Wireless tech has come a long way over the years and headsets have improved drastically in that time – not just in sound quality and latency, but also in robust feature sets and battery life. While there are still a few unique advantages to going with wired audio gear (especially when you approach audiophile range), it’s almost a given that my recommendations for the best gaming headsets will be wireless as well, since they’re so much more common now. So, here we are!
In this buying guide, I’m only recommending headsets I have used and/or reviewed, so everything written here comes from first-hand experience. And with years of reviewing headsets, I can highlight the details that make these stand out among the wide array of options available. If you’re willing to ball out, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro or the Audeze Maxwell are easy choices, but even the mid- to budget-range has fantastic options with the likes of the HyperX Cloud III and Turtle Beach Stealth 500. Although every headset here has a model that pairs with PS5 and Xbox, ones such as the Pulse Elite and the official Xbox headset offer their own platform-specific perks if you’re dedicated to either console. Or if you want something that could double-up as quality headphones to take on the go, I can’t speak highly enough about the Alienware Pro. That’s pretty much the synopsis of this guide, actually, but I get into the finer details of each pick further down.
TL;DR – These are the Best Wireless Gaming Headsets
All the listed headsets were chosen based on several factors – sound quality and comfort being the most important. But other things like positional audio, microphone clarity, user experience, and battery life were accounted for as well as overall value. So, no matter which one fits your needs and/or budget, you’re getting a great overall headset.
1. SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro
Best Overall Wireless Gaming Headset
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless
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Multiple connectivity options, including simultaneous listening on different devices, a hot-swappable battery, excellent sound, and hybrid active noise canceling make this a hard-to-top headset.
Connectivity
2.4 GHz wireless, Bluetooth, wired
Battery life
18-22 hours (per battery)
Fully featured with ANC, base station, etc
Swappable battery system is innovative
If you’ve checked out our other best gaming headset roundups, then it should be no surprise that the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro is one of our top picks here. It earned a coveted 10/10 in our Arctis Nova Pro headset review for several reasons, namely its top-notch sound quality and long-term comfort. But it’s the smaller things that make it stand above the rest.
It comes with a convenient base station to control various features on the headset including profiles you can program in the SteelSeries software, EQ presets, and active noise cancelling. Other headsets may do ANC a bit better than the Arctis Nova Pro, but it’s sufficient in helping isolate the audio experience if you need it. For built-in microphones, it has one of the best in terms of clarity, but it’s also great about blocking out ambient noises. Its unique battery system is a major perk as well; you get an extra battery unit and can swap out the battery pack easily, allowing you to let one charge as you continue to use the headset wirelessly.
Its bold and balanced audio out of the box is one of the big reasons to look into the Arctis Nova Pro, but it’s also built for competitive play with great spatial and positional audio. It’s cool to get an immersive sound experience, but it’s even cooler when you can anticipate enemy movement because you can pick up on their footsteps or gunfire and make smarter judgments in critical situations. It’s the finer details like these that push this headset above most. It may be pricey, but you definitely get what you pay for.
2. Audeze Maxwell
Best High-End Wireless Gaming Headset
Audeze Maxwell
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90mm planar magnetic drivers deliver crisp, clear sound on a comfortable headset with an 80-hour battery life.
Connectivity
USB-A / USB-C, Bluetooth 5.3, 3.5mm wired
Drivers
90mm planar magnetic
Top-notch audio experience
Leans on the heavier side
Where something like the Arctis Nova Pro stands out as an all-around fully featured product, the Audeze Maxwell has a particular focus on sound quality. It’s a chunky headset, and it is a beast when it comes to the audio experience, rivaling some of the studio-grade headphones I’ve used. It rocks a sleek, nondescript design so it certainly looks the part and it definitely delivers as if you’re attaching a home theater setup to your head.
The Maxwell sports 90mm planar magnetic drivers, which are the biggest of any headset I’m recommending. Now, bigger drivers doesn’t always mean better sound quality, but in the case of the Maxwell, its drivers are tuned nicely to create a rich natural audio profile out of the box with strong and balanced frequencies that remain clear at high volumes. This aspect alone would shoot it to the top of any list of high-end headset recommendations, but it has the important features that justify such a price tag.
