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Best gaming headset 2024 for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Switch

The best wired and wireless gaming headsets.

steelseries arctis nova pro and nova pro wireless gaming headsets with their base stations
Will Judd avatar
Guide by Will Judd Deputy Editor, Digital Foundry
Updated on

A good headset is key to victory in many games - particularly shooters like Counter-Strike 2, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Fortnite - where hearing a single footstep from a wayward enemy could mean the difference between a delicious chicken dinner and an ignoble defeat. That's why we've gathered up our top recommendations for the best gaming headsets for the money on the market right now. For our money, the best of the best is the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless (£290/$310), but we've got a total of 11 choices for you to pick from.

Whether you prefer the lower cost and audio fidelity of wired headphones or the convenience of wireless headsets, we've got you covered. We've also included recommendations for the PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch and PC, so no matter what system you game on, you'll be able to find at least a couple of top-tier gaming headsets to consider, each far better than your TV or monitor's built-in speakers. We'll also consider both open-back and closed-back headphones, as the former tend to offer a wider sound stage that's conducive to locating enemies, while the latter minimise sound leakage to ensure you don't bother your flatmates.

Before we get into the recommendations, it's worth mentioning what we'll be looking for when choosing the best gaming headsets. We want a comfortable pair of headphones you can wear for hours without discomfort, perfect for marathon gaming sessions. Sound quality is also key, so that you can hear each sound clearly and become totally immersed in the game. Naturally, you'll need to communicate with your friends or teammates too, so a built-in mic with good noise mitigation is also important. Finally, we also would like to see support for multiple systems, so that if you own a console and a PC, or multiple consoles, you can use the same headset on both.

Best gaming headset 2024

Best wireless gaming headset: SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless

steelseries arctis nova wireless
Image credit: SteelSeries/Digital Foundry

The £290/$310 Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is the best gaming headset we've tested, thanks to their excellent sound quality, comfortable design and wide compatibility. This premium headset supersedes the earlier Arctis Pro Wireless and represent a significant step forward over an already-great option, with the inclusion active noise cancellation (ANC) and simultaneous 2.4GHz wireless and Bluetooth.

The Nova Pro Wireless comes with a base station with two USB inputs, allowing you to connect to a console and PC, or two consoles, then swap quickly between the two sources. On Xbox version, there's one dedicated Xbox port, but the headset is otherwise identical. The base station serves as a wireless transmitter and spare battery charger, with a screen, dial and button used to show sound and battery levels, select and modify EQ settings and so on.

The fabric suspension headband that debuted on the original Arctis headsets returns to provide a comfortable fit, but a new frame design and three headband positions allows the headsets to suit a wider range of head sizes. The athletic foam has been swapped for leatherette to boost bass response and improve passive noise isolation, which together with a higher clamping force ensures the headset remains in position. This clamping force is a bit much out of the box, but soon becomes comfortable even for long gaming sessions. More recently assembled V2 models also have a less prominent ANC mic inside the earcup, solving a comfort issue that affected some people with the original release.

Earcup controls take a step backwards, with no dedicated dial for game/chat mix, but the volume wheel can be pressed in to toggle it between regular volume mode and game/chat mix mode. This is reflected on the base station, so it's easy once you know how to do it. Interestingly, there is a separate multi-function button for Bluetooth, so you can turn on the 2.4GHz and Bluetooth sides of the headset independently. The headset also comes with two batteries, so you always have a fresh one to use while the other is charging in the base station - very smart. ANC is another great addition that makes this a headset you can easily use on a plane or in a coffee shop, even though it doesn't quite match dedicated ANC headset lines like Bose's QuietComfort or Sony's WH-1000XM.

In terms of sound, the Arctis Nova Pro stands out. Bass, treble and mids are all well-represented, with extremely good detail and a wide sound stage for a closed back headset. Microphone performance is also great when SteelSeries' AI noise cancelling feature is used on PC, but merely average otherwise.

This is definitely an expensive proposition, but you are getting a lot for your investment - a top-grade wireless gaming headset with multiple batteries, a base station and ANC for use in the outside world.

