Looking for a headset that will transport you into another world while you game? Here are our top picks for best gaming headset right now.
We’ve made a list dedicated to all the best gaming headset options you can get your hands on right now. They’ll have you covered from big explosions and gunfire to the tense quite moment just before a jump scare, making every gaming experience more immersive.
We’ve also got you covered no matter how you game, as there are headsets here that work great on PC, the Nintendo Switch as well as the PlayStation and Xbox consoles.
Keep scrolling to see which headsets we think out-performed the rest, and keep this page bookmarked if you want to check out the next time we update this list.
How We Test
We use every headset we test for at least a week. During that time, we’ll check it for ease of use and put it through its paces by using it in a variety of games, as well as playing music in order to get the full experience.
We also check each headset’s software (if applicable) to see how easy it is to customise and set up.
Audeze Penrose
- Industry-leading sound quality
- Premium, well-built design
- Solid microphone quality
- Very expensive, even by premium headset standards
HyperX Cloud
- Sleek and simple design
- Memory foam ear cushions
- Affordable price
- Detachable microphone
- Quite tight on your head
Xbox Wireless Headset
- Great sound and powerful bass
- Clever design
- Easy-to-use controls
- Incredible value
- Plasticky build
- Mic monitoring could be a little louder
- No Active Noise Cancelling
Sony Pulse 3D
- Perfect companion for PS5
- Comfortable to wear
- Spatial 3D Audio is both impressive and immersive
- Internal microphone sounds surprisingly great
- Battery life could be better
- Feels cheap in some areas
Corsair HS75 XB Wireless
- Durable, stylish and comfortable
- Impressive sound quality
- Premium, adult-feeling design
- Microphone offers clear and crisp chat
- Battery life isn’t as good as the competition
- Requires purchasing an adapter for PC compatibility
- Lack of an optional wired connection
Razer Barracuda X
- Supports multiple platforms for wireless
- Good audio quality and 3D sound on PS5
- Ideal design for on-the-go music playback
- Great 20-hour battery life
- Lack of Bluetooth for dual connectivity
- No companion app or high-end features
- 7.1 surround sound on PC is locked behind a paywall
EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid
- Compact, comfy and stylish
- Audio quality is impressively rich
- 15-20 hour battery life makes them reliable
- Support a wide of variety of different devices
- Companion software is absolutely dire
- Charging case scratches very easily
- Very expensive
- Lack of microphone with dongle connection
Razer Opus X
- Great audio quality
- Easy-to-use controls
- Comfortable ear cups
- Features ANC
- Lacks an audio jack
- Lacks support for PS5, Switch and Xbox
- No carrying case and doesn’t fold down
Logitech G733
- Lightweight and comfortable
- Colorful options
- Detachable microphone
- Great audio quality
- No Bluetooth or wired connection
- Plasticky build
- Lacks high-end features
EPOS H6PRO
- Deep audio levels
- Detachable microphone
- Stylish design and colours
- Soft padded ear cups
- Expensive
- Heavy for long periods of use
- No wireless connection
Audeze Penrose
Best for audiophiles
Pros
- Industry-leading sound quality
- Premium, well-built design
- Solid microphone quality
Cons
- Very expensive, even by premium headset standards
The Audeze Penrose is the ultimate choice for anyone after the best audio quality for gaming. The steep price means it’s definitely not for everyone, but that doesn’t stop it from being one of the most audibly impressive headsets currently available.
This headset boasts custom planar magnetic drivers, with a low-latency 2.4GHz wireless dongle ensuring there is no noticeable delay between the action on screen and audio.
The headset also supports Bluetooth 5.0, so feel free to test these out with a smartphone to see how good your favourite songs can really sound.
There really are few drawbacks here, other than the extremely high price point. But if you’ve got the budget, the Audeze Penrose offers one of the very best audio experiences for gamers, making it our overall first choice.
Reviewer: Alastair Stevenson
Full review: Audeze Penrose review
HyperX Cloud
Best value gaming headset
Pros
- Sleek and simple design
- Memory foam ear cushions
- Affordable price
- Detachable microphone
Cons
- Quite tight on your head
The HyperX Cloud‘s main appeal in that its price is very easy to swallow. This wired headset is impressively cheap considering how balanced and deep the audio is, it’s a steal if you can handle having a wire.
There are some drawbacks associated with cheaper headsets. In this case, the headset does have quite a plasticky build, and while this was never an issue during the review, it’s noteworthy if you want your headset to feel as premium as it sounds.
