Buying Guide

The Best Gaming Headsets Right Now

Six headsets from a wired Cloud III to the tri-mode G PRO X 2.

By , PC Hardware Editor

12 min read6 products evaluated

A desk setup with a keyboard, mouse and headset beside a monitor
Illustrative image

Most players should pick the connection first: wired for simplicity, 2.4GHz wireless for freedom. These six cover both.

We compared drivers, battery and mic from each listing.

Quick Picks

Which of the 6 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.

  1. Best High-End Pick

    Logitech G PRO X 2 Lightspeed Wireless

    Lightspeed, Bluetooth and 3.5mm with a cardioid mic.

    Best for: PC and console.

    Check price for Logitech G PRO X 2 Lightspeed Wireless on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
  2. Longest Battery Life

    HyperX Cloud III S Wireless Gaming Headset

    The longest battery life here (120 hours).

    Best for: Long sessions away from a charging cable.

    Check price for HyperX Cloud III S Wireless Gaming Headset on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
  3. Best Wired Value

    HyperX Cloud III Wired

    53mm drivers near $58.

    Best for: No-charge setups.

    Check price for HyperX Cloud III Wired on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Our Picks

Best High-End Pick1 of 6

Logitech G PRO X 2 Lightspeed Wireless

The G PRO X 2 is the most complete wireless headset here: Lightspeed for low-latency games, Bluetooth for a phone and a 3.5mm cable for a controller, all around 50mm graphene drivers.

Best for

PC and console.

Skip if

Skip it if battery life matters most to you; the Cloud III S offers 120 hours.
Logitech G PRO X 2 Lightspeed Wireless

Why we like it

Its detachable 6mm cardioid mic lets it double as everyday headphones. On battery life it trails the group at 50 hours, while the Cloud III S runs for 120 hours. It matches the BlackShark V3 on driver size (50mm).

You get a detachable 6mm cardioid microphone here, which sets it apart from the Arctis Nova 5 and its a retractable microphone. It also offers a USB-A dongle with a 3.5mm pass-through port. On a PC, use the Lightspeed dongle for games and keep Bluetooth for a phone, since Bluetooth adds latency.

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 was the highest-priced of the 6 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the BlackShark V3 and the rest.

Key specs

Battery life
50 hours
Driver size
50mm
Connection
Lightspeed 2.4GHz, Bluetooth, 3.5mm
Microphone
Detachable 6mm cardioid

Pros

  • Up to 50 hours of battery life
  • 50mm drivers
  • Dual wireless: dongle plus Bluetooth
  • Graphene drivers

Cons

  • Battery life trails the Cloud III S (120 hours)
  • Costs more than the Cloud III at the time of writing

The catch

The trade-off is battery life; for more, the Cloud III S runs for 120 hours.

Longest Battery Life2 of 6

HyperX Cloud III S Wireless Gaming Headset

The Cloud III S leads on battery at a 120 hours, with 53mm drivers, the largest here.

Best for

Long sessions away from a charging cable.

Skip if

If budget leads, the Cloud III was cheaper at our last price check.
HyperX Cloud III S Wireless Gaming Headset

Why we like it

Its aluminium frame resists knocks, and a lifetime Spatial Audio activation adds 3D positioning on PC. Magnetic ear-cup plates can be swapped. The 10mm boom mic has an LED mute indicator and a built-in mesh filter.

Both USB-A and USB-C connectors are included for the dongle. Nothing else here matches its 120 hours battery life; the BlackShark V3 comes closest at 70 hours. It shares a detachable microphone with the BlackShark V3; the Arctis Nova 5 goes with a retractable microphone.

You also get memory foam cushions. On a PC, use the 2.4GHz dongle for games and keep Bluetooth for a phone, since Bluetooth adds latency. Its price falls between the Cloud III and the Arctis Nova 5, based on our last check.

Key specs

Battery life
120 hours
Driver size
53mm
Connection
2.4GHz, Bluetooth
Microphone
Detachable

Pros

  • Up to 120 hours of battery life
  • 53mm drivers
  • Dual wireless: dongle plus Bluetooth
  • Memory foam cushions

Cons

  • Costs more than the Cloud III at the time of writing

Best Esports Wireless3 of 6

Razer BlackShark V3 Wireless Gaming Headset

The BlackShark V3 balances the list: 50mm drivers, a 70-hour battery, a detachable mic and both dongle and Bluetooth modes.

Best for

Shooters.

Skip if

Skip it if driver size matters most to you; the Cloud III S offers 53mm.
Razer BlackShark V3 Wireless Gaming Headset

Why we like it

Esports-tuned EQ profiles and THX Spatial Audio 7.1.4 add positional cues, and the detachable HyperClear mic captures super-wideband voice. Its 70 hours battery life ranks second of 5 here, behind the Cloud III S (120 hours) and ahead of the G PRO X 2 (50 hours). On driver size it ties with the G PRO X 2 at 50mm.

Like the Cloud III S, it has a detachable microphone, while the G PRO X 2 uses a detachable 6mm cardioid microphone. On a PC, use the 2.4GHz dongle for games and keep Bluetooth for a phone, since Bluetooth adds latency. When we checked, only the G522 and cheaper picks cost less, and the G PRO X 2 cost more.

