Wireless technologies have greatly improved over time. Consequently, it's now possible to pick a great wireless gaming headset with low enough latency that you're not bothered by the delay when playing your favorite games. If you play multiplayer games, a nice-sounding microphone ensures your teammates and friends can hear you. Some are even Bluetooth-compatible, so you can mix in your music while playing or use the headset as day-to-day wireless headphones.
We've bought and tested over 825 headphones, and below are our recommendations for the best wireless headphones for gaming. If you're looking for headsets with a specific gaming system in mind, check out our recommendations for the best PC gaming headsets, the best Xbox One headsets, and the best PS4 gaming headsets.
Console Compatibility: PC, PlayStation, Xbox
The best wireless gaming headphones we've tested are the Audeze Maxwell Wireless. These feature-packed headphones come in different Xbox and PlayStation variants, so be sure to get the right version for your needs. Unlike most gaming headsets, including the other headphones listed here, they use planar magnetic drivers. These drivers allow them to produce a more extended bass, ensure low distortion, and create a more immersive soundstage than dynamic driver headphones.
They have a fairly neutral sound out of the box, and you can adjust them to your liking using their companion app's EQ presets. These Bluetooth-compatible headphones have low latency, so your game audio and video stay in sync. Their boom mic has a good overall performance too, ensuring you're heard clearly, even in noisy environments. Their planar magnetic design comes with a caveat: they make the headphones heavier, and while they have a ski-band headband to help distribute their weight, they can still cause fatigue over time.
If you want a more comfortable headset, you might prefer the Astro A50 X. They're the successor to the Astro A50 Gen 4, and while they don't have the benefit of planar magnetic drivers, they offer a lighter, more comfortable design. Wearing glasses won't cause an issue with the ear cup's seal, unlike the Audeze. They have excellent mic performance and support HDMI 2.1 passthrough, which can help you get higher resolutions and framerates, assuming your TV or PC supports it. However, they don't support a wired connection and have a much shorter continuous battery life.
Console Compatibility: PC, PlayStation
The Logitech G PRO X 2 LIGHTSPEED Wireless is the best wireless headset for gaming in the upper mid-range that we've tested. Unlike the Audeze Maxwell Wireless, they were designed with PC gamers in mind. They can still connect wirelessly with PlayStation consoles, but they don't have any Xbox support. Still, they have low latency and nearly 100 hours of continuous battery life, so you don't have to recharge them every day.
These comfortable over-ears have a slightly warm but still well-balanced sound that you can adjust using their PC companion software's EQ and presets. You can also now save your EQ settings and use the same tuning with your PlayStation, which wasn't a feature available when this headset was initially released. If you like to game with friends, their boom mic offers an okay recording quality, but it shines in noisy environments. The mic can separate your voice from background noise so you're easily understood.
Unfortunately, unlike the Audeze, they can't connect with multiple devices using Bluetooth or the wireless dongle, so you'll only receive audio from one device at a time. If you're looking for gaming headphones that are a little more console-friendly, try the Astro A30 Wireless. They come in console-specific variants and even support Bluetooth and non-Bluetooth simultaneously, allowing you to stay connected to your smartphone and console. However, they aren't as comfortable.
Console Compatibility: PC, PlayStation, Xbox
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless is the best Bluetooth gaming headset in the mid-range that we've tested. The drop in price brings with it a worse build quality compared to the Logitech G PRO X 2 LIGHTSPEED Wireless. However, thanks to their USB dongle, they have low latency, ensuring that your audio and visuals stay in sync during the heat of gameplay. They come in three console-specific variants; the 7X variant will give you the most versatility though, since it's wirelessly compatible with both Xbox and PlayStation consoles.
They even support Bluetooth, so you can connect them to your PC and console at the same time, and they last for more than 33 hours of continuous use. Their mic offers good overall performance, and teammates can hear you clearly, even in noisy environments. Their excited sound profile is also well-suited for action-packed gameplay as they deliver satisfying thump, punch, and warmth. They also deliver plenty of sizzle to cymbals and effects like clashing swords. You can also customize their sound using their companion software's graphic EQ and presets.