But if you can get over the small aesthetic issues here, you can save yourself a lot of money while still getting all the benefits of excellent audio with the HyperX Cloud.
Reviewer: Gemma Ryles
Full review: HyperX Cloud review
Xbox Wireless Headset
Best value for Xbox fans
Pros
- Great sound and powerful bass
- Clever design
- Easy-to-use controls
- Incredible value
Cons
- Plasticky build
- Mic monitoring could be a little louder
- No Active Noise Cancelling
Anyone who sides with Xbox in the console wars needs to look no further. This headset was designed by Microsoft, and it’s easy to understand why it’s one of the best headsets for the Series X.
The Xbox Wireless Headset understands audio, with support for virtual surround sound like Dolby Atmos and DTS, this is a great option for any competitive gamers that want to stay ahead of the curve.
And the premium audio is complemented by an unusually low price, sitting at half the price as other quality headsets out there. This is definitely one of the best options out there for anyone who favours the Xbox.
Reviewer: Esat Dedezade
Full review: Xbox Wireless Headset review
Sony Pulse 3D
Best value for PlayStation fans
Pros
- Perfect companion for PS5
- Comfortable to wear
- Spatial 3D Audio is both impressive and immersive
- Internal microphone sounds surprisingly great
Cons
- Battery life could be better
- Feels cheap in some areas
Looking at the other side of the coin, the Sony Pulse 3D Headset is a great choice for anyone who prefers the PlayStation, as well as being the official headset for the PS5.
Not only is this a premium headset in terms of comfort and audio, but it also features Spatial 3D Audio, which makes you feel like you’re right there in the middle of the action. This feature is only supported in a few games first-party, such as Demon’s Souls and Miles Morales, so you’ll have to check if your favourite title checks out.
The battery life here is also not perfect, but with the comfort level so high and the internal microphone being so great, there are few big drawbacks. If you’re a big Sony fan, this is probably one of the best bets for a headset, especially if you’re going to be playing a lot of first-party titles.
Reviewer: Jade King
Full review: Sony Pulse 3D Headset review
Corsair HS75 XB Wireless
Best premium Xbox headset
Pros
- Durable, stylish and comfortable
- Impressive sound quality
- Premium, adult-feeling design
- Microphone offers clear and crisp chat
Cons
- Battery life isn’t as good as the competition
- Requires purchasing an adapter for PC compatibility
- Lack of an optional wired connection
Anyone who’s after a more mature headset that doesn’t scream ‘gamer’ like a couple of others do, the HS75 XB Wireless has you covered. The excellent audio quality is combined with comfort and a very grown-up design, making this one of the better headsets out there for Xbox fans.
Corsair hit the nail on the head when to comes to audio; it’s crisp and clear, making it easy for you to track down friends and foes just by listening in, as well as giving games a more immersive feel.
You will need to splash out though, as the main downside here is the high price, but it should last you a while. Also, keep in mind it’s only compatible with the Xbox unless you decide to buy a separate PC adaptor, so you’ll want to make sure you stay within the Microsoft family if you buy this headset.
Reviewer: Tom Regan
Full review: Corsair HS75 XB Wireless review
Razer Barracuda X
Best for portability
Pros
- Supports multiple platforms for wireless
- Good audio quality and 3D sound on PS5
- Ideal design for on-the-go music playback
- Great 20-hour battery life
Cons
- Lack of Bluetooth for dual connectivity
- No companion app or high-end features
- 7.1 surround sound on PC is locked behind a paywall
If you’re someone who’s always on the go but don’t want to sacrifice quality audio, the portable Barracuda headset might be the one for you. With a battery life of 20 hours, this is a great headset to whip out on your daily commute or at the office, with a price tag that’s pretty affordable.
This headset is supported on multiple platforms for wireless via the USB-C adaptor, so you can jump between your consoles and PC without fuss. Although, do keep in mind there is no Bluetooth support, which might cut out a few devices.
These cans are also pretty comfortable, with padded cushions and a lightweight build, as well as a detachable microphone that makes them perfect for on-the-go music playback. If you’re on the move in life and when you game, the Barracuda headset is one of the best choices.
