How do I choose the best gaming headset?
There are hundreds of gaming headsets to choose from, so before you make your purchase you should consider how much you want to pay, what gaming platform your headset will be used with (and how long your gaming sessions will likely be), and whether you want a wired or wireless headset.
Cost: Unless you’re a pro gamer, you’re unlikely to be able to tell much difference between a gaming headset worth £100 and one worth a lot more, and we think most amateur gamers will be happy with a headset worth around £100 or less. We feature headsets here starting at just £16.99, which is our entry-level Supsoo G813 Wired Gaming Headset. As a general rule, the more expensive the gaming headset, the better the sound quality. Also note that cheaper headsets tend to work across all platforms whereas more expensive headsets are optimised for use with just one platform, so as to fully enable the audio experience attached to a specific game. Wireless headsets will usually cost more than wired headsets, and the more expensive the headset, the longer the battery life.
Platform: The main gaming platforms are Xbox, Playstation 4, Playstation 5, PC, Mac and Nintendo Switch. Some cheaper gaming headsets are compatible with all platforms, while some are optimised for a specific platform. If a headset is only compatible with one platform then you’ll need to use a different headset if you choose to play on a different type of console. However, the Astro Gaming A20 Wireless Headset, for example, is a top-quality gaming headset that can be cheaply adapted to use with any platform by purchasing extra transmitters.
Are wired headphones better for gaming?
Nowadays, a good wireless gaming headset will offer an experience as good as that of a wired headset, but for this reason they’re usually more expensive too. If you choose a wireless headset then you’ll need to check how frequently the headset will need to be charged and if it can be used while it’s charging.
Wireless gaming headsets usually last around 10 to15 hours on one charge. If you’re planning to use the headset for even longer then you may be better off with a wired one. If you’re planning for the headset to be used for long periods then you should consider purchasing a headset with additional padding on the ears.
What headset do pro gamers use?
The best headset for pro gamers is the SteelSeries Arctis 7 Wireless Gaming Headset which delivers a pitch-perfect combination of chat and audio and comes recommended by thousands of happy gamers.
What is the best headset for gaming?
The best headset for recreational gamers is the cheaper HyperX Cloud II Virtual Surround Sound Gaming Headset which is a great alternative to the SteelSeries Arctis 7 at half the price and boasts 7.1 surround sound.
How we chose our recommendations
Because we know that there’s nothing like a real recommendation from a real parent, we first headed to the Mumsnet forums to find out which gaming headsets discerning Mumsnet users had bought for their families.
We then did some research across the wider web, looking at which gaming headsets had won accolades or been featured in ‘best buy’ lists across websites and print media, and what customers' reviews said about them. Having collated all that information, we picked the gaming headsets we thought would make the best buys in several interest categories.
Why you should trust us
We work hard to provide unbiased, independent advice you can trust. We do sometimes earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. This helps us fund more helpful articles like this one.