Best gaming headsets in 2025: I'd bet my ears on these headphones

Two of the best headsets side by side on a pink background.
(Image credit: Future)

The best gaming headset is one of the most surprisingly powerful upgrades you can make to your gaming setup. Or maybe it's not actually that surprising, because the impact good game audio can have on your experience can be huge. Surrounding yourself with a detailed soundscape—as the developers intended—will ground you in a game world like nothing else.

The headsets on this list are chosen from the dozens that the PC Gamer hardware team and I have tested. Between us, we've got decades of experience with the best and worst audio gear ever made. Considering all the options, the best gaming headset is the evergreen HyperX Cloud Alpha, thanks to its excellent comfort, reasonable price, and superb audio quality.

If you want to ditch the cord, the best wireless gaming headset is the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3X. With great audio and a class-leading 300 hours of battery life, it's an easy recommendation. If you prefer to spend a little less, the Corsair HS55 is the best budget gaming headset.

The Quick List

Curated by...
Dave James
Curated by...
Dave James

Dave's been an audiophile since his time running Techradar's Home Entertainment channel around half a million years ago (give or take). Having tested the whole spread of different quality gaming gear, including $51,000 headphones, he's best placed to say which budget cans still sound good, and which high-end headsets are worth the cash.

Recent updates

Updated August 1 2025: We've added the Razer BlackShark V3 as the best wireless gaming headset. You won't find a better sounding headset at $100. We've also now included the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3X as our favorite mid-range wireless pick. It's not just because it comes in purple, I swear... (it's great, read more below).

Updated 25 June 2025: We've added in the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 3 as the best mid-range wireless gaming headset, as it delivers a surprisingly brilliant soundstage and excellent battery life for a very reasonable price. All our other recommendations were checked, and we've had a good ol' tidy up of this page in general to make sure it's in tip-top shape.

Updated 18 June 2025: No changes to our main recommendations, although the new Soundcore Liberty 5 earbuds come pretty close to knocking the Steelseries Arctis GameBuds off their top slot. But with fewer gaming features, they're not ideal for us PC gamers so you'll find them in our 'Also Tested' section, along with the very nice Asus ROG Pelta, and somewhat less nice Nothing Ear (A) earbuds, Turtle Beach Recon 70 and Stealth 700 (Gen 3) headsets.

Best gaming headset

HyperX Cloud Alpha headset on a gradient background.

(Image credit: Future)
The best wired gaming headset

Specifications

Wireless: No
Drivers: 50 mm dual chamber neodymium
Connectivity: 3.5 mm
Frequency response: 13–27000 Hz
Features: Detachable noise-cancelling mic, in-line cable controls

Reasons to buy

+
Comfortable
+
Great audio
+
Often superb value

Reasons to avoid

-
No flip-to-mute mic
Buy if...

✅ You want a superb-sounding wired gaming headset for reasonable money: There's really no better option than the HyperX Cloud Alpha for the same cash, providing you don't want to cut the cord entirely.

✅ You need a headset for work and play: You can wear the HyperX Cloud Alpha throughout a workday and still find it comfortable enough to game in after the workday is done.

Don't buy if...

❌ You'd prefer a wireless headset: It may go without saying, but this isn't a wireless design. A wireless gaming headset is one of life's little luxuries, and if you'd prefer to pick one of those up then take a look at the best wireless gaming headset. Don't be surprised by what you find.

The best gaming headset in 2025 is the HyperX Cloud Alpha—that's right, the king is back and it's as great as ever. While Razer's BlackShark V2 gaming headset was able to dethrone the Cloud Alpha previously, it's no longer widely available in many regions. HyperX's headset, however, is easy to find and frequent discounts put this wonderful gaming headset back into the spotlight once again.

What's special about the Cloud Alpha gaming headset is how it sounds. That should be a given, right? Yet it's easy to get distracted by extraneous features that don't altogether matter much when looking for a gaming headset. The Cloud Alpha, however, is a simple beast. It delivers fantastic audio that's difficult to match for the same money.

The 50 mm neodymium drivers produce a hearty bass response, and that's key for gaming. It means you can feel the explosions or the hum of a sports car, and you get the best out of a game's soundtrack. But it's not only the powerful bass that impresses here, as this headset offers fantastic clarity and definition throughout the mids and highs.

