Buying Guide
The Best Comfortable Headsets
From the BlackShark V2 X to the G733: five headsets ranked on driver size and weight, with who should skip each one.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
12 min read5 products evaluated
Comfort comes from padding, clamping force and weight. Every pick names memory foam, breathable pads or a suspension band, ordered from the lowest price.
We sorted these picks by driver size, weight and connection, working from the makers' own data; nothing here was tested in-house, and if a maker skips driver size, the guide says so.
Quick Picks
Which of the 5 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Lowest Price Here
Razer BlackShark V2 XThe lowest price among these headsets at the time of writing.
Best for: Keeping the cost under $50.
Check price for Razer BlackShark V2 X on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Flip-to-mute Microphone
Logitech G335 Wired Gaming HeadsetA flip-to-mute microphone.
Best for: Buyers who want a flip-to-mute microphone.
Check price for Logitech G335 Wired Gaming Headset on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
Razer Kraken V3 X Wired USB Gaming Headset7.1 surround in Windows.
Best for: Buyers who want 7.1 surround in Windows.
Check price for Razer Kraken V3 X Wired USB Gaming Headset on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Largest Drivers
HyperX Cloud III (wired)The largest driver size here (53mm).
Best for: Listeners who want the biggest drivers here.
Check price for HyperX Cloud III (wired) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
Logitech G733 LightspeedA suspension headband at the highest price in the group.
Best for: Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the BlackShark V2 X costs less.
Check price for Logitech G733 Lightspeed on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 5
Razer BlackShark V2 X
The BlackShark V2 X gets the essentials right at a low price: 50mm TriForce Titanium drivers, a HyperClear cardioid mic and passive noise cancellation.
Best for
- Keeping the cost under $50.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: driver size of 50mm, behind the Cloud III (53mm).
Why we like it
At 240g it is one of the lighter closed-back headsets here. On driver size it sits mid-pack at 50mm: the Cloud III comes in at 53mm, and the Kraken V3 X comes in at 40mm. On weight it ties with the G335 at 240g.
It shares a wired 3.5mm connection with the G335; the G733 goes with a lightspeed 2.4GHz connection. No other pick in this guide offers a HyperClear cardioid microphone; compare the G335, which has a flip-to-mute microphone. It also comes with breathable foam ear cushions.
A 3.5mm plug means it works with a controller or front-panel jack; on PC, a separate mic and headphone jack may need a splitter. It cost the least of the 5 picks at the time of writing, with the G335 the next step up.
Key specs
- Driver size
- 50mm
- Weight
- 240g
- Connection
- Wired 3.5mm
- Microphone
- HyperClear cardioid
Pros
- 50mm drivers
- Light 240g build
- No charging or pairing needed
- Passive noise cancellation
Cons
- Driver size of 50mm, behind the Cloud III (53mm)
The catch
What it gives up: driver size of 50mm, behind the Cloud III (53mm); by contrast, the Cloud III comes in at 53mm.
Flip-to-mute Microphone2 of 5
Logitech G335 Wired Gaming Headset
The G335 is almost as light as the G535 at 240g, with flip-to-mute and a 3.5mm plug that works on any system.
Best for
- Buyers who want a flip-to-mute microphone.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the BlackShark V2 X cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It matches the Kraken V3 X on driver size (40mm). It matches the BlackShark V2 X on weight (240g). Like the BlackShark V2 X, it has a wired 3.5mm connection, while the G733 uses a lightspeed 2.4GHz connection.
A flip-to-mute microphone is unique to it among these picks, while the G733 uses a blue VO!CE microphone. It also comes with memory foam ear pads. A 3.5mm plug means it works with a controller or front-panel jack; on PC, a separate mic and headphone jack may need a splitter. Its price falls between the BlackShark V2 X and the Kraken V3 X, based on our last check.
Key specs
- Driver size
- 40mm
- Weight
- 240g
- Connection
- Wired 3.5mm
- Microphone
- Flip-to-mute
Pros
- Light 240g build
- No charging or pairing needed
- Memory foam ear pads
- Flip-to-mute microphone, the only one here
Cons
- Costs more than the BlackShark V2 X at the time of writing
Also Consider3 of 5
Razer Kraken V3 X Wired USB Gaming Headset
The Kraken V3 X plugs in over USB, which avoids a noisy front-panel jack and enables 7.1 surround in Windows.
Best for
- Buyers who want 7.1 surround in Windows.
Skip if
- Skip it if driver size matters most to you; the Cloud III offers 53mm.
