Whether you want to play online and trash talk your competition, want surround sound audio to pinpoint enemy locations, or just want to save your family or partner from listening to the sounds of gunfire while you game, a decent gaming headset is worth the investment – though it doesn’t have to cost a fortune. In our reviews below, we break each headset down by audio quality, features, design, and price, to offer buying advice no matter your budget or requirements. For budget-friendly options, take a look at our budget gaming headset chart.
Best gaming headsets 2022
What should I consider when buying a gaming headset?
Still, it’s not always a straightforward decision, and you’ll have to bear a few factors in mind.
Immersive directional audio Smartphone compatibility Extremely comfortable
Pricey Different versions for different consoles
We haven’t even begun to talk about how comfortable the headset is either. The Aerofit Ear Cushions are incredibly soft and cool to the touch, and mould to the shape of your head as you wear them for extreme comfort over long periods. There is even a gap for glasses wearers! If money is no object, the Turtle Beach Elite Pro 2 is the best option right now.
Nura-personalised audio Great mic quality Everyday headphones
Expensive Comfort issues with longer sessions
The Nuraphone headphones are primarily Bluetooth-connected, ruling them out as a dedicated gaming headset due to Bluetooth lag, but the company’s new Gaming Mic accessory changes all of that. Featuring a great-sounding boom mic, wired 3.5mm connectivity and in-line controls for volume and media playback, the Gaming Mic turns the Nuraphone headphones into an incredible gaming headset with personalised audio and levels of bass rarely seen. And, when you’re not gaming, you can remove the cable and use the wireless cans for everyday use – what’s not to like?
Immersive haptic feedback Comfortable THX Spatial Audio
Nine-hour battery life
HyperSense technology helps the Nari Ultimate stand out from a crowd of gaming headsets, offering intelligent haptic feedback on PC and consoles that can really help immerse you into the world of the game you’re playing. Couple that with THX Spatial Audio support and wireless capabilities, and you’ve got a premium audio experience that shines not only when playing games but listening to music and watching movies too.
Great value USB DAC included Blue Mic support
Wired-only connection Some features exclusive to PC
On console it’s a trickier proposition – the headline features will only work on PC with the included USB DAC, and while the Pro X still feels competitive without them, it would be understandable to be tempted by one of the great wireless headsets you can find around the same price point.
Extremely comfortable earpads Choice of open- or closed-back acoustics Immersive sound
No wireless support Expensive Possible audio leakage
The open-back design of the H6PRO offers an improved soundstage compared to some, more claustrophobic headsets, providing an immersive experience suited to single-player games, but it comes at the cost of sound leakage. For competitive players, the closed-back variant may prove more useful, with better passive noise reduction and a tighter, brighter response. Whichever one you opt for, you’ll get a boom mic with flip-to-mute functionality, and thanks to a magnetic connection, it can be removed entirely when not in use. It’s just a shame that there isn’t wireless connectivity, a fairly common staple among gaming headsets at such a premium price.
Cool RGB lighting Customisable buttons Impressive audio
12-hour battery life PC-exclusive wireless connectivity
But while it boasts a great design, the G935 truly excels in the audio department. Bass is booming, highs are crisp and clear, and the soundscape is impressive, allowing you to pinpoint the source of audio with incredible accuracy. Oh, and (wired) compatibility with just about every console alongside PC is a bonus too.
In-ear bud design Bluetooth 5.1 Great sound
No mic when gaming No on-bud controls
The earbuds are comfortable to wear and stay in place, and unlike with regular gaming headsets, you don’t get headset fatigue after longer gaming sessions. It really is a great alternative to standard headsets. Plus, with Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity, you can use them as your go-to wireless earbuds for everyday use – no need to have separate headphones for gaming and commuting. The only catch is that you can’t use the built-in mics when connected via USB-C, only via Bluetooth 5.1, so these would be suited more to single-player gamers.
Great wireless performance Dolby Atmos support Hi-Res Audio
Middling battery life Hit-and-miss floating headband Small RGBs
Though the floating headband design isn’t compatible with all head shapes, the earcups themselves are extremely comfortable, made from memory foam and coated with a soft fabric. It’s not the most soundproof, but it’s one of the more breathable, and therefore comfortable, headsets we’ve used over long periods of play. Crucially, the headphones sound great, with Dolby Atmos support – and a license included – for spatial audio when playing games on PC (though not on PS4 or PS5, which are also supported). It’s also Hi-Res compatible in both wireless and wired modes, making the cans great for listening to music as well as gaming. The battery life isn’t the best at 20 hours, and the built-in EQ only works when iCue is running on PC, but overall, the Corsair HS80 RGB Wireless offers premium features at a price cheaper than many of its rivals.