HyperX achieves such impressive audio quality thanks to the use of a two-chamber design on the Cloud Alpha. Each earcup's driver is separated into its own chamber, which effectively reduces distortion that might muddy the bass with the mids and instead maximises articulation. The ability to deliver crisp and indulgent audio all at once is what separates the Cloud Alpha from the rest.

The Cloud Alpha also stands as the best gaming headset for its other attributes, namely it's hella comfy. The padded earcups and headband are comfortable over long periods, and I've used this headset day in and day out without issue.

Our one complaint would be that it doesn't come with a flip-to-mute microphone, but the detachable one included is still a great quality unit and comes through loud and clear during online gaming or voice calls.

Don't be put off by how long this headset has been around. HyperX has gotten so much right with the Cloud Alpha, it doesn't need changing. That age actually helps with pricing, as this headset is regularly available for under the asking price, and further discounts are plenty. For a wired gaming headset, you really can't go wrong with the HyperX Cloud Alpha in 2025.

Read our full HyperX Cloud Alpha review.

Best budget gaming headset

The best budget gaming headset

Specifications

Wireless: No
Drivers: 50 mm, Neodymium magnets
Connectivity: 3.5 mm
Frequency response: 20–20000 Hz
Features: Flip-up mic

Reasons to buy

+
Superb microphone quality
+
Flip-up mic arm
+
Light and comfortable
+
Good value

Reasons to avoid

-
Mic arm can be fiddly at times
-
Older HS50 feels a touch more premium
Buy if...

✅ You want a quality all-round headset for less: The HS55 is a well-made piece of kit for the cash, and while it won't be competing with the build quality of some of the expensive models in this guide, it's still a solid headset for less than you'd expect.

You value a quality microphone: If you're struggling to be heard over Discord, the HS55's microphone comes through loud and clear.

Don't buy if...

❌ You can spare a little more budget: If you can spend a bit more on your gaming headset, the Cloud Alpha is a really good get and often very affordable.

The Corsair HS55 Stereo is the best budget gaming headset around because, surprisingly for a budget headset, it covers all bases well—including the microphone. It's incredibly well-rounded and comes across better than its low price tag might lead you to believe.

The Corsair HS50 was already a solid choice for a budget gaming headset, and the newer HS55 improves on it in all the most important ways. It's lighter and comfier than the HS50 and features a flip-up mic arm, unlike the previous model's detachable one.

This mic is probably the HS55's most stand-out feature, too. In his review, Jacob found it to pick up his voice with incredible clarity and accuracy that's not only great for a set of budget cans, but for any gaming cans at all. So none of your Discord friends need to worry; your voice will come through perfectly clear.

Audio quality isn't bad, either. Although higher frequencies can occasionally become a little sharp, this headset is perfectly serviceable for gaming, music, and other audio endeavours. There's plenty of definition between different frequencies, and gaming is pleasant in no small part because the HS55 hasn't fallen into the "let's cram it full of bass" trap.

Which is more than can be said for many budget headsets. In fact, that might as well be the summation of our entire review. The Corsair HS55 Stereo has the pricing of a lesser headset, with the chops of a more expensive model, and that makes it the best budget gaming headset I can think of.

Read our full Corsair HS55 Stereo review.

Best wireless gaming headset

The best wireless gaming headset

Specifications

Wireless: Yes
Drivers: Razer TriForce Titanium 50 mm Drivers Gen-2
Connectivity: 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth
Frequency response: 12–28,000 Hz
Features: Low-latency mode

Reasons to buy

+
Stellar audio
+
Lightweight, clean chassis
+
Ultra-low latency
+
Way more affordable than the V3 Pro

Reasons to avoid

-
10 ms latency kills battery life
Buy if...

You want low-latency: The low-latency mode drops the connection speed to a rather spectacular 10 ms. That's a lot quicker than the HyperSpeed's usual latency at 25 ms.

Don't buy if...

❌ You want your headset in white: While the Pro version comes in white, you have to settle for black on the standard fare. I suppose it is called the BlackShark.

The best wireless gaming headset. It's quite an accolade—maybe the most important in 2025—and we're handing it to the Razer BlackShark V3.

