No matter where you choose to play, the best wireless gaming headsets are designed to increase your immersion through realistic audio while providing a convenient wire-free design that gives you the freedom to move around your setup if you wish.
This helps you game in comfort and reduces the clutter around your console or PC. Wireless headsets are also highly portable, with in-built batteries that allow you to take them out and about. This is particularly important if you're a mobile gamer, or want to use a portable system such as the Steam Deck OLED or Nintendo Switch 2.
While I would recommend wireless gaming headsets to anyone with the budget, the best wired gaming headsets can deliver a comparable level of audio quality and generally come in a little cheaper. They can also be used more easily across multiple platforms, which is a great bonus if you own lots of systems. For platform specific recommendations, you should also see our guides to the best Xbox Series X headsets, best PS5 headsets, and best Nintendo Switch headsets.
The best wireless gaming headsets in 2026
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Best wireless gaming headset
If you've got the cash for a serious upgrade, then the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Omni is currently the wireless gaming headset to beat. We've rarely been disappointed with a SteelSeries product and the Omni (a souped-up version of the Nova Pro) keeps the brand's streak going strong.
Hi-res audio certification paired with SteelSeries' existing pedigree is simply a match made in heaven. Sound quality is simply beautiful across the board, whether you're absorbing yourself in legendary single player games like Elden Ring or Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, or listening out for minute audio design details in your go-to multiplayer shooter.
It's multiplatform, has basically every connectivity option under the sun, and it still has the smart swappable battery system that'll keep the headset juiced for up to 60 hours. Though theoretically, if you're remembering to charge up at least one of the batteries, you're unlikely to ever run out.
If you don't already own the original Nova Pro, then the Omni is the ideal product to go for in the lineup. The seriously premium Nova Elite exists, of course, but its eye-watering premium price certainly isn't for the average budget.
"The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Omni is an excellent gaming headset, and one that offers noticeable and tangible upgrades on its Pro Wireless brethren without going to the extremes of its premium sibling, the Nova Elite. Each addition is welcome, noticeable, and worthwhile, even though they may not be huge in isolation; it’s still greater than the sum of its parts."
Read our full SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Omni review
Best budget wireless gaming headset
The Corsair HS35 v3 isn't the fanciest wireless gaming headset around, nor is it the most feature-rich. However, it's a real budget-friendly performer that goes well beyond its price tag through sheer competence and quality.
The HS35 v3's winning feature is its immaculate microphone, which we found to be on par with headsets that are several magnitudes more expensive. Whether you're using it for multiplayer comms or casual Discord chat, communication simply won't be an issue here. And yes, it helps that they sound great, too.
Boasting tremendous comfort and a rock-solid 30 hour battery life, the HS35 v3 are also well-equipped for lengthier gaming sessions. It is a pretty 'out-of-the-box' experience, though; there's no companion software, and no real way to tweak audio settings to your liking. There isn't even an on-board volume control, so its budget price certainly shows in some aspects.
That said, if you're after a fairly cheap, no-fuss headset that strongly delivers on audio and comfort, we reckon the Corsair HS35 v3 is the best budget wireless gaming headset you can buy right now.
"It delivers crystal clear audio no matter what you're using it for, whether that's gaming, calls, or getting some tunes in while you work. There's no software to fiddle around with, and barely any buttons to get used to. If you need something that's good to go as soon as it's out of the box, this headset definitely suits."
Read our full Corsair HS35 v3 review
Best mid-range wireless gaming headset
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is the perfect gaming headset. It does just about everything else right, from its detailed and immersive sound to the kind of comfort that lets you game for hours without needing to give your head a breather. If you can overlook the high price tag and disappointing active noise cancellation, then it’s about as close as you’ll get.
It also comes with all sorts of features, such as hot-swappable batteries that can keep the action going indefinitely, multi-platform connectivity, multi-point simultaneous connectivity, a detailed and crisp-sounding mic and a base station for easy control. Though we were let down by that active noise cancellation, even having that on hand shows how fully-featured the Nova Pro Wireless is.
If you need any other reason to consider this headset, then take a look at it. Its understated elegant design is as classy as you’ll find in the mid-range. While the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Omni (see above) is an upgrade over this model, the good old Nova Pro is more affordable and more often subject to sales events in 2026.
