Best Xbox headset 2023: Xbox One and Series X|S options reviewed

Picking up one of the best Xbox headsets can truly enhance your gaming. A good gaming headset is unrivalled even compared to a great speaker system. It’s all so much more personal.

Being able to hear an enemy coming around a corner in Call of Duty: Warzone could give you an advantage in a split-second battle. Similarly, listening out for something creepy coming your way in Resident Evil 4 or Dead Space is the ideal way to unnerve you substantially but also make you feel more part of the experience.

When it comes to wireless headsets, Xbox compatibility with headsets can be a little finicky compared to simply finding one to hook up to a PC. That’s we’ve picked out a mixture of wireless and wired ones with all the ones listed below compatible with your favourite console. Whether you’re looking for one that works with your Xbox One or your Xbox Series X/S, we’ve got your back.

Which is the best Xbox gaming headset for you?

• Best overall gaming headset: SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless (check price)
  Expensive for good reason, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless doesn’t just stop at sounding good. This is a gaming headset that is also full of useful features. It’s possible to connect it to multiple devices at once, mix two audio connections at once, enjoy ANC, and even customise sound via its bundled DAC unit. Even at its simplest, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless offers some highly superior sound that’s compatible with Microsoft Spatial Sound for Xbox.

• Best official gaming headset: Microsoft Xbox Wireless Headset (check price)
  There’s a comfort that comes from the official headset and the Microsoft Xbox Wireless Headset is suitably satisfying. 15 hours of battery life is a little weak but instant support for Windows Sonic, Dolby Atmos and DTS Headphone:X is great to see with this headset cheaper than you’d expect for the features. It’s stylish in its subtlety too while extras like auto-mute and voice isolation are useful when dealing with a busy team chat.

• Best budget gaming headset: Razer Kraken X (check price)
  Often on sale, the Razer Kraken X can be even cheaper than its RRP but however you pay, you’ll appreciate its functionality. The headset sounds good thanks to its 40mm drivers while Razer’s mic ensures you can be heard clearly at all times. It’s a comfy headset too with breathable ear cups, as well as supremely lightweight for most users. Wired won’t suit everyone but at this price, it’s worth taking the hit given the sound quality involved.

1. SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless a pricey headset but to be fair, it does come with two batteries and its own DAC aka USB sound card. While many headsets skip surround sound support for the Xbox, this one is fully compatible with Microsoft Spatial Sound for Xbox so you get truly immersive sound for spotting that villain just as they round the corner.

Throughout, sound is crisp and clear no matter what you’re playing. It draws you in just how you want it to. Alongside that, if you do need to return to the world, you can have the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless hooked up to two devices at once. Want to mix in two audio connections at once? This is the headset for you allowing you to use Bluetooth for calls or music while still hearing the game through the 2.4GHz connection. Even the mic sounds great too.

2. Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 Max

Turtle Beach likes offering quirky but effective sounding features like the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 Max’s Superhuman Hearing button. It elevates some sounds so you can more sharply hear an enemy coming or a footstep in the distance. It takes some adjustment and won’t suit every game but disabled, you’ll still appreciate how the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 Max sounds

. As with the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, you can enjoy music through your phone at the same time as listening to the game. It’s extra comfy too thanks to gel-infused ear cushions plus there’s a flip-down mic to add to the convenience. We’d err on the side of the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 Max being best for first-person shooter fans over someone looking for atmospheric sounds, but everyone is going to like the 40 hour battery life and a 15 minute quick charge that gives back 8 hours.

• Read more: Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 Max review

3. SteelSeries Arctis 9X

The SteelSeries Arctis 9X has been around a while but it’s a testament to its quality that it’s still one of the best Xbox gaming headsets. There’s a typically green Xbox hue on the headband to remind you of your console choice but otherwise, it’s a subtle yet classy headset. Even better, you can connect wirelessly without bothering with an additional dongle aka the thing you end up losing too easily.

Audio quality is excellent and far punchier than you’d expect from 40mm drivers. Spatial audio certainly helps matters. There’s also good noise-cancellation here so you always sound clear while you can always mix in music to what you’re listening to if you prefer to multitask. 20 hours of battery life demonstrates the SteelSeries Arctis 9X’s age but really, who needs their headset to last longer than that in one chunk? We’ll take it in exchange for strong sound.

4. Corsair HS75 XB Wireless

A little bulky around your head, the Corsair HS75 XB Wireless are worth the heft. For one thing, they’re lighter than you’d think but also the 50mm drivers provide powerful sound as you explore the in-game world. Crucially, the headset offers Dolby Atmos support which is always useful for supported games. There’s also no need for an extra adapter with the Corsair HS75 XB Wireless working out of the box wirelessly. The connection remains stable and strong too although we’d like to have seen more than 20 hours of battery life.

