The Dell U2725QE is a premium 27-inch 4k productivity monitor with a number of extra features. It competes with numerous other 4k office monitors of the same size, such as the ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV and the LG UltraFine 27UP850K‑W. It's a significant upgrade to the older Dell U2723QE, as it has Thunderbolt 4, a 120Hz refresh rate, and VRR support, and is Dell's top 27-inch office monitor. Dell also offers a larger version of this monitor, the Dell U3225QE, with nearly identical capabilities and features.
Our Verdict
The Dell U2725QE is okay for PC gaming. It gets bright enough to easily overcome glare in HDR, though highlights don't pop. It also displays a wide range of vivid colors. However, it has terrible local dimming, so deep blacks appear somewhat gray. It also has bad motion handling, even with its 120Hz refresh rate, so games with fast motion look blurry. However, its sharp, detailed screen means it works well for slower-paced games such as text-heavy RPGs and turn-based strategy games, where there isn't as much fast motion.
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Displays a wide range of vivid colors in HDR.
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Supports all VRR formats.
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Fast-moving objects look blurry.
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Terrible local dimming feature.
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Highlights don't pop in HDR.
The Dell U2725QE is good for some types of console gaming. It displays a wide range of vivid colors, and though its highlights don't pop, it easily overcomes glare in HDR. It also displays any signal from the PS5, PS5 Pro, and Xbox Series X|S, including 120Hz signals. However, deep blacks look somewhat gray in darker rooms, and it has bad motion handling, so fast-moving objects look blurry. However, it works well if you prefer to play slower-paced games like turn-based strategy and text-heavy RPGs.
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Displays a wide range of vivid colors in HDR.
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Supports any signal with the PS5, PS5 Pro, and Xbox Series X|S.
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Fast-moving objects look blurry.
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Terrible local dimming feature.
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Highlights don't pop in HDR.
The Dell U2725QE is excellent for office work. It has fantastic ergonomics and text clarity, so it's comfortable to work with for long intervals. It also gets bright enough to overcome all but the brightest glare, so it works well in almost any environment. In addition, it has a wide range of connectivity options, allowing you to connect multiple extra monitors, or charge a laptop with up to 140W of power. It also has a KVM switch, so you can switch between two different computers while using the same devices.
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Overcomes most glare.
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Wide viewing angles.
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Outstanding ergonomics.
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Fantastic text and image clarity.
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KVM switch and 140W power delivery over USB-C.
The Dell U2725QE is good for editing. It displays a wide range of vivid colors, so it works well for editing wide gamut content. However, it has disappointing white balance, so you need to calibrate it for the most accurate picture. Additionally, while it easily overcomes glare in HDR, highlights don't pop. Finally, it's not well suited to editing fast-moving content because of its bad motion handling.
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Overcomes most glare.
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Wide viewing angles.
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Outstanding ergonomics.
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Fantastic text and image clarity.
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Displays a wide range of vivid colors in HDR.
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Extremely accurate after calibration.
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Terrible local dimming feature.
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Needs calibration for best accuracy.
The Dell U2725QE has impressive brightness and overcomes most glare in SDR. However, while it easily overcomes glare in HDR, highlights don't pop.
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Overcomes most glare.
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Highlights don't pop in HDR.
The Dell U2725QE has a bad response time and blurry motion, so it's not well suited to playing fast-paced games or editing videos with lots of fast motion.
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Fast-moving objects look blurry.
The Dell U2725QE has mediocre HDR picture quality. It displays a wide range of vivid colors, though it has terrible local dimming, as large backlight zones light up even for small highlights.
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Displays a wide range of vivid colors in HDR.
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Terrible local dimming feature.
The Dell UltraSharp U2725QE has good SDR picture quality. It displays a wide range of colors, though deep blacks appear somewhat gray in dark rooms, and you can see a bit of backlight bleed.
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Displays a wide range of colors.
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Passable black uniformity.
The Dell U2725QE has great color accuracy. However, while it's extremely accurate after calibration, its white balance isn't very good before calibration.
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Good gray uniformity.
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Extremely accurate after calibration.
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Needs calibration for best accuracy.
- 6.5 PC Gaming
- 7.9 Console Gaming
- 8.6 Office
- 7.9 Editing
Performance Usages
- 8.1 Brightness
- 4.4 Response Time
- 6.2 HDR Picture
- 7.5 SDR Picture
- 8.1 Color Accuracy
Changelog
- Updated Apr 24, 2025: Review published.
- Updated Apr 17, 2025: Early access published.
- Updated Mar 20, 2025: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Mar 13, 2025: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated Feb 27, 2025: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
Check Price
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the Dell U2725QE, which is one of several similar models Dell offers in their UltraSharp series. Dell also has the Dell U3225QE, but it's a different model with different performance. You can see the major differences between these monitors below. These results are only valid for this model.
| Model | Size | Resolution | Panel Type | Max Refresh Rate | Power Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U2725QE | 27" | 4k | Enhanced IPS Black | 120Hz | 140W |
| U2723QE | 27" | 4k | IPS Black | 60Hz | 90W |
| U2724D | 27" | 1440p | IPS Black | 120Hz | 15W (downstream only) |
| U3225QE | 32" | 4k | Enhanced IPS Black | 120Hz | 140W |
Our unit's label indicates it was manufactured in December 2024. It was tested with firmware M2T101.
