Top-rated headsets for consoles and PCs

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is a stylish gaming headset that offers immersive audio along with a host of useful extras that make it our best overall gaming headset. 

The Arctis Nova Pro Wireless comes in black or a new all-white colourway, with the design a blend of smooth and weighty plastics, plush earcups and metal accents. At 337g, the headphones aren’t too heavy, while the deep earcups and suspension headband are comfortable for extended periods, offering fantastic passive noise isolation as a bonus. 

The headphones benefit from Clearcast AI noise cancellation, Sonar, a built-in mixer, and a range of EQ presets for different games, music, movies and podcasts in the GG suite. Connectivity is fantastic too, with both 2.4Ghz wireless and Bluetooth available and support for a variety of platforms, including PC, PlayStation, smartphones, Mac and Nintendo Switch. There’s also multipoint support for connecting to two devices simultaneously. 

The headset features swappable batteries, allowing for up to 44 hours of battery overall. Replacing the batteries is quick and easy, and you can slide them back into the accompanying base station to recharge in three hours. 

Sound-wise, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is excellent. The mid-range is rich and detailed, while the robust low-end offers plenty of bass without sounding muddy or overbearing. It also provides fantastic immersion in FPS titles, allowing you to feel the boom of grenades and gunfire. 

The mic performance isn’t as strong as the audio, sounding a bit thin and lacking the body and richness we’ve heard from other, cheaper headsets. Despite this, the ClearCast AI noise cancellation does a brilliant job of cancelling out distractions, such as a loud mechanical keyboard. 

Reviewer: Reece Bithrey

Full Review: SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless

Sony’s Inzone range launched last year and it’s a curious beast, representing the brand’s efforts to take a share in the PC peripheral market away from PlayStation. The Sony Inzone Buds are its first earbuds offering, and they’ve done a mightily good job.

We’ve always been intrigued by the idea of gaming earbuds, especially for your average gamer, and the Inzone Buds get that line of thinking too. They prioritise a comfortable fit and excellent long battery life, alongside nailing luxe features like a broad sound and wonderfully immersive active noise cancellation (ANC).

It’s really all about convenience, with 12 hours offered on a single charge and then another 12 hours offered from the charging case. Bluetooth LE connectivity, through a USB-C wireless receiver, ensures you’re solidly connected too.

Obviously, these earbuds are focused on gaming but they showcased impressive all-round audio chops in our testing. The sound was punchy and accurate and served games well with spatial audio luxury.

Reviewer: Reece Bithrey
Full review: Sony Inzone Buds review

The HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless is a great headset for anyone that wants to game on the PC and PS5, coming with a 2.4GHz USB-A receiver, which we found remarkably simple to set up. 

We thought that the headset felt properly premium, from the metal earcups to the red-accented headband. It also struck us as very stylish, lacking some flashier features like RGB lighting but having a more mature and sleek aesthetic. 

In terms of audio, our reviewer noted that the headset has a big, meaty sound profile that comes with lots of volume to boot, which is ideal for gaming. Our review also mentioned how the Cloud Alpha Wireless packs a lot of nuance and detail, which also makes it an ideal choice for anyone hoping to listen to music or podcasts. 

The shining feature of this headset has to be the battery life, which clocks in at over 300 hours. We noted that the battery didn’t appear to drain, with our reviewer not needing to charge the headset for the two weeks it was used. So, for anyone who’s looking for a headset that can last through the night without issue, there is no better choice than the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless.

Reviewer: Reece Bithrey
Full review: HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless review

The AceZone A-Spire, while perhaps lacking the good looks of its counterparts, offers performance that leaves a lasting impression.

At 270g, the headset emerges as a featherweight contender, delivering an unparalleled level of comfort even during multiple 8-hour workdays. Featuring a flexible leather-clad headband and velvety ear cushions, it stands as an ideal companion for those immersive gaming sessions, aligning seamlessly with the standards upheld by eSports aficionados.