Still, this is a good-sounding and good-looking headset. It even offers audio presents and equaliser settings access so you have more control compared to most other options. The mic isn’t the most attractive looking but it offers noise-cancellation and you can easily detach it for single-player gaming.

5. Razer BlackShark V2

An option of either wireless or wired is a nice choice to make for anyone considering the Razer BlackShark V2. We prefer the wired ones for Xbox users as it’s a little cheaper, plus you get a USB sound card to hook up to your console. From there, you gain advanced voice capture and mic controls but really, the Razer BlackShark V2 sound great without any tweaking.

Some fancy work directed at the 50mm drivers mean you get clear sound every time, whether playing a fast-moving shooter or something far moodier. There’s only passive noise cancellation but that’s usually enough. Elsewhere, the mic is detachable if you prefer to go without while the memory foam cushions feel good around your ears and the foam of the headband is a comfier fit than anything that could clamp down. It’s a solidly reliable set of features.

6. Microsoft Xbox Wireless Headset

There’s a safe reliability to sticking with the official headset but fortunately, the Microsoft Xbox Wireless Headset is worth that loyalty. It’s well priced while still offering excellent features. There’s support for Windows Sonic, Dolby Atmos, and DTS Headphone:X with Dolby Atmos being the highlight for Xbox players. There’s a nice and wide soundstage here with reliable surround sound across the board and bass that is strong while never causing distortion.

The mic is easily moved aside if you don’t need it while there’s auto-mute and voice isolation to ensure it’s a worthwhile inclusion. It’s all pleasantly convenient so you can simply get straight to playing without excessive tweaking or adjustments. The only notable downside is the 15 hour battery life but as long as you remember to charge it, this really won’t be an issue. It’s also best suited for smaller heads rather than those with larger craniums.

• Read more: Microsoft Xbox Wireless Headset review

7. Razer Nari Ultimate

Remember when a vibrating controller seemed innovative? The Razer Nari Ultimate is a gaming headset with rumble functionality. It sounds gimmicky but it works very well. Mostly because it gives you feedback relating to the direction an explosion, gun shot or similar is coming from. Initially, it’s a strange feeling but you soon come to appreciate it and feel more part of the action. There’s Windows Sonic support too which works well at providing powerful audio. 

You get balanced sound with only bass losing a little strength at times but more so during orchestral moments than environmental sounds. Cooling gel-infused memory foam ear cushions keep you comfy while there’s an auto-adjusting headband which works better than it sounds. For pure sound quality, you may wish to go elsewhere but for something a little special, the Razer Nari Ultimate does a good job of providing something original.

8. Logitech Pro X

Stick with the Logitech Pro X wired variety and you have a highly versatile headset. Its 50mm drivers mean you get good audio quality while you play, whether that’s listening out for someone in the distance in Fortnite or taking in the atmosphere of a Resident Evil game. You’re also going to sound crystal clear to anyone listening.

The headset includes a detachable microphone that can tune your voice in real time, ensuring you sound professional at all times. That’s why we also think the Logitech Pro X doubles up well for any conference calls you might need to make with the headset looking pretty smart and business-like too. A durable steel and aluminium construction means they’ll last while memory foam padding means your head feels comfortable too. An included USB sound card means you can change up some equaliser profiles accordingly too, although you’ll need to do that on the PC rather than your Xbox.

9. Razer Kaira Pro

Often, the disadvantage to headsets on consoles is your lack of control. Typically fairly plug n play, it’s refreshing to see the Razer Kaira Pro offer up different EQ settings. Tapping twice on the pairing button makes you through your options with a FPS mode that’s perfect for Call of Duty: Warzone while a Bass Mode is appropriate for trying to hear something in the distance. It makes a good difference, enhancing already excellent sound quality courtesy of the 50mm drivers.

A choice of either wireless or Bluetooth connections further add to your options with an onboard sound/chat balancer getting things just how you like them. Besides the obvious detachable mic, you can also use a second hidden mic that’s perfect for the odd conversation rather than dedicated online play. It’s all delightfully flexible and far better for the price than most.

10. Astro A50

If you simply want fantastic sound quality and you’re not too fussed about great battery life, you’ll love the Astro A50. The headset sounds brilliant. Even at the highest volume our ears could take, we didn’t experience any kind of distortion. Neither should it given how expensive the Astro A50 is, even despite its growing age. Xbox players miss out on some nice tweaks that are available to PC players but for sheer oomph, the Astro A50 still perform admirably.

There are nice extras too like mod kit support if you want to make this your own headset. A flip-to-mute mic is always good to see too. So where’s the fault besides the price? The Astro A50’s battery life is showing its age at about 15 hours. Granted, you won’t be playing solidly all that time but you will find yourself charging them more often than some rivals. At least there’s a nice and very green base station to store them.

• The best Xbox Series X and Series S accessories