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Best wireless gaming headsets
Gaming headsets are predicated on one thing above all else: convenience. When it comes down to it, these are all products meant to simplify your audio setup and get you down to one device you can just plug in and use. However, one final barrier lies between the gaming headset and true convenience — cords are just kind of a pain. Especially when you’re playing in a living room, a wireless gaming headset can really make everything go a little smoother.
Although going cordless adds convenience, choosing one isn’t as simple as it can be. The mass amount of products out there can seem as daunting as a tangled mess of wired earbuds, but don’t worry; we’ve got you covered. Here are the best wireless gaming headsets on offer.
What's new?
- This article was updated on February 1, 2024, to refresh our Top Picks and ensure the timeliness of the information within.
- For more options, be sure to check out our list of the best gaming headsets with good microphones and the best gaming earbuds.
The best wireless gaming headset we’ve tested is the Audeze Maxwell
The Audeze Maxwell gaming headset is great for gamers who frequently switch between consoles and PCs. This headset distinguishes itself with its high-end planar magnetic drivers, broad connection options—including USB-C, RF dongle, and Bluetooth 5.3—and a physical mute switch for the microphone. The comprehensive app allows for firmware updates, EQ adjustments, and access to spatial audio, making it a forward-thinking choice for audiophiles and gaming enthusiasts alike.
The only real downside is the headband and the overall mass of the headset, which may impact long-term comfort for some users. Still, the headset’s extensive battery life, exceeding 64 hours on a single charge, alongside its effective passive noise isolation, ensures an immersive gaming experience without frequent interruptions.
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For those in the market for a premium gaming headset that bridges the gap between high-fidelity audio and gaming functionality, the Audeze Maxwell stands out as a top pick. Its adaptability across devices, coupled with cutting-edge audio technology, positions it as a valuable investment for serious gamers. Just be sure to choose the right version, as there a PlayStation and Xbox variants with differing compatibility with features like Dolby Atmos or Tempest 3D audio, depending on the gaming platform.
The Logitech G Pro X 2 LightSpeed has stellar sound quality
The Logitech G PRO X 2 LIGHTSPEED stands out as a high-end gaming headset with an emphasis on quality and versatility. One of its most commendable features is its impressive battery life. Despite Logitech’s claim of a 50-hour lifespan when connected using a USB dongle, tests showed an astounding 88 hours and 27 minutes of playback, outperforming many competitors in its bracket.
The audio quality is praiseworthy, with a frequency response that aligns closely to preferred headphone curves, ensuring neither overpowering bass nor diminished mids. It delivers an enjoyable music listening experience, with clear differentiation between instruments and admirable in-game performance, especially when using the DTS Headphone:X 2.0 virtual surround sound.
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The microphone quality is satisfactory for a gaming headset. While it may not match top-tier gaming headset mics, its clarity and volume are sufficient for regular usage, such as Discord chats. A notable addition is the Blue Vo!ce software suite, providing users with extensive customization features for the microphone, from equalization to noise-cancellation options. Overall, the Logitech G PRO X 2 LIGHTSPEED is a well-rounded gaming headset that excels in both sound and microphone quality, suitable for most users unless they’re expecting revolutionary graphene-powered sound performance.
The microphone on the Logitech G Pro X 2 LIGHTSPEED is clear and loud, suitable for various uses. You can listen to some samples below:
Logitech G PRO X 2 LIGHTSPEED microphone demo (Ideal conditions):
Logitech G PRO X 2 LIGHTSPEED microphone demo (Office conditions):
Logitech G PRO X 2 LIGHTSPEED microphone demo (Reverberant conditions):
How does the microphone sound to you?
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 is the best headset for comfort and connectivity
If your only accessible port for a gaming headset is at the back of a tower under a desk, a wireless gaming headset is probably what you should get. Built on an updated version of SteelSeries‘ extremely comfortable Arctis frame, the Arctis Nova 7 Wireless sports a flexible suspension band and headphone pads made of Airweave fabric, which keeps things nice and cool. This model is a little more expensive than previous Arctis 7 headsets, but there’s a reason for that—this has Bluetooth.
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The Arctis Nova 7 uses a 2.4GHz USB-C wireless RF dongle to transmit audio between the headset and whatever it’s connected to, so lag isn’t an issue. The move to USB-C means the headset can connect wirelessly to mobile devices and the Nintendo Switch when it’s not docked, on top of the typical PlayStation consoles, PC, and docked Switch. And you’ll be able to go for multiple lengthy sessions using the Arctis Nova 7—in our testing, its battery lasted 41 hours and 15 minutes, which is nothing to sneeze at.
