Mastering Tech Insights with Tom's Hardware Analyses
Budget-Friendly and High-Quality: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Wireless Gaming Headsets in 202
Overview
List in brief
1.Best Wireless Gaming Headset
2.A Tom’s Hardware Favorite
3.Most Comfortable Wireless Gaming Headset
4.Best Wireless Gaming Headset for Audiophiles
5.Best Wireless Gaming Headset Mic
6.Best Lifestyle Wireless Gaming Headset
7.Shopping Tips
A gaming headset is key component of your battle station, especially if you can’t crank up the volume on some of thebest PC speakers .
There are tons of wireless headsets to choose from — for gaming, and for everything else. The sheer number of options can be pretty overwhelming, which is why we’re here to help. We’ve tested dozens of wireless gaming headsets over the years, paying special attention to the specs and features gamers are looking for, and we’ve come up with the best wireless gaming headsets for every type of gamer.
If you don’t necessarily need a_wireless_ headset, check out our list ofbest PC gaming headsets .
Quick List
Best Wireless Gaming Headsets Best Overall Best Overall ](https://www.tomshardware.com/best-picks/best-wireless-headsets#section-best-wireless-gaming-headset )
1. SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless
Best Wireless Gaming Headset
This premium gaming headset is packed with features: simultaneous 2.4GHz/Bluetooth wireless connectivity, active noise cancellation, swappable battery system, and a fully-retractable microphone.
Best Wireless Gaming Headsets Also Great Also Great ](https://www.tomshardware.com/best-picks/best-wireless-headsets#section-a-tom-s-hardware-favorite )
2. Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT
A Tom’s Hardware Favorite
This great-looking, hi-fi capable headset features simultaneous 2.4GHz/Bluetooth connectivity — and it’s $100 cheaper than the Arctis Nova Pro.
Best Wireless Gaming Headsets Most Comfortable Most Comfortable ](https://www.tomshardware.com/best-picks/best-wireless-headsets#section-most-comfortable-wireless-gaming-headset )
3. HyperX Cloud III Wireless
Most Comfortable Wireless Gaming Headset
You’ll forget you’re wearing this headset — that’s how comfortable it is. Comfort aside, it’s well-built and a solid performer, but it’s limited by its single (2.4GHz wireless) connectivity option.
Best Wireless Gaming Headsets Best Audio Best Audio ](https://www.tomshardware.com/best-picks/best-wireless-headsets#section-best-wireless-gaming-headset-for-audiophiles )
4. Audeze Maxwell
Best Wireless Gaming Headset for Audiophiles
This large, over-ear headset is surprisingly comfortable given its size and weight — and Audeze’s 90mm planar magnetic drivers sound fantastic.
Best Wireless Gaming Headsets Best Microphone Best Microphone ](https://www.tomshardware.com/best-picks/best-wireless-headsets#section-best-wireless-gaming-headset-mic )
5. Razer Blackshark V2 Pro (2023)
Best Wireless Gaming Headset Mic
This lightweight, comfortable headset features dual (but not simultaneous) wireless connectivity, 70+ hours of battery life, and the best mic we’ve heard on a headset.
Best Wireless Gaming Headsets Best Lifestyle Best Lifestyle ](https://www.tomshardware.com/best-picks/best-wireless-headsets#section-best-lifestyle-wireless-gaming-headset )
6. Razer Barracuda Pro Wireless
Best Lifestyle Wireless Gaming Headset
This understated, all-black headset features built-in beamforming noise-canceling mics, a lightweight, comfortable frame, and comes with a sturdy travel case.
The Best Wireless Gaming Headsets You Can Buy Today
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Best Wireless Gaming Headset
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
1. SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless
Best Wireless Gaming Headset
Specifications
Driver: 40mm custom drivers
Impedance: 38 Ohms
Frequency response: 10-22,000 Hz
Mic: Bidirectional noise canceling, fully retractable
Connectivity: (Simultaneous) Wireless 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth 5.0
Weight: 0.75 pounds (339g)
Today’s Best Deals
Reasons to buy
Very comfortable
Fully-retractable microphone
Swappable battery system
Very good audio quality
Reasons to avoid
-
Expensive
-
Comes with base station, not GameDAC Gen 2
-
Not super intuitive
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is everything you want and need in a gaming headset — and while it’s clearly designed around PC gaming, it’s got plenty of features that will take you beyond your PC. It features SteelSeries’ custom-designed hi-fi capable 40mmdrivers , which have a wireless frequency response of 10 - 22,000 Hz and a wired frequency response of 10 - 40,000 Hz, and has a lightweight, highly-adjustable frame that’s comfortable for hours on end.
