The best Xbox headsets work across the last two generations of Microsoft’s machines. My picks of the best gaming cans below can be used on Xbox Series X, the less powerful Xbox Series S, and the last-gen Xbox One family of consoles. Regardless of what variety of Xbox you game on, the finest Xbox headsets can help boost audio immersion when playing your favorite titles.
When it comes time to review Xbox headsets, the first thing our experts here at Tom’s Guide do is to test out how easy a model is to set up. We then wear them for at least a couple of hours to judge how comfortable they are, before turning our attention to design, battery life (if it’s a wireless headset), and also whether it delivers good value for money.
The best Xbox headset in my opinion is the Audeze Maxwell Wireless. An excellent though pricey peripheral, its incredible audio quality is impossible to deny. Not only does the Maxwell sound phenomenal, its AI noise filter blew our socks off during testing and is great at kiboshing distracting ambient sounds. In terms of the best value Xbox headset, the HyperX Cloud Stinger 2 gets my vote thanks to its powerful 50mm drivers and the fact you can often pick it up for just $40.
Every pair of cans below has been thoroughly tested across a variety of genres; be it a top-tier first-person like Halo Infinite or the awesome Forza Horizon 5 to ensure these models can make the sounds of bullets whizzing or tires revving really pop. Read on for my choices of the best Xbox headsets currently available.
The quick list
It costs all the pretty pennies at around $300, yet the sounds the Audeze Maxwell Wireless can produce are simply incredible outstanding. The AI noise filter and exceptional microphone also shine.
The best Xbox headset that costs less than $100 boasts excellent wireless connectivity, and sound quality is way better than you’d expect at this price point.
The finest Xbox headset will immerse you in your favorite games like never before, due to its excellent audio and solid wireless connection. The Nova 7 is also comfortable to wear.
At such a reasonable price, it’s hard to beat this ace HyperX headset. It’s not only comfortable to wear, its slider-based controls also make it simple to operate.
It’s no surprise Microsoft’s official headset is an excellent match for Xbox consoles. Sound quality impresses and it’s always comfortable to wear. We also appreciate the fold-away mic.
This sleek Xbox headset from Astro is probably the most comfortable we’ve tested. Its earcups prove super comfy during long gaming sessions and overall sound quality is also good.
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One of the best wired Xbox headsets, the HyperX Cloud Alpha boasts impressive-sounding dual chamber 50mm drivers, sports a premium design and overall audio quality is excellent.
Another classy and comfortable headset that also happens to have an excellent microphone. The Razer BlackShark V2's mic is super flexible which further ups the comfort factor.
The best Xbox headset from Razer provides top quality audio, impressive 20 hour battery life and proves extremely comfortable to wear during marathon Xbox sessions.
The best Xbox headsets you can buy
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The best overall Xbox headset
The Audeze Maxwell headset is the best wireless gaming headset for people who take their audio equipment seriously. This high-end set of cans feature 90mm planar magnetic drivers that deliver pristine sound. We adore both playing the bext Xbox Series games and listening to music through this headset.
We didn’t get along too well with the Audeze HQ iOS app during testing, finding it a little glitchy. The Maxwell is also an expensive headset at $349 for the Xbox version, putting it in the same premium category as the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro. However, that higher price is largely justified by the excellent audio quality. Currently, it's the undisputed champ of Xbox headsets.
Read our full Audeze Maxwell review.
The best budget Xbox headset
The SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless for Xbox takes a lot of what makes the SteelSeries Arctis 7X great and bundles it into a more affordable package. In a nutshell, you're getting a SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless headset that's been designed for the proprietary Xbox Wireless protocol, something the standard model lacks.
As a result, the SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless for Xbox comes with the same game-ready audio performance as its sibling, as well as excellent onboard controls and a comfortable fit. And unlike some Xbox headsets, there's no 'gamer' aesthetics, or Xbox green swaddling the headset. Rather the paired-down design is mature and understated. Plus the ability to detach the mic and wear the headset as you would a regular set of headphones is another positive mark on the SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless for Xbox scorecard. Much like the SteelSeries Arctis 1X, you can switch between the Xbox Wireless mode and a USB connection, provided via a dongle at the flick of a switch.
Read our SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless for Xbox impressions.
The best Razer Xbox headset
Razer Kaira Pro is another solid mid-range headset for Xbox players. The addition of Bluetooth connectivity, meaning it's not just limited to being linked to an Xbox, means there's a degree of flexibility to the headset. But what's more impressive is it can use Bluetooth at the same time as the Xbox Wireless protocol meaning you can game as well as listen to music or a podcast on your phone.
The slight wrinkle here is that as soon as you turn on the Kaira Pro it'll fire up your Xbox as well; hardly ideal when you just want to listen to some music over Bluetooth. Nevertheless, strong sound and a comfortable design with breathable earcups are all pros for the Kaira Pro, making it an Xbox headset well worth considering.
Read our full Razer Kaira Pro review.
