Arguably as important as some component choices or upgrades you'll make to your rig, the best PC gaming headsets deliver an unparalleled audio experience for gaming on PC while also serving a range of niches, specialities, and budgets.
For as much as we love the best PC speakers, they aren't always an ideal fit when you're trying to get some late-night gaming done. Not only do they take up space, but it means you're broadcasting to everyone in your room and even throughout your home.
The best PC gaming headsets not only solve this issue but add a true surround sound experience (and even noise-canceling) into the mix, too, as well as features like quality mics, software to tinker with EQs, and more.
In terms of our picks, you can rest assured that each model featured has been expertly tested and reviewed by the TechRadar Gaming team. Not only do we look at the obvious factors like audio and build quality, but also features that you might consider important to your purchase, such as battery life, platform compatibility, and overall value for money.
I've had my hands across all kinds of gaming gear over the past six years on a daily basis, but it is headsets that I've been testing the most regularly and consistently in that time. I've reviewed so many headsets for almost every platform, and of all kinds and shapes and forms, that I have a good grasp of what separates the great ones from the good ones - plus I use one every day no matter whether I'm working in the TechRadar offices or at home. In short, I've done a lot of listening and playing so you don't have to, and my experience and expertise have informed this PC gaming headset list.
The best PC gaming headsets in 2026
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The best PC gaming headset overall
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Omni has arrived, succeeding the already excellent SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless. The Omni is an improvement in just about every way, offering a halfway house experience between the Pro Wireless and the seriously premium Nova Elite.
Firstly, hi-res audio certification and 96kHz/24bit support on PC means you're getting immersive, expansive sound. And that's on top of SteelSeries' top-notch audio prowess. If you're wanting to experience your favorite game soundtracks or pinpoint even the faintest of footstep sounds in online matches, the Omni delivers in spades.
Battery life is fantastic, too. The Omni utilizes the brand's 'Infinity Power' system. Essentially, it's two swappable batteries that you can change out on the fly whenever one needs topping up. Between them, they offer a whopping 60 hours of life. So long as you keep one charged up at all times, you'll theoretically never run out of juice.
Now, if you already own the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, the Omni is a bit tougher of a sell. The improvements are there, but it's nonetheless an expensive upgrade that will set you back a few hundred bucks. If you're buying a SteelSeries headset for the first time, though, and you're put off by the Elite's eye-watering price, the Omni is the one to go for, and we think it's currently the best overall PC gaming headset for most people.
Read our full SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Omni review
The best budget PC gaming headset
It’s hard to believe how much the Corsair HS65 costs considering the many advantage you’re getting from it. This absolute stunner of a gaming headset punches well above its weight not just in features but in sound quality, making it a must for pretty much every, including those who can afford the pricier options on this list.
This is one of the best wired gaming headsets right now, sporting Corsair’s new elegant design, a flip-to-mute mic that’s intuitive to use, luxurious memory foam leatherette ear pads, a lightweight form factor, and a 3.5mm connectivity that you can turn into a USB connection via the included 7.1 surround sound USB adapter.
It terms of sound and surround sound performance, it absolutely slays. During our review, we found that even with stereo hardware, it manages to maximize that Dolby Audio 7.1 capability for an immersive experience. All of the frequencies are represented well, with a bass that’s incredibly present, highs that are clear and detailed, and mids that sound full.
Read our full Corsair HS65 review
The best premium PC gaming headset
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is an impressively feature-filled affair. It comes with active noise cancellation, the ability to connect to two different sources and mix them in together at once, and a noise-cancelling mic that can block out the clicky-clack of your keyboard.
It even tests the limits of how long you can wear a headset before charging. It might not have 300 hours of battery life but its 20 hours of use per battery can be extended for as long as you want since you can hot swap batteries while still in the middle of the action.
And, like most SteelSeries headsets, we found the audio quality here to be top-notch no matter if you’re gaming or listening to music. It's clear, detailed, clean, and comes with great bass response. The main concern is the fact that you can get the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless with support for Playstation or Xbox but not both.
