🎧 The list in brief
1. Best overall
2. Best budget
3. Best high-end
4. Best spatial audio
5. Best earbuds
6. Best Bluetooth
7. Also tested
8. How we test
Wireless gaming headsets deliver audio without anchoring you to your desktop, so making a cup of coffee while in the group chat becomes a breeze, and you can run to get the door without ripping your headset out of the jack.
The best wireless gaming headset is the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless, with its incredible audio quality, flawless connection and 300-hour battery life. We're seeing more gaming headsets with Bluetooth and the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro is the best Bluetooth gaming headset we've tested, though lag-free dedicated dongles are best for PC gaming.
If you're a serious audiophile, you should check out our picks for the best headphones for gaming, and bargain hunters should read through our best gaming headsets guide, though not all of them provide the cableless freedom the ones below will.
Dave's been a born again audiophile since his time running Techradar's Home Entertainment channel around half a million years ago (give or take) and after his first taste of high-resolution audio, speakers worth tens of thousands of dollars, and $51,000 headphones, he's been all in on what sounds good. Having tested the whole spread of different quality gaming gear he's best placed to say which budget cans still sound good, and which high-end headsets are worth the cash.
The quick list
The best overall
The Cloud Alpha Wireless is a wireless wonder for PC gaming. It has superb sound, a clear mic, and DTS surround sound. It’s also light and comfy, with a whopping 300-hour battery life. It’s the best wireless headset we’ve tested so far.
The best budget
The wire-free version of our favorite budget gaming headset, it seems only fair to mention this more value-focused wireless headset as a good option to look into.
The best high-end
Audiophiles will love the Maxwell's planar magnetic drivers. It is on the expensive side, but when it delivers gorgeous natural sound, great battery life, and a good mic, there's little to dislike here.
The best spatial audio
With a great floating headband design, the Corsair HS80 RGB is a super comfy wireless headset. Pair that with excellent Hi-Res Audio + Dolby Atmos and a fantastic microphone, and you're onto a winner.
The best earbuds
Not too bad price-wise, the JBL Quantum TWS earbuds come with dual-connection, great noise cancelling, and super easy touch controls. With an imperceptible delay, they're fantastic for gaming and less bulky than a headset.
The best Bluetooth
With a sleek design, we don't feel weird wearing these outdoors. Pair that with tons of connectivity options, replaceable batteries, and active noise-cancellation and these are a great recommendation, for a fair chunk of cash.
Recent updates
Updated February 15, 2024 to ensure our recommendations are still the best choices in each category. They are but we expect lots of tough competition appearing, as the year progresses.
Best wireless gaming headset overall
✅ You want the very best wireless gaming experience: Peerless battery life, superb audio quality, and day-long comfort all go to make the Cloud Alpha unmatched in this segment.
❌ You need a high quality microphone: Compared to the rest of the headset, the Cloud Alpha's mic is merely okay and isn't suited for streaming at a professional level.
The HyperX Cloud Alpha is perhaps the most praised thing to exist on this site and the wireless version is by far the best wireless gaming headset you can buy. We all love it on the team and the biggest drawcard for this headset is the huge battery. This offers up to 300 hours of battery life while in wireless mode, and yet the Cloud Alpha Wireless is still relatively light and comfortable.
Out of the box, our review sample was reporting having about 80% charge, so we decided to leave it there to see how well that held. A full workday listening to music and it still said 80%; a week of gaming and music and it didn't even reach a 50% battery level.
That impressive battery life is, of course, a best-case scenario. A lot of that has to do with the volume you're running the headset at, and volume is probably the only real complaint. It's absolutely loud enough but you can listen to it at full volume and still be fairly comfortable.
The sound quality truly is incredible. Music sounds amazing and these are definitely one of the better gaming headsets we've used to listen to music on, with instruments and sound layers being clearly separated.
When playing games, the directional sound is also very nice: It was easy to locate hidden batteries by directional beeps in Deep Rock Galactic and Doom Eternal becomes properly terrifying. If you've ever wanted to know what it sounds like to have a Cacodemon suddenly show up and whisper sweet blah-things into very specifically your left ear, then these cans absolutely deliver.
The Cloud line is always touted for comfort and despite the hefty battery this still definitely fits the bill. The top band is thick and has soft padding underneath. This, coupled with the equally soft ear cups, makes for a very cozy experience and does an excellent job of blocking out noise.
Sadly, the mic is your fairly standard affair and while it will work just fine for normal chat in games, it's very basic and uninspired when it comes to sound quality.
Though all things considered, it's hard to imagine a customer who wouldn't be happy with these as a wireless gaming headset. They're pricey, but within reason for their specs, and they certainly deliver on everything you could want for gaming, and listening to music, on your PC.
Read our full HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless review.
