Buying Guide
The Best RGB Headsets
We weighed four headsets on battery life and driver size; the HS80 RGB USB has the largest driver size, and it also costs the least.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read4 products evaluated
RGB ear cups match a lit setup, usually at a small cost in battery life. Every pick has RGB lighting, ordered from the lowest price.
Rankings weigh battery life, driver size and connection as the makers state them; we did not test these headsets ourselves, and if a maker skips battery life, the guide says so.
Quick Picks
Our 4 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Largest Drivers
Corsair HS80 RGB USB
The largest driver size here (50mm).
Best for: Players who favour a fuller low end.
Our take Check price for Corsair HS80 RGB USB (opens in a new tab)
Blue VO!CE Microphone
Logitech G733 Lightspeed
A blue VO!CE microphone.
Best for: Buyers who want a blue VO!CE microphone.
Our take Check price for Logitech G733 Lightspeed (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
Logitech G733 Lightspeed Wireless
Blue VO!CE mic filters.
Best for: Buyers who want Blue VO!CE mic filters.
Our take Check price for Logitech G733 Lightspeed Wireless (opens in a new tab)
Longest Battery Life
Razer Kraken Kitty V2 BT
The longest battery life here (40 hours).
Best for: Players who hate charging mid-week.
Our take Check price for Razer Kraken Kitty V2 BT (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The largest driver size here (50mm). | Players who favour a fuller low end. | Check price for Corsair HS80 RGB USB (opens in a new tab) |
| A blue VO!CE microphone. | Buyers who want a blue VO!CE microphone. | Check price for Logitech G733 Lightspeed (opens in a new tab) |
| Blue VO!CE mic filters. | Buyers who want Blue VO!CE mic filters. | Check price for Logitech G733 Lightspeed Wireless (opens in a new tab) |
| The longest battery life here (40 hours). | Players who hate charging mid-week. | Check price for Razer Kraken Kitty V2 BT (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Largest Drivers1 of 4
Corsair HS80 RGB USB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The HS80 RGB USB stands out for Dolby Audio 7.1.
Best for
- Players who favour a fuller low end.
Skip if
- Look at the other picks if you need a feature not covered above.
Why we like it
It also offers a 50mm driver size. Its 50mm driver size is the largest here; the G733 comes next at 40mm. No other pick in this guide offers a wired USB connection; compare the Kraken Kitty V2 BT, which has a bluetooth 5.2 connection.
It connects over USB, which also handles the audio processing on your PC. Another plus: no charging or pairing needed. It was the cheapest of the group when we checked; the G733 was the next step up. Buyers who need a confirmed battery life should compare it with the Kraken Kitty V2 BT, which runs for 40 hours.
Key dimensions & specs
- Driver size: 50mm
- Connection: Wired USB
Pros
- 50mm drivers
- No charging or pairing needed
- Dolby Audio 7.1
- The largest driver size here (50mm)
Blue VO!CE Microphone2 of 4
Logitech G733 Lightspeed on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The G733 stands out for a suspension headband, and it adds Lightsync RGB.
Best for
- Buyers who want a blue VO!CE microphone.
Skip if
- Pass if a published battery life matters; this one has none.
Why we like it
It also weighs 278g. It shares a lightspeed 2.4GHz connection with the G733; the Kraken Kitty V2 BT goes with a bluetooth 5.2 connection. No other pick in this guide offers a blue VO!CE microphone; compare the G733, which has a detachable with Blue VO!CE microphone.
It connects through a USB wireless dongle, so keep a free USB port near your desk for the best range. It was priced above the HS80 RGB USB and below the G733 at the time of writing. There is no published battery life figure, whereas the Kraken Kitty V2 BT runs for 40 hours.