Key specs

Battery life
70 hours
Driver size
50mm
Connection
HyperSpeed 2.4GHz, Bluetooth
Microphone
Detachable

Pros

  • Up to 70 hours of battery life
  • 50mm drivers
  • Dual wireless: dongle plus Bluetooth
  • HyperSpeed and Bluetooth with 50mm drivers

Cons

  • Driver size trails the Cloud III S (53mm)
  • Costs more than the Cloud III at the time of writing

The catch

Driver size is its weakest area, and the Cloud III S covers it better at 53mm.

Best Retractable Mic4 of 6

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless Gaming Headset

The Arctis Nova 5 folds its mic away into the ear cup and fast-charges over USB-C, which makes it easy to wear outside.

Best for

Tidy setups.

Skip if

The maker gives no driver size, so skip it if that figure decides your choice.
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless Gaming Headset

Why we like it

A compact USB-C dongle swaps between PC, PlayStation, Switch and Meta Quest, and Quick-Switch jumps to Bluetooth. All controls sit on the ear cups. Over 100 game presets tune the audio in the companion app.

On battery life it ties with the G522 at 60 hours. A retractable microphone is unique to it among these picks, while the Cloud III uses a upgraded microphone. On a PC, use the 2.4GHz dongle for games and keep Bluetooth for a phone, since Bluetooth adds latency. Buyers who need a confirmed driver size should compare it with the Cloud III S, which comes in at 53mm.

Key specs

Battery life
60 hours
Connection
2.4GHz, Bluetooth
Microphone
Retractable

Pros

  • Up to 60 hours of battery life
  • Dual wireless: dongle plus Bluetooth
  • USB-C fast charging
  • Retractable microphone, the only one here

Cons

  • No published driver size
  • Costs more than the Cloud III at the time of writing

Best Mic Quality5 of 6

Logitech G522 Lightspeed Wireless

The G522 is built around voice: Logitech offers a full-bandwidth 48kHz microphone alongside 48kHz/24-bit audio.

Best for

Streaming and chat.

Skip if

Its driver size is not published, which rules it out if you need that number.
Logitech G522 Lightspeed Wireless

Why we like it

It weighs 280g and offers up to 60 hours with lighting off. On battery life it ties with the Arctis Nova 5 at 60 hours. It is the only pick here with a lightspeed 2.4GHz connection; the Cloud III has a wired (USB and 3.5mm) connection instead.

You get a 48kHz/16-bit microphone here, which sets it apart from the Cloud III and its a upgraded microphone. It connects through a USB wireless dongle, so keep a free USB port near your desk for the best range. The maker doesn't give its driver size; if that figure matters, the Cloud III S comes in at 53mm.

Key specs

Battery life
60 hours
Weight
280g
Connection
Lightspeed 2.4GHz
Microphone
48kHz/16-bit

Pros

  • Up to 60 hours of battery life
  • Light 280g build
  • 48kHz/24-bit audio
  • Full-bandwidth 48kHz microphone

Cons

  • No published driver size
  • Costs more than the Cloud III at the time of writing

Best Wired Value6 of 6

HyperX Cloud III Wired

The Cloud III is the easiest recommendation: angled 53mm drivers, an upgraded microphone and both USB and 3.5mm connections, so it moves between a PC and a controller.

Best for

No-charge setups.

Skip if

Look at the other picks if you need a feature not covered above.
HyperX Cloud III Wired

Why we like it

HyperX offers support for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Its aluminium frame is flexible and resists knocks. The wired connection needs no charging and works with PC, consoles and phones through a 3.5mm or USB cable.

Its comfort-first design targets long matches, with memory-foam cushions and a padded headband. It is the only pick here with a wired (USB and 3.5mm) connection; the G522 has a lightspeed 2.4GHz connection instead. You get a upgraded microphone here, which sets it apart from the Arctis Nova 5 and its a retractable microphone.

USB and 3.5mm options let it move between a PC and a controller. It undercut the Cloud III S and every other pick on price at the time of writing.

Key specs

Driver size
53mm
Connection
Wired (USB and 3.5mm)
Microphone
Upgraded

Pros

  • 53mm drivers
  • No charging or pairing needed
  • Angled 53mm drivers
  • Upgraded microphone

The catch

The maker doesn't give its battery life; if that figure matters, the Cloud III S runs for 120 hours.

How We Chose

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.

Headphones on a red stand next to an amplifier and bookshelf speakers
Headphones on a red stand next to an amplifier and bookshelf speakers
The figures behind the order
We set side by side six headsets on battery life, driver size, connection and microphone from manufacturer specifications. We did not test them in-house, and battery life and driver size are missing for at least one pick.
The shared baseline
All 6, from the G PRO X 2 to the Cloud III, state connection and microphone.
Where the specs have gaps
The Cloud III gives no battery life; the Arctis Nova 5 and the G522 give no driver size.
Price range
At our last check the picks ran from the Cloud III ($50 to $100) to the G PRO X 2 ($150 to $250).