Best budget wireless gaming headset
✅ You want wallet-friendly wireless: Cheaper headset are available but they're usually wired. You're getting a pretty decent headset for the money, all things considered.
❌ You need a high quality microphone: A common theme with gaming headsets is a mediocre mic, yet the wired version of the HS55 is really good. Shame this one isn't.
When you're shopping for a budget wireless gaming headset, you have to be prepared to spend more than you would on a budget wired gaming headset. Or at least if you want something quality that won't let you down in the long run. We rate the Corsair HS55 as the best budget gaming headset so it seems only fitting to recommend the wireless version for anyone who wants to cut the cord.
The audio quality on the HS55 Wireless is decent, with enough clarity throughout the frequency range necessary for gaming. These cans work great in Destiny 2, for example, and it's easy to pick out positional cues well while wearing them. That said, they can sometimes become a little woolly with lots of calamitous noise all happening at once.
As for listening to music, there's not much special here. These are pretty standard 50mm drivers and they sound like it. The bass is a bit too heavy, though thankfully not entirely blown out like some gaming headsets.
You'll find the same frame on most of Corsair's mid-range headsets, and the HS55 Wireless plays things by the book. That means you get a well-made if a little plasticky, headset in the box, with a flip-to-mute microphone protruding out of one ear cup.
We all love a flip-to-mute microphone in the office, as it's far more convenient than using a removable mic, and there's less risk of losing your microphone. Not that we've ever done that, no sir.
One thing to note specifically about the wireless version of the HS55 is that the microphone quality isn't quite up to the standard of the wired version. Recording our usual microphone test for both the wireless model and the wired model again, highlighted just how much better the wired pair sounds.
The wireless connection seems to add a whole lot of noise to the output on the HS55 Wireless. While the output is clear enough to be heard (we've used this headset in meetings and a few group gaming sessions without any complaints), it's a little sad to see the HS55's strongest feature become one of its weakest, as a trade for wireless functionality.
But we rarely find a decent wireless gaming headset going for so little, at least not without a discount. That's something to keep in mind: A good deal on a higher-end wireless headset is perhaps worth checking out. MSRPs withstanding, the Corsair HS55 offers enough to get our check of approval on a tighter budget.
Read our full Corsair HS55 Wireless review.
Best high-end wireless gaming headset
✅ You need the very best audio quality: Planar magnetic drivers are big and heavy, but oh boy do they make such wonderful sounds. Everything else will sound cheap once you've tried these.
❌ You want a lightweight headset: The Maxwell isn't excessively heavy but you'll certainly notice the overall mass of materials here, thanks to those beefy drivers.
What makes the Audeze Maxwell the best high-end gaming headset is the fact that using them means there will never be any compromise: Peerless audio quality thanks to planar magnetic drivers, wireless freedom, long battery life, all in one gaming headset. In fairness, Audeze already created such a product in its Penrose, but it lacked either the battery life or the high-res audio chops of this updated Maxwell design.
So what's the big deal with planar magnetic drivers? Your standard gaming headset uses dynamic drivers, which operate on a principle largely similar to traditional speakers. They have a cone-shaped diaphragm that is vibrated using a single magnet and a magnetized coil to generate sound. It's relatively simple but creates a distinct color to the sound that hits your ears.
With planar magnetic drivers, however, the wider, flatter structure of the driver means the way the sound hits your ears is broader and more natural. This is why they can create such a natural soundstage and why they are the best technology for gaming headsets if you want to deeply immerse yourself in your chosen game world.
The main issue, though, is they end up being rather heavy as a result of the large magnets. And in a wireless headset, that has to also contend with an added battery. Together the weight can become an issue. At 490g, the Audeze Maxwell is heavy, and there's no getting away from that. Thankfully the design of the headband and ear cups is such that you're unlikely to be fatigued from wearing them, even after long gaming sessions.
In terms of the actual connection, you have four choices. You can either connect through an analog 3.5mm jack, a USB type-C cable, Bluetooth 5.3, or a low latency 2.4GHz wireless connection via an included USB type-C dongle.
It's all super quick and pretty slick. We're used to latency not being an issue with 2.4GHz wireless, but Maxwell also allows for up to 24-bit/96KHz audio to be flung over that connection. If you're after proper audiophile wireless chops, Audeze has really delivered here, and in a gaming headset.
Sure, it is a lot of money to drop on a peripheral, but that's not a lot of cash to spend on a planar magnetic headset, even less so on one that's capable of high-res audio over wireless to boot. It's certainly a better value bundle than the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro, our previous favorite high-end headset, and a better-sounding one, too.
The Audeze Maxwell is the ultimate daily driver of a headset. It services both the need for wireless freedom and audiophile aspirations, and it's just the best aural experience you're going to get in a gaming headset.
Read our full Audeze Maxwell review.