The best value Xbox headset
The HyperX Cloud Stinger 2 is your best bet if you’re not concerned about using a wired connection, and just want good-quality sound in a comfortable package. This headset is easy to wear, with its lightweight design and generous padding. It’s clearly not a premium product: The microphone merely pivots upwards, as opposed to detaching or retracting when not in use. But for what you pay, you’re getting a good deal.
The Cloud Stinger 2's audio quality is also enough for even the most twitchy competitive shooters, while the mic quality is a bit on the quiet side, but otherwise decent.
Read our full HyperX Cloud Stinger 2 review.
The best official Xbox headset
It’s probably not too surprising that Microsoft’s own official Xbox headset is one of the better devices on offer. Still, that’s not because of simple branding. The Xbox Wireless Headset impressed us in our testing, particularly on sound quality. Whether in RTS or action games, Microsoft’s headset sounded balanced and detail-rich.
Like the Razer Kaira Pro, you also have the option of connecting to a Bluetooth device while you’re gaming. Post-release updates have improved previously lacking aspects, like the mic monitoring level and what used to be some overly loud notification sounds. It’s still not perfect, as you can’t really adjust the fit once it’s on your head. But the headset is still comfortable enough once you’ve made the right adjustments.
Read our full Xbox Wireless Headset review.
The most comfortable Xbox headset
The Astro A20 Wireless Gen 2 is one of the best Xbox headsets, albeit only if you buy the Xbox version specifically. There’s also a PlayStation model that won’t work with Xbox consoles, unless you buy a special adapter. However, provided you do pick up the Xbox version — identifiable by its green color accents — you can be sure that you picked a fine headset.
Sound quality is high across a range of game genres, and if you want to adjust the soundscape, there’s an equalization mode switch on the right earcup that switches among three different sound modes. And it’s worth reiterating just how comfortable the A20 Gaming Headset Gen 2 is. Even with those odd-looking square ear cushions and angular headrest, it’s easy to wear for long sessions.
Read our full Astro A20 Gaming Headset Gen 2 review.
The best wired Xbox headset
The HyperX Cloud Alpha is a wired headset, which might not sound so enticing when you can get a good wireless model for a similar amount of money. But if you don’t mind having a cable running into your Xbox controller, then there are much worse options. The Cloud Alpha is extremely comfortable, as we’ve come to expect from HyperX headsets, and its Dual Chamber Driver tech helps reproduce the full frequency range with a clarity to rival the best headphones.
The microphone sounds pretty good too, and is detachable for easier storage. Overall, the Cloud Alpha’s cable is pretty much the only thing that gives it away as a sub-$100 headset, rather than a truly premium one.
Read our full HyperX Cloud Alpha review.
The best mic Xbox headset
Yet another quality Xbox-ready headset from Razer, the BlackShark V2 benefits from a flexible microphone, brilliant sound quality across multiple game genres and a very reasonable price. It’s also very comfortable — adjusting the earcups to find a perfect fit can be tricky, but once they’re in place you can easily wear the BlackShark V2 for hours.
It might be a particularly wise choice if you play on PC as well as an Xbox console, as the BlackShark V2 can connect through either a 3.5mm or USB connection; as such you won't need separate headsets for each. The BlackShark V2 gets some bonus features on PC, like custom-configured sound profiles for individual games, though they’re not necessary for great sound on Xbox.
Read our full Razer BlackShark V2 review.
How to choose the best Xbox headset
By choosing from this list you eliminate one of the biggest headaches of searching for an Xbox headset: making sure the headset is even compatible with Xbox consoles. Three-point-five millimeter connectivity on Xbox controllers helps widen the net of devices that can work. But thanks to the Xbox Wireless protocol, you need to be more careful with wireless models. Again, all the wireless headsets on this list are compatible with Xbox consoles.
You may actually prefer a wired headset, as these provide more rock-solid connections and often lower prices. With wired models, you don’t need to worry about battery life, either. That said, most wireless headsets can go for several days’ worth of regular play before running out of charge, so don’t worry too much about battery life if you want to keep your gaming space wire-free.
You should also consider picking up a headset with Bluetooth if you want something that can double as your headphones for everyday music listening. Just make sure that you can remove or retract the microphone, though, or else you’ll be walking around with a boom mic sticking out.
How we test the best Xbox headsets
Our first step in testing any gaming headset, including the best Xbox headsets, is to see how easy it is to get set up and connected. That includes adjusting the headset to find a good fit. We’ll wear each one for at least a couple of hours to see how comfort levels stand up over time. When possible, we’ll also hand each headset off to someone else, and get their second opinion on comfort. After all, this is a subjective point, however vital.
Sound performance is just as important. We’ll play a variety of Xbox games across different genres, which helps us comprehensively judge each headset’s audio quality. A good headset should be able to add excitement to explosion-heavy gunfights. It should also present dialogue cleanly and clearly, or help your hear quiet sound cues like footsteps.
