The Best Portable Gaming Headsets

Memory-wire ear hooks hold the earbuds in place, and the seal blocks much of the ambient noise. The wired connection avoids any Bluetooth delay. Three pairs of ear tips come in the box, so you can find a seal that blocks around 90% of ambient noise.

It also comes with the lowest price tier here. 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. Another plus is no charging or pairing needed. No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the CCZ DC03 was closest.

It is the cheapest IEM with a mic here. A 10mm dynamic driver with a PET diaphragm aims for a balanced tuning, and an inline mic handles voice chat. It is a low-cost wired option for handhelds and controllers.

CCZ's patented ear fin and hook hold the earbuds in place, and the shell is sturdy but light. It is an upgrade on the DC02. It is the only pick here with an inline mic microphone; the KZ ZS12 PRO 2 has an included microphone instead.

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 Yeabomy AK3FILE cost less, and the CHU III cost more.

It has no mic. An aluminium-magnesium dome diaphragm with an N52 magnet drives the sound, in a cast alloy shell with a brass nozzle. It is a sturdier build than most budget IEMs.

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 also brings no charging or pairing needed. On price it sat third of 5, between the cheaper CCZ DC03 and the pricier Kiwi Ears Belle, at the time of writing. The maker doesn't give its driver size; if that figure matters, the Yeabomy AK3FILE comes in at 10mm.

It ships with a silver-plated cable. Its DLC dynamic driver has a heavy bass and warm mids balanced by a 3kHz peak, which suits pop, hip-hop and vocals. Kiwi Ears tunes the Belle with heavy bass and warm mids balanced by a 3kHz pinna gain.

Its diamond-like carbon diaphragm aims for accurate detail at that warm tuning. 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. On price it sat fourth of 5, between the cheaper CHU III and the pricier KZ ZS12 PRO 2, at the time of writing.

It connects directly to phones, handhelds and PCs with a USB-C port. A wired USB-C connection is unique to it among these picks, while the CCZ DC03 uses a wired 3.5mm connection. It is the only pick here with an included microphone; the CCZ DC03 has an inline mic microphone instead.

It also offers a six-driver hybrid per side and a 10mm dynamic bass driver. It connects over USB, which also handles the audio processing on your PC. At our last price check it topped the group, with the Kiwi Ears Belle the nearest cheaper option. Driver size is its weakest area, and the Yeabomy AK3FILE covers it better at 10mm.