"The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is the future of gaming headsets with its multi-device-and-platform connectivity, long battery life, amazing comfort, and that excellent sound quality that Arctis headsets are known for."
Read our full SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless review
Best premium wireless gaming headset
This is it. Wireless gaming headsets simply don't get any more premium than the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite. And boy, does it have a price tag to match. But if you're in the market for a 'money-no-object' kind of headset, you should definitely make it this one.
At the time of review, TechRadar Gaming's own Rob Dwiar named it "simply the best gaming headset I have ever used," and it's easy to believe that when you glance at the Nova Elite's specs.
Like other SteelSeries cans, the Nova Elite is multiplatform, so there's no picking and choosing here. Audio and microphone quality is at the peak of what gaming headsets can offer, making it a prime choice if you're a serious audiophile.
As you might expect, build quality is similarly premium, boasting a level of comfort and style that's practically unmatched in the space. Of course, that premium price isn't for everyone and you may prefer a cheaper pair like the Omni or Nova Pro as a result. But if you want a pristine bit of kit that simply doesn't put a foot wrong, the Nova Elite is the headset for you.
"The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite is the best gaming headset I have ever tested. It excels in every area and is the real deal if you’re looking for the complete audiophile headset package for gaming."
Read our full SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite review
Best wireless gaming headset for PS5
Taking over the baton of the best wireless gaming headset for PS5 from the also-excellent Pulse 3D, the Pulse Elite offers upgrades in every facet of its predecessor.
First off, its planar magnetic drivers have given me some of the finest game audio I've ever experienced in my years of testing PS5 headsets, straight out of the box. Complementing this is a robust and clear mic that has a great retractable design, PlayStation Link connectivity that enables it to connect losslessly to PS5 and without a dongle to PlayStation Portal, and a host of intuitive controls.
It shares the same sleek design aesthetic as the rest of the PS5 family, though the design is a bit large and bulbous, and a little heavier than some of its competitors. However, in all my weeks of testing I never once found it uncomfortable.
Its price tag of $149.99 / £129.99 means it has some fierce competition from competitors from other brands, but if you're after the best wireless gaming headset for PS5, then you can't go wrong with the official Pulse Elite headset.
"The PlayStation Pulse Elite is a superb PS5 headset. While it faces stiff competition in its price range and its shape is a little odd, the headset’s planar magnetic drivers provide some of the best audio going on PS5."
Read our full PlayStation Pulse Elite review
Best Xbox wireless gaming headset
Razer's premium-leaning mid-ranged wireless gaming headset is the clear standout for Xbox-centric headsets right now. As is quite typical of Razer products, build quality on the BlackShark V3 Pro is luxurious, and has a pleasing discreet design that allows it to blend nicely into any gaming setup.
Razer has really leaned into comfort factor here, with the BlackShark V3 Pro easily being among the most comfortable gaming headsets on the market. The delightfully plush headband and earcups rest easily on the head for hours on end. And that's great, considering a whopping 70-hour battery life is well-suited to longer sessions online with friends.
In terms of audio quality, the BlackShark V3 Pro is especially suited to bombastic action games, with a real booming sound profile and satisfyingly rich bass. Active noise cancellation, while not the best we've experienced in a wireless gaming headset, gets the job done too for when you're after a complete background noise blackout while you play.
"By adding active noise cancellation to an already excellent BlackShark model, Razer bolsters one of the best wireless headsets on the market with even more luxury. That does mean an added price premium, so it’s important to consider whether isolated audio is more important than a cheaper V2 model."
Read our full Razer BlackShark V3 Pro review
Best wireless gaming earbuds
If your search for a wireless headset can be wide enough to include earbuds, then the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds have to be your top contender.
Raising the bar for what true wireless gaming earbuds can offer, the GameBuds do literally everything extremely well - and still come in comfortably cheaper than a lot of the competition. The audio top tier for buds, the design and build are excellent, the battery life and extra juice you can get from the wireless charging case are superb, and the buds offer even more when used in conjunction with the Arctis companion app. What's more, the buds are even compatible across all gaming devices (if you get the Xbox variants) which is unbelievably good.