Compared To Other Monitors
The Dell U2725QE is a premium 27-inch 4k productivity monitor. It has a number of features not normally seen in office monitors, such as a 120Hz refresh rate, VRR support, and 140W of power delivery over USB-C. It also has Thunderbolt 4 support, a KVM switch, and the ability to connect multiple additional monitors to the Dell. If you can afford it, the U2725QE is a class-leading option among 27-inch office monitors, as it has a higher refresh rate and better connectivity options than its peers. If you want all these features but prefer a larger display, consider the nearly identical Dell U3225QE or the much larger Dell U4025QW. However, the U2725QE has bad motion handling and limited HDR performance. If you're looking for a monitor that excels at gaming and viewing or editing HDR content in addition to amazing office performance, the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx is a far better choice.
See our recommendations for the best 4k monitors, the best work monitors, and the best 27-inch monitors.
The Dell U2723QE and the Dell U2725QE are both 4k 27-inch office monitors. The U2725QE is the better monitor for most people, as it has a higher refresh rate, has better connectivity, gets brighter, and displays a wider range of colors more vividly. However, if you don't need the extra features and performance, the U2723QE is an excellent option for office work if you can find it for less.
The Dell U3225QE and the Dell U2725QE are extremely similar 4k office monitors. Both have nearly identical features and very similar performance. As a result, the U2725QE is a better option if you prefer a smaller display, whereas the U3225QE is a better option if you prefer a larger one.
The ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV and the Dell U2725QE are both 4k 27-inch productivity monitors. The Dell is a better option for most people, as it gets brighter, has a higher refresh rate, and better connectivity options. However, the ASUS is a better option if you're a editing and aren't able to calibrate your monitor, as it's more accurate before calibration.
The Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx and the Dell U2725QE are 27-inch 4k monitors. The Acer is the better option if you plan to view or edit HDR content or play games, as it has far better HDR performance and motion handling, while still being excellent for office work. It also gets much brighter. If you plan to only use the monitor for office work, you may prefer the Dell, as it has better connectivity and a KVM switch.
The Dell S2721QS and the Dell U2725QE are 4k 27-inch office monitors. The U2725QE is the better option if you can afford it, as it gets brighter, displays a wider range of more vivid colors, and has a higher 120Hz refresh rate and better connectivity. However, if you don't need these extra features and prefer to save money, the S2721QS is excellent for office work.
The Dell U4025QW and the Dell U2725QE are premium office monitors. Both have very similar features, such as a 120Hz refresh with VRR support, and many connectivity options. The U2725QE is a better choice in a bright room, as it's much better at overcoming glare. However, if you want an extremely large screen the U4025QW is a better option due to its larger size.
Video
Test Results
The Dell U2725QE has an office-oriented aesthetic. Its black bezels and silver body fit in well to an office or home environment. There's also an ambient light sensor on top of the monitor.
The build quality is good, and there's very little flex in the monitor's back panel. However, it wobbles more than the larger Dell U3225QE. We didn't hear any coil whine with any type of content or at any brightness level.
Our unit has a dead pixel (stuck at red) in the upper right section of the screen. It's not very noticeable during regular use, but it's more noticeable with single-color images or with a dark screen. You can exchange a unit with this type of issue via Dell's panel exchange policy in certain countries, though Dell notes that "the availability of specific warranty services varies across different regions."
The ergonomics are outstanding. You can make any common adjustment with it, and each adjustment offers a very wide range of movement. The stand features a cutout for cable management.
The thickness measurement is taken with the monitor at its lowest height. At its highest height, it's 5.4 inches (13.8 cm) thick.
The back of the monitor has a power button as well as a joystick to control the on-screen display.
- DisplayPort cable
- USB-C to USB-A cable
- USB-C cable
- Power cable
- User guides and manuals
The Dell U2725QE has decent contrast. However, its contrast is much better than most IPS displays because of its enhanced IPS Black technology. That said, it's only somewhat improved compared to the Dell U2723QE's contrast.
Deep blacks look somewhat gray in a dark room, and contrast is much worse if you enable local dimming.
The local dimming is terrible. Even small bright objects cause a large area of the screen to light up, as the monitor only has eight zones. The darkest parts of scenes lose detail when this happens, and they look gray instead of black. Because the zone are so large, it's distracting when they turn on or off.
Local dimming only works if you're using HDR, and you can't turn it off when you're using HDR.
Settings
- Preset Modes: Custom Color (after calibration)
- Brightness: Max
The SDR brightness is great. It maintains a consistent brightness level with changing content and overcomes all but the brightest glare.
Settings
- Smart HDR: DisplayHDR 600
The HDR brightness is great. Though highlights don't pop, it gets bright enough to easily overcome glare. It follows the PQ EOTF curve well until there's a slow roll-off near peak brightness, so highlights don't get as bright as possible.
