Buying a dedicated gaming headset is one of the easiest ways to gain a competitive edge and improve your immersion, but it can be confusing to know what to get. Every brand uses buzzwords to make it sound like their gaming headset is the greatest piece of audio equipment ever produced, so it’s hard to decipher what’s actually worth your money.
I’ve been playing games for more than 35 years and have tested and reviewed various headsets for the past 15. In that time, I’ve learned a lot about what can improve your experience when it comes to the best gaming headsets, and what just sounds cooler than it really is.
Knowing which type of headset is best for gaming also comes down to your budget. You can spend very little or a lot, and that usually means making a few compromises along the way. To help you figure out which gaming headset to choose, I’ve spent the last few months using the latest models as my daily drivers. I’ve evaluated each one based on sound quality, ease of use, battery life, app support and price. From budget-friendly picks to the ultimate “money is no object” option, these are the best gaming headsets worth buying in 2026.
Read more: Best VR headsets for 2026, tested by a gaming expert
The best gaming headsets for 2026 are:
- Best overall – SteelSeries arctis nova 7 wireless gen 2: £179.99, Amazon.co.uk
- Best budget buy – Logitech G325 lightspeed wireless gaming headset: £69.99, Argos.co.uk
- Best premium – SteelSeries arctis nova elite: £599.99, Amazon.co.uk
- Best for Nintendo Switch - Logitech G Pro X 2 Lightspeed: £249, Amazon.co.uk
- Best earbuds – SteelSeries arctis gamebuds: £159.99, Amazon.co.uk
Read more: The 25 best Nintendo Switch 2 games to play in 2026
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 wireless gen 2
Best: gaming headset overall
Connection: 2.4GHz, Bluetooth, 3.5mm
Drivers: 40mm
Microphone: Bidirectional noise cancelling
Weight: 325g
Active noise cancellation: No
Compatibility: PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PS5
Why we love it
- Excellent audio quality
- Simultaneous 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connectivity
- 50+ hour battery life
Take note
- USB-C dongle is an awkward shape
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 gen 2 offers everything you’d want from a good gaming headset. Better still, it works with almost every device imaginable, and you can even connect to two at once, merging the audio as needed. Sound quality is great straight out of the box, with plenty of power so you can pick up subtle nuances with ease. Using the SteelSeries Sonar app makes things even better once you tweak the EQ, but it’s far from essential.
You can make these cans your own with extensive customisation options, while the onboard controls are intuitive and easy to reach. They’re also pretty comfy. Very long sessions can start to grate, but I still found them easy to wear with the odd break. Ultimately, it all comes together nicely, making this an easy recommendation at this price.
Buy now £179.99, Amazon.co.uk
Logitech G325 lightspeed wireless gaming headset
Best: budget gaming headset
Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4GHz
Drivers: 32mm
Microphone: Omnidirectional
Weight: 212g
Active noise cancellation: No
Compatibility: PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PS5
Why we love it
- Very lightweight
- Balanced sound
Take note
- So lightweight, I’m worried I’ll break it
Stylish with some lovely colour options, the Logitech G325 punches well above its weight. It’s very lightweight, yet still offers respectable onboard controls and a great 24-hour battery life. You shouldn’t expect the same sound quality as a much more expensive headset, but it’s perfectly reasonable for the price.
Look past the fairly modest bass and there’s a decent, neutral sound here that works well across most games. I could still hear opponents creeping up on me in Fortnite, even if spookier titles didn’t feel quite as immersive as they do on higher-end headsets. It’s also one of the comfiest options around thanks to its light weight, though that does make it feel a little fragile if you’re heavy-handed.