For more information, read our full Arctis Nova Pro Wireless review.

Best wired gaming headset: Razer Blackshark V2X

razer blackshark v2 x gaming headset
Image credit: Razer

The £50/$50 BlackShark V2 X is the best wired 3.5mm headset for the money we've tested. First, these headphones are a treat to use for gaming or music, with a wide sound stage, accurate sound and good imaging provided by newly designed 50mm drivers that Razer says it'll use for upcoming headsets too. This is a stereo headset, which we recommend for competitive play, but a 7.1 surround sound mode is available via Razer's app or Windows Sonic. The BlackShark V2X's mic is also quite reasonable, although we'd recommend a more professional-grade alternative for streaming.

The design is also worthy of some praise. For starters, the ears are well sealed to block out distracting background sounds - useful whether you're clutching in Valorant or trying to get some work done while working from home with your spouse. The athletic-knit-covered memory foam ear pads remained comfortable for hours, no doubt aided by the light weight of the headset - just 240 grams. There's a convenient volume knob on the left earcup, and the microphone is removable. The BlackShark V2 also lacks any kind of RGB lighting, with only green cables and a subtle Razer logo on each earcup betraying this design's gaming focus.

blackshark v2 pro
Image credit: Razer

There's also the £173/$200 BlackShark V2 Pro, which adds wireless connectivity with the same excellent sound and an estimated 70 hours of battery life. Razer also made console-friendly versions for PlayStation (in white and black) and Xbox (in black), both of which additionally support PC, Switch and all Bluetooth-compatible devices. I like these quite a bit, but the wireless connectivity does result in a higher weight - 320g.

Runner-up, best wireless gaming headset: Corsair HS80 Max

corsair hs80 max gaming headset, shown with a 2.4GHz USB dongle in white
Image credit: Corsair

The PC and PS5-friendly £145/$180 HS80 Max is one of my go-to headsets, as it offers a comfortable design with soft, glasses-friendly fabric ear cushions and a suspension headband, excellent microphone quality and extremely long battery life - up to 65 hours wireless or 130 hours with Bluetooth. The headset is easy to use too, with a flip-to-mute microphone, easy-to-feel buttons and Corsair's powerful iCUE software.

The HS80 Max has a pleasant, neutral response, with the only major criticism being slightly under-developed bass that makes some genres or cinematic moments feel a little lacking. This can be adjusted in the iCUE software on PC, but I was happy enough with the headset on its default setting. The HS80 does get nice and loud, and good sound isolation and imaging makes it easy to listen for enemy footsteps in Counter-Strike 2. On PS5, you can use the console's 3D audio (as with any other USB or 3.5mm headset), while on PC you get a free license for Dolby Atmos while the headset is attached. I don't personally love surround sound for competitive gaming, but for watching films or playing single-player games it works beautifully.

All in all, the HS80 family is a really positive step forward from Corsair in terms of design, outperforming their previous efforts and providing a solid basis for future development, and the HS80 Max is an awesome choice for PC and PlayStation gamers who want a comfortable, low-latency wireless headset.

The HS80 Max is expensive in some regions compared to its predecessor, the £130/$120 HS80 RGB Wireless, so you could consider the original model if you're willing to accept more limited battery life (20 hours) and no Bluetooth support; the headsets otherwise perform very similarly.

Runner-up, best wired gaming headset: Epos H3 Hybrid

Our runner-up for the best wired headset category is the £40/$60 Epos H3 Hybrid. This headset packs in Bluetooth, USB and 3.5mm connectivity, with impressive neutral sound with bags of detail. The microphone is also one of the best we've heard at this price point. The Hybrid model can use both its wired and Bluetooth connections simultaneously, which is great if you're playing on a console with your friends on Discord or you just fancy listening to your own music.

The industrial design here is great too, proving light and comfortable even while wearing glasses, and despite a more plasticky construction the H3 headsets still feel robust in the hand. The earcup volume dial on the H3 Hybrid has also been improved from the earlier models of the standard H3, which was a bit hard to turn with one finger - this model spins freely. I like the magnetically attached (and therefore easily removable) microphone arm too, which is great if you're playing on PC with an external USB or XLR mic and would prefer a lighter headset.