Read our full SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless review
The PC gaming headset with the best mic
A beloved classic is back and better than ever with this successor of the HyperX Cloud gaming headset line. Though the previous model was pretty great in its own right, this is even better, with HyperX ensuring that it upgraded every aspect, from its design to its performance. And, as we said in our review, it finally became the best gaming headset worthy of all that loyal fandom behind it.
The HyperX Cloud III is, we found during our time with it, even much more impressive than its predecessor in many ways. It has more robust build quality, improved audio, better comfort, more connectivity options, and a more modern look. We found it to deliver a crisp and detailed high end and lots of oomph in the low end – exactly what people need in their gaming headset.
It’s the detachable mic, however, that takes centerstage here. It delivered incredible clarity, great audio, and fantastic background noise rejection, making it one of the best mics on a gaming headset we’ve ever seen. And, considering its price tag, that fact is even more impressive.
Read our full HyperX Cloud III review
The best PC gaming headset for competitive gaming
With the Stealth Pro 2, Turtle Beach has put out a world-class headset aimed squarely at competitive players. That said, its focus on immersive audio, a rich feature set, and staggering battery life make it a headset that'll suit anyone chasing a premium product.
The Stealth Pro 2 delivers a broad 10Hz-40kHz frequency response, and it’s fully Hi-Res certified at 96KHz/24bit — even over its wireless 2.4GHz and Bluetooth 5.3 connections. That means every subtle footstep or comms ping comes through cleanly, and spatial cues are as precise as you’d hope for fast, tactical play. On the comms front, Turtle Beach’s 9mm beamforming mic with AI noise reduction keeps your callouts clear and background noise at bay.
Something that really sets the Stealth Pro 2 apart is battery life. We logged up to 80 hours of use during testing, thanks to two hot-swappable 40-hour battery packs. This is pretty much best-in-class among competitive-focused PC gaming headsets.
The downside is comfort: the Stealth Pro 2 is solidly built but feels heavy, and the headband’s mesh and clamp force could be an issue if you play for hours without a break. Still, if you’re after a headset that nails wireless reliability, delivers crisp positional sound, and with practically no chance of dying on you during play, this is a top-tier esports pick — just factor in that you might need to adjust the fit during those extra-long sessions.
Read our full Turtle Beach Stealth Pro 2 review
Best earbuds for PC
The SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds are the best PC gaming earbuds you can now get and offer an audio experience that could give many of the top headsets a run for their money. They've got our recommendation for the best earbuds for PC gaming for a number of reasons, but the most important thing is that they do everything brilliantly, and they sound absolutely fantastic - they are the most complete earbuds package we've tested.
First of all, they sound superb, channeling all that SteelSeries audio greatness no matter the type of game - or media - you need them to perform for; they even have great bass for tiny buds. The buds are extremely well designed based on tens of thousands of ear scans to try and reach an ergonomic style that works for everyone, while there's also superb battery life and charging features, and the buds can be used in conjunction with the top-notch Arctis Companion App. Also pro tip: while each variant of the GameBuds works on PC, if you buy the Xbox ones they can work across all the major gaming platforms.
They are priced in the top-end of the gaming earbud spectrum at $159.99 / £159.99 but, honestly, we're pretty happy with that and what they offer in comparison to the others in that price range, like the Sony Inzone Buds. All in all, these buds offer the fullest gaming earbud package we've tested and are the best buds for gaming on PC if hat's what you're after.
- Read more: SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds review
The best value wireless PC gaming headset
The Corsair HS55 Wireless is improves on its predecessor, the Corsair HS55 Wireless Core, in a massive way. This affordable wireless PC gaming headset comes with many extra frills you’ll be glad to have, including its on-the-fly EQ preset control, lightweight design, wireless connectivity with a 50ft range, and a decent 24-hour battery life. It also sports Corsair new elevated and elegant design upgrade that will make you want to wear it as a pair of headphones.
But, more importantly, It's better sounding, more user-friendly, and ever so slightly plushier than its predecessor, which makes it a better value considering it's just as affordable. The high end, we found, is more detailed and present, giving you brighter and crisper audio - though for some reason Corsair also tones down the bass, which might turn off bass-worshipping gamers.