The Arctis Nova 7 features a retractable, Discord-certified microphone, so it’s guaranteed to play well with the program—a necessity for PC gaming. The mic now features a new design and can retract enough to be flush with the headset rather than poke out a bit like the previous Arctis 7 design. The headset also supports Hi-Res audio, though most video games don’t. And top of all that hardware, the SteelSeries Sonar brings surround sound and EQ customization for game and chat audio channels, as well as the microphone.
The microphone sounds much better when you use a wired connection than when communicating over a 2.4GHz wireless connection. You’ll sound clear enough for game chats either way, though.
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless microphone (Ideal conditions):
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless microphone wireless demo (Office conditions):
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless microphone demo (Reverberant conditions):
How does the microphone sound to you?
The Razer Barracuda Pro connects with Bluetooth and has ANC
The Razer Barracuda Pro (2022) is a versatile gaming headset that you can use for gaming or on-the-go, with a solid build quality, impressive sound quality, and effective active noise canceling (ANC). The headset lacks a boom microphone but comes with a USB-A and USB-C adapter to connect to a myriad of consoles. There is no 3.5mm headphone jack, however, but hey, this is a list for wireless gaming headsets, after all.
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The Barracuda Pro features ample padding, a stainless steel inner headband, and memory foam ear pads. The integration of Razer Synapse software and the Razer Audio mobile app enhances the user experience by offering customizable EQ settings and enabling access to THX Spatial Audio for immersive gaming. Its impressive battery life, comfortable design, and satisfactory noise isolation make it suitable for extended gaming sessions and everyday use. As a top pick for an ANC gaming headset, the Razer Barracuda Pro offers a well-rounded experience.
The Turtle Beach Stealth Pro is our premium pick
If you want to get a wireless gaming headset with a little bit of everything, the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro makes a compelling case for itself. Packing in swappable batteries and the best ANC you’ll find in a gaming headset, this premium headset represents the company’s new top-of-the-line.
The Stealth Pro connects to your gaming device of choice using a USB base station, which includes a battery charging slot so when the one in your headset runs out of juice, you’ll always have a fresh one ready to swap in (the headset comes with two batteries, and you can buy more from Turtle Beach). The base station is also the connection point for the headset’s 2.4GHz RF connection, and the headset also supports Bluetooth (we don’t recommend that for gaming, though).
The sound profile could use a little help, but it’s easy to fix using the Turtle Beach Audio Hub app, which is available on PC and mobile devices.
By default, the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro sounds pretty similar to a lot of gaming headsets on the market and deviates from our in-house target curve in similar ways too. There’s some extra emphasis in low-range sound from 60-200Hz, and other notable aspects are the minor dip around 300Hz, a lack of presence around 3kHz, and a lot of extra emphasis in the 6-9kHz region. This can mean voice chat might be a little tough to hear, depending game/chat balance and how hectic the game you’re playing is.
The headset’s mic is pretty average for a wireless gaming headset. It’s plenty clear for calls, but don’t expect to record any podcasts with it.
Turtle Beach Stealth Pro microphone sample (Ideal conditions):
Turtle Beach Stealth Pro microphone sample (Office conditions):
Turtle Beach Stealth Pro microphone sample (Reverberant conditions):
How does the microphone sound to you?
The HyperX Cloud Alpha is a wireless headset that will suit most people
The HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless brings comfort, performance, and that classic HyperX look for a reasonable price. This wireless gaming headset works with PC, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch (when it’s docked), and it’s one of the best gaming options you can get—wireless or otherwise.
This headset is built on a sturdy metal frame. Its memory foam earpads are covered in soft leatherette that feels great to wear and can accommodate most head shapes pretty easily. While this is one of the most comfortable gaming headsets around, what really makes it stand out is its battery life—in our testing, it lasted over 327 hours, more than 13 days straight. Performance like this is so good it’s almost not worth comparing other gaming headsets.
Additionally, this headset brings virtual surround sound to PC via NGenuity, the HyperX headset companion app. It doesn’t bring those features to consoles, but the PlayStation 5 sports its own built surround sound anyway, so you won’t miss it.
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The Cloud Alpha Wireless has a good microphone for a gaming headset—it’s not going to light the world on fire, but it also won’t let you down.
HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless microphone demo (Ideal conditions):
HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless microphone demo (Office conditions):
How does the microphone sound to you?
The best budget-friendly option is the Razer Barracuda X
Wireless audio has been something of a bugbear for Switch owners. Recently, a software update to the Nintendo Switch opened up the USB ports on its dock to support wireless audio, allowing an additional level of convenience for gamers. However, the Razer Barracuda X (2022) is one of the few wireless gaming headsets that work with the Nintendo Switch when it’s docked or undocked. This headset is virtually identical to the Barracuda X, but it has a much better battery life that lasts just shy of 60 hours.