The Epos H3 Hybrid is an excellent translation of the firm's traditional strengths - audio quality, build quality and comfort - down to a more mainstream price point. For that, the H3 Hybrid deserves our runner-up spot - despite Epos exiting the gaming space in 2023.

Best PS5 headset: Logitech G Astro A50 (Gen 5)

logitech g astro a50 gaming headset
Image credit: Logitech

Our favourite PlayStation headset right now is the £289/$300 Logitech G Astro A50. This semi-open-back headset actually works with all consoles and PC out of the box, including Xbox Series X/S, thanks to a convenient charging dock with three USB inputs. There's also Bluetooth, though this is again via the base station so you can't use these headphones out and about.

The metal-and-plastic design strikes a good balance between comfort, usability and build quality, and I particularly like the cloth ear cushions and rotating earcups that work nicely with the glasses I wear every day. There are very few headsets that I can wear for hours on end while working or in a marathon session of Call of Duty, but this is one of them. It's easy to swap between inputs using the simplified button layout on the right earcup, while the left earcup houses a flip-to-mute bendy microphone that sounds great. When you're finished, plunking the headset onto the dock ensures that it's topped up for your next session, and I never had to think about recharging while testing which was great.

The sound quality here is impressive, with the somewhat open design allowing for a nice and wide sound stage, while still delivering an impressive amount of low end. Treble and mids are reproduced well too, with good detail and without being too fatiguing. A Dolby Atmos license is included - and my Windows 11 PC even enabled this surround sound option by default, which I haven't seen on other headsets. This results in a nicely cinematic experience for gaming, music or movies, but I prefer a straight stereo signal for competitive games like Counter-Strike 2 or Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.

The Astro A50 Gen 5 is far from a cheap option, but it feels reasonably priced if you're using it with multiple gaming platforms or simply want an extremely good headset for your PS5 or PC. I kept reaching for this headset while testing others thanks to its comfortable and deliberately less isolated design, and that's always a good sign.

If you want an even fancier version of this headset that can serve as an HDMI 2.1 switch for Xbox and PlayStation consoles, the Astro A50 X is also available for a steeper price - £360/$380. This allows you to quickly swap between different consoles without even changing the input on your TV or monitor, but the design and characteristics of the headset are otherwise identical. It's worth it if you have two or three sources in the same space, but is overkill for a single PS5.

Best Xbox Series X/S headset: Xbox Wireless Headset

The £100/$109 official Xbox Wireless Headset is one of the best Xbox-specific headsets we've tested for Series X and Series S. It's light and comfortable for hours, has good battery life and boasts easy controls, with each earcup rotating to adjust volume or the game/chat mix.

It connects to the Xbox without a dongle, using low latency 2.4GHz wireless, and can also connect to your smartphone over Bluetooth simultaneously - perfect for listening to music or talking on Discord while playing games. This is by far the cheapest headset to pack in this feature, yet the Xbox Wireless Headset doesn't lack in the fundamentals either, with great (if bass-heavy) sound, good adjustability (with custom EQ settings) and a choice of three surround sound modes (including a free Dolby Atmos trial).

See our Xbox Wireless Headset review to learn more, but we're confident that the Xbox Wireless Headset is by far the best value wireless headset for Xbox on the market.

Best value gaming headset: SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X

steelseries nova 5x
Image credit: SteelSeries

The £130/$115 SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X is one of the best value multi-platform headsets we've tested in a long time, especially for console players who get PS5, Series X/S and Switch support in addition to PC and mobile via (non-simultaneous) 2.4GHz and Bluetooth.

The 5X's secret sauce for console users is an Android and iOS app that provides access to 100+ audio presets for a wide range of specific games, game genres and musical genres. This app worked extremely well in our testing, making it quick and easy to swap presets on any platform, but it does come with some minor limitations - you'll still need to rely on the PC SteelSeries app to create custom EQ presets and install firmware updates, for example. You can see battery life at a glance though, and adjust settings like volume, sidetone and mute LED brightness; there's even an extended range mode that trades microphone quality for a more stable distant connection.