Buy now £69.99, Argos.co.uk
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite
Best: premium gaming headset
Connection: 2.4GHz, Bluetooth
Drivers: 40mm
Microphone: ClearCast Omnidirectional
Weight: 380g
Active noise cancellation: Yes
Compatibility: PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PS5
Why we love it
- Hi-Res audio in wireless form
- Phenomenal sound quality
- Can connect up to four devices at once
Take note
- Exceptionally expensive for a gaming headset
If money is no object, you need the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite in your life. The sound quality is ridiculously good, with details in game soundtracks I thought I knew like the back of my hand suddenly standing out. Even recent darling Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 sounds more beautiful through this headset. It’s immersive and pretty much the end goal of what you want from a gaming headset.
It also connects to up to four devices at once, so if you have multiple consoles and a gaming PC, it’s incredibly useful. As a music fan, I also appreciated the hi-res audio support, which you rarely see on gaming headsets. Thanks to the extra padding, it’s also incredibly comfy – I had no qualms wearing it all day. If you can justify spending close to the price of a PS5 Pro, you’ll adore this.
Buy now £599.99, Amazon.co.uk
SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds
Best: in-ear gaming headset
Connection: 2.4GHz, Bluetooth
Drivers: 6mm
Microphone: Yes
Weight: 10.6g
Active noise cancellation: Yes
Compatibility: PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PS5
Why we love it
- Comfortable to wear
- Convenient wireless charging case
Take note
- Earbuds aren’t for everyone
There aren’t many gaming earbuds out there, but with the SteelSeries GameBuds around, you don’t really need loads of options. They sound great and also offer active noise cancellation (ANC) at a very keen price. You can wear them just as easily while gaming as you can walking or heading to the gym, and the IP55 rating means you don’t have to be too precious about how you use them. In every case, I found the GameBuds fitted well and felt good in my ears – it’s easy to forget you’re wearing them.
The 2.4GHz or Bluetooth connectivity is handy, even if you do miss out on a 3.5mm connection because of the design. There’s also wireless charging via the case, and it’s nice and speedy. Earbuds won’t suit everyone, but if you want a more subtle, gaming-focused option, you can’t go wrong here.
Buy now £159.99, Amazon.co.uk
Corsair virtuoso Max
Best: gaming headset for PS5
Connection: Bluetooth, USB receiver
Drivers: 50mm
Microphone: Omnidirectional detachable
Weight: 412g
Active noise cancellation: Yes
Compatibility: PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PS5
Why we love it
- Fantastic microphone
- Long battery life
Take note
- Not the comfiest
The Corsair Virtuoso Max is a strong gaming headset for your PS5 sessions. Its software could be better, which is why it works best on console. Here, you get a balanced listening experience with excellent spatial audio, so you can hear everything around you, whether you’re playing the latest Resident Evil or blowing off steam in Call of Duty. Its microphone is also exceptional in a field where gaming headset mics usually fall short. Crystal clear, it’s good enough for recording videos too if you can’t justify a dedicated mic.
It could be a little comfier during long sessions, which takes the shine off some very good battery life, but the audio quality means you’ll forgive it soon enough.
Buy now £249.99, Amazon.co.uk
Corsair Void V2 Max
Best: gaming headset for Xbox
Connection: 2.4GHz, Bluetooth
Drivers: 50mm
Microphone: Omnidirectional
Weight: 303g
Active noise cancellation: No
Compatibility: PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PS5
Why we love it
- Plenty of features for the price
- Comfortable
Take note
- Mic gets in the way
Simple to use, the Corsair Void V2 Max provides a comfy build, excellent battery life, and the satisfaction that comes from a headset that sounds great out of the box. There’s dual connectivity here if you want to connect it to multiple devices as well as your Xbox, and it doesn’t take much to set up.
When I say excellent battery life, Corsair promises up to 130 hours on Bluetooth and yup, that rang true in my experience. It’s nice to forget to recharge your devices because you simply don’t need to very often. It’d be useful to be able to remove the mic, especially if you play predominantly single player games, but I’ll take that sacrifice for such a good price. The Void V2 Max also feels comfortable to wear with fairly breathable earcups.