Unfortunately, their soundstage isn't spacious or immersive since they're closed-back. However, this design can help block background noise like ambient chatter and reduce audio bleed. Check out the Razer Barracuda Wireless if you want a slightly cheaper option. They have a longer continuous battery life and more low-bass, but their mid-range isn't as neutral, and their mic isn't as good.
Console Compatibility: PC, PlayStation, Xbox
If you want to spend less, the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 (Gen 3) is the best wireless headset for gaming we've tested in the budget price range. These wallet-friendly headphones have a sleek design, although you can't detach the mic for a more casual look. However, if that doesn't bother you, they have what you need for wireless gaming, thanks to their low latency via USB dongle and roughly 85 hours of continuous playback time. You can also connect them to other devices via Bluetooth. You can't hear audio via the dongle and Bluetooth connections at the same time as you can with the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless, but pressing the QuickSwitch button on the headset toggles between the two connection types. The microphone performs very well—even if you're gaming in noisy environments, anyone on the other end of the line will hear you clearly. Plus, flipping up the mic mutes it, which is a nice touch.
These over-ears have an excited sound out of the box, with extra boom and sparkle. Some might find the inflated high-bass a touch muddy, but it can also make sound effects like footsteps feel more immersive. Either way, the extra treble means dialogue sounds present and clear, and you can EQ these cans using their great companion app. Unlike the SteelSeries, you can't use the Turtle Beach wired, but with such a long battery life and the ability to output audio while charging, that's not a huge loss for most gamers. Just make sure to get the variant that goes with your gaming platform.
Console Compatibility: PC, PlayStation
The Logitech G435 LIGHTSPEED Wireless are the best cheap wireless gaming headset we've tested. They are relatively bare bones, lacking features our other best wireless gaming headset picks have, like presets and EQs, but they do have low latency, especially when connecting with PCs via the USB dongle. Unsurprisingly, these headphones aren't as well-built as our more expensive budget pick, and they do run on the small side, so people with larger heads may find them uncomfortable.
However, their lightweight design and memory foam padding mean that if they do fit you, they're comfortable enough to wear for long periods. While their 20-hour battery life can't match the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 (Gen 3)'s 85 hours, they'll still get you through a couple of marathon sessions before needing a recharge. Their sound profile is relatively balanced across the mid-range, so dialogue is clear and comprehensible, but they have a slightly bass-heavy sound and reduced highs. This makes in-game effects boomy and immersive, but sibilants like S and T sound a little dull. Their mic is also okay, but they're not the best headphones to use in a noisy environment if you want to be understood by whoever you're talking to.
Console Compatibility: PC, PlayStation
If you game in noisy environments, the Razer Barracuda Pro Wireless is the best headset with active noise cancelling (ANC). Unlike other picks on this list, these headphones have a hybrid casual/gaming design with features that offer the best of both worlds. Thanks to their ANC feature, they can block out a great amount of sound, like traffic from an open window and ambient chatter, so you can focus on the game. With their ANC on, they last over 34 hours continuously.
They have a wireless USB dongle that lets you game on PC and PlayStation consoles with fairly low latency, and they also support Bluetooth, so you can game on your Nintendo Switch or mobile device. Although they're not as well-built as the similarly priced Logitech G PRO X 2 LIGHTSPEED Wireless, they fit more comfortably. They also have a neutral sound with a touch of extra bass to help emphasize sound effects in gameplay.
Depending on what device you're using, you can access either their PC or smartphone app, and both offer a graphic EQ and presets to help you fine-tune their sound. For more customization, they support THX Spatial Audio, a virtual soundstage feature that can help immerse you in your audio. That said, they only have an integrated mic, and while it can capture your voice clearly, it has trouble separating speech from loud background noise, which might be annoying if you game in shared spaces or nearby open windows.
