Best gaming headsets for PC and Xbox in 2023
Here are our top picks of the best gaming headsets for PC and Xbox.
You’re in the middle of an intense Fortnite battle royale. The storm is closing in, and you’re scavenging for resources while keeping an eye out for enemies. Suddenly, you’re eliminated from behind – you simply couldn’t hear your attacker coming. A frustrating end, but it illustrates an essential truth about gaming headsets: sound can make or break your experience. The wrong headset leaves you oblivious to audio cues, whereas the right one can give you spatial awareness to detect sneaky opponents, giving you the extra competitive edge.
With so many gaming headset options on the market, how do you choose the right one for your needs? This guide breaks down the top headsets for PC and Xbox gaming in 2023. Whether you mainly play competitive online games or story-driven single-player titles, you’ll find headsets here that enhance immersion and help you play your best. Read on to see our picks for the top gaming headsets and why we recommend them.
Products at a Glance
How we picked the best gaming headsets for PC and Xbox
While the best gaming PC will visually immerse you in your game through graphics and frame rates, the experience isn’t complete without hearing all the audio details. Picking the top headset for both the PC and the Xbox requires thoroughly evaluating various aspects, utilizing our extensive knowledge of gaming gadgets in addition to looking at user reviews. One of the first things we looked at was audio quality: the chosen headsets need to deliver crisp, captivating, and high-fidelity sound. This includes support for spatial audio, surround sound, and audio certification standards so you can get the best audio experience possible when gaming.
Besides audio quality, battery life, comfort, and ergonomics for long gaming sessions are key elements of any good gaming headset that can’t be overlooked. However, gamers playing across both the PC and Xbox will undoubtedly be engaging in playing online competitively or with friends. Therefore, Bluetooth connectivity and a high-quality built-in microphone in your headphones is a must. On top of this, we’ve made sure to include recommendations at different price points for users looking for a more budget option rather than something high-end.
If you’re after a headset guide that’s even more console specific, we’ve got you covered with our choices of the best Xbox series X headsets, as well as the best headsets for the PS5 in 2023.
Product Reviews
- Exceptional battery life
- Powerful bass
- Comfortable and lightweight
- Costly
- Blue Voice technology is not up to the mark
The Logitech G Pro X Wireless Lightspeed gaming headset is the ultimate choice for professional gamers. With 50mm Graphene drivers, the PRO X delivers crystal-clear audio that immerses you in the game world while maintaining low distortion. Every footstep, gunshot, and action is rendered precisely, enhancing your gaming experience.
Thanks to Logitech’s Lightspeed wireless technology, you’ll enjoy up to 50 hours of uninterrupted gaming on a single charge. Additionally, it features an impressive 30m wireless range, ensuring you stay connected even in larger gaming spaces.
Comfort is paramount during long gaming sessions, and the Pro X doesn’t disappoint. Its noise-isolating design features rotating durable hinges and soft memory foam earpads. It’s also a very lightweight device and doesn’t discomfort your neck or head.
The Logitech G Pro X Wireless Lightspeed gaming headset also leverages Logitech’s Blue Voice technology. This technology enables clear and seamless in-game communication. However, it’s not quite up to the mark of competitors in its price range, as it doesn’t include a clean, flat profile. Nonetheless, all things considered these Logitech headphones make for one of the best PC gaming headsets, as well as perfect for gaming across platforms.
- Good Spatial Audio
- Includes fast charging spare battery dock
- Robust software with extensive audio adjustments
- Leatherette can result in ear sweat
- No optical audio input
With premium high-fidelity drivers, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro wireless headset ensures unparalleled clarity and sound quality, allowing you to immerse yourself in your gaming world like never before. Plus, with the revolutionary Sonar software, you can fine-tune your audio with a Pro-grade Parametric EQ, giving you complete control over your sound profile.
Moreover, it has 360-degree Spatial audio for an extraordinary sound experience. With the Spatial audio, you can hear every critical in-game detail. Whether on PC or Xbox, you’ll enjoy full compatibility with this Microsoft Spatial Sound and Tempest 3D Audio. The Arctis Nova Pro also features active noise cancellation with a specialized 4-mic hybrid system, ensuring that ambient noise won’t distract you from your virtual adventures. You can also use a transparency mode to adapt to your surroundings.
You can read a full review on the Arcrtis Nova Pro here, but at its high-end price point, this device is undeniably up there as one of the best wireless gaming headsets on the market.
- Balanced sound system
- Comfortable and lightweight
- Voice recording quality is good
- A little inconsistency in the audio delivery
- Lacks customization features
Turtle Beach Recon 70 gaming headset is an affordable headset that offers exceptional value for its price. The most unique feature of this headset is its high-sensitivity flip-up microphone. This microphone ensures your commands are heard loud and clear, and it conveniently mutes when not in use.
