Best gaming headset in 2023

What is the best gaming headset? Our ears are ringing with glee after having spent countless hours listening out for the perfect pair of gaming headphones paired with a magnificent microphone. It’s important that your games sound as good as they look, and our guide and reviews will help you find the right cans to clamp to your head.

After hours of testing, playing, and listening (you’re welcome) we’ve come up with this list of gaming headsets – whether you want an affordable option or a headset with the best battery and serious style, we’ve got you covered on a range of budgets. Trust our expert advice to help you find the best gaming headset for your needs, from all the big brands including Razer, Corsair, Asus, and Sony.

You don’t need to break the bank to bag a brilliant gaming headset for your gaming PC. However, spending that little bit extra can open the door to extra features like wireless connectivity, active noise-canceling, and virtual surround sound. We’ve got a separate guide dedicated to the best wireless gaming headset, but if you’re looking to fill a room with sweet sounds, we’ve also tested the best computer speakers and soundbars that’ll make your desk rumble.

Here are the best gaming headsets today:

• Razer BlackShark V2 – best choice
• Asus TUF Gaming H3 – best budget choice
• HyperX Cloud 3 – great all-rounder
• Corsair HS65 Wireless – best wireless option
• Corsair HS65 Surround – best microphone
• EPOS H6Pro – best open-back headset
• Logitech G435 Lightspeed – best budget wireless option
• Razer Kraken V3 HyperSense – most immersive

1. Razer BlackShark V2

The best gaming headset overall.

Razer Blackshark V2 specs:

Pros:

• Titanium 50mm drivers
• Great value
• Stunning design

Cons

• Mic quality could be better

The Razer BlackShark V2 is an alpha predator within the gaming headset space, and it takes down its premium prey at a competitive price. It strikes a perfect balance when it comes to aesthetics, build quality, and fidelity, with killer levels of comfort serving as a delicious cherry on top.

Armed with 50mm TriForce Titanium drivers, the Razer BlackShark V2 produces hearty bass, marvelous mids, and sharp treble. If you looking to enhance your skills in the best FPS games, using this particular pair of cans will provide your ears with all the competitive information you need, as every footstep and shot fired by your opponent will sound crystal clear. Of course, it’s also going to make your favorite video game soundtracks shine, and all those bumps and screams in the new Dead Space Remake will sound wonderfully wretched.

In terms of design, the BlackShark V2 is surprisingly subtle compared to other Razer options, resembling something that looks more like professional studio headphones. We’re a huge fan of the distinct volume knob located on the left cup, and the bright green cord adds a bit of spice to the headset’s low-key flavors.

For under $100 USD, you’ll struggle to find a headset that can take on the BlackShark VR, and it’ll come out swinging against expensive alternatives. It won’t put on an RGB light show at your desk, and the fact you can’t detach its microphone is a bit of a bummer, but those tiny cons are far outweighed by its abilities and price.

2. ASUS TUF Gaming H3

The best budget gaming headset.

Asus TUF Gaming H3 specs:

Pros

• Comfortable
• Solid audio
• Tough

Cons

• Can’t remove microphone

The Asus TUF Gaming H3 is a budget gaming headset gladiator that doesn’t compromise on quality, and it gets a hell of a lot right for under $50. Solid build, subtle good looks, and great audio quality help this particular pair of cans steal the budget crown, serving as proof that you don’t have to spend a fortune to upgrade your gaming PC setup.

Off the bat, the Asus TUF Gaming H3 looks a lot more expensive than it actually is, and its build quality will fool you into believing it does. Its flexible headband and solid construction provide the durability needed to withstand intense daily use, and our tests confirm it’s as hardy as the brand name implies.

Many budget options struggle to strike a balance in terms of audio fidelity, but the TUF Gaming H3 provides excellent clarity using Asus’ 50mm Essence drivers. You won’t have to deal with muddy bass spoiling your mids, and treble rings true while avoiding sounding tinny. In addition, it wields a superb microphone that surprised us while testing, providing levels of capture clarity we’d usually expect from a more expensive headset.

There aren’t many cheap headsets out there that hit as hard as the Asus TUF Gaming H3, and it deserves its spot at the gaming audio table. Sure, we’ve used various other headsets that boast fancy features, but even premium options should feel threatened by the H3’s $49.99 USD price tag.

Read our Asus TUF Gaming H3 review.

3. HyperX Cloud 3

The best mid-tier option.