Console Compatibility: PC, PlayStation
The best wireless gaming earbuds we've tested are the Razer Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed True Wireless. They have a wireless USB-C dongle for a low-latency gaming experience on PC, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch, and also support Bluetooth for when you want to use them with your phone. These buds also work well for music listening as they have a balanced sound profile out of the box, with a good amount of thump, boom, and sparkle. They also come with a 10-band EQ if you'd like to tailor the sound to your preferences. Thanks to their small size, these are a portable and flexible pick if you don't want to invest in both true wireless earbuds and a wireless headset.
On the other hand, because they fit in your ears, their soundstage is not wide or spacious, and their battery life of just over five hours can't compete with any of the other picks on this list on a single charge, although their case supplies four extra charges. If you like the idea of multi-use gaming earbuds but would prefer a longer battery life, consider the ASUS ROG Cetra True Wireless SpeedNova, which lasts about 10 hours. In addition to an EQ for sound customization, these earbuds have a slightly lower latency and support multi-device pairing, so you can listen to music on your phone while gaming.
That said, the Razer have superior combined ANC and isolation than the ASUS buds, so they filter out environmental noise better, and you can easily use them to talk with teammates because their microphone intelligibly captures your voice and suppresses background noise well. If you're tired of heavy headsets, live in a hot environment, or generally want to free your ears, these wireless earbuds can solve those issues, as long as you're not a marathon gamer. Check out the rest of our picks for the best earbuds for gaming.
The SteelSeries Arctis 7+ Wireless are very customizable headphones, thanks to their Sonar software support, which offers a parametric EQ and presets plus robust mic controls. However, their microphone performance isn't as good as the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless.
See our reviewThe Razer Kaira Pro Wireless are gaming headphones that are available in either PlayStation or Xbox variants, the latter of which are more popular and support Xbox Wireless with low latency. Both models also support Bluetooth and you can hear audio via the dongle and Bluetooth connections simultaneously. However, their continuous battery life is shorter than that of the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 (Gen 3).
See our reviewWe haven't changed our picks, but we've updated the text throughout, bringing it into line with changes made as part of Test Bench 1.8.
We've verified this article to ensure that our text is still accurate and that our picks are still in stock. There hasn't been a change in our recommendations.
We added a console compatibility notice at the top of each pick to help gamers better identify the headset that best fits their needs. Besides that, we made only minor edits to the text for clarity.
Aug 30, 2024: Our budget pick is now the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 (Gen 3) Wireless because they have a better microphone and longer battery life than the Logitech G535 LIGHTSPEED Wireless. We also removed the Xbox Wireless Headset from our Notable Mentions because they have a worse passive soundstage, frequency response consistency, and microphone noise handling than the Turtle Beach.
Jun 27, 2024: We added the ASUS ROG Cetra True Wireless SpeedNova as an alternative to our main pick for the wireless earbuds category. We also made some minor changes to the text to improve legibility.
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best gaming headsets with a wireless design to buy for most people in each price range. We factor in the price (cheaper headphones win over pricier ones if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no headphones that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you would like to choose for yourself, here is the list of all our reviews for wireless headphones, ranked by their suitability for wireless gaming. Be careful not to get caught up in the details. There are no perfect headphones, and your personal taste, gaming preference, and playing style will matter more in your selection.
What do you think of our picks? Let us know below.
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Thanks Adam! Does RTINGS have ranking for people that watch A LOT of older programing, non 4k, HD? We want an LED that does really well upscaling I guess because we stream (via USB stick) tons of old TV
Processing is a tricky thing to objectively measure, so we don’t have a proper ranking yet, but you can look at the Upscaling: Sharpness Processing and Low Quality Content Smoothing tests. Sony TVs are widely praised as having the best processing, but there’s only so much they can do. The quality of your content will make a huge difference here, so shows that have been rereleased on Blu ray will look significantly better than VHS transfers or DVDs.
Yes, running at max brightness will impact longevity. This will degrade the LEDs quicker but it’ll also generate more heat, which can lead to premature failure of other components as well. LED or QLED doesn’t really make a difference here, as both types of display still use LEDs to light up the image. The specific type of LED matters. Avoid TVs with edge-lit backlights, as these are more likely to fail early.