The middle child of Razer's latest BlackShark lineup, the BlackShark V3 offers a good balance between features you might want, might need, without some of the extra fluff on the V3 Pro model that Razer hasn't quite nailed yet. It's a competitive price, in similar standing to our previous pick, HyperX's Cloud Alpha Wireless.

But the BlackShark does a few things better than our previous incumbent. That's largely thanks to the new drivers and redesigned cans: both have seen improvements over the previous BlackShark generation and it really pays off in audio fidelity. Essentially, the mids are crystal clear, which is superb for picking out detail in game. The bass is also improved.

In our testing, we rate the BlackShark as one of, if not the, best sounding gaming headset around. Admittedly, audiophile headsets are a different beast altogether and we're partial to the Audeze and Beyerdynamic options for pure auditory magic, but that's high praise of any dedicated gaming headset.

It has a gamer aesthetic, more so than some on this list, but you could theoretically wear the BlackShark on the bus. I'm yet to decide if you'd look weird or not. It offers both 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth connectivity, which at the very least makes it handy for playing your Steam Deck in bed, if you have one.

The BlackShark V3 is pretty light—100 grams lighter than the V3 Pro, likely for the lack of ANC (that's not a terrible loss), and 50 grams lighter than the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless. Admittedly, the HyperX probably packs the extra weight entirely in its absolutely massive battery, offering a 300-hour life, which the BlackShark cannot compete with. It's not terrible on battery life, though, at 70 hours. It charges quick, 15 minutes for 6 hours, though you will rip through battery quicker with low-latency mode enabled.

Low-latency mode keeps any lag between you and your game down to just 10 ms, beating Razer's usual HyperSpeed latency by 15 ms.

As I mentioned, you will lose ANC by opting for the non-Pro BlackShark V3, and the 'Pro' stiching is gone, too. But those aren't a huge loss: the ANC isn't great and the V3 is much more affordable for the omission. Though do note you also get a worse microphone on the non-Pro model. It's one and the same as the mic on the V2 Pro 2023, and isn't really a dealbreaker. It's still solid.

For around $100, the BlackShark V3 is an excellent choice. It does have a lot of competition, but after our time with it and the Pro version, we've come around to the more affordable option as the best iteration. Moreover, it's about as much gaming headset as most PC gamers need.

Read our full Razer BlackShark V3 review.

Best mid-range wireless gaming headset

The best mid-range wireless gaming headset

Specifications

Wireless: Yes
Drivers: 40 mm neodymium
Connectivity: 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth 5.3
Frequency response: 20–22,000 Hz
Features: Detachable mic, USB Type-C adapter, mobile app

Reasons to buy

+
Comfortable and versatile
+
Banging audio
+
Great battery
+
Decent detachable microphone
+
Appealing colorways

Reasons to avoid

-
No dedicated song-skip or pause button on-ear
-
Not water resistant
-
Bluetooth performance
Buy if...

You want versatility: You don't have to settle for gaming at your desk with the Nova 3X, they're good for on-the-go or gaming handheld use, too.

You're all about pastel tones: The lilac and blue colorways are to die for. TO DIE FOR.

Don't buy if...

❌ You want to connect to multiple Bluetooth devices at once: You can swap between 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth connections easy enough, but using two devices at once over Bluetooth is a step too far.

Our pick for the best mid-range gaming headset is the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3X. They're all about comfort, connectivity, and looking absolutely fabulous in purple and blue.

Beyond stellar good looks, the Nova 3X have some really superb specs for the money. These cans support both 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth 5.3, and you can switch between either connection with a push of the power button. You can't dual-wield Bluetooth devices at the same time, but for most PC gamers that shouldn't be a huge concern.

The sound profile is well balanced—banging, one might say. It's clear, detailed, and there's a subtle but not overwhelming amount of bass response to keep you immersed in the game without overwhelming the 40 mm neodymium drivers. That's something we see on a lot of gaming headsets, but the Nova 3X keeps things within reason and is all the better for it.

You can, of course, tweak the EQ in the provided application. There are a few game-specific EQ profiles, more broadly applicable EQs, and just your bog standard movie and music presets. We liked the deep bass preset, as it puts a bit of that bass response back in the picture from the balanced default, but you can play around with this to your liking. Just be warned, you can accidentally set two EQ profiles in different windows, which is not a pleasant experience.