Why we like it
Its bendable HyperClear cardioid mic picks up voice over room noise, and Chroma RGB lights the ear cups. On driver size it ties with the G335 at 40mm. On weight it trails the group at 285g, while the BlackShark V2 X weighs 240g.
A wired USB connection is unique to it among these picks, while the G335 uses a wired 3.5mm connection. It also offers memory foam cushions. It connects over USB, which also handles the audio processing on your PC.
When we checked, only the G335 and cheaper picks cost less, and the Cloud III cost more. Driver size is its weakest area, and the Cloud III covers it better at 53mm.
Key specs
- Driver size
- 40mm
- Weight
- 285g
- Connection
- Wired USB
Pros
- No charging or pairing needed
- 7.1 surround in Windows
- Memory foam cushions
Cons
- Driver size trails the Cloud III (53mm)
- Weight trails the BlackShark V2 X (240g)
- Costs more than the BlackShark V2 X at the time of writing
Largest Drivers4 of 5
HyperX Cloud III (wired)
The Cloud III is built around angled 53mm drivers, with memory foam ear cushions on top.
Best for
- Listeners who want the biggest drivers here.
Skip if
- The maker gives no weight, so skip it if that figure decides your choice.
Why we like it
On the spec sheet, it offers a 53mm driver size. Nothing else here matches its 53mm driver size; the BlackShark V2 X comes closest at 50mm. No other pick in this guide offers a wired (USB and 3.5mm) connection; compare the Kraken V3 X, which has a wired USB connection.
A noise-cancelling microphone is unique to it among these picks, while the BlackShark V2 X uses a HyperClear cardioid microphone. USB and 3.5mm options let it move between a PC and a controller. Its price falls between the Kraken V3 X and the G733, based on our last check. Buyers who need a confirmed weight should compare it with the BlackShark V2 X, which weighs 240g.
Key specs
- Driver size
- 53mm
- Connection
- Wired (USB and 3.5mm)
- Microphone
- Noise-cancelling
Pros
- 53mm drivers
- No charging or pairing needed
- Angled 53mm drivers
- Memory foam ear cushions
Cons
- No published weight
- Costs more than the BlackShark V2 X at the time of writing
Premium Pick5 of 5
Logitech G733 Lightspeed
The G733 stands out for a suspension headband, and it adds Lightsync RGB.
Best for
- Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the BlackShark V2 X costs less.
Skip if
- Its driver size is not published, which rules it out if you need that number.
Why we like it
It also weighs 278g. Its 278g weight ranks third of 4 here, behind the BlackShark V2 X (240g) and ahead of the Kraken V3 X (285g). It is the only pick here with a lightspeed 2.4GHz connection; the BlackShark V2 X has a wired 3.5mm connection instead.
You get a blue VO!CE microphone here, which sets it apart from the Cloud III and its a noise-cancelling microphone. It connects through a USB wireless dongle, so keep a free USB port near your desk for the best range. It was the highest-priced of the 5 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the Cloud III and the rest.
Key specs
- Weight
- 278g
- Connection
- Lightspeed 2.4GHz
- Microphone
- Blue VO!CE
Pros
- Light 278g build
- Suspension headband
- Lightsync RGB
- Lightspeed 2.4GHz connection, the only one here
Cons
- No published driver size
- Costs more than the BlackShark V2 X at the time of writing
The catch
The maker doesn't give its driver size; if that figure matters, the Cloud III comes in at 53mm.
How We Chose These Comfortable Headsets
Alex Morgan compared the manufacturer specifications, connectivity, warranty terms and compatibility of every pick. Figures come from the makers unless a third-party source is named; we did not test these products ourselves.
- The figures behind the order
- We lined up five headsets on driver size, weight, connection and microphone from manufacturer specifications. We did not test them in-house, and driver size and weight are missing for at least one pick.
- The shared baseline
- All 5, from the BlackShark V2 X to the G733, state connection.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The G733 gives no driver size; the Cloud III gives no weight.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the BlackShark V2 X (under $50) to the G733 ($50 to $100).
What to Look for in a Comfortable Headset
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Driver size
The Cloud III tops driver size at 53mm and the Kraken V3 X sits lowest at 40mm. For less, the BlackShark V2 X is the runner-up at 50mm (under $50 tier). The G733 gives no driver size figure, so 4 of 5 picks are compared here.
