Gaming

7 Best Wireless Gaming Headsets In 2024

August 23, 2024
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We’re big proponents of gaming headsets. They create a private, immersive listening experience that can make games more engrossing. Some games even encourage you to wear one to get the best audio experience. Gaming headsets are integral to the online multiplayer experience, not just for chatting with friends, but because it’s often easier to pinpoint audio cues while wearing one. While some may prefer the immediacy and simplicity of wired headsets, the freedom afforded by wireless headsets is unmatched. And thanks to low-latency 2.4GHz connections and modern Bluetooth technology, issues that plagued wireless headsets in the early gaming headset boom, like playback delay or lower audio quality, are virtually unheard of if you buy from a decent brand. Wireless headsets can sound as good and perform as reliably as their wired counterparts.

For anyone out there looking for a new gaming headset, we’ve put together this list of the best wireless gaming headsets you can buy in 2024. If you’ve read any of our other headset roundups, you won’t be surprised to see the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 in the top slot as the best wireless gaming headset in 2024. We simply haven’t found any competitors that can match its blend of high quality audio, comfort, and price. That said, it’s not our only recommendation. Some users will want something more affordable, while others may be able to splurge on higher-end models that offer even more features. So, we’ve made sure to include picks from a variety of price points, features, and styles–including a couple of wireless earbud options, led by Sony’s Inzone Buds.

If you’re looking for more recommendations, including wired models, be sure to check out our lists of the best headsets for PS5, Xbox, PC, and Nintendo Switch.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7

  • Battery life: 38 hours
  • Connectivity: 2.4GHz; Bluetooth
  • Spatial audio: Yes (Tempest 3D Audio, 360 Spatial Audio)
  • Noise-canceling: No
  • Mic style: Retractable noise-canceling boom mic
  • Supported Devices: PlayStation, Xbox, PC, Switch, Steam Deck, Mobile

The Arctis Nova 7 (and its console-specific variants the 7X and 7P) take the top slots in our best headsets lists for each console and PC, so its ranking as our favorite wireless headset overall should be no surprise. Every model in SteelSeries Arctis Nova line is an excellent choice, but the Nova 7 offers the best mix of sound quality, features, and comfort without pushing into luxury-tier prices.

The Nova 7 shares its best feature with the rest of the Arctis Nova lineup: The ComfortMax system. This ingenious adjustable suspension design gently supports the lightweight–but durable–rubber-coated steel headband above your head rather than memory foam padding like other headsets. The headband design coupled with SteelSeries’ breathable AirWeave ear cushions makes the Nova 7 comfortable for long gaming sessions. However, what makes the Nova 7 stand out among its Arctis peers is its sound quality, which is second only to the high-end–and much pricier–Nova Pro. It supports 3D spatial audio and works on a wide range of devices via Bluetooth or 2.4GHz wireless.

The Nova 7 comes in three versions: The standard Nova 7 works on PC, Switch, and mobile. The 7P supports all those devices, plus PS5. Meanwhile, the 7X works on Xbox and all the aforementioned devices, including PS5 with Tempest 3D Audio. The lone difference in features between the headsets is the wheel on the right earcup: The Nova 7 and 7P are equipped with a sidetone dial for microphone monitoring, while the 7X has a Chatmix dial for party chat. PC users get the most customization features thanks to the SteelSeries desktop app.

It’s worth mentioning that SteelSeries sells accessories to help you customize your Nova 7 headset, should you ever want to switch up its look, The earcup faceplates and elastic headband are swappable. And although the AirWeave ear cushions are great, you can swap them out for leatherette cushions–the same ones found in the premium Nova Pro.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro

  • Battery life: Up to 22 hours per swappable battery pack
  • Connectivity: 2.4GHz; Bluetooth
  • Spatial audio: Yes (Tempest 3D Audio, Microsoft Spatial Audio)
  • Noise-canceling: Yes
  • Mic style: Retractable ClearCast Gen 2 mic
  • Supported Devices: PlayStation, Xbox, PC, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, Mobile

While the Nova 7 is a great headset that should meet the needs of most players, the Nova Pro is the model to pick if you’re looking for a high-end, luxury-class wireless model. The Nova Pro looks like the other headsets in SteelSeries’ Arctis Nova line and shares the same super-comfortable headband design, but there are some major differences that justify its higher price tag. It has a better build quality with a more robust steel-reinforced design and leatherette earcups.

