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Serious players know that having the best team makes a difference. These days, that includes a great set of gaming headsets. They are absolutely necessary when you need to communicate with your squad or beat a tricky boss. If you play in the Xbox One or a new Xbox Series XYou can simply plug a standard pair of headphones with a microphone into your controller’s 3.5mm jack, but having a dedicated “gaming” headset ensures an optimized gaming experience. Plus, investing in a wireless gaming headset can prevent you from getting tangled in a cable and losing a game.
On top of that, having a decent mic allows others to hear you clearly when you’re in the middle of a long gaming session, even if there’s a lot of background noise. Many of us are stuck at home, which means more noise in the house. Having a noise-isolating headset and microphone can be the difference between a successful raid and an embarrassing defeat.
Many people with an Xbox One or Xbox One X choose to use a wired headset simply because it can be connected to the already wireless controller. It’s also worth noting that many, if not most, wired Xbox headsets also work well with the Playstation 4, Windows PC, Mac and the Nintendo switch.
However, if you want to eliminate the cable that goes from the controller to the headphones, there are many options for wireless headphones. The great thing about the Xbox wireless headset options is that most do not require a USB key to connect wirelessly (most PS4 Wireless Headphones do). Microsoft’s Xbox Wireless technology lets you quickly pair with your Xbox without dongle. (Wireless models that require dongles are specifically listed below.)
In making these selections, we primarily focused on a few key variables, including design (build quality), comfort, and sound quality, as well as additional features along with price. We also take microphone quality into consideration, because that’s especially important if your gaming session requires group coordination. If they don’t listen to you, you can’t create a strategy!
Finally, as far as we know, all the Xbox One wireless headsets listed here will also work with the next Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S.
With those basics established, let’s talk about the best Xbox headsets. These are the results of our own in-home tests, which are regularly updated and include some options suggested by GameSpot’s list of the best gaming headsets.
Read more: The best gaming headsets for PS5 (so far)
David Carnoy / CNET
Turtle Beach has updated its popular Stealth 700 headphones, improving both performance and comfort. The build quality is solid and I liked the “cooling gel” memory foam ear cushions, which really fit my head very well and fit well over glasses. The headband is also sturdy and well padded.
Turtle Beach says this Gen 2 model has improved 50mm Nanoclear drivers (sound is more detailed and “accurate”, redesigned metal-reinforced headband, and a larger, high-sensitivity mic that swivels to mute. They adjusted to offer “More detailed and accurate sound.” I thought it sounded pretty good, and the headset pairs with your phone and is also good for listening to music and taking calls while playing games (there is a “brand new” Turtle Beach Hub app for iOS and Android which allows you to adjust the audio and remap buttons (the app looks a bit beta and should be updated in the next few months).
This headset will work with current Xbox One consoles as well as next-gen X Series consoles. Battery life is now up to 20 hours (the headset charges via USB-C) and thanks to Xbox Wireless technology, you can connect wirelessly to the Xbox without using a dongle like you have to do with the PS4.
If you’re looking at this compared to the Stealth 600 Gen 2, which retails for $ 100, that model is good too, but the Stealth 700 Gen definitely has a more premium feel. It’s a really solid headset for $ 150.
HyperX
If you’re looking for a really solid wired headset at an affordable price, HyperX Cloud X is a great option. It has a robust build, has a good sound with great microphone performance, and most importantly, it is comfortable to use for long gaming sessions. It is designed to work with Xbox One and Series X / Series S, but it is also compatible with PS4 (and PS5), as well as Nintendo Switch and PC. Read our HyperX Cloud Alpha preview.
David Carnoy / CNET
The Razer Nari Ultimate for Xbox is a beast of a wireless headset, at least in terms of size. That said, it’s not heavy and its self-adjusting headband makes it one of the most comfortable gaming headsets you can buy; just keep in mind that your headphones really stick out of your head. The cheek pads are equipped with cooling gel pads and the Razer logo lights up.
In addition to excellent sound quality and comfort, the other distinguishing feature is the built-in HyperSense haptic feedback technology that allows you to feel the game while you play. One could call it a gimmick, but it adds another dimension to the gaming experience. The only downside is that battery life suffers when you activate it. It’s 6 hours with HyperSense on and 20 hours off.
It’s worth noting that this is an open headphone, which helps open up the soundstage and gives the audio a more airy quality, but the sound will leak through the headphones, which could disturb those around you. I found the mic performance to be good but not stellar.
This will also connect to a PC wirelessly with an Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows.
SteelSeries
On the PS4 and PC side, Arctis has its high-end Pro Wireless ($ 330), which some say is the best headset for both platforms. But for Xbox, the Arctis 9X Wireless is a great option if you’re looking for a more premium wireless headset. It connects directly to the Xbox wirelessly without a dongle and can also be used with your phone with a Bluetooth connection. It is also compatible with the new X Series and offers 20 hours of battery life.
David Carnoy / CNET
If you can’t afford Turtle Beach’s new Stealth 700 Gen 2, the new Stealth 600 Gen 2 is a good $ 100 alternative. While it doesn’t have the more premium build quality of the Stealth 700, it’s a very comfortable headset with good sound. and performance. Audio quality has been slightly improved and, like the Stealth 700, it is equipped with a larger, high-sensitivity microphone that can be rotated to mute and seamlessly integrates into the headphones when retracted (muted).
An audio preset button on the left ear cup lets you quickly customize your audio, and thanks to Xbox Wireless technology, it’s easy to connect to your Xbox (yes, this is also compatible with the new Xbox Series X). The battery life is 15 hours and the headphones recharge via USB-C.
The headset is shown in white, but is more available in black. The PS4 version includes a dongle for wireless connectivity with PS4 and PS5.
SteelSeries
If you want a much more affordable alternative to the 9X, check out the Arctis 1, a well-designed (but less fancy) wireless model that retails for around $ 100. While you need to use a dongle (included), it works when connected to Xbox. (including X and S Series), Switch, PS4 or even Android (the USB-C dongle includes a USB-A adapter cable). It’s a good value, with a Discord-certified detachable mic, and the battery life is up to 20 hours, which is pretty decent.
Amazon
Like the Steel Series Arctis 1 above, the HyperX Cloud X Flight uses a low latency 2.4GHz USB dongle for its wireless connection to your Xbox rather than connecting directly without a dongle. This is a very comfortable headset with excellent sound and good microphone performance (the microphone is detachable). It also has a very good battery life (up to 30 hours), although you will need to turn off the LEDs on the headphones to maximize battery life. Hopefully the next gen version will move to USB-C charging (uses Micro-USB).
Amazon
When it comes to entry-level wired gaming headsets, you can’t go wrong with HyperX’s Cloud Stinger Core. It is comfortable and has good audio quality and microphone performance. Build quality isn’t as good as some of HyperX’s advanced models, but you can’t expect everything for $ 30.
David Carnoy / CNET
The Quantum 100 is the entry-level model in JBL’s new line of Quantum gaming headsets, which cost between $ 40- $ 300. This model is nothing fancy, but is quite light and comfortable with well-padded ear cups, plus it has a detachable boom mic. On the left ear cup there is a volume control dial along with a microphone mute button. It works with other game consoles too and is pretty decent for music, although it is a bit bright.
While some of JBL’s high-end models feature wireless connectivity and even noise cancellation, the Quantum 100 is just an entry-level gaming headset that will appeal to more casual gamers on a budget. Read more.
