The Best Headsets for Esports

The maker notes it does not support Xbox. On driver size it ties with the Redragon H888 and the Barracuda X at 40mm. Nothing else here matches its 165g weight; the Redragon H888 comes closest at 168g.

No other pick in this guide offers a dual beamforming (built-in) microphone; compare the Barracuda X, which has a detachable cardioid microphone. On a PC, use the Lightspeed dongle for games and keep Bluetooth for a phone, since Bluetooth adds latency. Another plus is light 165g build. It was priced above the Barracuda X and below the BlackShark V3 X HyperSpeed at the time of writing.

Its mic detaches when you only need headphones. On driver size it ties with the G435 and the Barracuda X at 40mm. On weight it sits mid-pack at 168g: the G435 weighs 165g, and the BlackShark V3 X HyperSpeed comes in at 270g.

It is the only pick here with a detachable boom microphone; the G435 has a dual beamforming (built-in) microphone instead. It also offers three connection modes and a detachable microphone. On a PC, use the 2.4GHz 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. When we checked, only the NUBWO HG04L cost less, and the Barracuda X cost more. If you want a confirmed battery life, look to the Barracuda X instead: it runs for 50 hours, while this one gives no figure.

A cardioid mic picks up less from the sides than an omnidirectional one. It matches the Barracuda X on weight (250g). A cardioid boom microphone is unique to it among these picks, while the Redragon H888 uses a detachable boom microphone.

It also comes with a budget price tier. 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 Redragon H888 was the next step up. Buyers who need a confirmed battery life should compare it with the Barracuda X, which runs for 50 hours.

It adds Bluetooth, a detachable cardioid mic and a 250g frame. It matches the G435 and the Redragon H888 on driver size (40mm). It matches the NUBWO HG04L on weight (250g).

A detachable cardioid microphone is unique to it among these picks, while the Redragon H888 uses a detachable boom microphone. You also get a USB-C dongle that suits phones and handhelds. On a PC, use the 2.4GHz dongle for games and keep Bluetooth for a phone, since Bluetooth adds latency.

It connects over USB, which also handles the audio processing on your PC. Its price falls between the Redragon H888 and the G435, based on our last check. If driver size is your priority, the BlackShark V3 X HyperSpeed (50mm) is the stronger choice.

The mic is a 9mm HyperClear capsule. It weighs 270g, and TriForce Gen-2 50mm drivers sharpen positional cues. 7.1 surround adds depth. Nothing else here matches its 50mm driver size; the G435 comes closest at 40mm.

Its 270g weight is the heaviest in this group; the G435 leads at 165g. You get a 9mm HyperClear microphone here, which sets it apart from the Barracuda X and its a detachable cardioid microphone. On a PC, use the 2.4GHz dongle for games and keep Bluetooth for a phone, since Bluetooth adds latency.

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 G435 and the rest. The maker doesn't give its battery life; if that figure matters, the Barracuda X runs for 50 hours.