Best spatial audio wireless gaming headset
✅ You need rich 3D audio in games: There's nothing like hearing sounds correctly positioned and distanced around you in a game, and this headset delivers spatial audio just right.
❌ You want a discrete, small headset: The HS80 is a bulky affair and there's no escaping the fact that it feels just as big as it looks.
Corsair's HS80 RGB Wireless is easily one of the best headsets the company has ever made and it just so happens to be the best spatial audio gaming headset, for truly immersive surround sound in games. It boasts the latest and greatest lag-free Slipstream Wireless tech, high-fidelity audio, and Dolby Atmos. The microphone is really solid, too.
Corsair has adopted a floating headband design that uses an adjustable strap to evenly distribute the weight across your noggin. The HS80 feels bulkier than any Steelseries headset but at 370g, it's not that much heavier. Thankfully, the ear cushions use a plush and breathable fabric that wraps around your ears like a warm blanket.
Now to the important bit: the HS80 uses 50mm drivers that output 24-bit/48kHz audio over Slipstream Wireless and a higher fidelity 24-bit/96kHz over a USB Type-C cable. The latter will require something better than your typical Spotify stream to notice the difference though.
But all this just means that the HS80s sound good with a rich, full-body sound and well-balanced bass. The sub-bass can be a little lacking at times, and I noticed some distortion even at low volumes, which holds the HS80 back from true greatness but there's an EQ in the iCUE software that you can play with to fine-tune the audio to your liking.
However, it's the spatial audio where the HS80 really impresses, with full 3D audio and accurate positioning. This, as you can imagine, is great for games like first-person shooters or large open-world environments. This is made even better with support for Dolby Atmos and Corsair provides an automatic license with the headset.
Battery life on the HS80 was consistent with the marketing claims of 20 hours. In testing that meant charging the headset every two days—with 10 hours of work and play each day. Charging the HS80 is easy thanks to a type-C connection that also allows you to listen to them while on charge.
The Corsair HS80 is a great headset. It sounds great in both games and other media with a wonderful implementation of Dolby Atmos. If you do a lot of chat, the microphone also happens to be one of the best we've tested.
Read our full Corsair HS80 RGB review.
Best wireless earbuds for gaming
✅ You want to use earbuds across multiple devices: You get a low latency dongle for gaming on PCs but you can also quickly switch to a decent Bluetooth connection for when you want to listen to music on your phone.
❌ You need a set of earbuds with long battery life: The noise cancelling feature is super useful but it really eats into the battery charge. Even with NC enabled, you'll barely get a working day of life out of them.
The JBL Quantums are your classic wireless fare, aping the long-stemmed look of Apple's AirPods but with a black finish. They come in a magnetic charging case, which helps extend the battery life of the buds themselves, and this case also holds the USB Type-C dongle, which allows you to connect to other devices, such as a gaming laptop.
One feature that propels the JBL Quantums ahead of the pack is Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity and 2.4GHz wireless via a Type-C dongle. And the switching is fast, and the connection is robust.
The noise canceling is decent, too, even if it inevitably cuts down the battery life from eight to five hours. Using the JBL phone app, you can tune them to your ear canal to further enhance the ANC as well. Earbuds like the Creative Outlier Pro have the edge when it comes to completely blocking the outside world, but the Quantum buds are still impressively effective.
They're not the best-sounding buds we've tested, but the audio quality is still really good. However, you should steer clear of the QuantumSURROUND feature if you're running them from the USB dongle on your desktop PC, though—the bass becomes painfully loud, and galloping through desert cacti in Red Dead Redemption 2 feels like your eardrums are under assault.
With that off, the bass tones are more subtle, though it did need a bump in the EQ, when listening to music over the Bluetooth connection. In general, they sound better with a flat EQ, and the JBL app also offers a game mode, which helps sync game and video audio.
The fact that you can jam the Type-C dongle into your laptop or Steam Deck and play without delay makes the Quantums incredibly versatile.
And they're very affordable, too. Considering that the Audeze Euclids—easily the best-sounding earbuds we've ever used—is $1,200, it's pretty astounding that the JBLs are more usable daily and a tenth of the price.
Read our full JBL Quantum TWS review.
Best Bluetooth wireless gaming headset
✅ You need one headset for many uses: The Nova Pros are ideal if you just want a single set of cans to game at your desk and on the go, or wear them on the bus without looking daft.
❌ You don't want to spend too much money: There's no escaping the fact these SteelSeries cans are mightily expensive but that's the price you pay to have it all.
When it comes to choosing the best Bluetooth gaming headset, you want something that you can just plonk on your head and easily connect to multiple devices, all while being comfortable and sounding great. The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro ticks off all those boxes.
It achieves the first of this via its multi-system connect feature, which lets you connect to two different devices via 2.4GHz wireless and Bluetooth simultaneously. Gaming on your PC or laptop, then walk out of the door, and carry on playing with a handheld, all without removing the headset.