The Barracuda X (2022) connects to nearly any device, and you have your pick of 2.4GHz USB-C/USB-A, 3.5mm, or Bluetooth. If you have a Nintendo Switch, just plug the USB-C dongle into the USB port on the bottom of the Switch, and you’re all set for wireless, undocked listening. You can even use the dongle with a compatible smartphone, giving you the option to take the Barracuda X (2022) out on the town. You can do this with relative ease after removing the boom mic.
The Barracuda X (2022), while versatile, has its shortcomings. Isolation performance is only okay under ideal conditions, and the audio output has some noticeable dips and boosts, particularly in the treble range. Still, for under $100 USD, you’re getting a solid Razer headset that doesn’t rely on the dubious Razer Synapse software (though you can use the Razer Audio app on iOS/Android). We like this and hope you do too.
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For the price, this is a very good gaming headset microphone that effectively rejects background noise. Some sounds still come through, which you can hear in the “office” demo below, but it’s better than a lot of embedded microphone systems that you’ll find in Razer’s other headsets.
Razer Barracuda X (2022) microphone demo (Ideal conditions):
Razer Barracuda X (2022) microphone demo (Office conditions):
How does the microphone sound to you?
Notable mentions
- Logitech G735 ($208 at Amazon): This gaming headset sounds good, has a clear and loud cardioid microphone, and will keep you gaming comfortably for those long sessions.
- Corsair Virtuoso Wireless SE ($254 at Amazon): The headset is crafted for gamers of all platforms. The unboxing experience reveals a slew of connectivity options, which include a USB-C to USB-A cable, 3.5mm aux cable, or a 2.4GHz USB wireless dongle for a virtually lag-free, untethered gaming experience.
- Corsair Void RGB Elite Wireless ($89 at Amazon): The Corsair Void RGB Elite Wireless is a great wireless gaming headset with a comfortable fit, good sound, and great microphone. Its frame is a little loose, but it’s got solid battery life, and you can customize the color of the headset’s LED lights if you’re into that sort of thing.
- HyperX Cloud II Wireless ($113 at Amazon): This gaming headset ticks all the boxes when it comes to a no-frills gaming headset, sporting a comfortable design, very good sound quality, and an impressive 30+ hour battery life. The headset is compatible with PC, PlayStation 4, and the Nintendo Switch when docked.
- Razer Kaira Pro ($89 at Amazon): This is Razer’s first headset designed for Xbox gamers. It features Xbox Wireless support for cable and dongle-free connections for a seamless, untethered gaming experience. It can also connect to mobile devices via Bluetooth for casual listening or for mobile gaming.
- Razer Nari Ultimate ($108 at Amazon): If these headsets just don’t have all the bells and whistles you want, the Nari Ultimate is probably your best bet. This headset features everything the other headsets on this list feature, along with vibrating headphones that activate during bass sounds. It all feels a little gratuitous, but if that’s what you’re in for, this is a great option.
- SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless ($64 at Amazon): This is one of the only wireless gaming headsets that work with the Nintendo Switch console, regardless of whether or not it’s docked.
- SteelSeries Arctis 9X ($154 at Amazon): This headset features Xbox Wireless support for a cable-free and dongle-free connection—complete with Windows Sonic Surround Sound. It’s essentially one of the best headsets you can buy for the Xbox One.
- Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX ($129 at Amazon): This is another good wireless gaming headset for less than $150. It features a great microphone and an accurate frequency response and works on Xbox and PlayStation consoles.
- Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT ($219 at Amazon): This upgraded Virtuoso headset brings Bluetooth and aptX HD support. It’s otherwise an identical headset to the Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE, and dishing out an extra $60 USD for a feature that isn’t terribly important for gaming feels a little steep, which is why this headset is in the notable mentions instead of the main list. If your budget’s expansive, this could the just the ticket.
What you should know before you purchase a wireless gaming headset
The most important thing to think about when you’re getting a wireless gaming headset is what platform you’re going to be gaming on. For the most part, there is no one-size-fits-all option on the market, mainly due to limitations placed by console manufacturers. Every platform has its foibles, some of which mean you won’t be able to get something that works everywhere.
For whatever reason, Microsoft, in particular, doesn’t like it when headsets that work on Xbox One also work on PlayStation 4, so finding a wireless headset that works on both is basically impossible. Up until fairly recently, the Nintendo Switch didn’t support USB audio, whether it was wireless or not, and it’s only added support on a by-device basis. The PlayStation 4 market leader that it is, doesn’t really place any strict restrictions on headphones, but some still work better on the platform than others.
