Headsets are an absolute necessity if you’re a gamer. Whether you’re playing online and need to have team chat, trying to immerse yourself into the game, or just trying to not annoy your roommate, a headset is incredibly valuable. Headsets have so many options to choose — type of microphone, RGB lighting, battery length, Bluetooth or dongle. It’s a lot to think about for just a headset. Each category is important and will help you find the right headset for your gaming needs. Let’s break down the best wireless gaming headsets for 2022 and help you determine which one is best for you.
Best Overall: Razer BlackShark V2 Pro
Razer continues to make outstanding peripherals in gaming, and the BlackShark V2 Pro is no exception. What makes this headset stand out from the rest is the audio, mic clarity, and noise cancellation. The BlackShark has titanium 50mm drivers which deliver rich trebles, brighter sound and a powerful bass. The microphone is detachable and comes equipped with external noise rejection which hones in on your voice. With noise cancellation, you’ll be able to shut out all the noise around you and focus on your game. The headset comes with a USB 2.4GHz wireless transceiver and ensures lossless audio.
- Titanium 50mm Drivers
- Detachable, super cardioid Mic
- Noise cancellation
- USB 2.4GHz wireless transceiver
- Ultra-soft breathable memory foam ear cushions
- Up to 24 hours of battery life
- Buttons: volume controls, mic on/off toggle
Best High-End: SteelSeries Arctis Pro
If you’re looking for a headset that knocks every category out of the park, look no further than the SteelSeries Arctis Pro. You have both a 2.4GHz wireless connection and a Bluetooth audio connection. The speaker drivers have lag-free audio at 40,000Hz making it one of the most hi-res gaming speakers out there. The headphones are built with a lightweight aluminum alloy and steel construction. You have a swappable dual battery system allowing you keep one battery charged at all times, resulting in a 20-hour battery life (10 hour per battery). The microphone is a bidirectional noise cancelling microphone, so no external sound will be heard. This is where the headset goes above and beyond! Included is a transmitter base station where you can adjust all your audio settings, your ChatMix, your equalizer, and manage Bluetooth settings. The transmitter has a battery charging port for your second battery, an OLED display, and tons of ports for console and PC gaming.
- Dual-Wireless: 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connection
- 40,000Hz hi-res speaker drivers
- Aluminum alloy and steel build
- Swappable dual battery system (20 hours total)
- Bidirectional, noise cancelling mic
- DTS Surround Sound
- Transmitter with OLED display
Best Bluetooth for Xbox & PC: Microsoft Xbox Wireless Stereo Headset
The Xbox Wireless headset connects seamlessly to PC and Xbox consoles. The headset supports spatial sound including Windows Sonic, Dolby Atmos, and DTS Headphone:X. The ultra-soft earcups allow you to comfortably game for hours. The outside earcups can rotate allowing you to change the volume of the game and chat. This makes it so much easier than going into menus while playing. The microphone reduces background noise, and the headset has an auto mute feature that automatically mutes your mic when you’re not talking. There is also a manual mute button if you prefer to not use that feature. You can download the Xbox Accessories app to control all the levels of your headset from your phone.
- Perfect headset for Xbox and PC
- Spatial surround sound with Dolby Atmos
- Rotating earcups for volume control
- Auto mute feature for microphone
- 15 hours of battery life
- Xbox Accessories App control
Best Long-Ranged: Logitech G Pro X Wireless Lightspeed
A great ranged headset is the Logitech G Pro X, coming in at 15 meters, or 49 feet! You could grab yourself a bite to eat in the kitchen while still talking on chat with that range. The earcups have a memory foam, mesh construction with 50 MM drivers built in. The microphone is detachable and has advanced noise reduction which zeroes in on your voice. The headset is built with aluminum and steel, and the headband is made out of leatherette. Included are extra velour earpads for a softer feel. If you like to have the mobility to move around while gaming and chatting, the Logitech G Pro X has got you covered with the range!
- 49 feet with 2.4 GHz connection
- 50 MM driver speakers
- Memory foam earcups, and two additional velour earcups
- Surround sound with DTS Headphone:X
- Detachable, noise reduction microphone
- 20+ hours of battery life
Best Colorways: Logitech G G733
If you’re looking to bring some color into your gameplay, the Logitech G G733 comes in four different colors. Each earcup has customizable lighting that can showcase up to 16.8 million colors, and the headband has a robust color scheme. It comes with full surround sound with DTS Headphone:X, 40 mm drivers, and a detachable microphone that filters out background noise. The headset uses a USB wireless receiver and has a range of 65 feet, and a battery life up to 29 hours.
- Full RGB lighting offering 16.8 million colors
- Vibrant, colorful headband
- 40 mm drivers
- Surround sound with DTS Headphone:X
- Detachable mic
- 65 feet wireless range
- 29 hours of battery life
Honorable Mention: Razer Barracuda
The Razer Barracuda is a multi-platform headset that works with all consoles, computers, and mobile devices. All you need to do is plug the USB-C wireless transceiver into the your playing platform, making set up incredibly easy and seamless. Attached are super soft and breathable flowknit memory foam ear pads. The Speakers drivers are 40mm for high-end performance and clarity. The microphone is detachable and is a cardioid mic. Audio controls align the side of the headset giving you control over Play/Pause, answering calls, and track skipping. The battery lasts 20 hours and charges via USB-C.
- Wireless USB-C multi-platform transceiver
- 40mm audio drivers
- Flowknit memory foam ear pads
- Detachable cardioid mic
- 20 hours of battery
Honorable Mention: SteelSeries Arctis 9
The SteelSeries Arctis 9 is built for Xbox consoles and PC. The headset connects to the console wirelessly — no need for a transceiver or cable. You can also connect the headset via Bluetooth to listen to music and answer calls on your mobile device. The microphone is bidirectional for superior noise cancellation. The headset has 20+ hours of battery life and the ear cushions are made of airweave fabric.
- Xbox and PC headset
- Simultaneously connect Bluetooth to mobile devices
- Bidirectional microphone with noise cancellation
- 20+ hours of battery life
2.4 GHz Wireless or Bluetooth?
The major difference between a 2.4Ghz wireless connection and Bluetooth connection is what devices you can pair with. With a 2.4GHz connection, you’ll need to plug in a USB transceiver to the console or PC. If your computer does not have a Bluetooth connection, this would be the preferred way. You would not be able to connect the headset to a device that doesn’t have a USB connection, unless you use a 3.5mm cable. Although, it would only work as headphones, which would have no chat function.
A Bluetooth connection can pair to any device with Bluetooth compatibility. The range won’t be as strong as a 2.4GHz transceiver, but you’ll be able to use the headset with more devices. One thing to look out for is compatibility with consoles. PlayStation tends to select only a few Bluetooth compatible devices. Be sure to check if your Bluetooth device will work with your PlayStation console.
What Kind of Microphone?
Microphones are the most important aspect when shopping for a headset. The main differences between a cardioid mic and a super cardioid mic are as follows.
- Cardioid: The most sensitive part of the mic is at the front, and the least sensitive is at the back. Room noise has a higher chance of bleeding into the mic, but not by much.
- Super Cardioid: This has a narrower sensitivity which hones in on the voice more, and lessens room noise. Your voice will sound clearer and richer.
If you’re a streamer or plan on playing multiplayer games, having a microphone is a must. Being able to talk to your audience while streaming is incredibly important. All mics are different, so make sure to test them out or watch our streams on Twitch to see which mics you like more!
Now, having a detachable mic can be helpful if you plan on using the headset outside of gaming. If you don’t want to purchase another set of headphones, using your gaming headset for your music is a great way to budget. Also, when you just want to immerse yourself in an offline game, detaching the mic just feels better.
Is Rechargeability Important?
All wireless microphones will need to be charged at some point. The typical range of a headset is 15–30 hours. Remembering when to charge your headset is the hardest part. Some transceivers will show the battery life — some headsets will notify you. It’s always good to charge the headset overnight, especially if you’re gaming all day. The SteelSeries Arctis Pro has a swappable battery system so, if you tend to forget to charge your headset, you might want to check that one out.
With so many headsets to choose from, it can definitely get overwhelming. Decide on what is most important to you — sound, microphone, battery, range, and color. Once you have an idea on that, decide your budget. It’s possible you may not like the first headset you choose, and that’s okay. Finding the right headset that feels comfortable is no easy task. If you plan to use your headset as a streamer, ask your audience what they think of the quality of the mic and get their feedback too!
