The Best Gaming Headsets

Its detachable 6mm cardioid mic lets it double as everyday headphones. It matches the Arctis Nova 7 Gen 2 on battery life (50 hours). On driver size it ties with the BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed and the BlackShark V2 X at 50mm.

No other pick in this guide offers a detachable 6mm cardioid microphone; compare the Stealth 700, which has a flip-to-mute microphone. You also get 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. Only the Stealth 700 came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 7 picks. There is no published weight figure, whereas the BlackShark V2 X weighs 240g.

Its noise-rejecting mic suits noisy rooms. Its ClearCast Gen 2 mic cuts background noise by up to 25dB, and battery lasts over 50 hours with USB-C fast charge. A steel frame and memory foam balance weight and comfort.

On battery life it ties with the G PRO X 2 at 50 hours. A noise-rejecting microphone is unique to it among these picks, while the BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed uses an included microphone. It also comes with 360-degree spatial audio support.

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 Alpha Wireless and the Stealth 700, based on our last check. If battery life is your priority, the Cloud Alpha Wireless (300 hours) is the stronger choice.

It pairs that with DTS Headphone:X spatial audio and dual-chamber drivers in an aluminum frame. Its 300 hours battery life is the longest here; the BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed comes next at 70 hours. It is the only pick here with a 2.4GHz wireless connection; the Stealth 700 has a CrossPlay dual transmitter connection instead.

It shares an included microphone with the BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed; the Stealth 700 goes with a flip-to-mute microphone. It connects through a USB wireless dongle, so keep a free USB port near your desk for the best range. On price it sat fourth of 7, between the cheaper BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed and the pricier Arctis Nova 7 Gen 2, at the time of writing. The maker doesn't give its driver size; if that figure matters, the Stealth 700 comes in at 60mm.

Memory foam cushions designed for glasses make it one of the more comfortable options for long sessions. It runs 2.4GHz and Bluetooth at the same time, so you can take a phone call while gaming, and the battery is rated for up to 80 hours. The glasses-friendly memory foam cushions and 10-band EQ app help on long sessions.

Nothing else here matches its 60mm driver size; the Cloud III comes closest at 53mm. No other pick in this guide offers a CrossPlay dual transmitter connection; compare the Cloud III, which has a wired (USB and 3.5mm) connection. A flip-to-mute microphone is unique to it among these picks, while the BlackShark V2 X uses a HyperClear cardioid microphone.

Its price falls between the Arctis Nova 7 Gen 2 and the G PRO X 2, based on our last check. Buyers who need a confirmed battery life should compare it with the Cloud Alpha Wireless, which runs for 300 hours.

At 280g it is one of the two lightest headsets here. On battery life it sits mid-pack at 70 hours: the Cloud Alpha Wireless runs for 300 hours, and the Arctis Nova 7 Gen 2 comes in at 50 hours. No other pick in this guide offers a HyperSpeed 2.4GHz wireless connection; compare the Cloud III, which has a wired (USB and 3.5mm) connection.

It shares an included microphone with the Cloud Alpha Wireless; the Cloud III goes with a upgraded microphone. You also get an ultra-light 280g frame. It connects through a USB wireless dongle, so keep a free USB port near your desk for the best range. Its price falls between the Cloud III and the Cloud Alpha Wireless, based on our last check.

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. On driver size it sits mid-pack at 53mm: the Stealth 700 comes in at 60mm, and the BlackShark V2 X comes in at 50mm. You get a wired (USB and 3.5mm) connection here, which sets it apart from the BlackShark V2 X and its a wired 3.5mm connection.

No other pick in this guide offers a upgraded microphone; compare the G PRO X 2, which has a detachable 6mm cardioid microphone. It was priced above the BlackShark V2 X and below the BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed at the time of writing. There is no published battery life figure, whereas the Cloud Alpha Wireless runs for 300 hours.

At 240g it is one of the lighter closed-back headsets here. It matches the G PRO X 2 and the BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed on driver size (50mm). No other pick in this guide offers a wired 3.5mm connection; compare the BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed, which has a HyperSpeed 2.4GHz wireless connection.

A HyperClear cardioid microphone is unique to it among these picks, while the Cloud III uses a upgraded microphone. You also get 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 was the cheapest of the group when we checked; the Cloud III was the next step up. Buyers who need a confirmed battery life should compare it with the Cloud Alpha Wireless, which runs for 300 hours.