Buying Guide
The Best Headsets for PC
Five PC headsets across USB, 3.5mm and wireless connections.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
12 min read5 products evaluated
For a PC, USB and 3.5mm headsets are simple and never need charging, while wireless frees the desk. These five cover both.
We compared connection, drivers and mic from each listing.
Quick Picks
Which of the 5 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Largest Drivers
HyperX Cloud III Wired (Red)The largest driver size here (53mm).
Best for: Players who favour a fuller low end.
Check price for HyperX Cloud III Wired (Red) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Wireless Pick
Corsair Void v2 Wireless70 hours with Dolby Atmos support.
Best for: Cable-free desks.
Check price for Corsair Void v2 Wireless on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Sound Card
Logitech G PRO X WiredA USB sound card with Blue VO!CE.
Best for: Streaming.
Check price for Logitech G PRO X Wired on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Budget Surround
Logitech G432 Wired 7.1 Gaming HeadsetA USB DAC with 7.1.
Best for: Tight budgets.
Check price for Logitech G432 Wired 7.1 Gaming Headset on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Razer Pick
Razer Kraken V3 X Wired USB Gaming HeadsetA USB headset.
Best for: Plug-in setups.
Check price for Razer Kraken V3 X Wired USB Gaming Headset on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it stands out | Best for | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The largest driver size here (53mm). | Players who favour a fuller low end. | Check price for HyperX Cloud III Wired (Red) on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| 70 hours with Dolby Atmos support. | Cable-free desks. | Check price for Corsair Void v2 Wireless on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| A USB sound card with Blue VO!CE. | Streaming. | Check price for Logitech G PRO X Wired on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| A USB DAC with 7.1. | Tight budgets. | Check price for Logitech G432 Wired 7.1 Gaming Headset on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| A USB headset. | Plug-in setups. | Check price for Razer Kraken V3 X Wired USB Gaming Headset on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Largest Drivers1 of 5
HyperX Cloud III Wired (Red)
This red Cloud III has angled 53mm drivers and a mic with a mute LED.
Best for
- Players who favour a fuller low end.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the G432 was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
It connects over USB-C, USB-A or 3.5mm. Its aluminium frame is flexible, and the noise-cancelling mic has a built-in mesh filter for clear voice chat. Nothing else here matches its 53mm driver size; the G PRO X comes closest at 50mm.
You get a wired USB and 3.5mm connection here, which sets it apart from the Kraken V3 X and its a wired USB connection. USB and 3.5mm options let it move between a PC and a controller. Another plus: no charging or pairing needed. It was priced above the Kraken V3 X and below the G PRO X at the time of writing.
Key specs
- Driver size
- 53mm
- Connection
- Wired USB and 3.5mm
- Microphone
- Noise-cancelling with mute LED
Pros
- 53mm drivers
- No charging or pairing needed
- Angled 53mm drivers
- Mic mute LED
Cons
- Costs more than the G432 at the time of writing
Best Wireless Pick2 of 5
Corsair Void v2 Wireless
Corsair's Void v2 offers up to 70 hours of battery life, Dolby Atmos support and NVIDIA Broadcast mic support.
Best for
- Cable-free desks.
Skip if
- Pass if a published driver size matters; this one has none.
Why we like it
It connects over 2.4GHz or Bluetooth. It runs 2.4GHz for gaming and Bluetooth for phones, with up to 70 hours per charge and 6 hours from a 15-minute top-up. It lists up to 70 hours of battery, Dolby Atmos spatial audio and switching between PC, PlayStation, Switch and mobile.
No other pick in this guide offers an omnidirectional boom microphone; compare the G PRO X, which has a detachable with Blue VO!CE microphone. On a PC, use the 2.4GHz dongle for games and keep Bluetooth for a phone, since Bluetooth adds latency. Only the G PRO X came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 5 picks.
Key specs
- Battery life
- 70 hours
- Connection
- 2.4GHz, Bluetooth
- Microphone
- Omnidirectional boom
Pros
- Up to 70 hours of battery life
- Dual wireless: dongle plus Bluetooth
- Dolby Atmos support
- NVIDIA Broadcast mic support
Cons
- No published driver size
- Costs more than the G432 at the time of writing
The catch
There is no published driver size figure, whereas the Cloud III Red comes in at 53mm.