The horizontal viewing angle is great. The image remains fairly consistent if you view it from the sides, though it starts to wash out at very wide angles.
The vertical viewing angle is good. The image remains fairly consistent even if you're standing above the monitor, though it does washout slightly if you're standing well above it.
The gray uniformity is good. While it gets a bit darker at the monitor's edges, it's reasonably uniform in the middle.
The black uniformity is passable. There's a notable amount of backlight bleed at the top left of the display. However, if you enable local dimming, uniformity is much worse, with blooming in large areas around bright objects.
Our unit has a dead pixel (stuck at red) in the upper right section of the screen. It's not very noticeable during regular use, but it's more noticeable with single-color images or with a dark screen. You can exchange a unit with this type of issue via Dell's panel exchange policy in certain countries, though Dell notes that "the availability of specific warranty services varies across different regions."
The accuracy before calibration is good in the 'sRGB' Color Space. Color accuracy is decent, with very little oversaturation, and its color temperature is close to the 6500K target. However, it has disappointing white balance. Gamma follows the target curve extremely well, and all parts of scenes have the correct brightness.
Locked-Out Settings
The 'sRGB' Color Space mode locks out the following settings:
- RGB Settings
- Color Temperature
If you want to access these settings, you need to use another mode like 'Custom Color,' though it's less accurate and has very oversaturated colors.
The accuracy after calibration is fantastic, and you won't notice any inaccuracies.
The SDR color gamut is outstanding. It displays all colors in the sRGB color space and has fantastic coverage of Adobe RGB. However, in Adobe RGB green is slightly inaccurate.
The HDR color gamut is incredible. It displays nearly all colors in the commonly used DCI-P3 color space and a wide range of colors in Rec. 2020. However, while it accurately displays colors in DCI-P3, white is quite inaccurate in Rec. 2020.
The HDR color volume is impressive. It displays bright colors fairly well, though darker colors don't look as good because of its terrible local dimming and somewhat limited contrast.
The reflection handling is good. Though reflections can be a bit distracting if you're using it opposite a sunny window, the matte coating diffuses light well.
This monitor's matte coating has minimal fuzziness compared to other matte finishes. That said, you may see a slightly noticeable fine paper-like texture when displaying solid colors or white, or when viewed off-axis. However, this doesn't affect picture sharpness or contrast.
Additionally, when a fair amount of ambient light is shining on the screen, deep blacks appear more red than most other monitors, as you can see in this side-by-side comparison with the Dell U3225QE.
The gradient handling is fantastic, and you won't see any banding between shades of similar colors.
Your computer needs HDMI 2.1 support to reach 120Hz over HDMI.
| NVIDIA - G-SYNC Compatibility | ||
|---|---|---|
| Connection | VRR Min | VRR Max |
| DisplayPort | <20Hz | 120Hz |
| HDMI | <20Hz | 120Hz |
| AMD - FreeSync | ||
|---|---|---|
| Connection | VRR Min | VRR Max |
| DisplayPort | <20Hz | 120Hz |
| HDMI | <20Hz | 120Hz |
In addition to FreeSync and G-SYNC compatibility, this monitor also supports HDMI Forum VRR.
| Frame Rate | CAD Heatmap | RT Chart | Pursuit Photo |
|---|---|---|---|
| 119 | Heatmap | Chart | Photo |
| 100 | Heatmap | Chart | Photo |
| 80 | Heatmap | Chart | Photo |
| 60 | Heatmap | Chart | Photo |
The Dell U2725QE has disappointing motion handling across its VRR range. Motion is blurry no matter what Response Time setting you choose, though the 'Normal' Response Time looks better than 'Fast.' In fact, the CAD of 'Fast' is so high that it exceeds the limits of the graph. We've created an alternate graph at a different scale to illustrate how high the CAD gets.
The refresh rate compliance is terrible. Its slow response time means that it can't make full color transitions between frames, so motion looks blurry.
The CAD at the maximum refresh rate of 120Hz is disappointing, and you can see some blur even when scrolling quickly through documents and web pages. The 'Fast' Response Time setting has the lowest CAD, though you may prefer 'Normal' if you don't want any inverse ghosting.
The CAD at 120Hz is disappointing, and you can see some blur even when scrolling quickly through documents and web pages. The 'Fast' Response Time setting has the lowest CAD, though you may prefer 'Normal' if you don't want any inverse ghosting.
This monitor doesn't have a backlight strobing feature to reduce persistence blur.
The Dell U2725QE has no visible VRR flicker, and all parts of the scenes remain consistent, even with changing frame rates.
The backlight is completely flicker-free as it doesn't use pulse-width modulation for dimming.
The monitor has low input lag for a responsive feel.
The Xbox Series X|S only supports HDR with 4k signals, so this isn't a limitation of the monitor.
This monitor has a recessed USB pop-out. You can push on the USB pop-out to make it accessible. It also has an Ethernet port.
The Dell U2725QE allows you to connect two additional monitors in several ways. You can connect a second display to the Dell's Thunderbolt 4 downstream port and even connect a third monitor to the second display as part of the daisy chain.
