What to Look for in an Xbox Series Headset in 2022
Xbox Series X headsets come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and price tags. One of the first things you’ll want to determine is whether you want a wired or wireless headset. If you’re on a budget, stick to wired connections. These are more affordable, and cheap wireless headsets usually don’t have the right specs to work properly. Anyone with a budget over $100 has to decide whether the convenience of no cords is worth the extra price.
One thing to watch out for is the size of the driver. These are the components in your headset that create sound, and manufacturers like to play around the size of their drivers. However, bigger drivers do not equal better sound. Be able to create larger drivers louder sounds, but that doesn’t guarantee they’ll sound good.
This makes it difficult to determine sound quality without popping them on your ears or sifting through the expert reviews. When in doubt, stick with well-known and reputable brands (Bose, Microsoft, Sony, SteelSeries, HyperX, and others) to make sure you’re getting something that will have you blasting in-game explosions.
In addition to sound quality, comfort is the most important factor in a quality headset. Look for products with a lightweight design, large ear cups, and high-quality materials such as memory foam. These lend themselves well to long gaming sessions. This varies from person to person (and ear to ear), but all of the products below should be more than adequate for the average gamer.
That said, here are five of the best Xbox Series X/S headsets available today.
RELATED: What should you look for in a gaming headset?
Pros
- Fair price
- Dolby Atmos support
- Innovative design with rotating earcups
Microsoft’s first-party headset offers great value for the price. The main attraction is support for sound technologies like Dolby Atmos, DTS Headphone:X and Windows Sonic, meaning you get surprisingly good sound quality for just about any game in your library.
Great sound is only the first part of the story, as the Xbox Wireless Headset is packed with other features. Auto-mute, speech isolation, rotating earcups for volume control and up to 15 hours of battery life on a single charge are some of the highlights.
There is also the option to connect to Xbox consoles or PC via Bluetooth or USB-C. Add a striking black design with green accents and it’s easy to see why the headset is so popular.
The only downside to the Xbox Wireless Headset is undoubtedly the lack of 3.5mm support. This means you need to make sure it is charged at all times. Otherwise, you’ll need to find a long USB-C cable to use it with your console. It’s a minor complaint (and easily remedied by simply keeping your headset charged when not in use), but there are certainly some buyers who will be turned away by the lack of the ubiquitous 3.5mm port.
Despite that shortcoming, the Xbox Wireless Headset remains an easy recommendation. Stylish, powerful and affordable, few products can compete with Microsoft’s impressive headset.
Pros
- Less than $100
- Universal 3.5mm input
- Surprising build quality
cons
- Audio is not as clear as other entries on this list
From keyboards and mice to controllers and headsets, SteelSeries is known for producing reliable PC equipment with a wide range of price tags. The Arctis 3 is one of the most affordable headsets in its catalog, but it takes advantage of SteelSeries expertise and offers a host of premium features.
For example, the Arctis 3 uses the Arctis ClearCast bi-directional microphone, which offers technology similar to that of the ultra-premium Arctis 9X. You’ll also find high-quality ear cups and a soft headband that molds to the shape of your head for a comfortable fit.
The Arctis 3 takes full advantage of SteelSeries expertise when it comes to design and ergonomics, but the S1 speaker drivers leave a lot to be desired. They’re good enough for the under $100 range, but anyone with a particular ear for sound might want to jump for something with better drivers.
As for connectivity, the universal 3.5mm jack lets you use the Arctis 3 with just about any console (along with PC and supported smartphones), making it a great option if you need something for general use that won’t break the bank. destroys. It also goes on sale quite often – and if you can get the headset at a discount, there’s almost no reason to pass it up.
Best Budget Xbox Headset
SteelSeries Arctis 3 Wired Headset
The audio may not be as clear as others, but a premium design and universal 3.5mm jack make the Arctis 3 a great option for shoppers on a budget.
Pros
- Long battery life of 20 hours
- Premium drivers and sound quality
- Impressive noise canceling skills
The SteelSeries Arctis 9X is an incredible headset. It was even in the running for the best Xbox headset overall. The only reason it was stopped? The price tag clocks in at a $200 wallet relief.
If you can look beyond the price tag, the Arctis 9X gives you everything you could want in a wireless headset. It connects to your console without the need for a dongle. You can connect to Xbox and your smartphone at the same time. The battery lasts 20 hours before needing to be recharged. The list of convenience features is staggering, making the 9X worth the investment.
Like the more affordable Arctis 3, the Arctis 9X is built with premium materials for an ergonomic fit. The comfortable headband and lightweight ear cups make it easy to go on for hours without any discomfort, and a retractable microphone means you can easily tuck it out of the way when not in use.
You’ll also benefit from near-top-of-class 40mm drivers, capable of pumping out thumping explosions and the subtle footsteps of your competition.
Best Wireless Xbox Headset
SteelSeries Arctic 9X
Premium drivers, great noise cancellation and a staggering 20 hours of battery life make the Arctis 9X one of the best wireless headsets on the market.
Amazon
$159.99 $199.99 Save 20%
Pros
- Memory foam ear cups for a comfortable fit
- Priced under $50
- Easy volume control
cons
- Comprehensive design
- Wired connection
When choosing a headset for kids, you want something affordable and durable that doesn’t skimp on performance. The HyperX CloudX Stinger ticks all those boxes and then some.
Parents will love the $50 price tag, although you can often find it for sale on Amazon or other online storefronts. This means that if something happens to the headset during use, it is easy and cheap to replace.
Kids, meanwhile, will love the performance of the CloudX Stinger. They don’t come close to providing sound quality as lively as others on this list, but the 50mm drivers can produce loud explosions and pretty clear dialogue for the price. HyperX is also packed with cool features usually found on more expensive headsets, such as rotating ear cups and a microphone that swivels to mute.
Built-in volume controls and an adjustable headband allow kids to easily adjust performance or get a comfortable fit, and giant ear cups immerse the wearer in the on-screen action.
The headset is a bit bulky and doesn’t look as appealing as others, and the wired connection is likely to get messy, but the CloudX Stinger remains a great choice for kids – and maybe even their gamer parent.
Best Xbox headset for kids
HyperX CloudX Stinger
Easy to use and easy on the wallet, the affordable CloudX Stringer offers a comfortable fit and cool technology for kids to play with.
Pros
- Impeccable noise reduction
- Unique wired/wireless hybrid connections
- Comfortable, lightweight design
cons
- The price tag will make your eyes water
Bose makes some of the most respected headphones on the market, so it should come as no surprise that the lesser-known headphones offer the same performance. And while other names like HyperX and SteelSeries may have a stronger reputation in the gaming world, Bose leads the way when it comes to noise cancellation thanks to the QuietComfort 35 Series 2 Headset.
The QC35 II features Acoustic Noise Canceling technology, allowing it to virtually eliminate all other noises during use. You also benefit from passive noise cancellation from the premium earcups, which provide a snug fit that helps obscure ambient sound waves.
The ANC capabilities carry over to the QC35 II’s detachable boom microphone, which is both Discord and TeamSpeak certified to provide clear communication even when the world around you is chaotic.
Since the headset has an astronomical price tag, you’ll be happy to know that they work for more than just gaming. Connections to your console are made via a wired connection, but the option to connect wirelessly to your smartphone means you don’t have to use other high-end headphones for your commute or when listening to music.
There’s also support for both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, a 40-hour battery life for wired gaming, a PC desktop controller for easy customization and lightweight materials for a comfortable fit, making the QC35 II a versatile product that lives up to high expectations.
Best Noise Canceling Xbox Headset
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$268.00 $329.00 Save 19%
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