Best Sound Card3 of 5
Logitech G PRO X Wired
The G PRO X wired is for players who tune their sound: its USB external sound card stores EQ profiles, and the detachable mic supports Blue VO!CE processing.
Best for
- Streaming.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the G432 cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
An aluminum fork and steel headband make it one of the sturdier builds here. Its USB sound card stores pro-tuned EQ profiles on board, and you can choose leatherette or velour ear pads. It matches the G432 on driver size (50mm).
A detachable with Blue VO!CE microphone is unique to it among these picks, while the G432 uses a 6mm flip-to-mute boom microphone. USB and 3.5mm options let it move between a PC and a controller. Worth noting: no charging or pairing needed. Its price falls between the Cloud III Red and the Void v2, based on our last check.
Key specs
- Driver size
- 50mm
- Connection
- Wired (USB sound card and 3.5mm)
- Microphone
- Detachable with Blue VO!CE
Pros
- 50mm drivers
- No charging or pairing needed
- USB external sound card with EQ profile storage
- Aluminum fork and steel headband
Cons
- Costs more than the G432 at the time of writing
Best Budget Surround4 of 5
Logitech G432 Wired 7.1 Gaming Headset
Logitech's G432 is a wired headset with a USB DAC for 7.1 surround and a 3.5mm plug for consoles.
Best for
- Tight budgets.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: driver size of 50mm, behind the Cloud III Red (53mm).
Why we like it
Its 6mm mic flips up to mute. It matches the G PRO X on driver size (50mm). It is the only pick here with a wired USB DAC and 3.5mm connection; the Cloud III Red has a wired USB and 3.5mm connection instead.
You get a 6mm flip-to-mute boom microphone here, which sets it apart from the G PRO X and its a detachable with Blue VO!CE microphone. USB and 3.5mm options let it move between a PC and a controller. It undercut the Kraken V3 X and every other pick on price at the time of writing. The main gap: driver size of 50mm, behind the Cloud III Red (53mm). If that matters, the Cloud III Red comes in at 53mm.
Key specs
- Driver size
- 50mm
- Connection
- Wired USB DAC and 3.5mm
- Microphone
- 6mm flip-to-mute boom
Pros
- 50mm drivers
- No charging or pairing needed
- USB DAC with 7.1 surround
- 6mm flip-to-mute mic
Cons
- Driver size of 50mm, behind the Cloud III Red (53mm)
Best Razer Pick5 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
- Plug-in setups.
Skip if
- Skip it if driver size matters most to you; the Cloud III Red offers 53mm.
Why we like it
Its bendable HyperClear cardioid mic picks up voice over room noise, and Chroma RGB lights the ear cups. Its 40mm driver size is the smallest in this group; the Cloud III Red leads at 53mm. No other pick in this guide offers a wired USB connection; compare the Cloud III Red, which has a wired USB and 3.5mm connection.
You also get memory foam cushions. It connects over USB, which also handles the audio processing on your PC. Worth noting: no charging or pairing needed. Its price falls between the G432 and the Cloud III Red, based on our last check.
Key specs
- Driver size
- 40mm
- Weight
- 285g
- Connection
- Wired USB
Pros
- No charging or pairing needed
- 7.1 surround in Windows
- Memory foam cushions
- A USB headset
Cons
- Driver size trails the Cloud III Red (53mm)
- Costs more than the G432 at the time of writing
How We Chose These Headsets for PC
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.
- What we compared
- We lined up five headsets on driver size, connection and microphone, using each maker's published specs. We did not test them in-house, and driver size and microphone are missing for at least one pick.
- What every pick has in common
- All 5, from the Cloud III Red to the Kraken V3 X, state connection.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Void v2 gives no driver size; the Kraken V3 X gives no microphone.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the G432 (under $50) to the Void v2 ($100 to $150).
What to Look for in a Headset for PC
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Driver size across these picks
The Cloud III Red tops driver size at 53mm and the Kraken V3 X sits lowest at 40mm. The Cloud III Red is the pick for driver size. The Void v2 gives no driver size figure, so 4 of 5 picks are compared here.
