Our previous top pick, the Razer Opus, pulled off an incredible balancing act by outperforming many other headsets we tested while managing to be less expensive. Yet somehow the Logitech G Pro X has topped that act. It features soft matte cans with a silver plate on the edge. It's lightweight enough that I frequently don't register I'm still wearing it, even after I forget to turn my music back on. DTX:S object-based surround sound is also supported, which has a huge impact on games or movies that support spatial audio. Being able to hear exactly which direction an enemy's footsteps are coming from is a literal game-changer.

For PC players, Logitech's G Hub offers incredibly powerful tools to set custom EQ filters and acoustic profiles on a per-game basis, and the software will automatically switch between them. The voice filter provides a noticeable improvement to your microphone audio, which your teammates should appreciate. You won't have the G Hub, but you can also use this headset wirelessly with the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 and connect via a 3.5mm audio cable to most other devices.

Works wirelessly with PC, PS4, and PS5. Requires a 3.5mm cable with Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

Many of the SteelSeries Arctis headsets have impressed us, and the Arctis 7+ (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is one of our favorites. It pulls off an impressive 30-hour battery life, and it's comfortable enough to wear for long periods. But the best part is its handy, low-profile USB-C adapter that lets it pair with everything from Android phones to the Nintendo Switch. While the Switch supports Bluetooth audio, you'll get lower latency and better sound quality with this headset.

Works wirelessly with Nintendo Switch, Switch OLED, Switch Lite, PS5, PS4, PC, Switch, and Android phones. Requires a 3.5mm cable with Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.

We've used the Arctis 9X for many many months, and it's our favorite Xbox headset. It directly connects to your Xbox the same way you sync a controller—no dongle required—and has all the benefits of the other Arctis headsets. It's comfy as hell on your ears (and cranium), the mic and sound are stellar, and it has a nice retractable mic with balanced mic monitoring so you can hear your own voice when you talk, which helps you avoid yelling loudly when you mean to just talk. Battery life is about 20 hours.

Works wirelessly with Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S (has Bluetooth for dual listening)

At first sight, it's clear the Astro A50 is a beast. Unlike most other headsets, this one comes with a convenient base station that charges your headset when not in use. The base station also features a built-in MixAmp that lets you adjust the balance between game audio and voice chat audio by tapping the side of the right ear cup. Combined with support for Dolby Atmos object-based surround sound and powerful equalizer tools on PC, the A50 is an incredible headset. 

There are two separate models that support wireless audio on either Xbox or PlayStation, but both models can also be used wirelessly with PC and Mac.

Works wirelessly with Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One OR PS4, PS5, depending which model you choose. All models work wirelessly with PC and Mac.

The HyperX-branded headsets are all about value, and we haven’t yet seen one that offers as much battery per dollar as the Cloud Flight Wireless. It gets 30 hours of battery life, which is the top reason to choose it, though it's also a well-rounded headset with above-average comfort and audio. These are great if you tend to run out of battery at the worst possible time.

Our largest gripes are that it lacks a visible way to check if you’re muted and mic monitoring to let you hear your own voice. If you marathon through the 30 hours of battery, it also has a 3.5mm wired option—though the microphone is disabled in this mode.

Works wirelessly with PS5, PS4, and PC

It's not often that a headset will be impressive in every possible way and come in at a reasonable price. The Razer Opus headset is one of the least expensive headsets on this list, and even if it was more expensive, it would still be a killer pair of cans. The body is a semi-matte plastic that feels high-quality and lightweight while retaining some much-appreciated heft. The ear cups are incredibly soft and comfortable for long periods of use. With THX-tuned surround sound, they're incredible for gaming, watching movies, or anything else that's going to wrap you up in a textured soundscape.

For music, you'll want to play with the included app to find some equalizer settings that balance things out, but once you do, these headphones effortlessly produce rich, layered sound. On top of all that, they can connect via Bluetooth or a 3.5mm cable, and the active noise cancelation is powerful enough to drown out almost everything.

Works wirelessly with PC, MacOS, Android, and iPhone. Requires a 3.5mm cable with consoles like Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox X/S

The Arctis Pro got a rare 9/10 score, and our WIRED Recommends badge, which is huge. It has excellent audio quality, with that comfortable cushion and ski goggle style all the Arctis models have. The included transmitter box has a lot of built-in options, like toggling EQ, mic monitoring, and even RGB lighting. 

Its killer feature is hot-swappable rechargeable batteries. Each battery gets about 10 hours, but the transmitter box has a slot to charge the extra pack. It can also connect to a phone via Bluetooth. A few other headsets can beat it on price, but overall, this is still a great buy.

Works wirelessly with PS4/PS5 and PC. On PS5 you'll need to use the console's built-in surround sound and chat-mixing features.