What to Look for in a Gaming Headsets Right Now

Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.

  1. How much battery life you need

    Across these 5 picks battery life spans 50 hours (the G PRO X 2) to 120 hours (the Cloud III S). If battery life is your first filter, the Cloud III S sets the ceiling at 120 hours. The Cloud III gives no battery life figure, so 5 of 6 picks are compared here.

  2. Driver size across these picks

    Here driver size runs from 50mm on the BlackShark V3 to 53mm on the Cloud III S, a 6% spread. The Cloud III comes second at 53mm, in the $50 to $100 tier against $100 to $150 for the Cloud III S. The Arctis Nova 5 and the G522 give no driver size figure, so 4 of 6 picks are compared here.

    Open-back headphones on a stand beside a headphone amplifier
    Open-back headphones on a stand beside a headphone amplifier
  3. Features beyond the spec table

    The Arctis Nova 5: USB-C fast charging. The G522: a full-bandwidth 48kHz microphone. The Cloud III: an upgraded microphone.

  4. Where your budget lands

    $50 to $100 buys the Cloud III; $100 to $150 buys the Cloud III S, the Arctis Nova 5, the G522 and the BlackShark V3; $150 to $250 buys the G PRO X 2 at our last check.

    A headset hanging on a PC case next to a monitor
    A headset hanging on a PC case next to a monitor
  5. Match the pick to your priority

    PC and console: the G PRO X 2. Long sessions away from a charging cable: the Cloud III S. Shooters: the BlackShark V3.

How to Choose a Gaming Headsets Right Now

By priority

PriorityConsiderWhy
PC and consoleG PRO X 2Lightspeed, Bluetooth and 3.5mm with a cardioid mic
Long sessions away from a charging cableCloud III SThe longest battery life here (120 hours)
ShootersBlackShark V3HyperSpeed and Bluetooth with 50mm drivers
Tidy setupsArctis Nova 5A retractable mic with 60 hours of battery
Streaming and chatG522A 48kHz/16-bit mic
No-charge setupsCloud III53mm drivers near $58

Scroll sideways to see every column.

A gaming headset beside a desk with backlit speakers
A gaming headset beside a desk with backlit speakers

Key specs side by side

The Cloud III S leads on battery life at 120 hours, ahead of the BlackShark V3 at 70 hours. "Not listed" marks battery life where the Cloud III leaves the figure out.

HeadsetBattery lifeDriver sizeConnectionMicrophone
G PRO X 250 hours50mmLightspeed 2.4GHz, Bluetooth, 3.5mmDetachable 6mm cardioid
Cloud III S120 hours53mm2.4GHz, BluetoothDetachable
BlackShark V370 hours50mmHyperSpeed 2.4GHz, BluetoothDetachable
Arctis Nova 560 hoursNot listed2.4GHz, BluetoothRetractable
G52260 hoursNot listedLightspeed 2.4GHz48kHz/16-bit
Cloud IIINot listed53mmWired (USB and 3.5mm)Upgraded

Scroll sideways to see every column.

By price at the time of writing

At our last check the cheapest pick, the Cloud III, sat in the $50 to $100 tier, 3 tiers in all up to the G PRO X 2 at $150 to $250; Amazon prices move, so recheck before buying.

Price tierHeadsets
About $50 to $100Cloud III
About $100 to $150Cloud III S, Arctis Nova 5, G522, BlackShark V3
About $150 to $250G PRO X 2

Frequently Asked Questions

Which has the longest battery life: the Cloud III S or the BlackShark V3?

The Cloud III S tops battery life at 120 hours; the BlackShark V3 follows at 70 hours, 71% apart. The G PRO X 2 closes the ranking at 50 hours. The Cloud III doesn't state a battery life figure, so it sits outside this comparison; 5 of 6 picks are ranked.

Is the G PRO X 2 worth paying more than the Cloud III?

The G PRO X 2 matches or trails the Cloud III on driver size, so pay more only for a feature the spec sheet doesn't cover. The Cloud III leads on driver size (53mm). The Cloud III sat in the $50 to $100 tier and the G PRO X 2 in the $150 to $250 tier when we checked, with 4 other picks between them.

What makes the G PRO X 2 the Best High-End Pick?

It earns the label for lightspeed, Bluetooth and 3.5mm with a cardioid mic. It gives up driver size (50mm against 53mm) to the Cloud III, the cheapest pick. It suits PC and console.

Do the G PRO X 2 and the Cloud III S differ on microphone?

The G PRO X 2 uses Detachable 6mm cardioid; the Cloud III S and the BlackShark V3 use detachable; the Arctis Nova 5 uses retractable; the G522 uses 48kHz/16-bit; the Cloud III uses Upgraded.

Beyond the specs, what sets the G PRO X 2 and the Cloud III S apart?

The G PRO X 2: graphene drivers. The Cloud III S: memory foam cushions. The Arctis Nova 5: USB-C fast charging.

Bottom Line

Logitech's G PRO X 2 is the high-end pick. HyperX's Cloud III S leads on battery for less, and the wired Cloud III is the budget choice.

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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