HyperX Cloud 3 specs:

Pros:

• Brilliant all-rounder
• Great with games, good with music
• Not too pricey

Cons:

• Get uncomfortable in long sessions
• Bass profile could be better

If you aren’t looking for something that’s super fancy and expensive or something that’s really cheap, then we recommend the HyperX Cloud 3 – the baby bear choice, if you will. It’s a great headset that will serve you well, but it’s not quite up to the same standard as some of the more premium options on this list (most notably, with its bass profile).

It does look absolutely fantastic though, so it’s a good choice if you want to look stylish on streams – or just want to feel fabulous when gaming alone at home. It is a slightly heavier build though, so it can start to feel heavy if you like to play for hours and hours on end.

Games and music both sound great through it though and ultimately that’s the most important thing for a headset. It’s more expensive than our truly ‘budget’ choice above, but it’s still really cheap for a headset and a notable step up.

Read our HyperX Cloud 3 review.

4. Corsair HS65 Wireless

The best wireless gaming headset.

Corsair HS65 Wireless specs:

Pros

• Heaps of style
• 2.4GHz and Bluetooth
• Decent mic quality

Cons

• Mic isn’t detachable
• No 3.5mm

The Corsair HS65 Wireless feels like a familiar friend, as its wired sibling is also one of our favorite headsets. The latest edition to the company’s headset family embodies style, quality, and functionality, and manages to cut the cord without much compromise.

Both the wireless version and HS65 Surround have good looks on their side, with mesh detailing on the cups adding a fashionable flair. Pivoting cups mean you’ll also be able to comfortably wear the headset around your neck in between gaming sessions, and if the mic was detachable, we’d probably take it with us outside as an on-the-go audio solution.

Aesthetics aside, the HS65 Wireless boasts great fidelity and balanced audio that delivers on multiple fronts. Its 7.1 surround sound and spacial audio capabilities are present to enhance the best new PC games, but it’s going to bring an immersive level of audible delight to your entire Steam library using Corsair’s impressive 50mm drivers.

The HS65 Wireless is armed with both 2.4GHz low latency connectivity and Bluetooth, and the latter makes it, in our opinion, one of the best Steam Deck accessories. Whether you’re gaming on the go or on the couch, you’ll be able to stream sweet PC sounds to your ears for up to 24 hours on a full charge, while a quick 15-minute zap will provide you with six hours of playtime. Great battery life is just one of the reasons why Corsair’s cordless headset is our current favorite and deserves a spot at the best wireless gaming headset table.

Read our Corsair HS65 Wireless review.

5. Corsair HS65 Surround

The best headset mic for gaming.

Corsair HS65 Surround specs:

Pros:

• Comfortable to wear
• Great 7.1 surround sound

Cons:

• Ear pads don’t totally seal
• Can’t be used wirelessly

We already spilled the beans above about how much we like the Corsair HS65 Surround while highlighting its newer wireless counterpart. Yet, the original wired model has a few unique tricks up its sleeve, as it matches style and fidelity with exceptional mic quality.

Headsets understandably struggle to hold up against the best gaming microphone options, but the Corsair HS65 Surround offers incredible capture performance at a low price. This stylish pair of gaming cans boast levels of quality you’d expect from premium alternatives, and its sense of style proves you don’t need to clad all gaming gear in RGB and edgy aesthetics.

We’ve already covered the fact that the Corsair HS65 Surround is ridiculously stylish, and despite its $49.99 price tag, it looks almost exactly like the wireless version. It’s actually a bit of a trendsetter, as the latter model has its wired sibling to thank for its sense of fashion. It wears the same attractive metallic mesh design, and its pivoting cups provide the same level of wearable comfort.

We don’t find wires particularly offensive, and the HS65 Surround’s 3.5mm jack adds a pleasing element of versatility, facilitating compatibility with a variety of devices. You’ll have to use the included USB sound card to tap into the headset’s 7.1 surround sound capabilities, but if you’re looking for a pair of cans that’ll connect to the Steam Deck and the best PC controllers like the PS5 Dualsense, you’ll be able to do that without additional adapters.

Read the Corsair HS65 Surround review.

6. EPOS H6Pro

The best open-back headset is the EPOS H6Pro.

EPOS H6Pro specs:

Pros

• Open and closed-back options
• Incredible microphone quality
• Comfortable construction

Cons

• No surround sound
• Pricey

Open-back headset options are seemingly few and far between, but the EPOS H6Pro heroically brings the feature to the gaming fold. It’s a versatile heavy hitter that scratches a very specific fidelity itch, and the vented approach will appeal to budding high-end enthusiasts looking to introduce audiophile-grade peripherals to their gaming PC setup.