Additionally, you can connect a second monitor to the Thunderbolt 4 port and a third monitor to the Dell's DisplayPort output.
For more information on connecting additional monitors, you can review the user's guide.
This monitor has a large number of ports, including both upstream and downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports, a USB-C upstream port for the KVM switch, and two USB-C downstream ports. These ports and the KVM switch allow you to connect a large number of devices to the monitor and switch them between two different computers. For more information on these ports, see page 13 of the user's guide.
| Connection | HDMI 2.0 | HDMI 2.1 (M2+) | USB-C (M1+) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| VRR Range | N/A | 48-120Hz | 48-120Hz |
| HDR | Yes | Yes | Yes |
The Dell U2725QE works well with macOS. If you're using a MacBook and close the lid, windows shift to the Dell's screen. Opening the lid or waking the laptop up from sleep moves the windows back to their original position. HDR looks good, and VRR works well.
Additionally, the KVM switch works well with macOS. Dell also has a guide to using their Display and Peripheral Manager software with macOS.
You can connect up to two additional monitors to the Dell. However, on macOS, you can only do this by connecting a second monitor to the Thunderbolt output and a third monitor to the DisplayPort output.
The Dell U2725QE has a number of extra features. This includes a KVM switch so you can switch between two different computers while using the same devices. It also has several other features, including:
- Multi-Monitor Sync: Allows multiple monitors daisy chained via DisplayPort to synchronize a group of settings.
- Dell Power Button Sync: If you have a compatible Dell computer, you can turn both the computer and the monitor on and off by pressing the power button on the monitor.
- Ambient Light Sensor: Adjusts the monitor's brightness depending on ambient light levels.
- Dell ComfortView Plus: Certified with TÜV Rheinland Eye Comfort 3.0 to reduce blue light emissions.
You can learn more about the monitor's settings in the user's guide.
Suggested Reads
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Comments
Dell U2725QE: Main Discussion
Let us know why you want us to review the product here, or encourage others to vote for this product.
Update: Made the Audeze Maxwell Wireless the ‘Best Gaming Headset’ and moved the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless for Xbox to Notable Mentions.
What do you think of these changes? Let us know
- 32120
How do you call something the best when it’s rated lower than 2 other headsets for wierless gaming?
- 21010
Hello,
Just to clarify confidentflame, we don’t accept any incentives from companies in exchange for a good review or placement in our recommendation articles. We always purchase our own products so that our units aren’t cherry-picked; this better reflects what users can expect to receive if they were to also purchase a unit.
Applesauce57, to answer your question, while the wireless gaming score is important and can help users see at a glance whether a product is right for them, we go beyond the score for our recommendation articles because the score alone doesn’t always paint the full picture of a product’s performance. This especially true for in ‘best gaming headsets’ article, as we aren’t just strictly comparing wireless headsets.
For example, in the case of the Astro A50 (which have the top wireless gaming score), users have reported that they’re unable to update their unit’s firmware. This is especially bad if you game on a newer console via USB, because you won’t be able to use the headphones on these consoles at all until you update their firmware.
In the case of the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless, the headset with the second best wireless gaming score, this headset is slowly being discontinued in favor of the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless. Additionally, many users have reported that the hinges of their units broke over time, which isn’t great for such high-end headphones.
I hope that illuminates things. If you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.
- 21010
I appreciate you taking the time to quickly respond, and define Rtings process and mindset of ratings and placement.
I do have a question: using the reviewed master list of headphones, I wanted to find usb only wired gaming headphones, not the analog to usb versions, to which I was able to activate that particular filter. However, Steelseries, Logitech, HyperX, and Razor are (mostly) analog to usb headphones, and they were all within the usb only, “non analog-to-usb” filter I set up. Is there something I’m missing that allows them to be within my search parameters?
- 32120
So why not include those things in a graded review? If I want the best wierless headset, I’m going to base that off the score you give it. Build quality and software are part of that wierless experience. If the headset isn’t the best, don’t give it the best score. The penrose for example has very poor Build quality. It sounds great but I would give it a 6/10 because I’m currently waiting for my 2nd warranty set to be shipped back to me.
- 21010
I appreciate you taking the time to quickly respond, and define Rtings process and mindset of ratings and placement. I do have a question: using the reviewed master list of headphones, I wanted to find usb only wired gaming headphones, not the analog to usb versions, to which I was able to activate that particular filter. However, Steelseries, Logitech, HyperX, and Razor are (mostly) analog to usb headphones, and they were all within the usb only, “non analog-to-usb” filter I set up. Is there something I’m missing that allows them to be within my search parameters?
Hello again,
That’s a good question. It’s tricky to sort for strictly USB headsets. I’ve created this table. These headsets are wired-only and a lot of them have the USB cable built in. I wasn’t sure if you were looking for USB-A or USB-C, but both options are listed in the table. I hope this is closer to what you’re looking for, but if you have any further questions, don’t hesitate to ask.