Works with Nintendo Switch wirelessly Hi-Res Audio support Included carry case
No Bluetooth Expensive
The USB-C nature is what limits it from being the one wireless headset you use for gaming and listening to music on your commute, as there’s no Bluetooth on offer as a backup, although you do have a 3.5mm wired connection at your disposal. Still, with great High-Res Audio-certified audio quality that suits both gaming and music playback, the ROG Strix Go 2.4 remains a solid choice for consumers.
Premium design Great audio performance Comfortable
Very expensive Not great for music
The USB base station doubles up as a wireless charger, making sure your headset is always fully charged, and the 40mm drivers produce Dolby Audio-powered audio that not only sounds great, but is highly directional too. The headset is largely comfortable to wear thanks to soft-touch padding, but the fit is a bit tight for those of us with larger heads. The main issue is that it costs a lot more than most gaming headsets in our chart, and while the A50 Wireless is phenomenal, there are cheaper options that perform at a similar level.
Planar-magnetic audio tech Multi-platform support Great design
Very expensive 10hr battery life
Based on the company’s ‘planar magnetic’ technology, the Mobius headphones sound great, with clear, sharp high frequencies and a rich, strong bass sound that works well both for music and shoot-em-up action games. There’s USB-Audio output for PCs and Macs, 3.5mm connector for older devices, and Bluetooth wireless. You can even buy special cryo-gel earpieces to keep you cool in the heat of battle.
Highly customisable audio GameDAC provides quick adjustments
Expensive Wired-only support
The GameDAC allows you to create your own audio profiles with ease and switch them on the fly, so you can manually boost the highs to hear those footsteps over the gunfire or drag the lows up for that thumping, concussive, immersive sound.
Strong bass Immersive audio Bluetooth connectivity
Can't save EQ to headset Uncomfortable headband Expensive
It offers a blend of plastic and soft-touch padded material that should provide a comfortable experience for the majority of consumers, but we found pressure would build up around the headband over long periods of play. But, unsurprisingly with a Sennheiser product, audio quality is the main reason to pick up the GSP 670. It offers booming bass, and a simulated 7.1 surround sound experience really helps immerse you in the game. It’s further improved via preset EQs available as part of the Sennheiser Gaming Suite on PC, but without the ability to save profiles to the headset, the EQs aren’t available when using the headset with the PS4 or listening to music via Bluetooth.
Understated design Great spatial audio performance Multi-platform support
No wireless connectivity No software
It’s wired with a 2m braided cable and a 3.5mm headphone jack, making the H3 compatible with most consoles and PC, with a splitter cable also included in the box for the latter. There isn’t any software to tweak audio output, nor is there wireless connectivity, and those factors may be a barrier to some, but if immersive audio is what you’re after, the EPOS H3 delivers. First, there’s the console you want to use it for. The Switch only supports wired 3.5mm headphones or USB-C-enabled wireless headsets, so that rules out the vast majority of wireless headsets if your main aim is playing on Nintendo’s console. Consoles like the PS4 and Xbox One offer support for both 3.5mm headphones and wireless headphones, but it’s not as straightforward as it is for PC users. Wireless connectivity has come a long way in the past few years, there’s no doubt about it, offering a similar level of response time and audio quality as wired counterparts. The only issue is cross-platform compatibility; while PC users can freely use any PlayStation or Xbox-branded wireless headset, due to different connection methods, you can’t use a PlayStation-branded headset on an Xbox console. You’ve also got battery life to consider, which isn’t an issue for wired counterparts. You’ll also need to think about whether you want an in-line or boom microphone, whether you need them to be lightweight and portable or not, and how much muting and audio mixing functionality you need built-in. That’s not even getting into aesthetics – while gaming headsets have traditionally been garish, companies are designing understated sets that you’d be equally happy to use as your default audio gear – though check out our guide to the best headphones if you want to keep your gaming and music separate. Lewis Painter is a Senior Staff Writer at Tech Advisor. Our resident Apple expert, Lewis covers everything from iPhone to AirPods, plus a range of smartphones, tablets, laptops and gaming hardware. You’ll also find him on the Tech Advisor YouTube channel.