The Arctis Nova Pro is made even more portable with a pair of hot-swappable, lithium-ion batteries. These charge up in under an hour slotted into the side of the ESS Sabre Quad-DAC, or through USB Type-C charging cable connected to the headset.
Reloading the lithium battery is a breeze, and if you can do it quickly they don't even switch off in the process. It fully charges in under an hour and we're convinced more gaming headsets should sport this feature.
Sound quality, especially the bass, is especially good and there's also the benefit of active noise-cancellation, which is a key feature on any over-ear headset looking to attract users headed onto busy public transport. Add in decent spatial audio via the Sonar app, and you've got portable gaming nirvana.
The fully retractable ClearCast Gen2 mic is a little fuzzier than expected in default mode—the main drawback to going wireless—but the noise reduction feature does a great job at nullifying that. You even get a handy DAC that serves as a 96kHz/24-bit amplifier, similar to that of the Arctis Pro which also touts a wide 10-40kHz frequency response.
The only serious downside to the Nova Pro is the price. For a device that claims to be a single gaming headset for PCs, consoles, and handhelds, as well as music headphones, you sure feel like you're paying for multiple devices. It comes down to weighing up whether to spend more money on another pair of headphones to take outside the house or if you'd rather take a one-headset-fits-all approach.
Read our full SteelSeries Nova Pro Wireless review.
Also tested
Despite being made by Sony, the InZone H5 is most at home connected to a gaming PC. Lovely sound and comfort are backed up by decent software and a reasonable price. Pity about the microphone and overly plastic feel to it all.
PC Gamer score: 80%
Logitech has made a good effort to do something different with the Pro X 2 Lightspeed cans, but it's so expensive it makes it a very tough recommendation. Our favorite wireless gaming headset is quite a bit cheaper.
PC Gamer score: 72%
Another shining example of a gaming headset here, the Beoplay Portal combines an in-earcup microphone, with touch controls, and a good bit of ANC. The sound is super detailed, and although the mic is a little quiet there's very little to complain about with these... other than that price tag.
PC Gamer score: 88%
The Xbox Wireless Headset hits all the good points without going too flashy. Its minimal design and solid stereo sound make it a great headset, especially at that price. The fact there's no option to connect via 3.5mm jack, and that the Virtual Surround Sound costs extra, hold it back from being top-tier, however.
PC Gamer score: 87%
A pair of really decent earbuds are the Logitech G Fits. The audio is great and dual mode gives it an extra level of flexibility for fast switching between devices. They're a little invasive with the way they shape to your ear, but it means they're secure and really comfortable. The only issues come in the fact you can't store the dongle in the case, and there's no ANC.
PC Gamer score: 83%
While Turtle Beach made a great bat for the crown here with the Stealth Pro, a lot of the features look good on paper alone. It comes with some nice noise canceling, but it's not the most comfortable headband, or audio quality for that matter.
PC Gamer score: 60%
How we test wireless gaming headsets
How does PC Gamer test wireless gaming headsets?
Many of the qualities you’re looking for from a wireless headset are the same you’d hope to find in any audio equipment—tone, build quality, and reliability leading the charge. As such, we listen to each review model while playing different genres of games, listening to music, and watching movies with bombastic sound effects and surround mixes—think less Werner Herzog, more Chris Nolan.
There are a few wireless-specific elements we need to test for, too: battery life, charge time, range, and latency. The former is pretty self-explanatory, though, in addition to an ‘everyday use’ battery life test, we also run the headset at full volume to discover how quickly the charge drains under those conditions. To ascertain charge time, we… well, we charge the headsets and note how long it takes.
Range and latency are trickier to test scientifically. However, having a pleasant walk around the house gives a good indication of range, and latency ultimately comes down to perception. After several days of use, we’re in an excellent place to make the call on a headset with all that taken into account.
Are wireless headphones okay for gaming?
There are some for whom nanoseconds do matter, or at least are perceived to, and they may wish to steer clear of wireless headphones, but for the majority of us, there is little problem with the best wireless gaming headsets today.
Unless you connect via Bluetooth, however. That is the laggiest of current wireless connections, with a 2.4GHz wireless interface able to deliver audio performance that won't get in the way of your game.
Are wireless gaming headsets more expensive?
The sad fact is that you are likely to be paying a premium for a wireless version of any product. You have to factor in the extra design, the extra connectivity peripherals (the wireless dongle, etc.), and the fact you now have to have a battery.
Are wireless gaming headsets heavier than wired ones?
Generally, because of that added battery, you will find that a wireless version of a gaming headset will weigh slightly more than its wired equivalent. Taking an example for our review list, the Razer Blackshark V2 Pro weighs 42g more than the wired, non-Pro version.