The microphone is a detachable unit, which is a bit of a departure from SteelSeries' usual retractable microphone. That could be a positive or a negative, depending on who you are and whether you're prone to losing things. If you don't tend to misplace microphones you 'only took off for a minute', it's a good option and offers clear in-game voice chat through a slightly pitchy response. You wouldn't want to record a podcast with this headset, but then you probably wouldn't with many others, either. It's great for gaming, anyways.

The microphone also has a dedicated mute button. Handy for quickly answering the door without finding your Google Meet or Zoom call and muting there. Though it is easy to forget you've muted this way, and you might hear the dreaded 'I think you're on mute' on your return.

It's handy to be able to remove the microphone entirely. That turns this gaming headset into a more mobile unit for near-enough anything, with Bluetooth coming to the rescue to save using any sort of dongle on your smartphone. There's no play/pause button on-ear, which does limit some functionality, but otherwise it's sleek enough to not look that odd if you wear it on the bus.

Altogether, with a quick-charging battery, this gaming headset delivers everything you could need for gaming at your desktop or actually leaving the house, God forbid.

Read our full SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3X review.

Best wired audiophile headset for gaming

The best wired audiophile headset for gaming

Specifications

Wireless: No
Driver-type: STELLAR.45
Connectivity: 2 x stereo jack plug w/ 3.5 mm adapter
Frequency response: 5–40000 Hz
Features: Velour earpads

Reasons to buy

+
Properly comfortable
+
Balanced yet powerful sound profile
+
Excellent mic
+
Wide and airy soundstage

Reasons to avoid

-
Pricey for a wired gaming headset
-
Cable is slightly bulky
-
Non-detachable mic
-
No noise reduction software
Buy if...

✅ You want a punchy open-back profile: The MMX 330 is a gorgeous blend of punchy audio and an open-back design, which tends to be easier on the ears for critical listening. There is also a closed-back version, though we haven't tested them.

Don't buy if...

❌ You plan on being on the move: Thanks to being wired only, and having a bit of a bulky cable, it's not the best choice if you plan on taking them with you on the go.

If you're like me, you care less about gamer-specific functionality and more about stellar sound quality. Of course, as gamers, we also want this to sound great for gaming. This is where Beyerdynamic's MMX 330 comes in, as it's certainly the best audiophile headset for gaming that hasn't opted to cut the cord.

While this headset lacks some gamer-specific features, such as USB connectivity and RGB lighting, it absolutely nails the sound experience. This is thanks to a pair of STELLAR.45 drivers, which deliver superbly punchy audio despite the Pro's open-back design (which, by the way, delivers an airy soundscape that's perfect for immersive gaming audio).

There is a closed-back model available if you don't like sound leakage, but we haven't had the chance to test it personally. Still, it's got the same drivers and the same fantastic design, so it's no great stretch to think it'll be just as good.

There's little to dislike about the audio quality of this set, as it's up there with the best I've heard. We're talking fantastic separation across all ranges, even within bass frequencies, which are more of the defined variety than head-booming. And as far as gaming goes, this headset helps games to feel not just immersive but actually alive, with fantastic directional audio.

Plus, it's supremely comfortable. Thanks to velour earcup padding and a cleverly designed headband, I struggle to think of a headset that feels better against your skull than this.

It looks the part, too. Beyerdynamic's gone for a minimalistic black-and-grey design that screams audiophile suavetée (yes, I just made that word up, but it fits, doesn't it?). And it's low-power, too, meaning you shouldn't need an amp to get it up and running. Audiophile quality for the masses, who can argue with that?

Notably, this dethroned the DT 900 Pro X, also from Beyerdynamic, partially due to the inclusion of an excellent microphone that elevates these cans from audio-nerd eargasms to gaming-suitable masters. Simply wonderful to listen to.

Read our full Beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro review.

Best wireless audiophile headset for gaming

The best wireless audiophile gaming headset

Specifications

Wireless: Yes
Driver-type: 90 mm Planar Magnetic
Connectivity: 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth 5.3, USB Type-C, 3.5 mm
Frequency response: 10–50000 Hz
Features: Hypercardioid boom mic

Reasons to buy

+
Stunning sound
+
Long battery life
+
Fast charging
+
Comfortable
+
Good mic

Reasons to avoid

-
Poor software
Buy if...