- 21010
So why not include those things in a graded review? If I want the best wierless headset, I’m going to base that off the score you give it. Build quality and software are part of that wierless experience. If the headset isn’t the best, don’t give it the best score. The penrose for example has very poor Build quality. It sounds great but I would give it a 6/10 because I’m currently waiting for my 2nd warranty set to be shipped back to me.
Hello again,
To answer your question, applesauce57, these measurements are already included in the wireless gaming score. However, build quality and software each make up only 4.0% of the total score, which is quite low. Other tests like non-Bluetooth wireless latency and comfort are weighted a lot more (16.0% and 16.8%, respectively). When we removed the Astro A50 from our list in 2022, we mentioned their software issue in our update. However, we recognize that there are limitations to our scores and many headphones can even reach the same score but with different test results. Even though the Astro A50 and SteelSeries Arctis Pro both had score changes to reflect their aforementioned issues, the Astro A50 for example, are still highly comfortable and have a fair passive soundstage performance, which skews their score higher.
We’re working to improve our test bench and scoring, so if you have any suggestions, we’d love to hear it. You can even check out more what we’re working on here.
Update: We’ve replaced the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro with the Logitech G PRO X 2 LIGHTSPEED Wireless, as the Logitech offer more connection options and are more comfortable. We’ve also added the Astro A30 to Notable Mentions and removed the SteelSeries Arctis 7+ Wireless, Xbox Wireless Headset, and Razer Kaira Pro Wireless for Xbox.
What do you think of these changes? Let us know
- 21010
Is Audeze LCD-GX worth mentioning in higher price range?
- 21010
Is Audeze LCD-GX worth mentioning in higher price range?
Hi there!
Unfortunately, we haven’t tested the Audeze LCD-GX yet, so we don’t know how it performs compared to our top picks like the Audeze Maxwell Wireless. That doesn’t mean that they’re bad headphones though! They’re in our voting queue, so if they get enough votes, we’ll test them.
Hope that helps!
Update: No product pick changes. Some text edits for clarity.
What do you think of these changes? Let us know
- 21010
No Audio Technica or Beyerdynamic headsets?
- 21010
No Audio Technica or Beyerdynamic headsets?
Hi there,
Unfortunately, we haven’t tested any strictly gaming headphones from Audio-Technica or Beyerdynamic, so we can’t say for sure how well they perform compared to headphones we have tested. However, you can always suggest a particular model and if it gets enough votes, we’ll buy it and test it. That said, there are a few audiophile headphones from both brands that are worth considering for gamers such as the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO. They just don’t have mic support, which may be a deal breaker for some users.
I hope that helps clear up things!
- 32120
I find it a shame that criteria lower the rating of certain headsets in gaming. For example, an audiophile headset without a microphone can very well be an excellent gaming headset. Provided that it is used with a sound card and that a separate microphone is used. And yet it will arrive behind a gaming headset. Or how is it possible for a gaming headset to be first when its imaging rating is 5.7, which is a key criterion for gaming. I want to thank you for all this work, it’s incredible what you offer as a completely free service.
- 10-11-1
Best gaming headset is not a gaming headset who ever says different is lying or dont know wtf they talking about. Get a pair of DT990 pro or DT770 open back or closed, depends of if you live alone or not. You need a dac for them to max 200 bucks for headset and dac. I guarantee you will have better sound for gaming footsteps overall. You will have sounds you never hear on the so called overpriced Gaming headsets. I say this cause I tested most of them, not cause I am a pro gamer getting sponsorship for a gaming brand. Most pros wearing in ear under the sponsored headsets anyway🤣 . So conclusion you can go buy top top gaming so called premium headset for pricerange 300-600-700 dollars just because someone tells you its the best gaming headset or some forum says it. Or use your head and buy a stereo headset for 100-200 max and hear all the footsteps in details spot enemy faster. Gaming headset there is no such thing. Please start testing this things out and dont be sell outs. Then you can get knowledge and learn a thing or two. You have some real good stereo headsets out there for gaming, From PHILIPS, AUDIO TECHNICA, Sennheiser, Sony Beyer Dynamics and more. Test them do proper review.
- 32120
I find it a shame that criteria lower the rating of certain headsets in gaming. For example, an audiophile headset without a microphone can very well be an excellent gaming headset. Provided that it is used with a sound card and that a separate microphone is used. And yet it will arrive behind a gaming headset. Or how is it possible for a gaming headset to be first when its imaging rating is 5.7, which is a key criterion for gaming. I want to thank you for all this work, it’s incredible what you offer as a completely free service.
Thanks for taking the time to point out what you would like to see changed. Our current gaming scores do in fact account for the microphone capabilities and we are aware that there is more and more people that are choosing to go for the headphone of their choice + a dedicated microphone for gaming. We definitely would like to be able to provide recommendations for people looking into this kind of setup in the future. If you have any input or suggestions, on how you would like us to approach such recommendations, do not hesitate to share any ideas or aspect you would consider when looking to buy headset for gaming purposes that would be combined with a dedicated microphone.
Update: We’ve added the Corsair VIRTUOSO PRO as an in-text alternative for the ‘Best Open-Back Gaming Headset’ pick. We’ve made minor changes to the text and ensured all products are still in stock.
