivers that can reproduce frequencies up to 40,000Hz — double what most headsets are capable of.
Game consoles cannot take advantage of the surround sound features or “ChatMix Dial,” but you’ll will notice the improved audio fidelity. PC gamers will need to download the accompanying SteelSeries Engine software to customize the headset’s audio settings, from EQ, to RGB lighting, to surround sound.
The Arctis Pro is the best sounding and most capable headset in our guide, but at 425g it’s by far the heaviest.
At nearly a pound, you’ll definitely notice it on your head. That said, the reason it’s so heavy is because it’s packed with audio hardware that will help you enjoy every second of gameplay. It’s a fair tradeoff, but one you should be aware of.
SteelSeries Arctis Pro
3. AmazonBasics Premium Gaming Headset
Casual players who want a simple way to play online games with their friends should seriously consider AmazonBasics’ Premium Gaming Headset.
It’s a stereo headset that works with the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Switch, and PCs, and you can connect it to your console or computer in two ways. Game console players can connect a 3.5mm audio cable (included) from the headset directly into your system or controller. The cable has in-line audio controls, so you can adjust your game volume directly from the headset.
PC players have the option to use the mini desktop mixer Amazon bundles with its headset. The mixer lets you mute your microphone and cycle between four different audio settings: music, movie, gaming, and and what looks to be a faux surround sound mode. It also features a large volume controller, so you don’t have to use a keyboard shortcut, or TV remote. The mixer connects to your PC over USB.
Although Amazon moved a bunch of controls into its mixer, this headset comes in at 377g, which is toward the heavier end of the spectrum in this guide. A lot of that comes down to the fact that this headset is a little bulky.
Besides its weight, there’s very little to nitpick about this headset. There are a handful of small letdowns, like its lack of surround sound, plain look, and rigid microphone (you can only move it up and down), but overall this is a compelling package.
AmazonBasics Premium Gaming Headset
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