✅ You're after definition: Accuracy is the Maxwell's signature move, and those planar magnetic drivers are gorgeously well-defined in their sound profile.

✅ Planar magnetic is calling to you: There's a place in every headset collection for a pair of planar magnetics. We love them, and for good reason: they usually sound absolutely fantastic.

Don't buy if...

❌ You're strapped for cash: The Audeze Maxwell doesn't come cheap. While it replaces the need for two pairs of headphones, one for gaming and the other for wearing outdoors, it's still a lot of money.

The best wireless audiophile gaming headset is the Audeze Maxwell, and you can thank its planar magnetic drivers for that. The Maxwell delivers a gloriously rich and impactful sound that goes a long way in gaming and listening to music.

So, what's the big deal with planar magnetic? These drivers utilise an entirely different concept from dynamic drivers often found in gaming headsets. Each driver uses a large, flat diaphragm manipulated by magnets to produce audio. The end result tends to be a much more natural, broader sound than a dynamic driver, with superb accuracy.

For the Maxwell, the benefit of planar magnetic drivers is apparent as soon as you listen to any music or play any game. The level of clarity and tonal separation is fantastic. It's possible to tune in and isolate almost any sound pumping through these planars at any one time.

That's wonderful when you're trying to relax into your favorite album, but it's also crucially important when playing competitive shooters.

Audeze has opted for a closed-back design here, which is great for noise isolation but can usually lead to a more closed-in sound profile. That's not the case here, however, as the Maxwell sound impressively wide and expansive. That's likely down to the planar drivers working their magic.

However, you do have to be aware of a few drawbacks with the Maxwell. Firstly, this is a heavy headset, and secondly, it's very expensive. The best wireless audiophile headset, unsurprisingly, doesn't come cheap. That said, I think they're worth every penny because you can use the Maxwell for a lot more than gaming on your PC.

Wireless connectivity means you're not locked to your desk while wearing them, which is pretty freeing, but the Maxwell also offers Bluetooth connectivity. You're free to take these headphones with you out of the house, and you won't be laughed at—at least not for your choice of headset—as the Maxwell looks for the most part like any other pair of over-ear headphones. It doesn't look like a PC gaming accessory, although it's large enough to perhaps be of note.

Still, thanks to those wonderful drivers, there really is no better choice for a wireless audiophile headset than this.

Read our full Audeze Maxwell review.

The best gaming headset microphone

The best gaming headset microphone

Specifications

Wireless: No
Driver-type: 45 mm Dynamic
Connectivity: USB Type-A w/ Type-C adapter, Analog XLR
Frequency response: 15–28000 Hz
Features: Cardioid condenser mic

Reasons to buy

+
Best headset mic I've tried
+
Excellent cans too
+
Plug and play

Reasons to avoid

-
No sound control on headset
-
Expensive for a wired headset
Buy if...

✅ You don't want a desk microphone: If you're a streamer or content creator, the ATH-M50x STS StreamSet is capable of fantastic mic quality without the dedicated mic.

Don't buy if...

❌ You're after a cheaper option: You could buy a gaming headset and one of the best cheap microphones for less than this all-in-one option.

It's taken a while, but manufacturers are finally starting to realise that streamers have their own specific product wants and needs. The Audio-Technica ATH-M50XSTS StreamSet understands this because it has a seriously stellar mic.

What does a streamer need that your average gamer doesn't? A quality mic. And this StreamSet headset more than delivers on the mic quality. We're not talking about your average high-quality headset microphone here. No, we're talking a full-on cardioid condenser mic.

Cardioid condenser mics are found in stand-alone models like the ones your favourite gaming influencers use in their streams and podcasts. The ATH-M50XSTS StreamSet packs one of these bad boys into the itty-bitty end of a headset boom arm.

This is no gimmick, either, as Hope found out in her testing. This flexible, flip-to-mute mic delivers microphone audio that helps your videos and streams sound professional, and that's an impressive party trick.

It's a great headset on the overall audio front, too. While it might not quite muster the audio chops of the MMX 330 Pro, it gets pretty damn close, with clear, well-balanced audio that sounds great in games and out of them. It looks good, too, sporting a decidedly non-gamery, somewhat minimalistic aesthetic. Perfect for those of you who like to hop on camera.