Buy now £99.99, Corsair.com
Logitech G Pro X 2 Lightspeed
Best: gaming headset for Nintendo Switch
Connection: 2.4GHz, Bluetooth, 3.5mm
Drivers: 50mm
Microphone: Detachable cardioid
Weight: 345g
Active noise cancellation: No
Compatibility: PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PS5
Why we love it
- Sounds great
- Sturdy design
Take note
- Heavy
It’s worth investing in good headphones for the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, especially when the Zelda games exist, and plenty more besides. The Logitech G Pro X 2 Lightspeed sounds fantastic, with surround sound a particular highlight, and no need for additional software. There’s great bass here, with the headphones cocooning you nicely.
They can feel a little heavy after extended sessions, but I still enjoyed chilling on the couch with my Switch 2, playing The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (and some sneaky Hello Kitty Island Adventure), with these on. While on the heavier side, the earcups are well padded so they feel good around your ears. Easy-to-reach onboard controls sweeten the deal, and they work well with other devices too, with only the lack of ANC proving a slight annoyance at this price.
Buy now £249, Amazon.co.uk
Razer Barracuda X Chroma
Best: gaming headset for PC
Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4GHz, 3.5mm
Drivers: 40mm
Microphone: Cardioid
Weight: 285g
Active noise cancellation: No
Compatibility: PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PS5
Why we love it
- Fun to adjust via app
- Very comfortable
Take note
- Need more than one app installed for all features
The Razer Barracuda X Chroma are a lot of fun to use with RGB lighting that’s subtle but appealing, surround sound that draws you in, and a very comfortable design. Annoyingly, you need to install a few Razer apps to use everything that the Razer Barracuda X Chroma has to offer, but you’ll quickly get used to that.
It’s easy to switch between devices, and there’s that rare but golden thing - a detachable mic. Battery life is also very strong at a highly respectable 70 hours or so. Just look out for onboard controls that are a little too easy to mis-press. At least they’re comfy to wear if potentially a little tight for some. Still, it’s a small price to pay for something that doesn’t cost very much atl..
Buy now £119, Amazon.co.uk
Chillblast Cryo Sync
Best: gaming headset for comfort
Connection: 2.4GHz, Bluetooth, 3.5mm
Drivers: 53mm
Microphone: Yes
Weight: About 350g
Active noise cancellation: Yes
Compatibility: PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PS5
Why we love it
- Very comfortable
- Clear and immersive sound
Take note
- Not very stylish
Chillblast is better known for its gaming PCs rather than its headsets, but if the Chillblast Cryo Sync is a good example of its other peripherals, I need to start paying more attention. It offers some powerful audio backed up by similarly competent at a shrewd price. There’s no dedicated app so I wouldn’t recommend it for someone who likes to get very hands-on but it sounds great out of the box.
The Chillblast Cryo Sync is also very comfortable. It’s easily the most comfortable headset I’ve tested, and there’s a detachable mic for when you want to go solo. The mic sounds good too and the 50 hours of battery life promised is accurate.The downside? It’s a shallow one but the Chillblast Cryo Sync isn’t the most exciting thing to look at, nor feels particularly expensive, but it works well.
Buy now £129.99, Chillblast.com
Razer Kraken Kitty V3 Pro
Best: gaming headset for streaming
Connection: 2.4GHz, Bluetooth, USB
Drivers: 40mm
Microphone: Yes
Weight: 385g
Active noise cancellation: No
Compatibility: PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PS5
Why we love it
- Very cute and distinctive design
- Good sound quality
- Comfortable
Take note
- Not exactly appropriate for most work meetings
If you want something quirky yet very functional, the Razer Kraken Kitty V3 Pro is the answer. Yes, it has vibrant cat ears, and yes, you can customise them via the Razer app, but underneath the quirkiness is a highly competent headset. If you stream, you can even let viewers control the lighting. It’s very silly. The extra weight from the ears makes it a little cumbersome if you move around a lot, but it suits long gaming sessions just fine.