Extras that separate them
The G PRO X: an aluminum fork and steel headband. The G432: 50mm drivers. The Kraken V3 X: memory foam cushions.
A headset hanging on a PC case next to a monitor Where your budget lands
Under $50 buys the G432 and the Kraken V3 X; $50 to $100 buys the Cloud III Red and the G PRO X; $100 to $150 buys the Void v2 at our last check.
Start from what matters most
Players who favour a fuller low end: the Cloud III Red. Cable-free desks: the Void v2. Streaming: the G PRO X.
A gaming headset beside a desk with backlit speakers Console versions are not always interchangeable
Some wireless headsets come in PC, PlayStation and Xbox versions with different dongles. An Xbox-specific model may not connect wirelessly to a PlayStation.
Buy the version that matches every system you plan to use.
How to Choose a Headset for PC
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Players who favour a fuller low end | Cloud III Red | The largest driver size here (53mm) |
| Cable-free desks | Void v2 | 70 hours with Dolby Atmos support |
| Streaming | G PRO X | A USB sound card with Blue VO!CE |
| Tight budgets | G432 | A USB DAC with 7.1 |
| Plug-in setups | Kraken V3 X | A USB headset |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Cloud III Red leads on driver size at 53mm, ahead of the G PRO X at 50mm. "Not listed" marks driver size where the Void v2 leaves the figure out.
| Headset | Driver size | Connection | Microphone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cloud III Red | 53mm | Wired USB and 3.5mm | Noise-cancelling with mute LED |
| Void v2 | Not listed | 2.4GHz, Bluetooth | Omnidirectional boom |
| G PRO X | 50mm | Wired (USB sound card and 3.5mm) | Detachable with Blue VO!CE |
| G432 | 50mm | Wired USB DAC and 3.5mm | 6mm flip-to-mute boom |
| Kraken V3 X | 40mm | Wired USB | Not listed |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The G432 was the lowest-priced pick (under $50) and the Void v2 the highest ($100 to $150) when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | Headsets |
|---|---|
| Under $50 | G432, Kraken V3 X |
| About $50 to $100 | Cloud III Red, G PRO X |
| About $100 to $150 | Void v2 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the G PRO X compare with the Cloud III Red on driver size?
The Cloud III Red leads at 53mm, with the G PRO X at 50mm. The Kraken V3 X closes the ranking at 40mm. No driver size figure is published for the Void v2, which leaves 4 of 5 picks ranked here.
Why is the Cloud III Red our Largest Drivers pick?
The label rests on the largest driver size here (53mm). On driver size it leads the G PRO X, 53mm against 50mm, a 6% margin. The G432, the cheapest pick, sat in the under $50 tier against $50 to $100 here, without out-ranking it on any listed spec. It is aimed at anyone who favours a fuller low end.
What extras do the Cloud III Red and the Void v2 include?
The Cloud III Red: angled 53mm drivers. The Void v2: Dolby Atmos support. The G PRO X: a USB external sound card with EQ profile storage.
Who should choose the Void v2?
The Void v2 carries our Best Wireless Pick label for 70 hours with Dolby Atmos support. It ranks second of 5 here and sat in the $100 to $150 tier at our last price check; it suits cable-free desks.
Should I pick the Cloud III Red or the Kraken V3 X?
The Cloud III Red suits players who favour a fuller low end; the Kraken V3 X suits plug-in setups.
Bottom Line
HyperX's Cloud III Red is the wired pick. Corsair's Void v2 is the wireless choice, and Logitech's G PRO X adds a USB sound card.
Related Guides
- Related guideThe Best PC Gaming Headsets
- Related guideThe Best Gaming Headsets
- Related guideThe Best Wireless Gaming Headsets for PC
- Lower budgetThe Best Headsets Under $150
- Similar guideThe Best RGB Headsets
- ExplainerHow to Choose a PC Headset
- ExplainerHeadset connection types for PC, PS5 and Xbox
- Also see: microphonesUSB vs XLR microphones: what each needs and what each gives you
- Similar guideThe Best USB Headsets
- Topic hubAll headsets and headphones guides
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
View all articles