Key dimensions & specs
- Weight: 278g
- Connection: Lightspeed 2.4GHz
- Microphone: Blue VO!CE
Pros
- Light 278g build
- Suspension headband
- Lightsync RGB
- Blue VO!CE microphone, the only one here
Cons
- No published battery life
- No published driver size
- Costs more than the HS80 RGB USB at the time of writing
Also Consider3 of 4
Logitech G733 Lightspeed Wireless on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Logitech's G733 is a Lightspeed wireless headset with a suspension headband and Blue VO!CE mic filters.
Best for
- Buyers who want Blue VO!CE mic filters.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when shorter 29-hour batter is a problem.
Why we like it
It has 29 hours of battery life. On driver size it ties with the Kraken Kitty V2 BT at 40mm. It shares a lightspeed 2.4GHz connection with the G733; the Kraken Kitty V2 BT goes with a bluetooth 5.2 connection.
No other pick in this guide offers a detachable with Blue VO!CE microphone; compare the G733, which has a blue VO!CE microphone. It also comes with Lightsync RGB. It connects through a USB wireless dongle, so keep a free USB port near your desk for the best range. It was priced above the G733 and below the Kraken Kitty V2 BT at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- Battery life: 29 hours
- Driver size: 40mm
- Connection: Lightspeed 2.4GHz
- Microphone: Detachable with Blue VO!CE
Pros
- Blue VO!CE mic filters
- Suspension headband
- Lightsync RGB
- Detachable with Blue VO!CE microphone, the only one here
Cons
- Shorter 29-hour battery
- Costs more than the HS80 RGB USB at the time of writing
Longest Battery Life4 of 4
Razer Kraken Kitty V2 BT on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Kraken Kitty V2 BT stands out for Kitty ears with Chroma RGB, and it adds a Bluetooth gaming mode.
Best for
- Players who hate charging mid-week.
Skip if
- Skip it if driver size matters most to you; the HS80 RGB USB offers 50mm.
Why we like it
It also runs for up to 40 hours and offers a 40mm driver size. It is the only pick here with a bluetooth 5.2 connection; the G733 has a lightspeed 2.4GHz connection instead. You get a beamforming microphone here, which sets it apart from the G733 and its a detachable with Blue VO!CE microphone.
It makes the most sense for players who hate charging mid-week, since it offers the longest battery life here (40 hours). It was the highest-priced of the 4 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the G733 and the rest. The trade-off is driver size; for more, the HS80 RGB USB comes in at 50mm.
Key dimensions & specs
- Battery life: 40 hours
- Driver size: 40mm
- Connection: Bluetooth 5.2
- Microphone: Beamforming
Pros
- Kitty ears with Chroma RGB
- Bluetooth gaming mode
- Longest battery life of the picks (40 hours)
- Bluetooth 5.2 connection, the only one here
Cons
- Driver size trails the HS80 RGB USB (50mm)
- Costs more than the HS80 RGB USB at the time of writing
How We Chose These RGB Headsets
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- How these picks were ranked
- We set side by side four headsets on battery life, driver size, connection and microphone from manufacturer specifications. Nothing was tested in-house; 1 of the 4 fields compared are stated for every pick, while battery life and driver size have gaps.
- What every pick has in common
- All 4, from the HS80 RGB USB to the Kraken Kitty V2 BT, state connection.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The HS80 RGB USB and the G733 give no battery life; the G733 gives no driver size.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the HS80 RGB USB ($50 to $100) to the Kraken Kitty V2 BT ($100 to $150).
What to Look for in an RGB Headset
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Driver size across these picks
Across these 3 picks driver size spans 40mm (the Kraken Kitty V2 BT) to 50mm (the HS80 RGB USB). If driver size is your first filter, the HS80 RGB USB sets the ceiling at 50mm. The G733 gives no driver size figure, so 3 of 4 picks are compared here.
How much battery life you need
The Kraken Kitty V2 BT tops battery life at 40 hours and the G733 sits lowest at 29 hours. The Kraken Kitty V2 BT is the pick for battery life. The HS80 RGB USB and the G733 give no battery life figure, so 2 of 4 picks are compared here.