What do you think of these changes? Let us know
- 21010
I have asteo a50 gen4 on my pc…. I just order arctis nova pro wireless ….it’s a good move? Or I’ll be disappointed? … I play racing game and I have loud wind and D-Box for the immersion. Thanks
Update: We’ve checked this article’s text to ensure it’s still up-to-date and accurate. There have been minor updates to the text, but our picks haven’t changed.
What do you think of these changes? Let us know
- 21010
I have asteo a50 gen4 on my pc…. I just order arctis nova pro wireless ….it’s a good move? Or I’ll be disappointed? … I play racing game and I have loud wind and D-Box for the immersion. Thanks
Hi there,
While the Astro A50 Gen 4 have a higher wireless gaming score, there are different pros and cons to each headset. Both have a customizable sound, so unless you’re planning to only use the headphones out of the box, the differences will be more noticeable in mic performance, comfort, and extra features like Bluetooth. For comfort and a more immersive sound, the Astro will be better. They’re able to create a more immersive passive soundstage. However, if you want to stay connected to your PC and smartphone simultaneously or you need noise cancelling, then the SteelSeries are better. For a more detailed comparison, you can check out both products side by side.
Hope that helps!
- 21010
Any opinion on the best wireless pink gaming headset?
- 21010
Hello! Maybe someone could help me out: In terms of footstep tracking which wireless headset would be the best just purely for FPS? I’ve heard good things about the Turtle Beach Stealth Pros but Logitech G Pro X 2 Lightspeed is better rated here so which one would be better? Thank you.
- 21010
Hello! Maybe someone could help me out: In terms of footstep tracking which wireless headset would be the best just purely for FPS? I’ve heard good things about the Turtle Beach Stealth Pros but Logitech G Pro X 2 Lightspeed is better rated here so which one would be better? Thank you.
I’m currently testing the Stealth Pro, but the hissing in the background on high volumes makes it hard to keep for me I think. So I don’t really know
- 21010
Any opinion on the best wireless pink gaming headset?
Hi there,
If you’re looking for pink wireless gaming headsets, you’ll want to check out Razer. They make the Razer Barracuda X in pink (they call this colorway ‘Quartz’). The Logitech G PRO X 2 LIGHTSPEED also come in pink via the manufacturer’s website (though they’re darker in color than the Razer). The Logitech offer a significantly better overall performance than the Razer though, and you can see a comparison here.
Hope that helps!
- 21010
Hi there, If you’re looking for pink wireless gaming headsets, you’ll want to check out Razer. They make the Razer Barracuda X in pink (they call this colorway ‘Quartz’). The Logitech G PRO X 2 LIGHTSPEED also come in pink via the manufacturer’s website (though they’re darker in color than the Razer). The Logitech offer a significantly better overall performance than the Razer though, and you can see a comparison here. Hope that helps!
We ended up going for the barracuda non x in pink. We tried the lightspeed at best buy but it kept getting caught in her hair when she tried to take it off so that wasnt going to work for us. the baracudda is nice, though the mic is a bit dissapointing and they arent as open as we would have liked (there are like 0 open backed wireless gaming headphones let alone pink ones).
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Hello! Maybe someone could help me out: In terms of footstep tracking which wireless headset would be the best just purely for FPS? I’ve heard good things about the Turtle Beach Stealth Pros but Logitech G Pro X 2 Lightspeed is better rated here so which one would be better? Thank you.
Hello! Help with personalized advice is something our experts to those who support us via our insider forums. Otherwise, we have lots of self-service tools and recommendation articles that may be helpful!
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Hey guys I have a question about the Maxwell gaming headset. It looks like they have personalized spatial audio? Is that correct? Like how Creative does with their SXFI app and taking pics of your face and ears? I think Apple is doing that now too with their new headphones.
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I tried the Maxwell and had an issue with two different pairs nobody seems to mention. These things can be quite warm and condensation builds up easily, causing a popping or crackling sound. Was a complete deal breaker on an otherwise phenomenal headset.
Edit: Some additional details. I experienced this with both the stock and WC Freeze pads. My room is always kept to a reasonable 72-73. I don’t sweat excessively. I do have longer hair that takes a while to dry, the first time I noticed this was not long after a shower, however on the second pair I noticed this even when my hair was completely dry.
It seems the metal body and lack of ventilation on the pads is the perfect combo for moisture build up and due to the nature of planar magnetic drivers this causes the notorious “crinkle” you’re not supposed to experience until much later.
Edited 1 year ago: additional clarification - 21010
Hey guys I have a question about the Maxwell gaming headset. It looks like they have personalized spatial audio? Is that correct? Like how Creative does with their SXFI app and taking pics of your face and ears? I think Apple is doing that now too with their new headphones.
Hi Riekopo,
Thanks for your question. We’ll take a look on our unit to verify if it has the personalized spacial audio feature and update the review accordingly if we find anything.
Thanks, Matt
Update: We’ve made minor updates to the text for accuracy and added the Sony INZONE Buds Truly Wireless as a Notable Mention.
What do you think of these changes? Let us know
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I was wondering which of these headsets has its own independent volume control? I hate those where the volume wheel controls the windows sound
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I was wondering which of these headsets has its own independent volume control? I hate those where the volume wheel controls the windows sound
Hey there,
Unfortunately, we don’t note this feature when testing the headsets. For that reason, I’d suggest checking out something with its own outboard DAC, like the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless. That way, you can be pretty certain when adjusting the volume that it won’t change the volume in Windows.
Thanks!
Edited 1 year ago: Grammar fix Update: We’ve made minor changes to the text to ensure accuracy and availability, but there hasn’t been a change in our recommendations.
What do you think of these changes? Let us know
- 21010
Is there any best wireless gaming buds category?
We removed a couple of Notable Mentions because better options are listed in the article. We made small changes to the text for clarity and checked that our picks are in stock, but our picks haven’t changed.
What do you think of these changes? Let us know
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Is there any best wireless gaming buds category?
Yep! There’s a few options listed here that you might enjoy :)
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Are Audeze Maxwell the best Gaming Headsets for PC too? or is it only for consoles?
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Are Audeze Maxwell the best Gaming Headsets for PC too? or is it only for consoles?
Hi fedd,
Yes, the Audeze Maxwell are our pick for the Best Gaming Headsets, and that includes PCs alongside consoles. Although we’ve only tested the Xbox model and can confirm they work with PC, both of the console variants should be compatible with PCs. Are there specific features you’re prioritizing or looking for?
Thanks!
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I am trying to find the best noise-cancelling gaming WIRED (not wireless) out there, usually Rtings is very good, but they seem to have a pretty big hole in their recommendation for what I want….
the best I can find is the “Bose QuietComfort® 35 II Gaming Headset” but I cannot find the thing for sale anywhere….
I cannot be the only person in the situation where they game in a noisy room with other family members making lots of noise who needs good headphones with a good mic.
Important points for me are 1) WIRED (I do not want to deal with headphones running out of Battary 2) ANC 3) Comfortable enough to fit around my big head/ears 4) Great gaming sound (for being able to tell direction in FPS, but also for immersion in single player) 5) very high quality mic so its easy for others to understand me in online games or on video chat…. I want to sound crystal clear.
I was thinking MAYBE the new Sony UTLs, but I am very unsure. I have been trying to figure this out for at least a year now and there is still no one clear option…
…I would GREATLY appreciate an expanded gaming headset section with a new category for ANC Gaming Headsets OR at the VERY LEAST, at least one recommendation for the best ANC Gaming Headset. Any help here or there would be MUCH appreciated.
Edited 8 months ago: Added more detail - 32120
I am trying to find the best noise-cancelling gaming WIRED (not wireless) out there, usually Rtings is very good, but they seem to have a pretty big hole in their recommendation for what I want…. the best I can find is the “Bose QuietComfort® 35 II Gaming Headset” but I cannot find the thing for sale anywhere…. I cannot be the only person in the situation where they game in a noisy room with other family members making lots of noise who needs good headphones with a good mic. Important points for me are 1) WIRED (I do not want to deal with headphones running out of Battary 2) ANC 3) Comfortable enough to fit around my big head/ears 4) Great gaming sound (for being able to tell direction in FPS, but also for immersion in single player) 5) very high quality mic so its easy for others to understand me in online games or on video chat…. I want to sound crystal clear. I was thinking MAYBE the new Sony UTLs, but I am very unsure. I have been trying to figure this out for at least a year now and there is still no one clear option… …I would GREATLY appreciate an expanded gaming headset section with a new category for ANC Gaming Headsets OR at the VERY LEAST, at least one recommendation for the best ANC Gaming Headset. Any help here or there would be MUCH appreciated.
Hey there,
Unfortunately, as you noted, there aren’t many current production wired ANC headsets, and no matter what, you’ll still need to charge a battery if you want ANC.
I agree that if you can find a pair of the Bose QC 35 II Gaming Headset, then I think you’d be happy with them based on what you’ve said. It’s too bad the headset was discontinued.
If you’re willing to compromise on noise cancelling a bit for an all-in-one solution, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is my first suggestion. They’re one of the few gaming headsets that can be used wired that we’ve tested with ANC that’s decent. And, while it might appear that their ANC is worse than the Bose QC 35 II Gaming Headset, they were tested with two different methodologies, so the actual performance is closer than the numbers suggest. The SteelSeries might be overkill in some regards for your needs, but you can adjust their EQ to your tastes, and they offer a few other luxuries. Plus, the onboard mic is rather good as well. That said, no, the ANC doesn’t perform as well as the Sony ULT WEAR.
This leads me to my next suggestion. If you’re gaming primarily on PC, I would actually recommend looking at ANC headphones that can be used wired and just buying an outboard microphone. The reason I recommend this is that you care about sound, but the majority of non-gaming headphones with integrated mics drastically alter their sound profiles when the mic is active, defeating the point of good sound. In the case of the Sony ULT WEAR Wireless, you can see here that the treble range in the sound profile is totally shelved off when the mic is active. However, the noise cancelling is better on many ordinary ANC headphones than the noise cancelling on the few gaming headsets we’ve tested with ANC. Using an outboard mic would give you a clearer voice, while the ANC headphones would provide isolation from your space without compromising the sound quality of the game and your team in the chat.