The attached microphone is versatile, effortlessly conforming to various positions while maintaining stability. Noteworthy is the thoughtfully incorporated green mark, ensuring optimal alignment for crystal-clear communication – a crucial feature for the eSports-focused among us.

Connectivity options further elevate the A-Spire’s appeal, spanning USB, Bluetooth, and Aux interfaces, accommodating multiple devices for a low-latency experience.

Crucially, the audio performance is noteworthy, even if the 40mm cans are smaller than those of some competitors in our chart. They deliver impressive clarity with a dedicated app that adds an additional layer of customisation, allowing users to fine-tune the audio output to their tastes. There are also specific game profiles for popular FPS games like Apex Legends to help pick up on footsteps and improve game performance.

For those venturing into the eSports realm, the AceZone A-Spire is a reliable entry point, seamlessly blending comfort, adaptability, and superior audio performance.

Reviewer: Sarah Thwaites
Full review: AceZone A-Spire review

The Corsair Virtuoso Pro may seem like a rather stripped-back option compared to some similarly priced alternatives given the £169.99/$199.99 price tag, but it does so in order to prioritise audio performance over all else. An aim that’s largely achieved.

Clad in a premium combination of aluminium and plastic, the Virtuoso Pro certainly feel premium, though at 338g, they’re certainly not the most lightweight cans around. That said, our reviewer found that they were comfortable enough in general use, with nice fabric padding in all the right areas to help alleviate the build-up of pressure on the head.

What you won’t find, however, is much in the way of built-in controls. You won’t find any buttons or switches on the cans or even an in-line control on the cable. These features have largely been sacrificed to deliver an open-back design, which is great for audio performance, but no so much when it comes to convenience.

Speaking of, the open-back design of the cans deliver a much wider soundstage than regular over-ear alternatives that delivered exceptional directional audio in testing, whether you’re playing the latest Call of Duty or the new Forza Motorsport. These deliver a seriously immersive sound experience with a powerful low-end, a clear and detailed mid-range and a sharp top-end, though the latter could sometimes be a little too sharp.

The attached microphone isn’t quite as impressive, however, with some notable compression and thin-sounding vocals in testing. It’s more than serviceable for quick chats with friends during gaming sessions, but streamers will likely want to look elsewhere.

Reviewer: Reece Bithrey
Full review: Corsair Virtuoso Pro review

Our extensive tests show that the Xbox Wireless Headset is the best gaming headset choice for anyone who owns Microsoft’s consoles. We were able to easily connect it to our Xbox Series X wirelessly, while also using our smartphone simultaneously for Discord chats. 

We also really liked the Xbox-themed design, and found the rotating control dial allowed us to easily alter the volume without blindingly searching for small buttons. We were also impressed with the headset’s wide range of features, which includes Dolby Atmos that creates an immersive 3D audio effect. 

We found the audio quality to be superb during testing, although we do recommend fiddling with the equaliser to find a soundscape to your liking, as the audio sounds a little muddy to us out of the box. 

You can admittedly find plenty of other gaming headsets that have been designed with the Xbox in mind, such as the HyperX CloudX Stinger Core Wireless and Corsair HS75 XB Wireless, but Microsoft’s own headset is our favourite, mainly due to its incredible value.

Reviewer: Esat Dedezade
Full review: Xbox Wireless Headset review

While it might be tempting to opt for the pricier Sony Inzone H9 (although it’s certainly worth picking up if you jump between games on PS5 and PC), the Pulse Elite headset offers such good value for money that it easily jumps in at the top spot for our favourite PS5 headset.

As a successor to the PlayStation Pulse 3D that launched alongside the PS5, the Pulse Elite is still compatible with Sony’s 3D Audio to create an immersive experience that makes it feel as if you’re hearing everything from the perspective of the character you’re playing, but there’s more to it than that.