Even in its stock 'flat' EQ, the 5X is a good-sounding headset, with a relatively clear and detailed sound that works well for competitive gaming and many musical genres, but perhaps doesn't sound as rich or exciting as the more premium Audeze Maxwell, Logitech G Pro X 2 Wireless or SteelSeries' own Arctis Nova Pro Wireless. The earcups are comfortable enough, but don't seal as well as SteelSeries' higher-tier offerings or indeed those of their competitors, so you lose a bit of bass definition.

Otherwise, the Nova 5X is a solid headset that ticks a lot of boxes for gaming, including a competent and retractable microphone, a comfortable ski goggle headband and simulated surround sound on PS5, Windows and Xbox consoles. A new wireless chip and an oversized USB-C dongle result in stable wireless performance too - though the wide dongle may block other ports on some PCs or consoles and you therefore may prefer to use the supplied USB-A adapter cable. You don't get the swappable batteries of the more expensive Nova Pro Wireless or the simultaneous 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connections of the Nova 7 and Nova Pro Wireless, but the rated 50-60 hours of battery life feels about right.

It's worth noting that there are three members of the Arctis Nova 5 family, but the Nova 5X is the one you want: it offers Xbox Series and Xbox One compatibility as well as a chat/game mix dial that works on Xbox consoles and PC. The Nova 5 and Nova 5P are the same price, but drop the Xbox support and chat mix dial - and don't gain anything apart from a different-coloured headband.

Best cheap gaming headset: Astro A10 Gen 2

The £40/$60 Astro A10 Gen 2 is one of the most surprising gaming headsets we've tested at Digital Foundry, offering a superb lightweight design, universal wired compatibility and good sound. The headset uses smaller-than-usual 32mm drivers, helping it achieve a weight of just 240 grams (8 ounces for our American friends), which helps it sit comfortably on the head for hours on end. The earcups are correspondingly a bit smaller, making these more "on-ear" than "over-ear" headphones, but you still get a decent amount of noise isolation and bass reproduction. The overall signature of the headphones is quite neutral, without the bass emphasis that most gaming headsets have, which makes these a better choice for competitive gaming.

In terms of features, there's a decent-sounding flip-to-mute microphone and an inline volume control on the simple black plastic 3.5mm cable; a 3.5mm splitter adapter is provided for PCs. There's no built-in surround sound, as you'd expect from a 3.5mm headset, but you can use surround sound solutions from Sony and Microsoft on PS5, Xbox consoles and PC. Astro has also taken strides with repairability, with replaceable ear pads, headband pads and cables which is nice to see.

The A10 Gen 2 is offered in "PlayStation/PC" and "Xbox/PC" varieties on Amazon, but I think this is to do with the colouring as they can be used with pretty much anything with a 3.5mm jack - PS5 and PS4, Xbox Series and One consoles, Switch (in handheld mode), tablets, phones and of course PC. There are five colourways to choose from - Black, Grey, White, Mint and Lilac - and each style has a few accents here and there to add some visual interest. It's a good-looking package overall, and despite the plastic construction they feel relatively robust and resistant to flexing too.

The Astro A10 Gen 2 is an impressive entry-level headset well worth considering if you don't need wireless connectivity.

Best planar magnetic headset: Audeze Maxwell

audeze maxwell gaming headset shown on a plain white background
Image credit: Audeze

The £319/$265 Audeze Maxwell are the best demonstration of planar magnetic drivers I've tried, combined with the convenience of low-latency wireless and Bluetooth in a gaming-focused design. The headset benefits from extremely accurate sound with a wide soundstage for a closed-back design, thanks to the 90mm planar drivers, and is tuned well for gaming with a slightly v-shaped sound profile that provides bright treble and robust bass but faintly veiled mids. It's well worth tweaking the EQ using the Audeze HQ app on Windows or mobile to make the headset suit your preferences, as the base level of driver quality is superb.

The Maxwell is also robustly constructed with plenty of metal, as you'd hope from a headset at this price range. It's available in both PlayStation and Xbox variants, and of course supports use with the PC and many other BT devices as well.