For a headset as robust as this one, you should expect comfort for long sessions. Even though the Maxwell lands on the heavier side of headsets, it doesn’t necessarily feel that way because of its comfortable earpads and headband. You also get toggleable ANC to block outside noise, great microphone clarity for in-game communication, and one of the longest lasting batteries, which can go for about 80 hours under ideal conditions.
3. HyperX Cloud III
Best Mid-Range Wireless Gaming Headset
HyperX Cloud III
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With great comfort, sound quality, microphone clarity, and durability, the Cloud III is one of HyperX’s best headsets.
Connectivity
Wired (3.5mm), USB-A / USB-C
Drivers
53mm Angles Drivers
Extremely durable and flexible
Dense earpads for premium-grade comfort
Great sound and mic quality, especially in its price range
May clamp a little too tight
One of the most impressive aspects of the HyperX Cloud headsets is its build quality – it uses a sturdy aluminum frame that can twist and contort any which way without ever feeling like it’s breaking. That flexibility and durability speaks to the quality of the latest iteration in the Cloud III. Because of the way it’s built, it doesn’t clamp too tightly, letting its dense and plushy earbuds rest easy over your ears. This makes it super comfortable.
This also creates a natural noise isolation that lets its big 53mm audio drivers deliver great sound quality that punches above its weight. You get strong audio across the frequency spectrum and minimal distortion even at louder volumes, while positional audio will take care of you in competitive shooters. In my Cloud III headset review, I felt comfortable tracking enemy footsteps while playing a ton of Valorant and enjoyed the balanced audio in Final Fantasy XIV – both of which this more affordable headset handled gracefully.
And if that wasn’t enough to impress at the mid-range, the Cloud III’s microphone is among the best regardless of price range. No built-in mic is going to match that of a standalone mic, but the Cloud III approaches a level I would be comfortable streaming with. So, if you just need to communicate clearly in-game, you’ll probably sound much better than most people you’re playing with. I’m always recommending the Cloud III for those who still want a high-end experience, but don’t want to ball out for the top-tier options.
4. Turtle Beach Stealth 500
Best Budget Wireless Gaming Headset
Turtle Beach Stealth 500
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Affordable, balanced wireless audio with up to 40 hours battery life
Connectivity
2.4GHz, Bluetooth 5.2
Durable and flexible build
Great sound quality for its price
Bulky design with messy button layout
Turtle Beach has a long history of making gaming headsets, and its latest lineup proves that it knows what it’s doing. Perhaps surprisingly, the one that stands out the most is its entry-level option in the new Stealth 500. Don’t get me wrong, the likes of the Stealth 600 and Stealth 700 are fantastic in their own right, but when I reviewed the Stealth 500, I loved that it doesn’t necessarily feel like you’re “downgrading” by going with the more affordable model.
It’s a hefty headset with chunky earcups that make you look like you’re doing air traffic control, but the super-flexible synthetic frame strikes a good balance of durability and weight. It may feel a bit “cheap” but that also makes it easy to handle and without worry of it breaking. That flexibility does keep the clamp force down so it’s comfortable to wear for long sessions, especially with the dense earpads and cloth upholstery that makes it nice to wear.
For a budget-friendly wireless gaming headset, it still brings booming sound quality that doesn’t sacrifice much. It has impressive bass and clarity across other frequencies and can still bring out the finer audio details in terms of positional audio for competitive gaming. It’s rounded out with Bluetooth that’s easy to swap between devices and easy customization through the Turtle Beach Swarm II software. Overall, the Turtle Beach Stealth 500 is a fantastic value and delivers the kind of experience you rarely get in its price range.
5. Alienware Pro Headset
Best Multi-Purpose Wireless Headset
Alienware Pro Headset
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Defying its own brand tradition, Alienware went with a super-sleek design for the Pro headset and brings great sound quality as well as great ANC and comfort.
Connectivity
Bluetooth, USB-C dongle, USB wired
Drivers
50mm Graphene-Coated
Max battery life
70 hours (35 hours with ANC)
Sleek, non-descript design
ANC and mic ANC both work excellently
Software support isn’t great
The latest Alienware Pro headset goes against typical design conventions of an Alienware product – you would think this was a pair of Bose or Apple headphones at first glance. It’s a slim and sleek headset with a no-nonsense aesthetic yet still performs fantastically as a proper gaming headset, which also makes it easily double-up as a casual everyday pair of headphones, and that really makes its active noise-canceling features sing. As a gaming headset, it brings strong bass to support all the other frequencies so games are going to have a powerful low-end to give a proper cinematic experience, but it’s also tuned to be fit for competitive games as well.