The Nova Pro connects to your PC or console wirelessly via the included base station that can be linked to two devices at once. The base station includes an OLED and a simple dial-based controls you can use to navigate the Nova Pro’s many settings, including EQ, mic mix, active noise canceling, and more. Normally, features like EQ balancing would require a PC or mobile app, but since everything is handled within the base station, all of those features are available regardless of the device you’re connected to. That said, PC players can use SteelSeries’ Sonar software to access even more granular controls and pre-made audio profiles for specific games.

Another great feature of the Nova Pro is its dual-audio input support. This means you can connect to one device through the base station and another via Bluetooth and listen to both at the same time. This is great for anyone who likes to listen to podcasts or music on their mobile devices while they game on their consoles.

To top it all off, the Nova Pro comes with two rechargeable, hot-swappable batteries that you charge in the base station. That means you essentially have endless battery life as long as you make sure one pack is always charging. That said, the headset does allow for wired 3.5mm connections if you’re in a pinch. It’s also worth noting there’s a superb wired model that will save you a decent amount of cash, but you’ll be missing out on some of the wireless features. Additionally, the wired version connects to SteelSeries’ GameDAC, which makes it better for those who play at their desk as opposed to on the couch.

Just like with the Nova 7 series, you’ll need the Xbox version of the Nova Pro for support across all consoles and PC. The Nova 7 and 7P will work with all of your consoles and PC except for Xbox.

Turtle Beach Stealth Pro

  • Battery life: 12+ hours (per swappable battery pack)
  • Connectivity: 2.4GHz; Bluetooth
  • Spatial audio: Yes (Windows Sonic, PS5 3D Audio, Dolby Atmos, DTS Headphone: X)
  • Noise-canceling: Yes
  • Mic style: Removable noise-canceling boom, plus integrated mics
  • Supported Devices: Xbox, PlayStation, PC, Switch, Steam Deck, Mobile

The Turtle Beach Stealth Pro is another high-end alternative to the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro. One of its coolest feature is an integrated DAC (digital audio converter), which can enhance the audio quality beyond what its already excellent 50mm Nanoclear drivers would normally achieve. The only drawback to this is that it adds more internal hardware, making for a bulkier design, especially the earcups.

The larger design is one of the Stealth Pro’s few downsides, and the rest of the headset is excellent. It features multiple mics for clear audio pickup, supports various spatial audio formats, and connects to a wide range of devices via 2.4GHz wireless and Bluetooth 5.1. Its active noise-canceling tech is fantastic for a gaming headset–perhaps even slightly better than what’s found in the Nova Pro.

Like the Nova Pro, the Turtle beach also uses dual, hot-swappable battery packs. Each pack holds up to 12 hours of battery life, and features quick charging, so you can effectively keep playing indefinitely as long as you keep the extra pack charged up so you can swap them out when needed.

The Xbox version of the Stealth Pro works wirelessly on all platforms, whereas the PlayStation edition is compatible with everything except Xbox.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5

  • Battery life: 60 hours
  • Connectivity: 2.4GHz, Bluetooth
  • Spatial audio: Yes
  • Noise-canceling: No
  • Mic style: Retractable noise-canceling boom mic
  • Supported Devices: PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, PC, Steam Deck, Mobile

Yep, we’ve got one more Arctis Nova model for this list. If the Nova 7 and Pro are out of your price range, the Nova 5 is the option for you. It’s more affordable than its siblings but still sounds great. The Nova 5 uses the ingenious headband strap design we love about the other models. It’s also a touch lighter than the rest, making it even more comfortable for long-term use.

The Nova 5 isn’t just a lighter and more affordable version of the other Arctis models, however. It also has its own unique capabilities, namely an exclusive mobile companion app available for iOS and Android that includes over 100 EQ presets for popular games like Call of Duty, Destiny, and Minecraft. The headset lets you connect to your phone via Bluetooth while also connected to a console or PC over 2.4GHz so you can swap EQs in the app on the fly. Unfortunately, you cannot listen to both sources with simultaneous connection, but that’s one of our few misgivings about the Nova 5.

Along with the app and multiple connection options, the Nova 5 also has a noise-canceling microphone that fully retracts into the left earcup, sports up to 60 hours of battery life, and has fast charging via the included USB-C cable.

The Arctis Nova 5 headset is available in three different models: the all-black Nova 5, the blue and black Nova 5P, and green and black Nova 5X. All three models support PC, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and mobile, but only the 5X supports Xbox consoles. They also support spatial audio on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

Razer BlackShark V2 Pro

  • Battery life: 70 hours
  • Connectivity: 2.4GHz; Bluetooth
  • Spatial audio: Yes
  • Noise-canceling: No
  • Mic style: Detachable wideband boom mic
  • Supported Devices: PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, PC, Mobile, Steam Deck

While we might prefer the look and feel of the Nova headsets, the BlackShark V2 Pro puts up strong competition and easily ranks as one of the most comfortable headsets out there. Not only is it comfortable for long play sessions, it also sports a 70-hour battery life, which is the highest on this list.

