The best wireless gaming headsets 2023

The best wireless gaming headsets run the gamut from cheap to expensive, and from versatile to specialized. The one thing they all have in common is that they’re absolutely excellent, whether you want to immerse yourself in a single-player adventure or dominate the multiplayer scene. 

Tom’s Guide has reviewed some of the very best wireless gaming headsets for the PC, PS5, Xbox Series X and Nintendo Switch, and ranked the top performers here. No matter your budget or your preferred platforms, you should find something here to hear every line, sound effect and musical note in your favorite games with perfect clarity. Bear in mind that if you’re not especially concerned about wireless functionality, you can also check our list of the best gaming headsets overall. Also consider one of our picks for the best wireless gaming mouse.

The quick list

Here's a quick overview of the best wireless gaming headsets you can buy right now based on our testing and reviews.

The best wireless gaming headsets you can buy today

The best overall wireless gaming headset

If you want one of the best wireless gaming headsets you can buy today, then you really don't have to look much further than the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7. The sound quality in games is excellent, though it doesn't break new ground here; rather solid audio separation and clarity between voices, background music and other sound effects impressed us. 

Intuitive controls and a comfortable elastic headband are all points in the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7's favor. But the real kicker is its expansive compatibility and connectivity. A USB-C wireless dongle means the headset can be connected to PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Nintendo Switch, and Android devices. There's also Bluetooth connectivity thrown in for good measure. 

The only caveat is only the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7x works with Xbox consoles, so be wary of that before you make a snap purchase. Otherwise, this is an excellent wireless gaming headset well worth your consideration. 

Read our full SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 review.

The best value wireless gaming headset

Another SteelSeries headset worth getting on your ears. That's because the SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless offers solid sound quality for both gaming and music, as well as being compatible with a whole range of gaming platforms (do bear in mind you'll need the SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless for Xbox if you plan on using the headset with a Microfot games console, And for iOS users the headset won't work). Its wireless connectivity is robust as well. 

There's nothing flashy about the design of the SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless, but many might like a utilitarian headset that has earcups which can be folded flat to help with storage and portability. A lack of an elastic headband may put off some gamers as well, but for less than $100, there's little to really dislike about the SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless. 

Read our full SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless review.

The best Bluetooth wireless gaming headset

If you’re willing to spend more than $100, the Razer Kaira Pro is probably the best Xbox Series X/S headset you can get. In addition to a comfortable fit and good sound quality, the Kaira Pro offers a real rarity among wireless gaming headsets: Bluetooth connectivity. That means that you can connect the Kaira Pro to your Xbox console just as easily as you can connect it to your PC or mobile device. (And, unlike USB-C wireless solutions, the Kaira Pro also works with iOS.)

On top of that, the Kaira Pro is a gorgeous device, combining a restrained chassis with a tasteful black-and-green color scheme. The pairing process couldn’t be easier, and the mic is good for both heated multiplayer matches and everyday conversations with friends and family. What’s even more impressive is that the Kaira Pro came out more or less alongside the latest Xbox consoles, meaning they had a fantastic wireless headset right from the start.

Read our full Razer Kaira Pro review.

The best wireless gaming headset for PS5

For an official headset for the PS5, the Sony Pulse 3D Wireless headset is refreshingly well-priced at a reasonable $99/£89. Yet it doesn't skimp on sound quality, especially as it offers access to Sony's Tempest 3D Audio engine that makes the best PS5 games sound more immersive than ever. 

With a two-tone color scheme that fits well with the PS5, the Pulse 3D Wireless headset is also comfortable to wear for long gaming sessions thanks to some decent padding on the earcups. A selection of controls on the cups also makes use of clicky physical buttons rather than any awkward touchpads. 

The overall sound quality of the Pulse 3D wireless headset may be better geared toward games, but it's also good for movies and music. And the wireless dongle means it can be connected to a PC, further boosting its utility. Overall a great wireless headset for PS5 gamers and Sony fans. 

Read our full Sony PlayStation Pulse 3D Wireless Headset review. 

The best wireless gaming headset for Xbox

Console manufacturers have a mixed track record of producing gaming headsets. Sometimes they’re overpriced and bare-bones, but other times, you get something like the Xbox Wireless Headset. This high-quality headset provides seamless connectivity with Xbox consoles, as well as a Bluetooth connection for your computer, smartphone or streaming device. The Xbox Wireless Headset provides clean profiles for both game audio and music, and it has intuitive controls built right into the earcups, rather than relying on imprecise dials.

Just be aware that the Xbox Wireless Headset is optimized almost exclusively for Xbox consoles. Each time you start it up, your Xbox will start up as well, making it inconvenient for productivity applications. Furthermore, you can’t adjust the headset after you put it on, meaning that getting a good fit involves some trial and error. Still, two kinds of wireless connectivity plus strong audio quality is a good deal, especially for less than $100.