We also appreciate Corsair’s efforts to deliver improved surround sound, which makes you feel like you’re right in the middle of the action. That's thanks to the inclusion of Dolby Audio 7.1 that widens the soundstage and more makes the audio a lot more three-dimensional.
Find great deals on Corsair products with our Corsair coupon codes.
Read our full Corsair HS55 Wireless review
Also tested...
How to choose the best PC gaming headsets for you
Whether you've recently invested in a gaming laptop or you’re working with the best budget gaming PC you could piece together, your PC gaming experience isn’t going to be fully realized until you have invested in quality, immersive audio. That’s where PC gaming headsets come in.
PC games aren't just about the visuals, after all. In fact, many of them require you to have accurate sound imaging and an excellent soundstage to get to the top of the leaderboards. Luckily, top-notch gaming headsets from budget to premium are already equipped with those. However, there are a few other areas or features that you can consider when looking to narrow down your choices.
Thinking about your budget is perhaps the biggest and most important choice-guiding factor. We always recommend having a budget in mind and generally going into your search happy that you're going to stick with it - but having a tiny bit of wiggle room is always a plus if you can have it. After all, you can never really tell when price drops and rises kick in at retailers (aside from sales events) so it pays to have some flexibility if possible.
Focusing on your key feature preferences and desires is another way to really help funnel your search. Do you have to have the best battery life going? Do you need a DAC unit? Perhaps you want something that has a stupendous companion app, or can be used across all gaming platforms easily. Thinking on these will certainly help rule some in, and some out.
Knowing which way you want to stick to on the wired vs wireless debate will help narrow your choice down too. Some folks don't mind either way - which can allow for some more choice - but if you're tired of having cables everywhere then go wireless; and if you want to be able to walk away from the PC, or dance mid-game, or throw your head about in the midst of high-octane action then wireless may be the best fit for you.
Extra, smaller features, like RGB lighting, or setup integration - perhaps you want the same brand as your mouse and keyboard for ease and convenience - as well as scouring reviews for takes on design and build quality can certainly help too.
How we tested these PC gaming headsets
Testing gaming headsets are among our favorite things to do here at TechRadar. They might not be as exciting as the latest graphics cards or the newest gaming PCs, but they can be just as fun to try out and appraise.
During such a test, we take a look at the design aspects first, checking to see if the gaming headset is as robust and as comfortable as it should be. We also check how responsive and accessible its controls are. If wireless, we test the connectivity, range, and battery life as well, making sure that it delivers as promised or better. If wired, we test the length, durability, and flexibility of the cable.
Finally, we test the sound quality – just how balanced it is and how present all the frequencies are, as well as the soundstage and sound imaging to see just how immersive and accurate they are. We test these out on games as well as music and movies.
We then take everything we’ve learned about the gaming headset and compare it to its price – whether or not its performance and features are worth that price tag, and whether or not it offers the best value to customers.
The best PC gaming headsets - FAQs
What are the best gaming headset brands?
There are so many options out there, it can be hard to figure out which companies really deliver when it comes to a quality pair of cans. Just about every computer peripheral company seems to make gaming headsets. But, they are not all equal.
While SteelSeries has some of the more expensive options out there, the company consistently offers top-notch sound quality. Even in more stripped down models, the audio never suffers. Likewise, Logitech may not always reach the same heights in audio quality as SteelSeries but it always puts out a good sounding, comfortable product at a reasonable price.
However, the heaviest hitters in gaming audio are Razer and Corsair. Not only do they offer pairs for most every budget, but they come with all sorts of features like THX or Dolby Atmos, haptic feedback, and great battery life for the wireless options.
But don’t limit yourself to just those brands. As proven by our picks here, Astro, Turtle Beach, and the typically non-gaming focused Beyerdynamic all make some excellent headsets.
What headset do pro gamers use?