Thanks Adam! Does RTINGS have ranking for people that watch A LOT of older programing, non 4k, HD? We want an LED that does really well upscaling I guess because we stream (via USB stick) tons of old TV
Our LG 55" LED just got black screen at the 6 year mark. Back Light was always 93-95/100, does having the back light that high cut life span down a lot? We are in the market for new TV and on the fence with basis LED or QLED but longevity is a big thing for us
Yes, running at max brightness will impact longevity. This will degrade the LEDs quicker but it’ll also generate more heat, which can lead to premature failure of other components as well. LED or QLED doesn’t really make a difference here, as both types of display still use LEDs to light up the image. The specific type of LED matters. Avoid TVs with edge-lit backlights, as these are more likely to fail early.
Our LG 55" LED just got black screen at the 6 year mark. Back Light was always 93-95/100, does having the back light that high cut life span down a lot?
We are in the market for new TV and on the fence with basis LED or QLED but longevity is a big thing for us
Dear RTINGS.com Thank you for this incredible study. Please let me make a proposal. As heat is the most important factor leading to burn-in in OLED TVs, and burn-in pattern is not heterogenous, but it frequently impacts most on the lower third of the TV screen. Have you done an experiment with one of your new OLED TVs but including an active cooling system (like in a PC: fans, Liquid-cooling) in order to verify whether or not an active cooling system might improve the lifetime of the proper, perfect OLED TV image. If not, could you please consider such an option in your ongoing study? The result of this experiment would indicate whether a regular user (who could pay 2000 EUR for a perfect image on an OLED TV) could combat overheating in OLED TVs and extend the lifetime of the OLED TV image. Thank you
Hi tetshuo,
Thank you for your suggestion and for taking the time to share such an interesting idea with us!
You’re absolutely right that heat is a critical factor in OLED burn-in, and the idea of testing the impact of an active cooling system is intriguing. While we haven’t conducted such an experiment as part of our ongoing studies, we agree that it could provide valuable insights into how one could extend the longevity of OLED TVs and keep their performance more stable over time.
While we can’t make any promises, your suggestion is now on our radar, and we’ll definitely keep it in mind as we continue to refine and expand our testing. Exploring unconventional solutions like active cooling could open up new possibilities for our testing and help consumers make more informed decisions.
Thanks again for your thoughtful proposal! If you have any further ideas or feedback, feel free to reach out :)
Cheers,
Dear RTINGS.com Thank you for this incredible study. Please let me make a proposal. As heat is the most important factor leading to burn-in in OLED TVs, and burn-in pattern is not heterogenous, but it frequently impacts most on the lower third of the TV screen. Have you done an experiment with one of your new OLED TVs but including an active cooling system (like in a PC: fans, Liquid-cooling) in order to verify whether or not an active cooling system might improve the lifetime of the proper, perfect OLED TV image. If not, could you please consider such an option in your ongoing study? The result of this experiment would indicate whether a regular user (who could pay 2000 EUR for a perfect image on an OLED TV) could combat overheating in OLED TVs and extend the lifetime of the OLED TV image. Thank you
In its most recent text update in July, the S95c was noted as the most resilient OLED to burn-in. When looking at the photos, however, I do notice that the over-brightening from the compensation algorithm mentioned in last year’s 10-month update video has gotten significantly worse. Is this brightening not considered burn-in to the team, is it actually just image retention, or is that just considered less burn-in than any of the other OLEDs? Thanks!
It’s definitely burn-in, and the S95C is showing a roughly 20% decrease in brightness since the beginning, so I don’t think we can say it’s the most resilient, either. Samsung’s compensation algorithms are clearly dealing with it differently than the other TVs on this test, but it’s still permanent burn-in.
In its most recent text update in July, the S95c was noted as the most resilient OLED to burn-in. When looking at the photos, however, I do notice that the over-brightening from the compensation algorithm mentioned in last year’s 10-month update video has gotten significantly worse. Is this brightening not considered burn-in to the team, is it actually just image retention, or is that just considered less burn-in than any of the other OLEDs? Thanks!