Coming at $159.99 / £159.99, the GameBuds are pretty aggressively priced for premium earbuds and they offer exceptional value for money even at their full price such is the quality on offer in every department.
In all my years of testing gaming audio products, the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds are right near the very top of them all.
"The SteelSeries Arctis Gamebuds are simply fantastic and raise the bar in what a pair of wireless buds can offer. Quality sound, intuitive controls, great features, and even wireless charging all combine to make an incredibly compelling package."
Read our full SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds review
How to choose the best wireless gaming headset
The gaming headset market is one of the most congested and overflowing of all in gaming peripheral land - and the same can now be said for the wireless gaming headset market in 2026. As a result, navigating your way through the ranks to find the right headset for you can be a bit of a slog. However, we think concentrating on a few key factors can help guide your purchasing decision nicely and with great efficiency.
Think about budget
It's an obvious one but it's a good one. While wireless gaming headsets are more affordable than ever nowadays, the prices can still escalate quickly, particularly if you start incorporating more premium features.
That's why we think it's always best to have an ideal budget in mind, and then one you would be happy to stretch to if the right discount came along. This always allows you some flexibility while grounding you in reality - there's no point chasing that $300 headset; it's never likely to come down to $100, sadly. Another effective method of making the most out of your budget is to be patient and wait for sales periods like Black Friday and Prime Day - these are well known to change headsets' price categories completely with price cuts.
Ponder on platforms
We are starting to - finally - live in a world where you can get a wireless headset that works across all platforms. Yes, even models that will cover you on both Xbox and PlayStation. However, these are still new and often require a high budget. We'd really recommend honing in on the platforms you use and most want a wireless connection with. Could you be happy forgoing wireless connectivity on Xbox for example? Or also be content with no dual Bluetooth connectivity and thus ditch mobile compatibility? Such things will narrow your options down usefully, and probably bring the cost down too.
Consider features
A simple wireless connection on a gaming headset via a dongle or direct connection is often all the features you need from a robust and reliable set of audio givers. However, you can often get some really excellent features thrown in, and it often pays to be ruthless about what you're really after. For example, an external DAC unit like the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro headsets have is wonderful, but are you happy with a more plug-and-play headset? Are you content with a modest battery life? Do you need huge drivers or extra special ones? How good do you need a mic to be? All of these are worth thinking about and can help guide your decision.
How we test wireless gaming headsets
Wireless gaming headsets now make up a huge chunk of the audio-givers we test and review. Wireless gaming headsets are fast becoming the norm or default in a way - but that doesn't stop them being put through the wringer and thoroughly tested just like any other bit of gaming hardware here at TechRadar Gaming.
We scrutinize every part of a headset from audio quality, microphone use, gaming performance, and how they perform with music, and spend hours and hours with them, living with them and using them as you might do so we can speak to real-life usage.
We spend dozens of hours playing a range of games to test each headset ranging from whatever we're playing personally - again to recrate real-life use - to some of the best single-player games and most chaotic multiplayers.
We'll also test the design and build, manipulating them thoroughly and testing the min a variety of positions; put the mic through testing too for games and for work use; we'll check the battery life against what the brand claims; and we'll also test all the features to ensure each performs how it should and to delve into what the headset offers.
This is all to gain a detailed picture of the performance, and, importantly, the value for money of a wireless gaming headset, especially in daily usage as that's how you'll be using them. We strive to replicate that day-to-day use and test our products accordingly.
Best wireless gaming headset - FAQs
What is the best wireless gaming headset?
Overall, we think the best wireless gaming headset money can buy - and for most people - right now is the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Omni. It's feature-packed and offers brilliant audio.
However, for something more premium, you cannot go wrong with the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite - my personal favorite wireless gaming headset for all platforms right now.
Do expensive wireless gaming headsets really make a difference?
The best wireless gaming headsets can take many forms, but it's usually the premium and expensive ones that grab the headlines. And from our experience, that is for good reason: the best headsets we've ever tested do indeed tend to be the absolute best, and can make a huge difference - like the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless. If you get the chance to save up and treat yourself to an expensive one, upgrading from a cheap one can be like night and day.
That's not to say there aren't good wireless headsets for smaller price tags; there are plenty, and you'll find some of them on our guide right here.