Read our full Xbox Wireless Headset review.

The best wireless gaming headset for PC

The HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless is, far and away, the longest-lasting headset on this entire list. While most gaming headsets provide between 20 and 40 hours of battery life, the Cloud Alpha Wireless can go for 300 hours between charges. That's not a typo; its battery can really last for hundreds of hours. Not even the most dedicated gamer could wear this one out in a week.

Of course, battery life alone isn't enough to garner a recommendation. The Cloud Alpha Wireless also provides excellent sound, thanks to powerful drivers and a rich default soundscape. It's comfortable to wear for hours on end, and the removable mic works great for multiplayer, video chat or anything in-between. Just be warned that the software suite isn't perfect, so adjusting equalization options is a little tougher than it should be.

Read our full HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless review.

Other wireless gaming headsets to consider

As with other tech, when it comes to the best wireless gaming headsets, you have to pay a premium price if you want premium performance. That’s going to be true whether it's older models like the Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless SE or this, the Logitech G Pro X Wireless: a PC-optimized headset that provides good enough performance for tournament play. While the earcups can feel a little tight, that’s about the only major criticism I can lobby against this headset, which provides robust, nuanced sound profiles and a crystal-clear mic.

The earcups are plush; the controls are intuitive; the chassis is durable. Using the Logitech G Hub software, you can customize your own sound profiles, or use a variety of helpful presets for games, movies and music. You can even run your mic settings through a Blue audio filter, giving you impeccable sound at a variety of different frequencies. This headset is also compatible with the PS5 and Switch (in docked mode), but not with mobile phones.

Read our full Logitech G Pro X Wireless review.

The Turtle Beach Elite Atlas Aero has been on the market for almost three years — a lifetime in gaming peripheral terms. The headset’s success is not surprising, though, given its comfortable fit, extensive software options and excellent sound quality. Particularly if you’re playing on the PC, the Elite Atlas Aero sports some of the best game audio in its price range. You can also hook the headset up to a PS5 or a docked Switch.

The only real downside to the Elite Atlas Aero is that its earcup controls get a little crowded, with a lot of dials and buttons in relatively little space. But once you learn your way around the interface, you can look forward to simple connectivity, long battery life and extremely generous padding for both your ears and the top of your head. There are other Elite Atlas variations, such as the wired Elite Atlas Pro, if this one doesn’t suit your needs or price range.

Read our full Turtle Beach Elite Atlas Aero review.

If you want to future-proof your audio gear, consider the HyperX Cloud Flight S. While HyperX has a handful of good wireless gaming headsets such as the Cloud II Wireless, the Cloud Flight S is arguably the most ambitious of the pack. That’s because it features Qi charging: something that we haven’t seen in many other gaming peripherals, particularly ones that you wear. After you run down the 30-hour battery, you can simply place the left earcup on a Qi charging pad, and the headset will charge back up without having to hunt down a cable for it. This is especially handy in a device that you pick up and put down as many times per day as a gaming headset.

Apart from that, the Cloud Flight S offers the comfort and sound quality you’d expect from a HyperX peripheral, and costs only $10 more than most of its competitors. The mic is admittedly not great, but if you prefer single-player games anyway, that’s not much of a drawback.

Read our full HyperX Cloud Flight S review.

How we test the best wireless gaming headsets

We test wireless gaming headsets and wired gaming headsets the same way. First, we evaluate how easy it is to connect the headset to a target system, and note any irregularities in the pairing process. Then, we play a variety of different games, watch TV shows and movies, and listen to music from multiple genres. While game performance is the most important quality here, a headset that costs more than $100 should also be able to handle movies, music and TV, at least well enough for everyday use.

Comfort is the other big metric for success, although this is a highly subjective evaluation. As such, the Tom’s Guide staff usually tries to hand off a headset to at least one other coworker, and get their take on the gadget. More often than not, writers find headsets similarly comfortable or uncomfortable, but we make a note when that’s not the case.

How to choose the best wireless gaming headset

There are two main factors to consider when choosing the best wireless gaming headset for your setup: systems and price. Knowing which systems you own (or plan to buy in the near future) is obviously the most important part of the equation. Xbox consoles have a proprietary wireless protocol, which doesn’t play nicely with PCs or PlayStation systems. On the other hand, any headset that offers a PC dongle should work on the PS5 as well — and, usually, a docked Switch.

Price is the other concern. While gaming headsets can reach $300, most on this list cost between $100 and $200. If you’re looking at the $100 price range, expect some compromises in build or sound quality; at the $200 point, expect a degree of specialization. The sweet spot for all-purpose gadgets seems to be around $150. While it’s possible to spend less than $100, most wireless headsets in this price range aren’t worth it.