Read our full Audio-Technica ATH-M50XSTS StreamSet review.

Best noise cancelling gaming headset

The best noise cancelling gaming headset

Specifications

Wireless: Optional
Driver-type: 40 mm
Connectivity: USB Type-C to Type-A, Bluetooth, 3.5 mm jack
Frequency response: 20–20000 Hz
Features: Active noise cancelling, game-specific EQs, flip-to-cancel boom mic

Reasons to buy

+
Excellent noise cancellation
+
Microphone is crystal clear
+
Comfortable over long periods
+
Mobile app is handy

Reasons to avoid

-
Microphone boom arm design could be better
-
Not truly wireless on PC
-
High price
Buy if...

✅ You're in a noisy environment: The active noise cancellation on the A-Spire is really impressive. It works wonders for both your own gaming experience in a loud area and anyone listening to you talk.

You love your hyper-competitive games: If you're a big fan of Counter-Strike 2, Apex Legends or similar, the A-Spire offers a clear and defined audio profile that should help you stay alert to sneaky players creeping up behind you.

Don't buy if...

❌ You want a wireless gaming headset: This headset offers Bluetooth connectivity for connecting to the mobile app and for listening to music while out and about. It's not intended as a wireless headset for PC gaming, meaning you'll need to be tied to a cable to get the best out of it.

Gaming dens can be noisy places, especially during competitions, so a headset that can block all of that out and still sound great is worth seeking out. It's for these very reasons that the AceZone A-Spire is the best noise-cancelling gaming headset.

AceZone has been making products for esports tournaments for a good few years now, and the A-Spire is its first model for the general gaming market. Naturally, it's brought across many of the features that make its products so popular in competitive gaming, most notably the active noise-cancelling system.

The A-Spire has been tuned to block out sounds commonly experienced at home, such as voices, and it does an exceptional job of it. It can be easily adjusted via the AceZone mobile phone app, and it's a breeze to go from total isolation to being able to hear the doorbell if needed.

Its plush earpads, thick earcups, and cushioned headband all conspire to make the headset comfortable to wear all day long. Despite offering wireless connectivity, the A-Spire is predominantly a wired gaming headset, and the Bluetooth system is only suitable for using the app and a spot of music—you can game over it, but it will significantly increase the lag and slightly decrease the audio quality.

Speaking of audio quality, however, the 40 mm dynamic drivers produce a well-defined sound, with a lot of clarity in the higher ranges. The overall profile has been tuned to work best in competitive shooters, and the app even offers dedicated EQ profiles for Counter-Strike 2 and Apex Legends.

Downsides? Well, the AceZone A-Spire is pretty expensive for a gaming headset—and while the microphone is perfectly decent, the boom arm design could be better. At least the included travel case is solidly built and a handy inclusion.

While primarily targeted at esports enthusiasts, the A-Spire is capable enough of being used by any PC gamer. Its stand-out feature, the active noise cancellation system, makes it ideal for anyone needing to isolate themselves from the work around them and get fully immersed in their games. A competitive gamer with serious noise-cancelling chops.

Read our full AceZone A-Spire review.

Best earbuds for gaming

The best earbuds for gaming

Specifications

Drivers: 6 mm
Frequency response: 20 Hz - 20000 Hz
Weight: 11 g for both earbuds
Connection: 2.4 GHz wireless | Bluetooth 5.3
Battery life: 40 hr (10 hr earbuds + 30 hr chaging case)

Reasons to buy

+
Incredible audio quality for earphones
+
Game-specific audio profiles are useful and easy to change
+
Earphones and charging pod both look and feel wonderful
+
Qi wireless charging
+
Great battery life

Reasons to avoid

-
Can only connect to one Bluetooth device at a time
-
WearSense (auto-pause when earbuds are removed) is a little sensitive
Buy if...

✅ You want something discreet: For example, if you want to game on your Steam Deck while out and about without wearing over-ear headphones. These are a great alternative to the more bulky options on this list.

You want versatility: Offering both a Bluetooth 5.3 connection and snappy 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity, these earbuds make great companions both for gaming and on your next trip.

Don't buy if...

❌ You want something cheap: Though not ludicrously expensive, especially for the quality you're getting, these cost a good bit more than some of the best budget headphones.

