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The best wireless Xbox One headsets
Published onAugust 18, 2023
Shopping for wireless Xbox One gaming headsets can be tricky, especially since the console is now several years old. Unlike wired gaming headsets, there aren’t all that many options out there—and even fewer are really worth getting.
It’s not terribly hard to find a decent headset, but there are definitely a few things to consider when you’re searching for a great one. Here are the best options we could find based on our testing, reviews, and research.
What's new?
- This article was updated on August 18, 2023, to answer more frequently asked questions and update formatting to our current style.
- For the latest Xbox console, see our list of the best Xbox Series X/S gaming headsets.
What you should know about Xbox One headsets
It may not be the newest gaming console from Microsoft anymore, but there are still plenty of great games to play on the Xbox One. Like most consoles from its generation, the Xbox One saw some audio complications typical of the era. Here, the primary constraint revolves around connection options. The Xbox One features several USB ports and hardware to support Bluetooth connections, yet it supports neither Bluetooth headsets nor most USB headsets.
Wireless audio on the Xbox One requires a USB dongle, with a few notable exceptions (Some of which are on this list). However, only headsets made specifically for the Xbox One will work over a USB connection, whether wired or wireless. Microsoft has enforced something of a closed ecosystem for its peripherals, so wireless Xbox One gaming headsets won’t work on other consoles like the PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch.
Additionally, some wireless headsets use Xbox Wireless to connect to the console. This wireless connection is typically reserved for Xbox One controllers and offers a dongle-free solution, where headsets pair directly with the Xbox One. These headsets are often a little more expensive, but they’re fast becoming a common option.
With all that said, here are some of the best wireless Xbox One gaming headsets.
The best wireless Xbox One gaming headset is the SteelSeries Arctis 9x
If you’re looking for a premium experience tailored from start to finish for the Xbox One, look no further than the SteelSeries Arctis 9x. Built on the same frame as great headsets like the Arctis 7 and Arctis Pro, the 9x variety is one of the first wireless Xbox One gaming headsets to go truly wireless.
This headset uses Xbox Wireless connectivity, previously reserved for controllers exclusively to connect to the Xbox One. Just pair the Arctis 9x with the console, and you’re set—no dongles or base stations required.
This Xbox One headset sports a durable aluminum frame with a comfortable suspension band modeled after the elastic band of a pair of ski goggles. Its headphones come with pads made out of a material SteelSeries calls Airweave, which breathes extremely well and offers a nice balance between the plush of a velour pad and the rigidity of leatherette. It also boasts up to 20 hours of use on a single charge.
The Arctis 9x’s bidirectional microphone is flexible and can even retract back into the left headphone when not needed. Surround sound is also supported through Windows Sonic Spatial Audio, so you should be able to hear the direction of enemies trying to sneak up on you in Fortnite just fine.
The Razer Nari Ultimate for Xbox One brings the features
Most of the time, gaming headsets stick to a few basic features. At most price points, you won’t find an option with everything very often. The Razer Nari Ultimate is one of those options. When we reviewed it in 2018, the headset offered a feature set that bordered on excessive. With Razer’s new Xbox One-focused version, we’re now firmly in excessive territory.
The Razer Nari Ultimate for Xbox One is a wireless gaming headset with big comfortable headphone pads and a suspension-style band. The headphones sit on hinges that rotate to fit any head shape and feature 50mm dynamic drivers. The headphone pads have hidden eyewear channels, so bespectacled gamers can play comfortably for hours. A built-in retractable microphone sits in the left ear cup, and it’s flexible, so you can set it in whatever position you need. This is built to be comfortable for everyone, and it’s got a pretty exhaustive swath of features to boot.
For starters, the Xbox One headset features the same Xbox Wireless compatibility as the Arctis 9x, so you can connect the headset to your console without needing a dongle of any kind—just pair and go. While connected wirelessly to your Xbox One, the Nari Ultimate also supports Microsoft Sonic surround sound, so you won’t miss directional cues in games like Fortnite. Additionally, this headset offers haptic feedback, creating a rumbling vibration in your ears during intense bass.
Basically, the Razer Nari Ultimate brings gaming headset mainstays like a built-in mic, surround sound, and big booming bass. It combines it with added conveniences like Xbox Wireless and game-chat audio balancing controls—with borderline gratuitous features like haptic feedback and nearly 20-hour battery life sprinkled on top. Among wireless Xbox One gaming headsets, this one certainly offers a gratuitous feature set.
The HyperX CloudX Flight brings the longest battery life
Built on the same frame as the recent HyperX Cloud Flight S, the HyperX CloudX Flight is an Xbox-specific version of the Cloud Flight. Swapping read highlights out for a more “Xbox green,” this wireless gaming headset brings the battery life Cloud Flight headsets are known for, along with a solid feature set.
Unlike some of the other wireless Xbox One gaming headsets on this list, while the CloudX Flight is designed for Microsoft’s console, it doesn’t support Xbox Wireless. That means it uses a USB 2.4GHz wireless RF dongle to connect. While this isn’t as elegant a solution, it has some benefits. RF signals are notoriously kind to battery life, and you don’t have to go through the process of pairing the headset—just plug it in and play.
The HyperX CloudX Flight offers up to 30 hours of playback time on a single charge, better than almost every gaming headset on the market. It’s got soft memory foam ear pads, which should make long gaming sessions comfortable. The headset’s microphone is also detachable, so you don’t need to have it sticking in your face if voice chat isn’t your bag. To top it all off, the CloudX Flight comes with HyperX’s assurance that it will be compatible with the upcoming Xbox Series X, Microsoft’s next-generation console.
Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX covers all the bases
The Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX is an updated and beefier version of Turtle Beach’s previous Stealth 600 headset. According to our testing, it boasts an impressive battery life of 78 hours and 23 minutes. Thanks to an updated USB dongle, the headset can connect to the Xbox Series S/X console and the PlayStation 5, thanks to a switch that allows it to swap connectivity modes.
The Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX may be a little lacking in bass, but overall the sound quality is decent, as is the noise isolation. It’s comfortable for long hours and has a nice microphone for Discord chats and in-game team chats. There are a lot of controls along the ear cups of the headset that allow you to adjust features as needed. Some of the extended sound features like “Superhuman Hearing” are a little superfluous, but overall it’s a great wireless headset.
The Razer Kaira Pro has an excellent microphone
The Razer Kaira Pro is the company’s latest wireless gaming headset, designed specifically for Microsoft’s latest gaming consoles. It offers support for Xbox Wireless, thus enabling an enjoyable gaming experience without any cable or dongles. Plus, the Kaira Pro also doubles as a pair of Bluetooth headphones, which is great for listening to music or watching movies on a mobile device.
The Kaira Pro takes a page from the low-profile design of Razer’s newest headsets, opting for a sleek matte black exterior with neon-green accents. The Razer logo on both ear cups has LED lights for gamers who prefer a flashier aesthetic to their headset. Its memory foam ear cups are layered with mesh fabric, delivering a comfortable gaming experience while creating a decent seal. The headset also has enough battery to last you a little more than 21 hours of playtime—more than enough for an all-nighter.
Sound-wise, the Kaira Pro isn’t the most accurate-sounding headset on the block. Fans of electronic music and other bass-heavy content will appreciate the headset’s emphasis on lower frequencies. At the same time,e listeners who gravitate towards more acoustic tracks will notice a significant treble de-emphasis for sounds like guitars, cymbals, and hi-hats.
Fortunately, the Kaira Pro makes up for its subpar sound with its detachable boom microphone. Its neutral-leaning frequency response ensures you’ll be heard clearly—whether in-game or in a conference call. Plus, the lack of any significant low-end roll-off allows people with really deep voices to come through without distortion. Don’t believe us? Listen for yourself:
The best wireless Xbox One headsets: Notable mentions
- Razer BlackShark V2 Pro ($119 at Amazon): Microphone quality is very good, and wireless performance is solid but not compatible with Xbox One. For that, you’ll need to plug in via a 3.5mm cable.
- SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless ($64 at Amazon): This is an all-time favorite among gamers looking for a budget wireless headset. The Arctis 1 features a USB-C RF dongle, supports 3.5mm connections (which you’ll need for the Xbox One), has a 25-hour battery life, and a pleasant sound profile that will suit most, if not all, gamers.
- Corsair HS75 XB Wireless ($118 at Amazon): This Xbox Wireless headset is comfortable, with great battery life and good audio. It’s a little on the pricey side for something so feature-light, but what it does, it does well.
- Razer Kaira Wireless ($69 at Amazon): The pared-back version of the Razer Kaira Pro, this Xbox Wireless cuts Bluetooth support and $50 off the price. Otherwise, it’s got an identical gaming experience.
- HyperX CloudX Stinger Core ($26 at Amazon): This wireless gaming headset is pretty boilerplate, but it works well, and it’s comfortable. Like most Xbox Wireless gaming headsets, it’s pretty inconvenient on any other platform, but if you’re looking for something simple for just one platform, this could be the thing.
Why you should trust SoundGuys
Not only is this site our nine-to-five, but each of us has multiple years of reviewing consumer audio products. We’ve kept tabs on the ever-changing world of audio, allowing us to parse apart the gimmicks from the gems. Sam, in particular, is our resident gaming guru—so the models listed here have gone through not only our testing gauntlet but hours of practical use.
Much like many other parts of the audio industry, the gaming headset space is rife with exaggerated language and gimmicky features that often don’t add much 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.
Frequently asked questions about wireless Xbox One headsets
Both the Steelseries Arctis 9X and the Razer Kaira Pro offer Bluetooth connections as well as Xbox Wireless, so they’re probably good places to start. After that, the question is whether microphone quality matters to you, as the Kaira uses an internal one that doesn’t sound very good over Bluetooth connections, and the Arctis 9X uses its typical boom microphone.
Fortunately, all the headsets on this list are forward compatible with the Xbox Series X, according to each product’s manufacturer. If you’re in the market for a new headset, now is a pretty good time to drop some cash for an upgrade!
It’s a matter of quality control. Bluetooth connections are prone to significant amounts of latency, which would ultimately ruin your gaming experience. That’s why gaming console manufacturers prefer to use a proprietary system for interfacing with wireless headsets, such as Xbox Wireless for the Xbox One.
Check out our complete list of the best gaming headsets for the Xbox One, which includes some wired options!
The Arctis 9x supports Bluetooth 4.1 for simultaneous connection and playback with mobile devices. You can adjust the mix of audio from both Xbox Wireless and Bluetooth sources independently, so balancing music from your phone and game sounds from your Xbox should be easy (high-quality codecs are not supported). You also won’t need to take off your headset when you get a phone call.
Yes, wireless Xbox headsets offer greater freedom of movement and tailored features for the Xbox One. Some connect directly to the console without dongles. However, ensure compatibility due to Microsoft’s closed ecosystem.
Wired headsets are reliable, don’t require charging, and are often cheaper. However, wireless headsets give you the freedom to get up and walk around and often come with added features. The choice really depends on personal preference and priorities.