The best Xbox headsets in 2023

As a brand, Xbox has done a terrific job when it comes to backwards compatibility down the years. That means not only do most of the best Xbox One games work on Xbox Series X, you’ll also find many of the best Xbox headsets will work on both Microsoft’s latest and slightly older generation of consoles.

Whether you want to obtain the audio edge during a frantic Halo Infinite deathmatch or spook yourself silly in Alan Wake 2, the selection of Xbox-compatible headsets below from the likes of Razer, SteelSeries and Microsoft itself should electrify your ears. 

It doesn’t matter if you’re persisting with your Xbox One X or are a dedicated Xbox Series S fan, the best Xbox headsets will elevate your gaming experience, no matter what flavor of Xbox you’re playing on.  

The quick list

Here's a quick overview of the best Xbox headsets you can buy right now based on our testing and reviews, whether you're using an older model like the Xbox One S or the cutting edge Xbox Series X.

The best Xbox headsets you can buy

The best overall Xbox headset

Not only is the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7x simply great when paired with an Xbox console, it's also one of the very best wireless gaming headsets you can buy overall. A combination of robust connectivity, great audio quality and excellent comfort thanks to the elastic headband, all make for a winning combination. 

And thanks to both Bluetooth and connectivity via USB, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7x can be used with phones and a gaming PC as well, taking its utility far beyond Microsoft's gaming console. Naturally, its green and black livery suites the Xbox brand, but having extra flexibility makes it a wireless gaming headset we can recommend to pretty much everybody, regardless of their platform of choice. 

Read our full SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7x 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

Although the Razer Kraken X is far from alone in offering a sub-$50 price tag, few other cheap Xbox headsets can produce such great gaming sound. Weirdly, this quality doesn’t carry over to music playback. But in games, the Kraken X sounds brilliant for the money. It’s got 7.1 virtual surround sound, too, though you can turn this off if you want a more pure soundscape.

It’s also extremely comfortable. Despite the lack of unconventional tricks, like the Arctis 7X’s stretching fabric headband, you can wear the Kraken X for hours and hours, thanks to its soft, imitation leather-clad padding and lightweight construction.

Read our full Razer Kraken X review.

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 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.

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.

Entry-level Xbox headsets don’t get much better than the Astro A10. For about half the price of a new AAA game, this wired headset delivers clear, punchy sound and memory foam padding that — like its big brother, the A20 Gaming Headset Gen 2 — ensures a comfy fit.

Gamers with large ears may want to steer clear, however, as the A10 does favor a snug fit. But the compact design also makes the A10 better for travel and storage. So does the detachable cable, which also comes with a useful in-line volume slider. The A10 may be cheap, but its attention to detail is commendable.

Read our full Astro A10 review.

How we test the best Xbox headsets

How to choose the best Xbox headset for you

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 to choose the best Xbox headset

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.