Microphone
The G733 lists Blue VO!CE; the G733 lists Detachable with Blue VO!CE; the Kraken Kitty V2 BT lists beamforming.
Extras that separate them
The G733: Lightsync RGB. The G733: a suspension headband. The Kraken Kitty V2 BT: a Bluetooth gaming mode.
Where your budget lands
$50 to $100 buys the HS80 RGB USB and the G733; $100 to $150 buys the G733 and the Kraken Kitty V2 BT at our last check.
How to Choose an RGB Headset
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Players who favour a fuller low end | HS80 RGB USB | The largest driver size here (50mm) |
| Buyers who want a blue VO!CE microphone | G733 | A blue VO!CE microphone |
| Buyers who want Blue VO!CE mic filters | G733 | Blue VO!CE mic filters |
| Players who hate charging mid-week | Kraken Kitty V2 BT | The longest battery life here (40 hours) |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The HS80 RGB USB leads on driver size at 50mm, ahead of the G733 at 40mm. "Not listed" marks battery life where the HS80 RGB USB and the G733 leave the figure out.
| Headset | Battery life | Driver size | Connection | Microphone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HS80 RGB USB | Not listed | 50mm | Wired USB | Not listed |
| G733 | Not listed | Not listed | Lightspeed 2.4GHz | Blue VO!CE |
| G733 | 29 hours | 40mm | Lightspeed 2.4GHz | Detachable with Blue VO!CE |
| Kraken Kitty V2 BT | 40 hours | 40mm | Bluetooth 5.2 | Beamforming |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The HS80 RGB USB was the lowest-priced pick ($50 to $100) and the Kraken Kitty V2 BT the highest ($100 to $150) when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | Headsets |
|---|---|
| About $50 to $100 | HS80 RGB USB, G733 |
| About $100 to $150 | G733, Kraken Kitty V2 BT |
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the G733 compare with the HS80 RGB USB on driver size?
Between the top two, it is 50mm on the HS80 RGB USB against 40mm on the G733, a 25% difference. The G733 is left out of this ranking because its driver size isn't stated; 3 of 4 picks are ranked.
Which has the longest battery life: the Kraken Kitty V2 BT or the G733?
The Kraken Kitty V2 BT tops battery life at 40 hours; the G733 follows at 29 hours, 38% apart. No battery life figure is published for the HS80 RGB USB and the G733, which leaves 2 of 4 picks ranked here.
What does the Kraken Kitty V2 BT add over the HS80 RGB USB?
The Kraken Kitty V2 BT matches or trails the HS80 RGB USB on driver size, so the extra spend buys only what the spec sheet doesn't show. It does not win everywhere: the HS80 RGB USB still leads on driver size (50mm). On our last price check the HS80 RGB USB was in the $50 to $100 tier and the Kraken Kitty V2 BT in the $100 to $150 tier, with 2 other picks between them.
Why is the Kraken Kitty V2 BT our Longest Battery Life pick?
It carries the badge for the longest battery life here (40 hours). On battery life it leads the G733, 40 hours against 29 hours, a 38% margin. The price of that: the HS80 RGB USB, the cheapest pick, still beats it on driver size (50mm against 40mm). It makes sense for anyone who hates charging mid-week.
Do the HS80 RGB USB and the G733 differ on connection?
The HS80 RGB USB uses Wired USB; the G733 and the G733 use Lightspeed 2.4GHz; the Kraken Kitty V2 BT uses bluetooth 5.2.
What extras do the HS80 RGB USB and the G733 include?
The HS80 RGB USB: Dolby Audio 7.1. The G733: a suspension headband. The G733: Blue VO!CE mic filters.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the HS80 RGB USB. Look at the G733 for a blue VO!CE microphone and the G733 for Blue VO!CE mic filters if those matter more to you.
Turn lighting off on wireless sets to stretch battery life.