The Arctis Nova Pro comes with a wireless base station, which can connect to two audio sources (e.g., PC and a console) via dual USB-C ports. You can use the base station to switch between systems or tweak audio settings — it’s basically a fancy, dual-system 2.4GHz wireless dongle. It also acts as a charging station for the headset’s batteries — the headset comes with two batteries, each of which offers 18 - 22 hours of battery life. The batteries are live-swappable, giving you essentially unlimited battery life so long as you’re near the base station.
The Arctis Nova Pro is designed for gaming, but it can easily double as a lifestyle headset thanks to its fully-retractable bidirectional microphone, active noise cancellation, and simultaneous 2.4GHz wireless/Bluetooth connectivity. Priced at $349.99, this headset isn’t cheap — but it delivers. But if you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, SteelSeries has carried the Arctis Nova Pro’s design (including the retractable mic) over to its Arctis Nova line, which includes the wirelessArctis Nova 7 ($179.99) and the wiredArctis Nova 1 ($59.99).
Read: SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Review
A Tom’s Hardware Favorite
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
2. Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT
A Tom’s Hardware Favorite
Specifications
Driver: 50mm neodymium
Impedance: 32 Ohms
Frequency response: 20-40,000 Hz
Mic: Omnidirectional
Connectivity: 3.5mm, USB Type-A cable, USB Type-A dongle, Bluetooth
Weight: 0.8 pounds (362.9g)
Today’s Best Deals
Reasons to buy
Comfortable and classy
Simultaneous dongle/Bluetooth connectivity lets you hear your phone and PC
Reasons to avoid
-
Expensive
-
Battery life isn’t great when connected to two devices
At least three Tom’s Hardware editors currently use either Corsair’s Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT or its 2.4GHz-only Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE as their daily drivers. The Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT has specs similar to the Arctis Nova Pro, including simultaneous 2.4GHz wireless/Bluetooth connectivity, hi-fi capable 50mm drivers, and a comfortable, premium build. The Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT retails for $270, but you can pretty consistently find it for around $200.
The Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT has 50mm dynamic drivers with a frequency response of 20 - 40,000 Hz — much wider than the average gaming headset, which usually sticks to the “human hearing” standard of 20 - 20,000 Hz. It has round over-ear earcups with a light aluminum finish, and a padded, leatherette-covered headband that matches the earpads. It comes with a removable omnidirectional microphone, which isn’t quite as convenient as SteelSeries’ retractable mic, but still works well enough for those who want to use the headset as a pair of headphones without a visible microphone permanently attached.
The Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT’s battery lasts just 15 hours (when connected to two devices), which means you’ll probably need to recharge daily. This shouldn’t be too much of an inconvenience if you’re only using the headset at your PC, but there are better options to take on the road. If you don’t need the added Bluetooth connectivity,Corsair’s Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE has the same features (minus Bluetooth).
Read: Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
3. HyperX Cloud III Wireless
Most Comfortable Wireless Gaming Headset
☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Specifications
Driver: 53mm dynamic
Impedance: 64 Ohms
Frequency response: 10-21,000 Hz
Mic: Electret condenser, uni-directional, noise-canceling
Connectivity: 2.4GHz wireless
Weight: 11.64oz / 330g 12.06oz / 342g (with mic)
Today’s Best Deals
Reasons to buy
Very comfortable
Looks good
Excellent battery life
Reasons to avoid
-
Only connects via 2.4 GHz wireless
-
Virtual surround is underwhelming
-
A little pricey
The HyperX Cloud III Wireless_might_ just be the most comfortable wireless headset we’ve ever worn — it’s just as comfortable as its wired counterpart (theHyperX Cloud III ). The Cloud III Wireless is an over-ear headset with a padded, leatherette-covered headband and soft, leatherette-covered earpads. It weighs 11.64oz (330g), which is close to what the Arctis Nova Pro weighs.
The Cloud III Wireless has the same 53mm dynamic drivers as the Cloud II Wireless, but they’ve been redesigned and angled for a betteraudio experience. The drivers have a frequency response of 10 - 21,000 Hz, which is a little wider than the average gaming headset but not as wide as the Arctis Nova Pro or the Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT. It comes with a detachable 10mm boom microphone, which has an internal pop filter and a red mute indicator light.