While the Maxwell sounds incredible, its comfort is only good to middling thanks to not insignificant clamping force, slightly ungainly dimensions and a kerb weight of 490g; this is not a headset you'll forget you're wearing. Thankfully, this can be improved substantially with third-party earpads. We used a set of £36/$50 Dekoni Elite pads, which use sheepskin and memory foam, and they are a significant upgrade that's worth considering.

Microphone quality is unfortunately not up to the standards of the best wireless models from Corsair and Razer either, though AI noise cancellation does help; this feels like a headset designed for your aural pleasure rather than that of your teammates.

On the other hand, usability is quite good, with convenient volume and game/chat mix dials on the bottom of the headset in addition to big power and mic mute buttons on the outside of the can, and battery life is strong at up to 80 hours via Bluetooth or 2.4GHz wireless. I also appreciated the plush leatherette earpads that completely encompass your ears, which provide for good passive noise isolation.

Overall, the Maxwell is a fantastic and somewhat affordable introduction to the wonders of planar magnetic headphones that can work well for gaming and critical listening.

Best open-back gaming headphones: Sineaptic SE-1

sineaptic se-1 headset
Image credit: Sineaptic

The best open-back gaming headset we've tested so far is the £157/$199 Sineaptic SE-1. These unusual headphones are built around a rare dual ribbon driver, in contrast to more common dynamic or planar magnetic drivers. The advantage is that the ribbons tend to move quicker than other driver types, allowing for quite detailed and indeed rapid reproduction. This is reflected in the sound of the SE-1, which I'd describe as 'gently v-shaped', with tight if slightly lean bass, clear mids and beautiful, dynamic treble.

Of course, as open-back headphones, you have almost no isolation from your environment and vice versa, so these aren't suitable for use in a shared space, but good if you want to listen out for your family members / delivery people while using the headset.

While they operate over Bluetooth (via AAC for Apple devices or SBC for PC/Android) , I'd recommend using them with the included 3m-long 3.5mm cable as wired headphones for gaming, in order to maximise sound quality and minimise latency. Annoyingly, the headset still requires power in 3.5mm mode, so you'll need to top it up via USB-C every once in a while. There's no boom mic either, and I was only able to get the mics integrated into the earcups to work via Bluetooth - so you may want to consider a dedicated XLR or USB mic or adding a ModMic.

The industrial design here is also unorthodox, with a pair of moveable cushioned 'wings' that serve as a headband. This makes for quite a bulky design, but the plastic construction and resultant 400g weight is far from the heaviest headset we've tested and the headset is comfortable enough for hours of use at a time. This bulky approach also applies to the packaging, with the SE-1 arriving in a carry case that's suspended on elastic tethers within a much larger box to prevent damage during shipping - not exactly convenient for recycling.

While the SE-1 have their share of drawbacks, the overall audio quality for the price is impressive and these could be a clever choice for anyone that intends to use the same headset for both gaming and critical listening. I'd love to see a follow-up that packages the same drivers in a more traditional gaming headset form factor - now those could be extraordinary.

Best in-ear gaming headset: SteelSeries Arctis Gamebuds

steelseries arctis gamebuds in white and black
Image credit: SteelSeries/Digital Foundry

The £160/$160 SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds are something quite special: a proper set of wireless in-ear headphones tuned for gaming. While we normally associate these Airpods-style headphones with Bluetooth, the GameBuds are intended to be used with a low-profile USB-C dongle, unlocking a lower latency 2.4GHz connection for PC, Xbox (with the Xbox variant), PlayStation, Switch and smartphones. Bluetooth 5.3 is also included, granting easy connectivity to a wide range of smartphones - unlike Sony's similar Inzone Buds, which are only compatible with a small number of Android smartphones thanks to its LC3 codec requirement.

I tested the headphones in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 on PC and had a great time, with reasonable imaging, good sound quality and reliable, low-latency wireless. The GameBuds even come with a huge list of game and genre-specific EQ presets accessible via a smartphone app or the SteelSeries GG software on Windows. That means you can access EQs developed by pro teams even on console, making it a lot easier to hear the most critical sounds in competitive games like Call of Duty and Fortnite.