The H6Pro comes in both closed and open-back flavors, but we definitely prefer the latter model. Its ability to produce a natural soundstage sets it apart from ordinary headset options, while still ultimately catering to the gaming marker. Rich audio and a crystal clear mic accompany the H6Pro’s main party trick, and its fabric cups have things covered on the comfort front.

Thankfully, unlike other contenders on our list, the H6Pro mic is detachable, so you could actually use it like a pair of conventional headphones. It’s not quite as stylish as Corsair’s HS65 duo, but being able to remove its microphone is still a boon.

Read the EPOS H6Pro review.

7. Logitech G435 Lightspeed

The best budget wireless headset.

Logitech G435 Lightspeed specs:

Pros

• Lightspeed wireless
• Fantastic value
• Pretty colors

Cons

• No wired backup connection

Most wireless gaming headsets cost more than wired alternatives, but the Logitech G435 Lightspeed cost under $100 USD and delivers fantastic cordless capabilities. Armed with both Lightspeed 2.4Ghz and Bluetooth, it’ll happily connect to your gaming PC, Steam Deck, or any other devices kicking around your house, and we think it trades blows with even the priciest options out there.

The Logitech G435 Lightspeed delivers high-fidelity gaming audio using 40mm drivers, and its lightweight construction will keep any comfort woes at bay. Despite the lower price tag, it also boasts brilliant mic abilities, eliminating background noise using built-in dual beamforming microphones. It doesn’t even skimp on batter life, as it’ll endure 16 hours of continuous gameplay on a single charge.

Not a fan of boring black headsets? The Logitech G435 comes in a variety of pleasing colors, including one that looks like visual bubblegum. However, please don’t chew that particular flavor of the headset, as it’s not as cheap as a packet of Bubblicious.

8. Razer Kraken V3 HyperSense

The most immersive gaming headset.

Razer Kraken V3 Hypersense specs:

Pros

• Unique bass-driven haptic feedback
• Detailed audio
• Adjustable EQ levels with Razer Central

Cons

• Requires tinkering

The idea of a vibrating headset might sound gimmicky, but hear us out, as the Kraken V3 Hypersense more than justifies haptic accessories. In a way, Razer’s rumbly tech feels almost like a subwoofer, as it adds a sense of audio physicality to the device’s 7.1 surround sound capabilities. If you’re a fan of FPS experiences like Halo Infinite, then you’ll love Kraken V3 Hypersense’s dedication to immersion, as its haptics transform every gunshot and explosion into directional, tactical information.

Haptics aside, the Kraken V3 also is an exceptional headset in its own right. A mix of durable plastics, metals, and leatherette gives the V3 Hypersense a premium feel, while its detachable mic boasts clarity and efficient noise reduction.

Of course, if you’re a fan of colorful accessories, then you’ll be pleased to know that the Kraken V3 Hypersense is clad in Chroma RGB, and the company’s lighting tech looks better than ever.

Read the Razer Kraken V3 HyperSense review.

How we test the best gaming headsets

Having the best gaming headset will give you a more immersive experience when playing the best PC games on your gaming device, but there are literally hundreds out there to choose from – from well-known brands like Corsair and Razer to third-party cheap options on Amazon. We want you to be able to choose a headset that will actually be worth buying, which is why we spend hours with each headset we review.

During headset testing, we cover the design, the level of comfort when playing for long periods, and of course, the audio quality. Many premium headsets come with apps to change the parameters to your liking, so we’ll also review how easy and effective these are when relevant. We spend hours testing the best gaming headsets so that you don’t have to. Find out more about how we test, rate, and review on PCGamesN. If you have any outstanding questions, read our FAQs below:

Wired vs wireless gaming headsets

While things were different a few years ago, wireless models now have almost zero caveats compared to wired models. Thanks to super fast 2.4GHz wireless connections, latency is comparable to a wired connection, and improved batteries mean wireless models such as the Sennheiser GSP 370 can offer up to 100 hours of battery life.

Do gaming headsets have surround sound?

While headsets such as the Razer Thresher Ultimate offer native surround sound thanks to built-in Dolby Surround, it’s possible to get virtual surround sound on any headset on Windows 10. You just need to enter the sound tab under settings, before clicking “Device properties” under output and enabling “Spatial sound”.

Closed-back vs open-back gaming headsets

Open-back headsets feature a design that allows air to flow through the ear cups, resulting in a more natural soundstage. On the other hand, closed-back headphones are built with noise cancellation in mind, as both ear cups are completely sealed.

If you’d prefer to drown out the outside world while you game, you should probably opt for a closed-back headset. However, if you’re looking to maximize clarity and you’re playing in a quiet room, open-backed options like the EPOS H6Pro can elevate your gaming PC’s audio fidelity tenfold.