If you want a gaming headset like pro gamers, look no further than our list. One of the most well-known and sought after gaming accessory brands is Razer and quite a few of their products made our list. Razer is not only highly regarded for its brand recognition - their products are what most pro gamers swear by. Razer headsets are lightweight and have stellar audio performance, so if you can afford to make the jump there’s no reason to delay.
A more affordable pro gamer headset is the Corsair HS50 Pro - another one of our top picks. Corsair is known for making great gamer technology that doesn’t disappoint and can often be more affordable than other top-of-the-line accessories. If you’re looking for a headset pro gamers use without breaking the bank, Corsair might be a great choice for you.
What's best, wired or wireless PC gaming headsets?
A perennial question among players when looking at getting a new headset, the difference between wired and wireless headsets can help you find the right match for you, if you consider all the ins and outs.
Many audiophiles will still err on the side of a wired connection as it is still seen to provide both the best connection for giving you the top audio available and it's the most reliable connection too. However, wireless sets, in our opinion, have closed the gap on both fronts in recent years. Some of the gaming audio we've experienced has, hands down, been some of the best we've been treated to in the last couple of years, while brands have also doubled down on their own speedy and reliable wireless connections that have all but erased the moments of audio drop out and interference.
Wired headsets, on the whole, can be a cheaper option still so if you're on a budget, we'd recommend checking out that connection type. The extra bonus with wired sets is that they will offer excellent versatility and cross-platform compatibility. Be a headset wired by USB or 3.5m audio jack, you'll be able to take it across and between all platforms that support those connections.
Wireless headsets are fast becoming cheaper and more popular, however. We're also even seeing them become fully versatile across all platforms, like their wired brethren. The simple convenience of not being tethered to a controller, PC port, or DAC unit is also something that's still a joy for many and can be a guiding principle when looking to pick between the two.
Is Bluetooth bad for PC gaming headsets?
As much as it has come on with recent versions and improvements, we still don't recommend relying on Bluetooth for your gaming audio - especially if you're playing online or competitive games. The lag in Bluetooth audio can ruin games and cost you in important moments. As a result, 2.4Ghz wireless or wired connections are the best to rely on.
Plus, almost by default when buying a PC gaming headset in 2025, you shouldn't really need to rely on Bluetooth as the means of wireless connection as 2.4Ghz wireless has taken over in almost every manner and is the default out of the box. This is a blessing
Are gaming earbuds good for PC gaming?
Yes, absolutely! The best CP gaming headsets can definitely come in the form of gaming earbuds, and in recent years we've seen them come on leaps and bounds with the likes of the EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid earbuds, and Razer Hammerhead True Wireless earbuds, and more recent excellent earbuds like the Sony Inzone Buds and the particularly excellent SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds.
Given such modern options as the latter, gaming earbuds can run with the best PC gaming headsets if you game on a desktop and provide a nicely fitting, small-scale alternative if you're tired of overhead fits.
What PC gaming headset has the best mic quality?
In brief, all of our picks for the best PC gaming headset have often excellent, but at the very least good enough mic quality so you can have the utmost confidence in any of these.
However, and from extensive personal testing, I have always enjoyed and rated very highly the microphone quality of Razer's BlackShark headsets, and anything from SteelSeries, while anecdotally I have only heard excellent things about the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro and I'm in the middle of testing the Drop + EPOS PC38X which is excellent.
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TechRadar PC gaming headset coverage
- Best wireless gaming headset
- Best wired gaming headset
- Best gaming earbuds
- Best PS5 headset
- Best Xbox Series X headset
- Best PS4 headset
- Best Xbox One headset
- Best Nintendo Switch headset
Top reviews
- SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless review
- Turtle Beach Stealth Pro review
- Corsair VOID Wireless V2 review
- SteelSeries Arctis Nopva 5 review
- Razer BlackShark V3 Pro review
- HyperX Cloud III review
- SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless review
- Corsair HS55 Wireless review
- Razer BlackShark V2 Pro for Console review
- Nacon RIG 900 Max HS review
- Astro A50 X review
- SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro review
- SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds review
- Logitech G522 Lightspeed review
- Astro A50 Gen 5 review