The headset gets an impressive 120 hours of battery life, which is more than just about any wireless gaming headset you’ll find (except for theHyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless , which gets a whopping 300+ hours). The downside is that this headset only offers_one_ connectivity option, which is 2.4GHz wireless — no analog/wired connection, no Bluetooth, nothing. In other words, it’s a great headset so long as you only plan on using it with one device.
Read: HyperX Cloud III Wireless Review
Best Wireless Gaming Headset for Audiophiles
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
WonderFox DVD Ripper Pro4. Audeze Maxwell
Best Wireless Gaming Headset for Audiophiles
☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Specifications
Driver: 90mm Planar Magnetic
Impedance: Ohms
Frequency response: 10 - 50,000 Hz
Mic: Detachable boom mic, built-in beamforming array
Connectivity: 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth, AUX
Weight: 17.28 ounces / 490g
Today’s Best Deals
Reasons to buy
Sounds incredible
80+ hour battery life
Impressive wireless range
Good AI noise suppression on mic
Surprisingly comfortable
Reasons to avoid
-
Big and heavy
-
Can’t manually switch between 2.4GHz wireless and BT
-
Boom mic is finicky and built-in mics are not great
-
EQ only on mobile
The Audeze Maxwell is a large, over-ear headset with a steel and aluminum frame and Audeze’s newly-designed 90mm planar magnetic drivers. It’s larger and heftier than most gaming headsets, weighing in at a whopping 17.28 ounces (490g) — it’s still surprisingly comfortable, however.
The Maxwell’s 90mm planar magnetic drivers have a wide frequency response range of 10 - 50,000 Hz, and the headset has an impressively wide and detailed soundstage. The Maxwell is tuned by default for gaming, but music also sounds fantastic once you’ve adjusted the EQ slightly. The headset comes with a detachable boom mic, but it also has built-in mics in the earcups — they’re not great, but they’re convenient if you need to take a call and you don’t have the detachable mic with you.
The Maxwell offers both 2.4GHz wireless and Bluetooth connectivity, but does not mix audio from both sources_and_ — much to our annoyance — switches between sources automatically (prioritizing Bluetooth). This was our main source of frustration with this headset — otherwise, it’s fantastic, with 80+ hours of battery life, solid connectivity, and audiophile sound quality.
Read: Audeze Maxwell Review
Best Wireless Gaming Headset Mic
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
5. Razer Blackshark V2 Pro (2023)
Best Wireless Gaming Headset Mic
Specifications
Driver: 50mm Dynamic
Impedance: 32 Ohms
Frequency response: 12 - 28,000 Hz
Mic: Razer HyperClear Super Wideband
Connectivity: 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth 5.2
Weight: 11.29oz / 320g
Today’s Best Deals
Reasons to buy
Great microphone
Very comfortable
70 hour battery life
Competitive esports EQ profiles
Reasons to avoid
-
No simultaneous audio from Bluetooth/2.4GHz wireless
-
Yokes seem flimsy despite being reinforced
-
No analog connection
While we always recommend a standalone gaming microphone for sounding your best, Razer’s newest BlackShark V2 Pro (2023) headset has the best-sounding mic we’ve heard on a gaming headset.
The BlackShark V2 Pro (2023) is the 2023 update to theBlackShark V2 Pro , and it has roughly the same design and drivers — 50mm dynamic drivers with a frequency response range of 12 - 28,000 Hz as the original. Audio sounds good with Razer’s EQ adjusted, if a little mid-range heavy. The headset’s stainless steel sliders have been reinforced and its battery has been upgraded to offer an impressive 70+ hours.
The BlackShark V2 Pro (2023) has a new detachable boom mic: a 9.9mm condenser mic with a sampling rate of 32 kHz and an internal pop filter (plus an optional external pop filter). The mic made our voice sound full and broadcast-y, even without Razer’s software-based EQ settings turned on. And, to quote a Tom’s Hardware editor during one of our meetings, we sounded “better than we do in real life.”
The BlackShark V2 Pro (2023) has both 2.4GHz wireless and Bluetooth connectivity — it can connect to both simultaneously, but does not mix audio from both sources so you’ll need to switch between the two.