If you’re gaming on a PC, the only thing to really think about is managing your USB ports. Wireless gaming headsets generally don’t use Bluetooth due to lag and inconsistent console support. Instead, you’ll usually find a wireless gaming headset that connects with a USB dongle using a 2.4GHz radio frequency connection, which is less battery intensive and far less prone to lag—plus, everything has a USB port, after all.
Wireless gaming headsets generally don't use Bluetooth for gaming, due to lag and inconsistent console support.
Many headsets are also available in different versions for different platforms. The Razer Thresher Ultimate, for example, comes in a separate model for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. If you like something on this list but it isn’t for your platform of choice, there may be a more compatible version floating around. With that said, there are enough differences between the highlights of what’s available on each platform that we decided it was worth including an entry for each major console.
If you’re connected via a 2.4GHz connection (ie. with a USB dongle) you shouldn’t encounter any perceptible latency or audio-visual lag. The presence of perceptible lag could indicate a range issue—something that’s pretty rare within 30 feet of whatever your dongle is plugged into— or a power issue. If you’re near what your headset is connected to and the headset is fully charged, excessive latency could indicate a hardware defect.
The same can’t be said for the average Bluetooth connection, which routinely suffers from perceptible lag while gaming (especially if you’re stuck with audio codecs like SBC or AAC). That’s why it’s so uncommon among gaming headsets, and when it’s present, it’s always a secondary connection option.
Why you should trust SoundGuys
The gaming headset space, much like many other parts of the audio industry, is rife with exaggerated language and gimmicky features that often don’t add much of anything to your experience. It’s easy to get caught up in the flashy lights and promises of immersive audio and bass so intense it’ll rupture your eardrums (in a good way, somehow), but most of that stuff flat-out doesn’t matter. That’s why we review headsets and why we have lists like this.
When it comes down to it, I don’t just review gaming headsets because I’m passionate about good audio. Pretty much everything I do here at SoundGuys focuses on gaming content, and that’s because I’ve been a gamer my whole life. You name it, I’ve probably played it. I know what kind of audio features are important for different kinds of games and, maybe more importantly, which ones aren’t.
Frequently asked questions about the best wireless gaming headsets
Yes, wireless headsets provide mobility and less clutter. They usually connect via a 2.4GHz RF through USB dongles, ensuring minimal lag and more reliable connectivity than Bluetooth.
While almost no gaming headset could be considered audiophile hardware, pretty much anything we put on this list will sound great for listening to music, as well as playing games.
Yes, the detachable boom mic is both Discord and TeamSpeak certified. This means you can use the HyperX Cloud Flight S headset over either Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service.
In short, no. As long as you’re not using a Bluetooth headset for gaming, it isn’t really an issue. Most wireless gaming headsets typically come with their own wireless RF USB dongle to minimize latency. However, all wireless devices will produce some lag, even if it isn’t immediately perceptible. If you don’t want to worry about latency at all, consider investing in a wired gaming headset instead.
Wireless gaming headsets can be more convenient to use because you don’t have to remove them when you leave your station. More often than not, wireless gaming headsets include software that lets you adjust the sound and update the firmware down the line.
Some pro gamers use wireless headphones for their comfort and freedom, but wired headphones are often preferred in competitive scenarios to avoid potential latency or battery issues.
All the headsets on this list have exceptional sound quality. Still, if we had to choose the best, it would be the Logitech G Pro X 2 LightSpeed because it has a frequency response much closer to our headphone preference curve than many gaming headsets on the market.
At SoundGuys, we try to keep all our lists up to date and regularly swap in new entries. If a recent gaming headset you’d like to know more about hasn’t made it on the list, it’s not always because it didn’t make the cut. We’re a small team, and putting products through their paces can take time.
With gaming headsets in particular, we’ve only been regularly reviewing them for about a year, so there’s also a pretty significant backlog of products to sort through. Give us time—the headsets on this list all deserve to be there, but if there’s something better out there, we’ll get to it eventually.
The cheapest headset on this list is the Razer Barracuda X (2022) for less than $100. However, you can browse more affordable options in our list of the best headphones for under $100.
Prices can range from $30 to $300 or more, but consider platform compatibility, sound quality, and connection method (e.g., 2.4GHz RF). A high-end range price point ($150-$250) usually offers a good balance of these features.
The “best” headset often depends on personal preference and platform requirements. However, in 2023, we consider the HyperX Cloud Alpha to be the most well-rounded wireless gaming headset, working with a variety of platforms such as PC, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch.