The best wireless gaming headsets for PC, PS4, Xbox and Switch (2018)
If you are looking for the best wireless gaming headset for your device Xbox, PC or PlaystationLook for a headset with a high-quality microphone, long battery life, and good sound quality – after all, you want the versatility to talk to teammates and curse your opponents PlayerUnknown’s battlefields and Fourteen days as long as it takes to win.
And while you’re at it, make it a wireless headset. Refill your coffee or get a snack without fiddling with a string – or pull your valuable laptop or console to the ground. (Do not ask.)
I was in the market for such a headset last year, but it was difficult for me to choose one. But because I work for CNET, I had a simple solution: Test them all at once.
Over thirty headsets and many, lots Games by PUBG later I found the best for myself. And depending on your needs, I’m pretty sure I’ve found the best for you.
Disclaimer: CNET can generate a part of the turnover from the sale of the products presented on this page.
Which wireless headsets are best? We have pretty much tested them all.
GIF by Aaron Robinson / CNET
Read me first
Before you dive into our list of the best wireless gaming headsets, there are a few things you should know:
- You don’t necessarily need this for the PS4 or Xbox One. Virtually none wired The headset can effectively become a wireless headset by connecting it to the 3.5mm jack on your controller.
- Most wireless headsets work with PS4 or Xbox, but not both. I’m not sure why, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they are lawyers. Headsets with optical jacks can receive audio from both consoles, but do not necessarily use their microphones.
- Every single headset I’ve tried works with Windows PCs. Even if they don’t mention a PC on the box. You just need to know that Xbox Direct Direct Wireless Headsets (there aren’t many, and I’ll point out) require this That $ 25 dongle for Windows.
- Any headset can produce virtual surround sound. Most headsets have built-in surround sound, and for those who don’t, Windows PCs and Xbox One offer aftermarket options like Windows Sonic and Dolby Atmos. We’ll let you know if a PS4 headset doesn’t offer this option.
- Virtual surround sound isn’t great anyway. Experts generally agree, and so do I. Headphones are no substitute for true surround sound speakers. I’ve gotten good at telling where shots with normal old stereo came from, and haven’t noticed any useful difference even when I switched to Dolby Atmos.
- Not many wireless headsets work with the Nintendo Switch. You can Check out this post to see which ones.
The best
The HyperX Cloud flight.
Ian Knighton / CNET
Child’s play: HyperX Cloud Flight
$ 160, £ 140, AU $ 230
- Compatible with: PS4, PC, Steam Link
- Buy for: Best battery life, good audio quality, comfort, great controls, slim, minimalist design, 3.5 mm headphone jack
- Skip if: You need an Xbox compatible headset.
The HyperX Cloud flight is the wireless gaming headset that I buy for myself and the only one that I can recommend without knowing your specific needs. It’s light, remarkably comfortable, not too flashy, and best of all, it sounds fantastic – a rich, full, clear, and wide soundstage that’s good enough for my music collection, with just enough bass beat for game shots and explosions.
It is also the best wireless gaming headset for battery life, most of all wireless headsets today after 30 hours (I tested it). It also works great as a passive wired headphone. Simply pull out the detachable microphone and plug in a 3.5mm cable. You can walk down the street and listen to music without draining the battery.
The catch: It doesn’t work with the Xbox, even if you connect the 3.5mm cable to your gamepad. It has a headphone Jack, no headto adjust Jack, so there is no microphone (and apparently no Xbox compatible) if you use a cable. And although I find it comfortable, it still puts a little pressure on my jaw.
The Plantronics Rig 800.
Ian Knighton / CNET
The most convenient for most heads: Plantronics Rig 800
$ 150, £ 160, AU $ 250
- Compatible with: PS4 (Rig 800HS) or Xbox One (Rig 800LX); also works with PC and Nintendo Switch
- Buy for: Comfort, battery life, microphone quality, radio range, optical socket, chat / volume control
- Skip if: You long for bass, need a headphone jack or want a headset that is suitable for both music and games.
Plantronics makes gaming headsets? Yes and the rig 800 is the only one that is so light and comfortable that I sometimes forgot to wear it.
Instead of relying on a conventional ratchet head strap that pinches the sides of your head by a fixed amount, the two sides are connected by a spring-loaded inner head strap that automatically adjusts the tension to the size of your skull. With the fancy modular headband, you can also pop out the ear cups and use them higher or lower to adapt them to larger or smaller heads.
Add a long battery life (I have almost 27 hours) and some of the best radio coverage (below, through a floor and a wall) and you have the right competitor. Just know that the microphone quality is quite good, but the audio lacks some punch and it can get a little thinner. There’s also no surround sound for the PS4 if that’s important to you, and no headphone jack.
The steel series Arctis 7.
Josh Miller / CNET
The best headset for people who hate headsets: Steelseries Arctis 7
$ 150, £ 140, AU $ 280
- Compatible with: PC, PS4, Nintendo Switch (with 3.5mm workaround), Steam Link, others via wired 3.5mm cable
- Buy for: Comfort, stylish design, microphone quality, battery life, two audio streams on the PC and you can connect your earphones!
- Skip if: You buy for Xbox, have a particularly high head or big ears and / or need excellent audio quality.
Some people hate headsets. They hate the way they look. They hate how they feel. These people should buy one Steelseries Arctis 7. It is the headset that uses a colorful, comfortable, goggle-like, stretchy fabric strap to make a fashion statement, cushion the head and adjust the tension at the same time.
The result: a headset that is more comfortable for medium-sized heads than practically any other, and that you would not wear embarrassingly in public. (The super retractable microphone doesn’t hurt either.) And if you still hate the fit, you can plug your earphones into the headset’s “share” port and let the Arctis dangle around your neck.
The Arctis 7 also offers a killer feature that you won’t normally find on headsets at this price: two different audio streams on the PC. Set the voice chat to one and your game to the other, and then just turn a knob if you want to hear friends (or steps) more clearly.
The Astro A50 Gen 3.
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The best audio: Astro A50 Gen 3
$ 300, £ 250, AU $ 480
- Compatible with: PS4 or Xbox One Versions; Also works with PC, Nintendo Switch (with 3.5mm workaround) and Steam Link
- Buy for: Microphone quality, audio quality, comfort, two audio devices on the PC, optical sockets on the base station
- Skip if: You need a long battery life – or audio privacy. You are not made of money. You also want a wired headset.
There is a reason the Astro A50 is usually touted as the best wireless gaming headset: it sounds great. No other wireless gaming headset has clarity and the booming bass via a purely wireless connection. No microphone is almost as rich or can filter out unwanted background noise as well.
This is probably because, unlike practically any other headset, the A50 uses a 5 GHz wireless connection and offers more bandwidth (and thus higher audio quality) than a typical 2.4 GHz kit. But this also means shorter range, shorter battery life and – especially on the Xbox, if you read the user reviews – the possibility of disruptive interference.
Even though the Astro A50 Gen 3 has a decent charging station that monitors your battery life, it is difficult to keep the charging pins in line. I have returned to a dead headset more than once. Do you also know that it is the leaked headset that I have tried: the people around you can definitely hear your music.
None of this is the reason why the A50 is not my first choice. It just costs twice as much as other competent options. And if the price doesn’t matter, you should definitely check out the more future-proof (but less bassy) Steelseries Arctis Pro later in this post.
The Corsair Void Pro Wireless.
Josh Miller / CNET
The best for budget PC gamers: Corsair Void Pro Wireless
$ 100, £ 110, AU $ 200
- Compatible with: PC, Steam Link. Works poorly with PS4.
- Buy for: Size heads. Happy wallets. Gifts for other people.
- Skip if: You buy for PS4, Xbox, Switch or phone. You have a small head
There are two simple ways of looking at it the Corsair Void Pro Wireless. It’s very convenient, very cheap, surprisingly clear and crisp, and looks cool.
Or: it hardly stays on your skull, works properly with nothing other than a PC, is ugly AF and doesn’t have a great sound. It really depends on the size of your head and your expectations. If $ 50 is a lot of money for you (it’s the difference between the Void Pro and our top picks) and your head is big, I would get it over practically everything else.
The Logitech G933 Artemis Spectrum.
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The biggest bass boom (and 3.5mm tricks): Logitech G933
$ 200, £ 170, AU $ 300
- Compatible with: PC, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Steam Link, others via wired 3.5mm cable
- Buy for: Big booms. Headphone jacks. Eye-catching lighting. Programmable keys for PC. Replaceable battery.
- Skip if: You can’t stand the style – or the creak. Your head is big
At a street price of just $ 130 the Logitech G933 Artemis Spectrum is a wireless champion in two ways. It’s the only headset with big, booming bass that you can feel when walking on the street – and The only headset where the 3.5mm headphone jack does a lot of wonderful things.
When the device is turned on, you can use the G933 as a fully amplified wired 3.5 mm headset: programmable sound profiles, lighting and everything. Even when the device is turned off, the supplied 3.5mm cable from Logitech provides an inline volume control and a microphone for your music and phone calls. There is also a second 3.5 mm line-in socket on the USB dongle, which you can use to produce practically any wired audio source cablefewer, including old school consoles with RCA audio jacks. (Logitech includes an adapter.)
It’s just a shame that the G933 isn’t built any better. It is creaky and vise-like, with slightly scratchy ear cups. The battery doesn’t last long. And it’s quite bulky to carry around seriously in the city.
The Logitech G533.
Sean Hollister / CNET
The best radio range: Logitech G533
$ 150, £ 140, AU $ 220
- Compatible with: PC, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Steam Link
- Buy for: Bulletproof all-round wireless quality, programmable key for PC, replaceable battery
- Skip if: It’s too playful for comfort. You will need an Xbox or a 3.5mm jack.
“The only way to make the audio snippet was to walk outside the house to my car and get in the car park. When I returned 20 minutes later, the connection was automatically re-established as soon as I opened the car door.”
That’s how I described it the Logitech G533 last januaryand it is still true today. If you plan to abuse the range of a wireless headset to move around your house – or maybe a spot in the garden? – The G533 is right for you.
It doesn’t sound quite as good as the G933, there is no 3.5mm jack and the plastic surface scratches easily … but if you can find it at a typical sale under $ 100 (e.g. today, April 18th!), This is a great choice for PC, PlayStation and even a docked Nintendo Switch.
The new Sony PlayStation Gold Wireless.
Josh Miller / CNET
The best for cheap skates: Sony PlayStation Gold Wireless (2018)
$ 100, £ 70, AU $ 130
- Compatible with: PC, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Steam Link, others via wired 3.5mm cable
- Buy for: Wide device compatibility, light weight, a happy wallet
- Skip if: You know how good audio sounds.
You know how people say “ignorance is bliss” when it comes to sound quality? If that describes you and your friends, buy it the new PlayStation Gold Wireless and never look back. It works with just about anything – including the Nintendo Switch – and is also the lightest and least intrusive wireless headset you can buy today.
Incidentally, I found it much more convenient than the PlayStation Platinum and the original PlayStation Gold. It doesn’t fold down like the old PS Gold … but that means it doesn’t have any thin plastic arms to break. That was a common complaint. No boom microphone means that your voice sounds thin and robotic. However, you don’t care about the audio quality. Correct?
The Razer Thresher.
Josh Miller / CNET
Best for Xbox (or glasses): Razer Thresher for Xbox One
$ 150, £ 150, AU $ 230
- Compatible with: Xbox One
- Buy for: Direct wireless connection to Xbox One, luxurious padding with glasses relief
- Skip if: They hate harsh high notes. You want to connect to everything BUT Xbox.
If you want a headset with a direct wireless connection to your Xbox, or if it is specifically designed for glasses, there are only three options: the Turtle Beach Stealth 600, the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 and the Razer Thresher. And if you don’t really, really want a 3.5mm headset jack or Bluetooth audio, this is not a competition – the Razer Thresher is much more comfortable and sounds better with a remarkably clear microphone.
These cooling gel-filled ear cups are the most comfortable I’ve tried, apart from none, and I’ve been told that the generous eyeglass relief does a great job of keeping the pressure off your frames. It would be my choice for the most comfortable … if it didn’t weigh almost a pound. And you know that it really only works with an out-of-the-box Xbox One. For Windows PCs, you optionally need a $ 25 dongle.
Also note that there is three more versions of the Thresher, including a $ 150 Thresher 7.1 for the PS4 and a pair of $ 250 Thresher Ultimate sets for the Xbox and PS4. I cannot recommend them as the microphones are not so clear and I would not pay an additional $ 100 for the base stations included. For this reason, increasing the radio range is not good enough to buy it.
The Steelseries Arctis Pro Wireless.
Josh Miller / CNET
The future-proof choice: Steelseries Arctis Pro Wireless
$ 330, £ 300, AU $ 500
- Compatible with: PC, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Steam Link, others via wired 3.5mm cable
- Buy for: Almost universal compatibility, Bluetooth, replaceable batteries, audio quality, comfort, design, microphone quality, radio range, optical sockets, two audio streams on the PC, etc.
- Skip if: You are not made of money. You buy for Xbox.
It is the most expensive wireless gaming headset you can buy. (You can buy a new PlayStation or Xbox for less money.)
But if you think about it the Arctis Pro Wireless As an investment, it could actually make sense. It’s the only headset with a pair of user-replaceable batteries – meaning you never run out of charge. Even if you wear them down, you can easily buy more. (The same batteries are used as the previous Siberia 840, 800 and H Wireless, which cost $ 20 for a pack of two.)
It’s also the only headset I can recommend with Bluetooth connectivity – meaning that as an excellent Bluetooth headset for music, games, and even calls, it does a double job. Plus practically everything I like about its cheaper Arctis 7 Cousin.
Now add the second best radio range of all headsets and the richest audio of all Astro A50 Gen 3. Honestly, it has clearer mids … if it had a little more bass and a slightly better microphone, it would be that too, turn off the astro too.
If I could afford one, I would buy one. But I can’t now.
Josh Miller / CNET
The rest, also known as headsets, are not quite as good
Good microphone, but sound quality, workmanship, comfort, range and battery life have faded compared to the HyperX Cloud Flight. If you need the optical jack and the game / chat mix, choose Plantronics.
One size fits for a few (no adjustments at all), muddy audio, below-average microphone quality and a gigantic, heavy construction.
Just like the Corsair Void Pro Wireless, but a little worse – a worse microphone boom, a less obvious mute indicator, and slightly worse earcups. It costs the same, so why bother?
It looks stylish, works with virtually any audio source, offers two audio devices on the PC and has excellent microphones. But the build quality and connectivity are a hit or miss … and the audio isn’t good enough to justify the $ 200 price tag.
Similar to the LS30, but with a tighter, creakier fit and no native surround sound. At $ 150, HyperX Cloud Flight and Steelseries Arctis 7 top it. Could be worth $ 100.
Many user reviews say that the plastic frame tends to break. The sound is generally clear and clear, but not deep enough to emphasize it. Big and heavy too.
Comfortable but hard highs and no easy way to adjust them (unlike Man O ‘War). I think you would be happier with the Plantronics if you weren’t wearing glasses.
$ 250 is too much to pay for a $ 150 headset (see Thresher 7.1 above) with a little more radio range and a plastic stand.
Razer Thresher Ultimate (Xbox)
In contrast to the PS4 version, there is actually a reason to pay the additional $ 100: The Xbox version of the Thresher Ultimate also works oddly with PS4. But I would pay a little more for an Astro A50 instead.
OLD Sony PlayStation Gold Wireless / Wireless Stereo Headset
Many user reviews say that the weak plastic arms of this headset tend to break. More bass than the new gold, but that’s not enough reason to choose it instead.
Sony PlayStation Platinum Wireless
The crappy microphone and uncomfortable fit cannot compensate for above-average sound quality. All of my top picks (except the PlayStation Gold) sound better and the gold is more comfortable.
Sound Blaster Tactic 3D Rage Wireless
The worst headset I’ve tested. Ugly, cheap and uncomfortable, with tiny ear cups and terrible sound quality.
Steel series Siberia 840, Siberia 800, and H wireless
Discontinued and replaced by Arctis Pro Wireless.
Discontinued and replaced by the Stealth 600. Not a big loss.
Far too cheap and uncomfortable, despite a decently clear sound. 3.5mm jack feels like an afterthought.
Discontinued and replaced by the Stealth 600. Too bad, because it offers a clearer sound and more functions.
Turtle Beach Stealth 600 (PS4)
Better built than the Turtle Beach Stealth 520, it replaces but a little poorer sound – and loses the optical and 3.5mm jacks that made the 520 a good deal. The new PlayStation Gold Wireless is a better budget choice overall.
Turtle Beach Stealth 600 (Xbox One)
With a firmware update, the direct connection from Xbox Wireless now seems to work properly (contrary to previous user reviews). But it doesn’t sound good and is not compatible with anything other than Xbox.
Turtle Beach Stealth 700 (PS4)
Bluetooth is good at this price, but it somehow sounds worse (mushier) than the cheaper Stealth 600. Also less comfortable to wear.
Turtle Beach Stealth 700 (Xbox One)
With Bluetooth, 3.5 mm and direct connection to Xbox Wireless, it is versatile! Unfortunately, it doesn’t sound or fit better than the PS4 version.
Terrible audio quality. The microphone is so bad that my friends refused to play with me. The buttons are far too sensitive, so turning them on and off accidentally is very easy.
Click here to check the full table.
Sean Hollister / CNET
How we tested
You may be wondering: Why should you trust my opinion on which wireless gaming headsets are the best? Why did I choose these special headsets at all?
I say, “Because I tested them all.” Yes, yes.
To create this guide, I searched the internet and contacted every reputable headset company to check if it would have a wireless model at the time of our testing. Some have already been discontinued – which is why, for example, I never tried the fan-favorite Corsair Gaming H2100 or SkullCandy PLYR 1. I called every wireless gaming headset I could.
Then I tested and compared more than 30 headsets, played them against each other and used a huge table to track my results. And while this table is a bit rough around the edges, I’m happy to share it with you.
We will update this guide as more and better headsets arrive. And if we missed a particularly great one, don’t hesitate to contact us! You can find me at [email protected].