Read: Razer BlackShark V2 Pro (2023) Review
Best Lifestyle Wireless Gaming Headset
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6. Razer Barracuda Pro Wireless
Best Lifestyle Wireless Gaming Headset
Specifications
Driver: 50mm custom drivers
Impedance: 32 Ohms
Frequency response: 20 - 20,000 Hz
Mic: Dual integrated beamforming noise canceling
Connectivity: (Simultaneous) Wireless 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth 5.2
Weight: 12oz / 340g
Today’s Best Deals
Reasons to buy
Excellent audio and comfort
Nice rigid case included
Juggles multi-device audio well
Very good battery life
Reasons to avoid
-
Bland, smudge-prone plastic design
-
No retractable/removable mic
-
No analog mode
The Razer Barracuda Pro Wireless looks more like a lifestyle headset fromSony or Bose than it does a gaming peripheral from Razer. Featuring a surprisingly understated (for Razer) all-black design, built-in beamforming mics, and a sturdy travel case, the Barracuda Pro Wireless is a good option for anyone who wants a headset that can pull double-duty.
The Barracuda Pro Wireless is comfortable and lightweight, with a minimal all-plastic design. It has Razer’s custom 50mm dynamic drivers, which have a frequency response range of 20 - 20,000 Hz, and a pair of integrated beamforming noise-canceling mics in the earcups. They’re not the best mics we’ve ever seen in a headset, but they do a good enough job of picking up your voice and keeping background noise low — they should be fine for most gamers.
On the lifestyle side, the Barracuda Pro Wireless has three levels of active noise cancellation and up to 40 hours of battery life. It offers both 2.4GHz wireless and Bluetooth connectivity, but does not mix audio from multiple sources (like the Arctis Nova Pro and Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT do) — instead, you’ll need to switch between sources using a dedicated “SmartSwitch” button on the right earcup.
The main drawback to the Barracuda Pro Wireless is its somewhat less-than-premium build — the plastic looks a little cheap and attracts fingerprints. But it’s fairly lightweight, at 11.99 ounces (340g), and comes with a nice rigid travel case.
Read: Razer Barracuda Pro Wireless Review
Quick Gaming Headset Shopping Tips
Quick Gaming Headset Shopping Tips
Here are some things to keep in mind when searching for the perfect wireless gaming headset:
- Connectivity: Wireless headsets have come a long way, but latency will always be a concern. For gamers, a low-latency 2.4GHz wireless connection is a must for high-quality, lag-free audio. If you’re thinking of using your headset away from your PC, you’ll want to look for something that also has Bluetooth for connecting to multiple devices dongle-free. Premium headsets usually provide both options, and several even allow you to connect to both sources simultaneously_and_ mix the incoming audio.
- Microphone: A cardioid or supercardioid mic, which pick up sound from one direction only, is best for a gaming headset. Also, make sure the headset has an on-ear mute button_and_ an easy way to tell if the mic is muted — it’s much easier to accidentally walk into the bathroom wearing a wireless headset and forget you’re still broadcasting.
That said, you’ll never get pristine audio from a headset mic — if you’re streaming or podcasting, you may want to look into thebest desktop microphones .
- Battery life and rechargeability: It’s important to know whether your wireless headset can charge while in use and how long the device will last under a full charge. Headsets these days typically last between 30 - 40 hours between charges, but there are several that can last twice that long. There are also headsets that utilize a swappable battery system, where one rechargeable battery powers the headset and the other charges in the base station.
- Comfort: You can compare and contrast specs all day, but your headset has to be comfortable to wear. It should go without saying that anything made with cheap material like plastic shouldn’t be given the time of day. Plush memory foam, velour, leatherette, and knitted fabric are much more comfortable on the ear. And don’t forget about the headband — it should feel durable and be comfortably padded. If you can’t wear the headset before purchasing, be sure to look into how many points of adjustment it has.
Discounts on the Best Wireless Headets
Whether you’re shopping for one of the best wireless headsets that we listed above or a similar model, you may find savings by checking out our lists ofbest Razer promo codes ,best Corsair coupon codes andbest Newegg promo codes .
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Round up of today’s best deals
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- Title: Mastering Tech Insights with Tom's Hardware Analyses
- Author: George
- Created at : 2024-08-19 03:29:51
- Updated at : 2024-08-20 03:29:51
- Link: https://hardware-tips.techidaily.com/mastering-tech-insights-with-toms-hardware-analyses/
- License: This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.