Reviewer: Ryan Jones
Full review: Razer Barracuda Review
EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid
Best True Wireless gaming earbuds
Pros
- Compact, comfy and stylish
- Audio quality is impressively rich
- 15-20 hour battery life makes them reliable
- Support a wide of variety of different devices
Cons
- Companion software is absolutely dire
- Charging case scratches very easily
- Very expensive
- Lack of microphone with dongle connection
Sometimes headsets can feel a little too bulky and intrusive, which is why we’ve also included a premium pair of gaming earbuds in this list, so you have a full scope of what you can buy. The GTW 270 Hybrid earbuds are compact, comfortable and don’t skimp on audio.
Unlike a couple of headsets out there, these earbuds are sleek and attractive to look at, coming with a USB-C adaptor and Bluetooth 5.1 support, resulting in impressively low latency connections while you game. The microphone is also surprisingly crisp here, so feel free to pop these in for a quick Zoom call, just be aware it only will work with a Bluetooth connection.
With a heftier price tag than most these are a little bit of an investment, but with such great versatility and the ability to use them easily in non-gaming scenarios, if you want to move away from headsets without losing all the audio benefits, the GTW 270 Hybrid are a very easy recommendation.
Reviewer: Tom Regan
Full review: EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid Review
Razer Opus X
Best for ANC support
Pros
- Great audio quality
- Easy-to-use controls
- Comfortable ear cups
- Features ANC
Cons
- Lacks an audio jack
- Lacks support for PS5, Switch and Xbox
- No carrying case and doesn’t fold down
Considering the number of headsets currently on the market it can be hard to find cans that feature decent active noise cancellation without costing a small fortune. The Razer Opus X headset does this almost perfectly, with several modes and toggling options available so you can find your perfect sound.
This headset also feels sturdy, with padded earcups that make it a dream to wear for long periods of time. One of the main drawbacks here is that the Opus X only has support for Bluetooth connection, which rules out gaming on consoles – apart from the Switch – so you’ll need to be a PC or mobile gamer to get the most out of them.
For under £100 these are a great choice and offer great tonal balance an depth, also making them a great option for music playback on the go. While they’re not perfect, the Razer Opus X headset offers a lot for the price.
Reviewer: Gemma Ryles
Full review: Razer Opus X
Logitech G733
Best for gaming aesthetics
Pros
- Lightweight and comfortable
- Colorful options
- Detachable microphone
- Great audio quality
Cons
- No Bluetooth or wired connection
- Plasticky build
- Lacks high-end features
Sometimes, you want some gaming gear that looks the part, which is where the Logitech G733 headset comes in. Coming in an array of fun colours with front-facing customisable lighting, this headset has a lot of personality and options for customisation.
The companion G Hub software is also a great addition here, as you can toggle the audio to best fit your needs and the types of games that you are playing. The user-friendly aspect makes them easy to use and tinker with, alongside the impressive 32 hours of battery life.
And while this headset does work on both Microsoft and Sony consoles, there are better headsets made especially for consoles, making this a better choice if you like to jump around or prefer PC.
Reviewer: Gemma Ryles
Full review: Logitech G733
EPOS H6PRO
Premium wired headset
Pros
- Deep audio levels
- Detachable microphone
- Stylish design and colours
- Soft padded ear cups
Cons
- Expensive
- Heavy for long periods of use
- No wireless connection
Coming in two flavours, the EPOS H6PRO is a headset aimed at those who really care about quality audio. There are two versions, Closed and Open Acoustic, but we’re only recommending the Closed Acoustic variation here.
The design is sleek and mature, with a detachable microphone that gives out crisp and clear voice recordings. The Closed variation is also very comfortable, with soft padding that forms a tight fit around the ears, ensuring that no background noise will creep in while you’re gaming.
Despite the more expensive price tag, these cans sound very constant when used on PC and console, so you won’t be missing out if you like to jump around. Being one of the most attractive headsets out there, with a sturdy design and metal accents, this is an easy one to recommend.
Reviewer: Gemma Ryles
Full review: EPOS H6PRO Review
FAQs
Headphones with a 7.1 surround sound can make audio seem as if it’s coming from a specific location, which is helpful to determine where your enemies are lurking. This feature is often only available on PC.
Some gaming headsets can be used for work, but be mindful that many have garish designs and can often see lots of sound leakage.
The Nintendo Switch and the Switch OLED now have Bluetooth support, so can be used with headsets that have a 3.5mm audio jack or Bluetooth.
Spec Comparison
›
The post Best Gaming Headset 2021: Top picks for PC, PS5, Xbox and Switch appeared first on Trusted Reviews.
More on…www.trustedreviews.com