In terms of isolation, the in-ear design and active noise cancellation means there's little sound leakage in either direction, allowing you to concentrate on your game and block out distractions. The ANC here is excellent for a set of in-ears, blocking out not only low rumbles from airplane engines but also most speech. The GameBuds are also the best-fitting in-ears I've ever used, something that I've heard repeated from a wide range of reviewers with a good range of inner ear sizes and shapes. Comfort was a non-issue, and battery life is also outstanding at up to 40 hours with the included charging case - which itself can be charged wirelessly.

The only negative I can really mention is the relatively premium price, as SteelSeries has avoided a lot of typical pitfalls - they even eschewed touch controls for more reliable buttons built into each in-ear.

Overall, there's a lot to love: the GameBuds work with every major gaming platform (assuming you get the Xbox version), they sound great and they are as comfortable as I've ever tried. Battery life is strong, the ANC is useful and the connection has worked reliably throughout my testing. That makes the GameBuds an easy recommendation for gaming and music alike.

Frequently questioned answers

Is it worth using 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound?

It depends. If you want to immerse yourself in a game or movie, the virtual surround sound mode offered on many gaming headsets can be fun to play with. You can even add surround sound processing to headphones that don't come with it on PCs running Windows 10 and the Xbox One using Windows Sonic or Dolby Atmos for Headphones. However, if you're looking at surround sound to gain a competitive advantage, my recommendation is to keep surround sound disabled - the processing that tries to fake surround sound often makes it harder to hear footsteps or other quiet audio cues, adds delay and tends to remove detail. Instead, look for headphones with a wider audio stage, eg many open-back headphones, as this will actually make it easier to place your enemies on the map based on the noises that they're making.

Should I get wireless headphones?

Wireless headphones give you a lot of freedom, so you can make yourself a sandwich in the kitchen or sit on the opposite side of the couch without worrying about taking off your headset or rerouting its cables. However, you will need to recharge your wireless headset every few days or weeks, and it's certainly annoying when your headphones go dead mid-firefight. If you tend to sit in different positions while gaming or just hate being tethered to your desk, wireless is a sensible choice; otherwise, save the money and the hassle of recharging and get wired headphones instead.

What brands should I consider?

This is no by no means an exhaustive list, but headphones from HyperX, SteelSeries and Sennheiser tend to be well-respected. Razer, Logitech, Turtle Beach and Astro have also made some great headsets in their day, although they've also produced a few relative stinkers as well. Ultimately though, gaming headsets can vary massively from model to model, so it's best to look for reviews on the headset you're considering rather than shopping by brand alone.

Why do headsets that work for PS4, PS5 or PC not work for Xbox?

Largely because PlayStation 4/5 and PC support connection options that the Xbox One does not. The PS4 and PC both support headsets that connect via 3.5mm (either dual 3-pole or 4-pole), optical, Bluetooth and USB. Meanwhile, the Xbox One didn't include 3.5mm on its first-generation controllers, requiring the use of an Xbox One Stereo Headset Adapter to add this option. The Xbox also only works with certified USB devices and uses its own proprietary wireless standard rather than Bluetooth, so you'll need to look for headsets that are specifically marketed as Xbox Series or Xbox One compatible. The final option is getting a headset that connects via optical (S/PDIF), although this isn't available on the Xbox Series X or S. We've marked the connection options for each headset we recommended above for your information.

How can I improve the sound of my existing headphones?

Good and totally not just made up question! A lot of this comes down to personal preference, but we prefer to turn off audio "enhancements" like surround sound and aggressive equaliser settings; you want things to be as "bare metal" as possible if you trust in the intent of sound engineers and headphone designers alike.

From there you can use a DAC, which takes audio processing duties off your PC or console and entrusts it instead to dedicated hardware which tends to do a better job, removing jitter and changing other characteristics for the better. Desktop or portable DACs like the Audioengine D1 or the Fiio E10K cost around £100/$100 and can improve audio quality substantially. You can check out our full picks for the best gaming sound cards too.

What about speakers?

We've added a round-up of the best computer speakers from £50 to £250 here.

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