You want the best audio quality possible: These sound great for earbuds, but they're no audiophile-quality open-back headphones.

Sometimes you want something a little more discreet than the giant over-ear cans on this list. This is particularly important for those of you who like to game while out and about, perhaps on a Steam Deck. In which case, the best wireless earbuds for gaming might work a treat, and we reckon the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds are the best premium bang for your buck.

The main draw to these in-ear mini-cans is that they're incredibly easy to use. Once they're paired, just take them out of their magnetic charging case and plonk them in your ears—no constant faffing with Bluetooth pairing. They work over 2.4 GHz wireless, too, for connecting to your gaming laptop or gaming PC, delivering a lower latency connection than Bluetooth, which is vitally important for gaming.

Importantly, the SteelSeries buds sound phenomenal, often stacking up to some headphone-level audio quality. You lose a little here due to their size and shape, meaning you don't quite get that immersion factor of all-encompassing bass, but for earbuds, these perform excellently. Even the mic, something that is often pretty poor in earbuds, is of serviceable quality too.

They can, unfortunately, only connect to one Bluetooth device at a time, but the 2.4 GHz connection means you can swap between devices with ease, and game-specific audio profiles are just as easy to customize. This, combined with wireless charging and great battery life, makes these feel like a solid and thoughtful set of buds that can fit into almost any gaming setup.

Do you fancy taking your games on the go with the Steam Deck? Go for it. Do you want to hook them up to your PC? Be my guest. Are you going for a run? These are the perfect companions.

Read our full SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds review.

Also tested

HyperX Cloud Alpha WirelessPC Gamer score: 90%

HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless
A 300-hour battery life is just one of the things we like about the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless. Importantly, it also sounds great. The thing is, it's beat on audio quality by the newer BlackShark V3 from Razer, so that's why it's slipped down the list.
PC Gamer score: 90%

Read our full HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless review.

Soundcore Liberty 5PC Gamer score: 93%

Soundcore Liberty 5
If the Steelseries Arctis GameBuds are a little too expensive for you, then go for Soundcore's Liberty 5s. While they lack gaming features such as a 2.4 GHz connection, they're still a fantastic set of buds.
PC Gamer score: 93%

Read our full Soundcore Liberty 5 review.

Asus ROG PeltaPC Gamer score: 84%

Asus ROG Pelta
Light, comfortable, and packed with lots of features and great audio, the ROG Pelta headset is well worth considering. Its lack of bass and somewhat flimsy build stops us from fully recommending them, though.
PC Gamer score: 84%

Read our full Asus ROG Pelta review.

Nothing Ear (A)PC Gamer score: 69%

Nothing Ear (A)
Sensibly priced and with great sound, the Nothing Ear (A) earbuds are fine to use for everything except gaming. Which is the whole point of this guide. Oh dear.
PC Gamer score: 69%

Read our full Nothing Ear (A) review.

Turtle Beach Stealth 700 (Gen 3)PC Gamer score: 70%

Turtle Beach Stealth 700 (Gen 3)
The best Stealth 700 version by far, with all-day comfort and great sound. Unfortunately, it lacks features such as ANC that other headsets have, even at the same price point.
PC Gamer score: 70%

Read our full Turtle Beach Stealth 700 (Gen 3) review.

Turtle Beach Recon 70PC Gamer score: 65%

Turtle Beach Recon 70
Affordable and with clear audio and a nice mic, the Recon 70s aren't really good enough in terms of build quality and sound reproduction compared to the competition.
PC Gamer score: 65%

Read our full Turtle Beach Recon 70 review.

AceZone A-BlazePC Gamer score: 70%

AceZone A-Blaze
A comfortable and accurate headset that our Katie likes a lot, but the spotty Bluetooth connection and janky on-ear controls let it down a touch.
PC Gamer score: 70%

Read our full AceZone A-Blaze review.

Turtle Beach Stealth 500PC Gamer score: 77%

Turtle Beach Stealth 500
Lightweight and super comfortable, the Stealth 500 is a decent headset let down by average battery life, middling sound reproduction, and cheap-feeling materials.
PC Gamer score: 77%

Read our full Turtle Beach Stealth 500 review.