The Nintendo Switch finally received official Bluetooth audio support, so you can pair wireless headphones to the console directly. However, it still uses a mobile app (on Android and iPhone) for voice chat—except in some games, like Fortnite. The Arctis 3 Bluetooth is one of the few headsets that can do both. You can connect it to the Switch with a 3.5-mm cable to hear your game's audio, and pair it to your phone with Bluetooth for chatting (including on Discord). Given Nintendo's complicated system for game chat, this headset is one of the most versatile options for playing on the console. Alternatively, if you don't care about game chat, you can either hook it up to your switch via the 3.5mm cable or Bluetooth. It's comfortable, sounds fantastic, and works with every system (with the 3.5mm cord).

Works wirelessly via Bluetooth for Switch's mobile-based chat, Discord, or game audio. Requires a 3.5mm cable with Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC

In the past, official Sony headsets have earned our recommendation as solid options for the PlayStation, but the company’s most recent Pulse 3D headset didn't impress us. So this time around, we're going a different route.

The Arctis 7P+ (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is nearly identical to the Arctis 7+ mentioned above. The minor difference is that the 7+ has a dial to control ChatMix, a PC feature that balances team chat and game audio. But that feature isn't supported on the PlayStation, so the 7P+ repurposes this dial to control sidetone. That change aside, it still pulls off 30-hour battery life and comes with the wireless USB-C dongle that makes it compatible with most systems.

Works wirelessly with Nintendo Switch, Switch OLED, Switch Lite, PS5, PS4, PC, Switch, and Android phones. Requires a 3.5mm cable with Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.

This headset is an odd one. Master & Dynamic is known for its bespoke style and luxurious craftsmanship, and the MW65 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is an example of both. It feels solid but lightweight, old-fashioned but uniquely modern. It's a study in opposites. With active noise canceling and Bluetooth connectivity, these have become my everyday drivers. We plugged them in when playing a game and switched to Bluetooth mode when we were out and about. The sound quality is rich, layered, and textured. They're tuned a bit flat, so music might not have the punch you're used to unless you adjust your equalizer settings, but these are excellent all-around headphones.

They're an unconventional choice for gaming, and may not be the best choice for barking a lot of commands to teammates, but once you've heard how well they handle complex soundscapes (gunfire, swelling orchestral suites, bootprints on lunar dust, all of the above), it's hard to go back.

Works wirelessly with PC, Mac, Android, and iPhone. Requires a 3.5mm cord with Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S

There are so many good headsets on the market that we have a hard time picking out only our favorites. Here are a few other headsets that we like but that didn't find a distinct place on our list above.

• Corsair Virtuoso ($150): This headset is great for PC players. It's lightweight, features 7.1 surround sound, and is comfortable to wear all day long.
• SteelSeries Arctis 7 ($93): This is another great wireless headset for PC gamers. It supports DTS: Headphone X surround sound and, in our experience, provided fantastic sound. However, despite being compatible with the PlayStation, the mic gets oddly quiet when we use it on PS4.

We've rounded up a wide selection of the best gaming headsets we've tried, but there are countless others on the market. Our list is great if you want recommendations so you don't have to deal with combing through all the options. But if you want to explore for yourself, here are a few important things to look for in a good headset.

• Audio quality: It seems like it would go without saying, but we're saying it anyway: You can't always tell from a spec sheet how a headset will sound. A well-made stereo headset can sound better than a poorly made 7.1 Dolby Atmos surround sound set. Check reviews to get a sense of how a headset performs in real life.
• Surround sound options: Modern headsets have gotten very good at recreating or simulating surround sound in headsets with systems like Dolby Atmos for Headphones or DTS:X. These systems are particularly impactful in games where you want to be able to hear exactly where an enemy is firing at you from. Be sure you can turn the surround sound on or off.
• Comfort: This is another subjective category, but if you're going to wear a headset for hours while you're gaming, it's important that it doesn't hurt. A heavy headset pressing against your temples can give you a headache after a while. Look for headsets that have adjustable, ergonomic designs, plenty of cushioning, and are generally lightweight.
• An adjustable boom microphone: If you plan to use your headset for online gaming, a good microphone is important. Many headsets come with boom mics that can be positioned in front of your mouth. Some are removable, while others can simply be rotated or bent away from your mouth when they're not in use. Make sure you get the kind that's right for your needs.
• Visible mic muting and indicator LEDs: It's important to know when you're broadcasting audio so you don't accidentally share your private conversations with your teammates. Some mics mute automatically when you flip them upward, while others use a dedicated mute button. We particularly like headsets that include red LEDs that indicate when you're muted, which can be helpful.
• Mic monitoring so you can hear your voice: If you want to keep tabs on how you sound to your teammates, and not sound like you're yelling while playing, mic monitoring is a feature that lets you hear your own audio through your headphones. Optimally, you can adjust its volume. When you listen to a podcast or radio talk show, chances are, those folks are using some form of mic monitoring so they can hear themselves as well as others.
• Equalizer (EQ) and customization tools: Games, movies, and TV shows are mixed differently, and when you're listening, you might want to emphasize different aspects of the audio signal. Custom EQ presets let you set different balances for watching a movie versus playing a game, or even have different balances on a per-game basis.