Most importantly, the BlackShark V2 Pro sounds incredible, and thanks to the recent 2024 model refresh, the headset now supports 3D spatial audio on PC, PS5, and Xbox. It supports wireless connections via Bluetooth or Razer’s low-latency 2.4GHz HyperSpeed tech. The only real downside is that it lacks true active noise-canceling tech, but otherwise, this is one of the best headsets out there, and a great alternative to SteelSeries’ Arctis Nova line.

It’s a theme on this list, but yet again, you’ll need the Xbox edition for wireless support across all devices, while the PlayStation and PC editions support everything besides Xbox consoles.

Sony Inzone Buds

  • Battery life: 12 hours
  • Connectivity: 2.4 GHz; Bluetooth LE
  • Spatial audio: Yes (Tempest 3D Audio, 360 Spatial Audio)
  • Noise-canceling: Yes
  • Mic style: Multiple integrated mics
  • Supported Devices: PS5, PC, Switch, Steam Deck, Android, iPhone 15 (older iPhones with adapter)

So far, we’ve covered standard gaming headsets, but wireless earbuds are another great option for cordless audio while gaming, and the best choice is Sony’s Inzone Buds. These true wireless earbuds were designed with gaming in mind with support for 360 Spatial Audio on PC and Tempest 3D Audio on PS5. The Inzone Buds also implement some of the audio giant’s best tech to help them thrive beyond gaming, too.

From a noise-canceling standpoint, the Inzone Buds are the best option on this list. Sony is well-known as one of the best in the business for ANC, and that is on display with the manufacturer’s first pair of gaming earbuds. The Inzone Buds also utilize the same drivers found in Sony’s flagship WF-1000XM5 Bluetooth earbuds.

The Sony Inzone Buds last up to 12 hours on a single charge, which is pretty decent for a pair of wireless earbuds. Their design minimizes ear contact, which makes for a more comfortable wear.

Like other Inzone gaming gear–Sony also has over-ear headphones, including the high-end Inzone H9 that just missed the cut on this list–the Inzone Buds were designed with PC gaming in mind. With the Inzone Hub Windows app, you can customize your audio experience and save your settings to the earbuds.

Though best suited for PC gamers, these earbuds fully support the PS5’s suite of audio features. It connects to both PC and PS5 via the included USB-C dongle. You can also use the Inzone Buds on other devices with audio-supported USB-C ports, including Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck.

On mobile, however, things are a bit different than usual for wireless earbuds. Android users with a newer phone equipped with Bluetooth LE can ditch the dongle if they so choose, but since Apple hasn’t implemented Bluetooth LE in its devices, you’ll need to use the dongle. For iPhone 15 users, this isn’t a big issue–unless you have a bulky case, which may require a USB-C extender to attach the dongle. Those with iPhones with legacy Lightning ports will need a Lightning to USB-C adapter that supports audio output.

To clear up any confusion: Inzone Buds are manufactured by Sony Electronics and released before PlayStation’s Pulse Explore earbuds. Sony Inzone Buds cost the same and have noise-canceling tech as well as better audio and overall design. Pulse Explore earbuds do, however, support standard Bluetooth.

Apple AirPods and AirPods Pro

  • Battery life: 24-30 hours with charging case (varies by model)
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth
  • Spatial audio: No
  • Noise-canceling: AirPods Pro only
  • Mic style: Multiple hidden noise-cancelling mics
  • Supported Devices: PS5, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, Mobile, PC, Xbox with Bluetooth adapter.

While not traditionally thought of as a gaming peripheral, Apple’s AirPods are great for gaming simply because of their ubiquity. Chances are, if you own an iPhone, you have a pair of these lying around or you have thought about buying a pair. Since they can pair up with any Bluetooth-supported device, you can quickly sync them to PS5, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, or any other mobile device you’re using for games. They work on PCs, too, provided you have integrated Bluetooth or a USB Bluetooth dongle. And for Xbox, you’ll need to pick up an Xbox-specific Bluetooth converter like this one from Skull & Co.

AirPods won’t outclass a gaming headset or a pair of good headphones, but they sound pretty good, and their integrated mics mean they can work like a headset in a pinch. We recommend going with the AirPods Pro since they have better overall sound quality and active noise cancellation. For a cheaper but still solid option, the 3rd Gen standard AirPods are worth a look, but the 2nd Gen AirPods are still available and work great, too–especially for the price.

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