The 7 Best Gaming Headsets - Summer 2024 Reviews

The best gaming headset we've tested is the Audeze Maxwell Wireless. While they're often back-ordered and can be difficult to get a hold of, they're worth checking out if you want the best, thanks to their full suite of features and wide console compatibility. They also stand out from the crowd for their use of planar magnetic drivers, which help them produce a more extended bass response and create a wider passive soundstage relative to dynamic driver headphones like the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless.

Their default sound profile is neutral, so elements like footsteps, explosions, and voices in cutscenes are reproduced accurately. You can also use their app's EQ presets for sound customization. These headphones support Dolby Atmos, a virtual surround sound feature to make your listening experience more immersive. Their wireless USB dongle also ensures low latency, so your audio and video will stay in sync while gaming, and there are plenty of ways to connect them to your console. If you're an online gamer, the detachable boom mic offers great performance, ensuring you sound clear and understandable, even in noisy environments.

If you're looking for more comfortable gaming headphones, you'll want to check out the Astro A50 X Wireless. They're lighter, so you don't feel fatigue during long gaming sessions, and they have a wider range of customization options via their companion app. However, their battery life isn't as long, and their mic performance falls short compared to the Audeze.

Unlike the Audeze Maxwell Wireless, the Logitech G PRO X 2 LIGHTSPEED Wireless don't come in console-specific variants, so they're a good option if you're looking for the best PC gaming headset at this price point. Their USB dongle provides a low-latency gaming experience, ensuring that audio and visuals stay in sync. They also support Bluetooth, which is a step up from their predecessor. However, they can only be connected to one device at a time this way, even if you're also using the dongle or analog cable.

Their bass-heavy sound makes gameplay feel more exciting without drowning out dialogue. Their 97-hour battery life can easily handle many days' worth of gaming before needing a recharge, while their dongle ensures that your audio and visuals stay in sync. If you like to game with others, their detachable boom mic also separates your voice from background noise very well, so speech is heard clearly.

Unfortunately, their recording quality is just okay, and your voice sounds unnatural to whoever's on the other end of the line. They support Bluetooth but not simultaneous connections, so you can't listen to game audio and stream music from your phone at the same time. If you want multi-device pairing, you might prefer the Astro A30 Wireless, which can connect to your phone or computer via Bluetooth and your console via USB or analog. However, they have a shorter battery life and aren't as comfortable for most people.

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless is the best headset in the mid-range that we've tested. These headphones have a wireless USB dongle that provides low enough latency for gaming so your audio and video stay in sync. Similar to the previous picks, they have a bass-rich sound profile with a well-balanced mid-range, so voices are present and clear but can also sound veiled and lack detail. Fortunately, the app features a graphic EQ and presets for sound customization.

While they don't last as long continuously as the Logitech G PRO X 2 LIGHTSPEED Wireless, their roughly 30-hour battery life will still get you through long dungeon crawls. You can also use them wired in a pinch. They have a high noise floor while monitoring your voice, and while that's a downside if you play a lot of multiplayer games, the mic still makes your voice sound clear and natural.

These headphones also support Bluetooth, which allows you to mix chat audio or music from your phone and game audio. They also come in a few variants for different consoles. We tested the 7X variant, which is meant for Xbox but can also connect with PlayStation using the USB dongle, although any changes you make in the app, like sound customizations, won't apply. The 7 and 7P variants don't support a wireless connection with Xbox but might be the better choice if you only use a PC or PlayStation.

If you're looking for a budget-friendly headset for gaming, check out the Logitech G535 LIGHTSPEED Wireless. These inexpensive headphones are missing some of the previous picks' helpful features, like Bluetooth, a wired connection, and Xbox compatibility. However, if you're a PlayStation gamer or looking for a budget PC gaming headset, they're worth a look, thanks to their wireless dongle, which provides a low latency connection for gaming.

Their default sound lacks low bass, so your audio is missing some thump and rumble. There's some overemphasis in the high-bass range that adds warmth and punch, which can help bring out sound effects like footsteps in games. They work with companion software that includes a graphic EQ with presets and virtual surround sound features that can help create a more immersive listening experience. However, if you use the mic often when gaming, remember that it doesn't have the best performance and makes your voice sound thin compared to the pricier headphones here.

The best headset we've tested that's budget-friendly is the Logitech G432. A reputable brand like Logitech can be a safe bet if you care about quality and durability, as lower-priced models on the market can have glaring flaws like driver mismatches and faulty frames. Unlike the Logitech G535 LIGHTSPEED Wireless, the G432 are wired-only headphones but still offer a solid performance rivaling more expensive wireless models. These headphones also have a good mic performance, so your voice is easily understood when gaming with friends. Their lightweight, comfortable fit is suitable for long gaming sessions as well.

Their sound profile is light on bass, which isn't ideal for action-packed games, but you can customize it with a graphic EQ and presets in their companion app. Their wired USΒ dongle provides a low latency connection and works with PlayStation consoles, but it's incompatible with Xbox. You can still use the headphones with these consoles if you plug them into a controller, but it'll mean you can't use applied changes made in the EQ via the companion app.

If you're looking to spend the least money, the best headset we've tested is the Logitech G435 LIGHTSPEED Wireless. Logitech manufactures a solid lineup of low-cost gaming headphones that perform very well. In the case of the G435, their plastic frame isn't the sturdiest, but they have decently low latency over both Bluetooth and their wireless USB dongle. They also have a slightly warm sound profile with extra bass to make explosions and footsteps more prominent in the mix. Dialogue and instruments also sound bright and present, but you can't adjust their sound to your preferences since they don't have an EQ.

They also have poor passive noise isolation performance and will let in a lot of noise and leak a lot of game audio to those around you. Fortunately, their mic makes your voice sound bright and clear, though a little unnatural, and their nearly 20-hour battery will last you through several play sessions. While these features make this the best PC gaming headset and the best for PlayStation consoles we've tested at this price range. This model isn't compatible with Xbox consoles.

The Drop + Sennheiser/EPOS PC38X are the best headphones for gaming we've tested with an open-back design. These wired headphones are around the same price as the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless, but you might prefer them if you like your game audio to be as immersive as possible. They're well-built and comfortable to wear, with a choice of either microfiber or velour ear cup padding. They also have a boom mic that makes your voice sound natural and full-bodied during multiplayer games. While they lack a bit of low bass, they have a well-balanced sound profile suitable for action-packed games or dialogue-heavy cutscenes. However, they aren't ideal for use in a noisy or shared space since they don't block out ambient sound, and they leak a lot of audio by design.

Their open design helps them create a soundstage that seems wider and more spacious than the closed-back options on this list. However, if you're looking for open-back gaming headphones with an even more immersive soundstage, it's worth checking out the Corsair VIRTUOSO PRO. These well-built headphones have a swappable cable design that lets you switch between a TRRS cable with a mic and a regular TRS cable, depending on your preferences. However, they're not as comfortable as the Drop + Sennheiser, and their overall sound profile isn't as neutral.