If you’re looking for good ANC above all else, I can easily recommend the Alienware Pro headset since it’s very good at drowning out ambient noise and retains solid battery life even though ANC tends to drain battery rapidly. That good ANC extends to the microphone as well, so while the overall microphone quality isn’t that impressive, it’s fantastic at isolating your voice.
When it comes to comfort, its memory foam earbuds get the job done even though they don’t look impressive at first glance. The flexible headband lets the Alienware Pro headset clamp easily on my head to help it stay comfortable for several hours of play. I’ve gone entire days with this headset on, conveniently swapping between 2.4GHz for gaming and Bluetooth for music on my phone – and with great battery life, I could do this often without charging. If you’re looking for something versatile as an everyday headset that can do it all, Alienware delivers.
6. PlayStation Pulse Elite
Best Wireless PS5 Headset
PlayStation Pulse Elite
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Great sound, a unique look, and multipoint connectivity all come with this headset made with the PS5 in mind.
Connectivity
Wired, Bluetooth, PlayStation Link
Wireless multipoint connectivity
Great implementation of 3D audio
Unique design feels a bit flimsy
When we reviewed the PlayStation Pulse Elite headset, it turned out to be an absolute beast. It didn’t come as much of a surprise considering its more affordable counterpart, the Pulse 3D, was already a fantastic headset. It has some versatility with Bluetooth connectivity, but when connected to the PS5 with the USB dongle, you can access EQ settings and 3D audio natively. Additionally, you’re able to get audio feeds from both the PS5 and a Bluetooth device simultaneously. With a sleek unibody design, its on-device controls are easy to use since it’s easy to distinguish each button.
But at the end of the day, it’s all about audio quality, and the Pulse Elite delivers on that front. The planar magnetic audio drivers help minimize distortion and provide tremendous sound quality that’ll get the most out of your games. There’s strong bass that doesn’t overpower other frequencies, and playing games at loud volumes doesn’t sound harsh when it comes to the mids and highs. Especially when you use the right EQ settings, the Pulse Elite sounds tuned just right for each game. Sony’s own Tempest 3D audio is the cherry on top, and a single-player game that takes advantage of this feature gives the experience of an immersive soundstage few headsets can pull off right.
For $150, you’re getting a lot for your money. It’s priced well below other high-end headsets, yet performs on par with many of them. It’s also packed with several extra features that make the most of the PS5 as a platform. For all that and more, the Pulse Elite is one of the best PS5 headsets you can get today.
7. Xbox Wireless Headset
Best Wireless Xbox Headset
Xbox Wireless Headset
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The new official Xbox wireless headset makes some notable improvements while still delivering great comfort and sound quality from its predecessor.
Connectivity
Xbox wireless, 2.4GHz dongle (sold separately), Bluetooth
Platform-specific features and easy connectivity with Xbox
Takes some EQ tuning to sound its best
Like the Pulse Elite for PS5, the official Xbox wireless headset is finely tuned for its specific platform. In the case of Xbox, this headset connects wirelessly without a dongle via Microsoft’s proprietary wireless tech and pairs just like a controller to make things easy. It’s convenient, but doesn’t come at the expense of all the important features that make it the best option for dedicated Xbox players.
It brings a theater-like sound experience to a headset so single-player games like STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl or Elden Ring have the details of their respective eerie atmospheres shine through. I also played a ton of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 to give this headset a whirl in competitive games, and whether I was caught in the chaos of lightning-fast rounds in the Moshpit playlist or carefully working with teammates in Search and Destroy matches, I had both a great audio experience and a tactical advantage with sound quality and positional audio. The main thing I should note is that it takes some tweaking in the EQ settings to find the right balance since this headset can be a bit bass-heavy out of the box.
It may clamp a bit tight (although it will loosen over time), but the dense earpads alleviate that pressure. It’s a lightweight headset that’s well-built and rocks a sleek look just like its predecessor. The right earcup acting as an entire volume dial is still one of my favorite touches on the Xbox wireless headset, too. The microphone is nicely designed on a retractable snake-like arm, but clarity was one of the original’s shortcomings – the new model sounds much better this time around. The thing I find most attractive about this headset is its price tag. It’s an incredible value for what’s one of the best designed gaming headsets available for Xbox.
8. SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds
Best Wireless Gaming Earbuds
SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds
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SteelSeries built the Arctis GameBuds for gaming and deliver booming audio with solid battery life low-latency thanks to its 2.4GHz dongle.
Connectivity
Bluetooth, 2.4GHz USB-C dongle
Drivers
10mm Neodymium Magnetic
Better battery life than most earbuds
Controls, software, and ANC add value
A few features are hard to get working
Gaming earbuds are a fairly recent trend with the notable peripheral companies like Razer, Asus, and PlayStation making their own that are suited for games. It’s tough because of the limited driver size and battery life, earbuds tend to make sacrifices in one way or another. But the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds are so impressive because of how uncompromising these little rounded buds are.
On top of having solid foundations of sound quality, battery life, and long-term comfort, SteelSeries has one of the most robust software suites, which is easily controllable through a mobile app. This takes out the inconvenience of having to flip through PS5 menus to customize the earbuds, while also letting you access its 100+ custom-tuned EQ profiles easily.
Although there are a few minor inconveniences with how some of its quality-of-life features work (autoplay when taking it on and off, connecting through Bluetooth reliably), the GameBuds do all the important things extremely well. While you should definitely use these as your primary earbuds to listen to music on your phone, they really shine in games with the kind of bold audio experience you expect from a headset. For all that and more, I gave a 9 to the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds in my review, and they’ll pair nicely with your PS5.
At $160, these have cheaper base price than the Razer Hammerheads I previously recommended. While I still think the Hammerheads have a very slight edge in sound quality, it’s the battery life, software support, and overall comfort that make the GameBuds the best all around.
Wireless Gaming Headset FAQ
How do you determine sound quality on a gaming headset?
There are ways to extract audio data from a headset to get a look at how they handle various frequencies, like artificial ear and audio analyzing software, but that alone won’t be able to tell you what the actual audio experience is like. Admittedly, it can be quite abstract to have someone describe what games, music, or movies sound like. Paying attention to descriptors like distortion, drowning, cleanliness, or balance when talking about frequencies are common ways to explain the sound quality of a device, and at some point you need to trust the reviewer’s trained ear.
There’s also the factor of driver size, the actual hardware that delivers the audio. Generally, bigger drivers means better potential for cleaner and bolder sound, but again, that alone isn’t going to determine whether or not a headset sounds good. Quality can also come down to spatial or positional audio which gives the impression of sound effects having distance and direction. This is especially important for competitive settings but can make for more immersive experiences outside of trying to get an advantage over your opponents.
What makes gaming headsets different from headphones?
Gaming headsets tend to pack additional features that support the actual gaming experience, some of which may be gimmicky, but many that I would call essential. The key feature that separates a headset from headphones is a built-in microphone. While most headset mics are passable in terms of clarity that can suffice for in-game communication, some go the extra mile to provide better clarity or mitigate ambient noise spilling through.
Good gaming headsets are generally tuned to pick up on certain sound effects and have a more intimate sound profile since you’re an active participant in the experience rather than a passive observer (especially in competitive games). When it comes to wireless capabilities, most gaming headsets come with 2.4GHz USB dongles for the lowest latency possible – something that wireless headphones rarely include. As you’ll see in the next section, software suites for USB-based headsets (wireless or otherwise) have gotten sophisticated as well, and sometimes offer a level of customization for specific gaming scenarios.
Are there any disadvantages to going with wireless instead of wired?
Of course, it depends on your needs. I still gravitate towards wired headsets and headphones since I tend to prefer the sound profiles of a properly-tuned analog audio device (I also tend to forget about charging devices until it’s too late, but that’s a me-problem). However, battery life and latency of modern gaming headsets have come so far that you rarely, if ever, see them being issues on the latest releases. Good software suites and apps can also help you get more out of your headset by letting you customize EQ settings or swap sound profiles for certain games.
Wireless headsets are also sometimes capable of multi-device connectivity and simultaneous Bluetooth, which makes them versatile and opens them up to more use-cases (especially swapping to a mobile connection within seconds). Even though they tend to be more expensive, there’s a lot of upside to going with a wireless gaming headset, just be sure you know what you’ll be getting out of it.
Michael Higham is the tech reviews editor at IGN and has reviewed enough headsets to fill up all of his desk space.