Razer Barracuda X ChromaPC Gamer score: 82%

Razer Barracuda X Chroma
Razer's ultra-bling headset has great looks (if you like that kind of thing) and lots of features, but you'll be constantly messing about with the app just to use them. It's a good headset for the price, though.
PC Gamer score: 82%

Read our full Razer Barracuda X Chroma review.

Audio-Technica ATH R50XPC Gamer score: 87%

Audio-Technica ATH R50X
This superb studio-like set of headphones isn't really for gaming but it still does a great job of making everything sound clear, accurate, and luscious. The lack of a microphone makes them a no-no for multiplayer, though.
PC Gamer score: 87%

Read our full Audio-Technica ATH R50X review.

Soundcore Liberty 4 ProPC Gamer score: 90%

Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro
If the price of the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds is a little too high for you, then these are the next best thing. Only the fiddly controls and weak spatial audio spoil the picture. A shame, really, considering how good they are.
PC Gamer score: 90%

Read our full Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro review.

How we test gaming headsets

Razer BlackShark V2 Pro 2023 Edition

(Image credit: Future)

How do we test gaming headsets?

You can read all about how PC Gamer tests hardware in our How We Test guide, but here's a quick breakdown of how we test gaming headsets specifically.

Each headset we test becomes our daily driver for weeks. This means we get to experience not just the sound, but what it's like to use each set of cans on a daily basis.

We test each headset in a number of different game genres—shooters, battle royales, and racing games make for particularly good testing scenarios since the former tends to test the low-end and reveal muddiness and distortion, while Battlefield, PUBG, et al are great for positional audio tracking.

We record a sample of our voice in Audacity and compare it to previous recordings from other models, then head to Discord to get some feedback from our friends on how we're sounding. You can hear a lot of the microphones and headsets we test on our Soundcloud (I promise it's not PC Gamer's homemade rap).

Oh, and we listen to a lot of high-res audio music, obviously. Listening to tracks we know well, that work through the bass, mid-tones, and highs, means we know how they should sound at their best. And if we hear good things we've never heard before in a familiar track, that often indicates some pretty fabulous drivers at work underneath.

Where to buy

Where are the best gaming headset deals?

In the US:

Amazon - Big discounts on popular gaming headsets

Walmart - Console, and PC gaming headsets up to 30% off

B&H Photo - Deals on pro-sumer and gaming headsets

Best Buy - Save up to $100 on gaming headsets

Target - Gaming headsets as low as $13.99

Staples - Tons of budget gaming headsets

Lenovo - Turtle Beach headsets starting at $29.95

Newegg - Lots of gaming headsets on offer

In the UK:

Amazon - Tons of budget gaming headset options

Newegg - Variety of gaming headset brands

Overclockers - Deals on wireless gaming headsets

Scan - Deals on Razer and Beyerdynamic headsets

Ebuyer - Gaming headsets as low as £17

Argos - Budget gaming headsets aplenty

Box - Wide range of affordable gaming headsets

CCL - Discounts on some of the best headsets

Best gaming headset FAQ

What does a gaming headset need?

There are a few things to consider when choosing a gaming headset. A good price and sound quality are foremost, but comfort is up there, too. Also, noise-cancelling mics are crucial for comms, so most of the headsets we've listed here include this feature. You want decent voice quality and a microphone that won't pick up every single keypress on your mechanical keyboard.

Are wired or wireless headsets better for gaming?

This really comes down to preference, but if you're going the wireless route what you want to look for is for decent battery life (20 hours or higher). The last thing you want to have a headset that's constantly needs to be plugged in because the battery life is bad. It kind of defeats the purpose of being wireless. For wired headsets, you want to make sure the cable is long enough to reach your PC without feeling like it's tugging on your head.

Dave James
Editor-in-Chief, Hardware

Dave has been gaming since the days of Zaxxon and Lady Bug on the Colecovision, and code books for the Commodore Vic 20 (Death Race 2000!). He built his first gaming PC at the tender age of 16, and finally finished bug-fixing the Cyrix-based system around a year later. When he dropped it out of the window. He first started writing for Official PlayStation Magazine and Xbox World many decades ago, then moved onto PC Format full-time, then PC Gamer, TechRadar, and T3 among others. Now he's back, writing about the nightmarish graphics card market, CPUs with more cores than sense, gaming laptops hotter than the sun, and SSDs more capacious than a Cybertruck.

With contributions from