How much weight you need
Across these 4 picks weight spans 285g (the Kraken V3 X) to 240g (the BlackShark V2 X). If weight is your first filter, the BlackShark V2 X sets the ceiling at 240g. The Cloud III gives no weight figure, so 4 of 5 picks are compared here.
Open-back headphones on a stand beside a headphone amplifier Microphone
The BlackShark V2 X lists HyperClear cardioid; the G335 lists flip-to-mute; the Cloud III lists noise-cancelling; the G733 lists Blue VO!CE. Sort out microphone before price: it splits 4 stated picks into groups of 1, 1, 1 and 1.
Features beyond the spec table
The Kraken V3 X: memory foam cushions. The Cloud III: memory foam ear cushions. The G733: Lightsync RGB.
A headset hanging on a PC case next to a monitor Budget
Under $50 buys the BlackShark V2 X, the G335 and the Kraken V3 X; $50 to $100 buys the Cloud III and the G733 at our last check.
How to Choose a Comfortable Headset
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping the cost under $50 | BlackShark V2 X | The lowest price among these headsets at the time of writing |
| Buyers who want a flip-to-mute microphone | G335 | A flip-to-mute microphone |
| Buyers who want 7.1 surround in Windows | Kraken V3 X | 7.1 surround in Windows |
| Listeners who want the biggest drivers here | Cloud III | The largest driver size here (53mm) |
| Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the BlackShark V2 X costs less | G733 | A suspension headband at the highest price in the group |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Cloud III leads on driver size at 53mm, ahead of the BlackShark V2 X at 50mm. "Not listed" marks driver size where the G733 leaves the figure out.
| Headset | Driver size | Weight | Connection | Microphone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BlackShark V2 X | 50mm | 240g | Wired 3.5mm | HyperClear cardioid |
| G335 | 40mm | 240g | Wired 3.5mm | Flip-to-mute |
| Kraken V3 X | 40mm | 285g | Wired USB | Not listed |
| Cloud III | 53mm | Not listed | Wired (USB and 3.5mm) | Noise-cancelling |
| G733 | Not listed | 278g | Lightspeed 2.4GHz | Blue VO!CE |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
At our last check the cheapest pick, the BlackShark V2 X, sat in the under $50 tier, 2 tiers in all up to the G733 at $50 to $100; Amazon prices move, so recheck before buying.
| Price tier | Headsets |
|---|---|
| Under $50 | BlackShark V2 X, G335, Kraken V3 X |
| About $50 to $100 | Cloud III, G733 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the BlackShark V2 X compare with the Cloud III on driver size?
Between the top two, it is 53mm on the Cloud III against 50mm on the BlackShark V2 X, a 6% difference. The Kraken V3 X is at the other end of this group with 40mm. No driver size figure is published for the G733, which leaves 4 of 5 picks ranked here.
Is the G733 worth paying more than the BlackShark V2 X?
The G733 matches or trails the BlackShark V2 X on weight, so pay more only for a feature the spec sheet doesn't cover. The BlackShark V2 X leads on weight (240g). The BlackShark V2 X sat in the under $50 tier and the G733 in the $50 to $100 tier when we checked, with 3 other picks between them.
What makes the G335 the Flip-to-mute Microphone?
The label rests on a flip-to-mute microphone. It gives up driver size (40mm against 50mm) to the BlackShark V2 X, the cheapest pick. It suits anyone who wants a flip-to-mute microphone.
Do the BlackShark V2 X and the Kraken V3 X differ on connection?
The BlackShark V2 X and the G335 use Wired 3.5mm; the Kraken V3 X uses Wired USB; the Cloud III uses Wired (USB and 3.5mm); the G733 uses Lightspeed 2.4GHz.
Beyond the specs, what sets the BlackShark V2 X and the G335 apart?
The BlackShark V2 X: passive noise cancellation. The G335: memory foam ear pads. The Kraken V3 X: 7.1 surround in Windows.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the BlackShark V2 X, chosen for the lowest price among these headsets at the time of writing. Look at the G335 for a flip-to-mute microphone, the Kraken V3 X for 7.1 surround in Windows and the G733 for a suspension headband at the highest price in the group if those matter more to you.
Swap to fabric pads in warm rooms to reduce sweating.
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About the author
PC Hardware Editor
Alex covers PC hardware, monitors, components, upgrades and peripherals for The PC Journal, with a focus on helping readers understand specifications, compatibility and meaningful product trade-offs.
Covers: Monitors, Graphics cards, Processors, PC components, Peripherals, Upgrades and compatibility
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