You’re unlikely to use it during a meeting, but it’s perfect for adding some fun to your setup. It also offers high-end features like simultaneous 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connectivity, THX spatial audio support, and a wide soundstage for both gaming and music.
Buy now £179.99, Amazon.co.uk
HyperX Cloud III S
Best: mid-range gaming headset
Connection: 2.4GHz, Bluetooth, USB
Drivers: 53mm
Microphone: Detachable
Weight: 356g
Active noise cancellation: No
Compatibility: PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PS5
Why we love it
- Very comfortable
- Two mics
Take note
- Plain looking
- Hot to wear
A good option if you’re trying to avoid spending too much, the HyperX Cloud III S is incredibly comfortable to wear thanks to its leatherette earcups, but it does also run hot if the weather’s warm. It sounds great though and I really appreciated how well I could hear footsteps in Fortnite, and plenty of little details in other games too.
Unusually, the HyperX Cloud III S has two mics. One is detachable and unidirectional while the other is omnidirectional. The latter picks up more noises around you, but both are suitably crisp and good quality. I adored the 200 hour battery life via Bluetooth as well. It’s yet to be beaten elsewhere.
Buy now £129.99, Amazon.co.uk
Razer Blackshark V3 Pro
Best: gaming headset for competitive play
Connection: 2.4GHz, Bluetooth, USB, 3.5mm
Drivers: 50mm
Microphone: Detachable 12mm mic
Weight: 380g
Active noise cancellation: Yes
Compatibility: PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PS5
Why we love it
- Useful ANC
- Looks very high-end
Take note
- Dongle isn’t great
The Razer Blackshark V3 Pro looks and feels great to use. It has some lovely attention to detail like an ANC button onboard that lets you switch between on, off, and ambient/transparent modes. Ideal for locking in if you’re gaming competitively. It also sounds great with a wide soundstage that’s bass heavy – ideal for FPS gaming in particular.
Battery life is great at 70 hours too, which ties in well with the excellent comfort levels offered here. The main failing of the Razer Blackshark V3 Pro is the dongle which requires a USB cable to connect to your system. A weird option on an otherwise well-designed setup. It’s still a great option but feel free to glare at that extra cable that isn’t required with any other headset here.
Buy now £249.99, Amazon.co.uk
What are the best gaming headsets?
For most people, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless Gen 2 will be perfect. It sounds great, won’t break the bank, it happily works with all your devices from consoles to phones and tablets, and you can connect to two devices at once. I do wish it didn’t have that awkwardly sized USB-C dongle though. If you have a lot of money to invest, snap up the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite. It improves on the build quality of the Arctis Nova 7 Wireless Gen 2 and sounds ridiculously good. You’ll also dodge an awkward dongle as it instead has a separate hub that also doubles as a charging station and offers a bunch of other features. If you’d prefer to have money spare for games, go for the Logitech G325. It’s very lightweight to wear, still sounds good enough to hear footsteps creeping up on you, and it looks rather nice.
How the best gaming headsets were tested
When reviewing and testing these gaming headsets, I spent at least 20 hours with each headset, while gaming, taking meetings, and other general use. In that time, I considered some key areas like sound quality, microphone quality, battery life, comfort and app support.
For microphone testing, I used Discord and based my results on feedback from listeners, as well as measuring and comparing audio quality and each mic’s passive noise reduction with recording software.
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Jennifer Allen is a writer who specialises in tech and gaming having previously reviewed the PlayStation 5 for IndyBest. Her expertise is audio equipment and having gamed for 35 years, she is the perfect candidate to find the best gaming headsets for all users.
Elsewhere, IndyBest’s gaming experts have tested the best VR headsets, the best Nintendo Switch 2 games, the best handheld games consoles and more.
Looking for more tech upgrades? Read our review of the best wireless earbuds