So the ULT WEAR have a bassier sound, if that’s your preference. I’d also suggest looking at the Bose QuietComfort Headphones Wireless; these have fantastic noise cancelling, and you can use them wired with an in-line mic. I can’t attest to the quality of the in-line mic, though, because we tested the integrated mic instead. Anyway, that could tie you over until you get an outboard mic if you don’t want to invest in both headphones and a mic simultaneously, and the ANC shouldn’t disappoint.
Hopefully, this gives you some direction in a pretty limited market. Thanks!
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Hey there, Unfortunately, as you noted, there aren’t many current production wired ANC headsets, and no matter what, you’ll still need to charge a battery if you want ANC. I agree that if you can find a pair of the Bose QC 35 II Gaming Headset, then I think you’d be happy with them based on what you’ve said. It’s too bad the headset was discontinued. If you’re willing to compromise on noise cancelling a bit for an all-in-one solution, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is my first suggestion. They’re one of the few gaming headsets that can be used wired that we’ve tested with ANC that’s decent. And, while it might appear that their ANC is worse than the Bose QC 35 II Gaming Headset, they were tested with two different methodologies, so the actual performance is closer than the numbers suggest. The SteelSeries might be overkill in some regards for your needs, but you can adjust their EQ to your tastes, and they offer a few other luxuries. Plus, the onboard mic is rather good as well. That said, no, the ANC doesn’t perform as well as the Sony ULT WEAR. This leads me to my next suggestion. If you’re gaming primarily on PC, I would actually recommend looking at ANC headphones that can be used wired and just buying an outboard microphone. The reason I recommend this is that you care about sound, but the majority of non-gaming headphones with integrated mics drastically alter their sound profiles when the mic is active, defeating the point of good sound. In the case of the Sony ULT WEAR Wireless, you can see here that the treble range in the sound profile is totally shelved off when the mic is active. However, the noise cancelling is better on many ordinary ANC headphones than the noise cancelling on the few gaming headsets we’ve tested with ANC. Using an outboard mic would give you a clearer voice, while the ANC headphones would provide isolation from your space without compromising the sound quality of the game and your team in the chat. So the ULT WEAR have a bassier sound, if that’s your preference. I’d also suggest looking at the Bose QuietComfort Headphones Wireless; these have fantastic noise cancelling, and you can use them wired with an in-line mic. I can’t attest to the quality of the in-line mic, though, because we tested the integrated mic instead. Anyway, that could tie you over until you get an outboard mic if you don’t want to invest in both headphones and a mic simultaneously, and the ANC shouldn’t disappoint. Hopefully, this gives you some direction in a pretty limited market. Thanks!
Hello!
That’s extremely helpful yet a bit depressing lol :-)
I cannot fathom why the Bose QC 35 II Gaming Headset has been discontinued, do you have any idea if that is because a new Bose QC 35 III Gaming Headset is coming out?
I had a SteelSeries before and I really liked it. In the case of the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, when it is plugged in, can it be used non-stop without running out of power? i.e. does the battery charge just as fast as it is used? And will having it always plugged in damage the amount of charge that the battery is able to hold? (I am assuming here that it is connected via USB so the same cable that carries the audio carries the power charge as well….) I see that it has two batteries and each one should last 25 hours and cannot be charged and used at the same time, so that kinda answers that question.
Introducing the wireless element just seems to introduce two potential problems that I REALLY don’t want to deal with: 1) Running out of Battery or 2) Losing connection
I noticed that the wired version of the same headset doesn’t have ANC yet the wireless version — can you help me understand why? Is ANC just a power-drain that cannot be provided via a USB cable attached to a PC.
I have just had really bad experiences with wireless headsets in the past: losing connection, running out of battery very quickly, turning on “haptic” mode dramatically reducing battery life (I am looking at you Razer). Speaking of which, is it just be or is Razer only really good at mice and pretty much everything else they make is cheap crap that tends to break after a year of use?
Anyways, your idea to get a separate mic is an interesting one which I had not previously considered.
If I am going to do that, the mic is going to need to be pretty flexible, I game in a kinda non-typical setup where there is no place to put a stand-up mic in front of me. I will need something that clips on the desk and swings in and out OR somehow attaches directly to the ANC headset….
If I am going to go with that solution, does it make sense to go all-out and get an audio interface with a separate connection for a USB ANC Headset and a XLR Mic?
Sorry, despite your detailed answer, I don’t really feel any closer to a clear choice than before :-)
Is it correct to assume that some combinations of headset and mic work better than others? Or is each component completely independent of each other?
Would Rtings consider making a top five heading headset/separate mic combinations for ANC gaming? If that’s something you guys might do anyways, I could just wait for you to do the research and then hopefully the answer becomes obvious…
Or maybe add a section where stand-alone mics are tested so I could take the best from that category and pair it with the best from the existing ANC category…