The headset lets you immerse yourself in the game with superior 40mm speakers, providing crystal-clear highs and earth-shaking lows. The lightweight design, padded headband, and synthetic leather-wrapped ear cushions guarantee hours of comfortable gaming. Whether gaming on Xbox, PC, Nintendo Switch, or PlayStation, the Recon 70 is your ticket to a world of gaming excellence. It’s an example of an excellent wired headset, and makes a great competitor for one of the best gaming headsets under $100.
- Extremely comfortable
- Good mic recording quality
- Lightweight body
- Relatively weak bass
- Audio delivery is a little poor
The Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 USB wireless amplified gaming headset is the ultimate gaming accessory for Xbox enthusiasts. Officially licensed by Microsoft, this headset offers a seamless and proprietary 2.4GHz wireless connection, eliminating lag for uninterrupted gaming sessions.
With an impressive 24+ hour battery life, you can game for extended periods without having to worry about stopping for a recharge. The Gen 2 mic ensures crystal-clear communication with teammates, while the powerful 50mm speakers provide immersive surround sound. Comfortable ear cushions are designed for glass wearers, and the reinforced headband and hinge design ensure durability.
Turtle Beach’s Superhuman Hearing and quick-charging capabilities make this headset a must-have for serious gamers, especially those using the same device for multi-platform gaming such as on the Xbox and PC. Don’t forget to update the firmware using the Turtle Beach Audio Hub for peak performance. Dive into gaming like never before with this top-tier headset.
- Sleek design and comfortable
- Long 28-hour battery life
- Restrictive since it was designed specifically for Xbox One
- Fewer customization options
The SteelSeries Arctis 9X wireless gaming headset offers seamless, integrated Xbox wireless connectivity. This headset lets you dive into your gaming world without the hassle of cables or dongles. Connect it directly to your Xbox Series X/S or Xbox One, like a wireless controller, and start gaming in seconds.
But that’s not all; the Arctis 9X goes beyond gaming. Its Bluetooth 4.1 capability lets you simultaneously connect to your Xbox and your mobile device, letting you mix in music, take calls, or enjoy wireless audio on the go.
You can experience crystal-clear communication with the Clearcast microphone, designed for superior noise cancellation. It also ensures that your voice comes through loud and clear. The award-winning soundscape of the Arctis series is here to give you a competitive edge by highlighting even the subtlest sounds in your games.
Some factors to consider when buying a gaming headset for PC and Xbox
Audio and microphone Quality
Immersive, high-fidelity audio is crucial for gaming headsets. Look for crisp, well-balanced sound with a wide frequency range to hear every detail. Premium headsets often boast larger drivers and cutting-edge audio technologies for an enhanced listening experience. For more on boosting in-game sound, check out some of our picks of the top sound cards of this year.
A quality mic ensures your voice comes through loud and clear for multiplayer communication. Ideally, you should seek out sensitive mics that cancel noise and unwanted background sounds. You might want a uni-directional mics as they focus on your voice, while omnidirectional picks up sound from all directions; additionally, some mics also have pop filters to reduce plosive sounds like “b” and “p”.
Build Quality
Durable construction ensures your headset lasts through many gaming marathons and streaming sessions. Metal and steel frames are more rugged than plastic versions, tending to last a little longer as their high-quality materials and sturdy builds withstand daily use and last for years. Detachable cables can make it easy to replace individual parts rather than the whole headset. Carefully inspect joints, swivels and all moving components for stability.
Compatibility
Ensure the headset works with your gaming platform and devices, especially if you intend it for multi-platform use. Xbox headsets need Xbox Wireless compatibility or a 3.5mm connection, but some headsets require extra adapters or software. Make sure you research the headset compatibility before buying to avoid any issues, or take extra precautions by investing in a multi-platform headset with detachable cables for complete flexibility.
Our Verdict
Best gaming headsets for PC and Xbox – final verdict
So there you have it. Out of our picks of the best gaming headsets for PC and Xbox, the overall top spot goes to the Logitech G Pro X wireless head set, with its clear sound quality and an immersive audio experience. Its 50mm Graphene drivers allow for exceptional, unparalleled sound quality. However, you can choose from any of the headsets listed above to upgrade your setup, with the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro and its Microsoft Spatial Sound coming in a close second place.
The best gaming headset is one that enhances your gaming experience and fits your unique requirements. Be sure to consider the factors mentioned in this article and make the right choice for your gaming rig, and head to PC Guide for more gaming related guides and queries.