Despite its £129.99/$149.99 price point, the Pulse Elite packs high-end planar magnetic drivers which bring out even more detail than before, making conversations feel crisp and adding tons of weight to action scenes. To see them at their best, you only need to wear the Pulse Elite during the chaotic opening segment of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.

There isn’t any active noise cancelling on the Pulse Elite which may be worth bearing in mind if you game in a busy household, but it’s a small issue when you consider how good the sound quality is. Plus, the comfortable padded ear cushions do a decent job of expelling a degree of external noise.

Just like the Pulse Explore earbuds, the Pulse Elite packs Sony’s new PlayStation Link technology, which allows the headset to connect to your PS5 almost instantly. Even though it requires a USB-C dongle to operate (it’s included in the box), it still works brilliantly and allows you to get straight into your desired game quickly.

As a final cherry on top, the Pulse Elite can last for up to 30-hours at a time, but if you’re ever running low then a simple 10-minute top-up can net you another two-hours of playtime. There’s even a charging hook thrown in that allows you to replenish the headset’s battery when it’s stored away.

Reviewer: Chris Smith
Full review: PlayStation Pulse Elite review

The Razer BlackShark V2 Pro (2023) is one of the best gaming headsets for eSports players or streamers. It features an incredible microphone that has been massively improved compared to the previous model. It has a 9.9mm condenser microphone running a 32kHz sampling rate, which we found provided a deep and warm response, free of background noise. The arm attaching the mic is stiffer, which stopped it from gradually drifting away during gameplay so you won’t need to keep readjusting it as you play. 

The headset itself uses the same Razer Triforce as many other Razer headsets. We thought that they sounded glorious; mid-ranges sang beautifully, and the audio came through surprisingly wide for closed-back ear cups. Playing around with the Synapse EQ brought about even better changes, with games like Resident Evil Village and Doom Eternal sounding more immersive and eerie.

In terms of connectivity, the BlackShark V2 Pro charges via a USB-C. It can be linked to devices through a USB receiver or Bluetooth, giving it much more versatility than standard wired headsets. We were able to connect it to mobile phones and the Nintendo Switch, with audio sounding consistent over these devices. However, the lack of a 3.5mm audio jack was a little limiting and means that any Xbox Series X/S gamers won’t be able to utilise this headset. 

Battery life was very impressive. Razer claims that it can last for around 70 hours when connected through the 2.4Ghz receiver, and 90 hours over Bluetooth. While we did not reach these heights during testing, we felt that these quoted numbers were eminently reasonable, with the battery life drained by half after a week of use. 

If you’re looking for a headset with more premium features – such as haptic feedback or ANC – the Razer Kraken V3 HyperSense may be a better pick, and the Razer BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed is a cheaper, pared back option. But if you’re after a quality microphone to chat with friends or build up a streaming community over platforms like Twitch, then the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro is definitely the headset for you. 

Reviewer: Callum Bains
Full Review: Razer BlackShark V2 Pro (2023) review

Top-notch gaming headsets don’t have to break the bank, and the Turtle Beach Recon 70 is a prime example of that. Priced at a fraction of the cost compared to some high-end options in our chart, the Recon 70 delivers the core experience with smart compromises.

Wrapped in a robust plastic finish and available in a swathe of colours to match the platform of your choice, the Recon 70 is built to endure, sporting a flexible construction and sturdy wires that won’t give in after a few weeks of use. It comes equipped with a retractable mic featuring lift-to-mute technology, a volume wheel on the cups, and a wired 3.5mm headphone jack for hassle-free connectivity.

The audio quality is nothing to sneeze at either; the headset strikes a solid balance between intense explosions, ambient noise, and dialogue lines, making it easy to discern footsteps, even in the fast-paced action of games like Overwatch 2. There’s room for improvement in the bass department, but it’s by no means a deal-breaker.

Granted, you won’t find premium features like ANC, customisable audio settings, or wireless connectivity, but given its price, the Turtle Beach Recon 70 gets the job done.

Reviewer: Josh Brown
Full review: Turtle Beach Recon 70 review