HyperX Cloud II
A wired classic with an aluminium frame, memory foam and 53mm drivers.
Check Price on Amazon Read the full reviewThe 10 Best Gaming Headsets of 2026, Ranked
Our verdict: The best gaming headset in 2026 is the HyperX Cloud II. It tops our ranking with 9.1 out of 10.
Our gaming headset picks
Fewer picks than usual: no other model in the top half is better value and no dearer model makes the top half.
Razer BlackShark V2 X
A no-frills wired esports headset with large drivers and a clear mic.
Check Price on Amazon Read the full reviewAll 10 gaming headsets, compared
We compared 17 gaming headsets sold in the UK, then ranked ten of them by how happy owners are. These ten cover wireless and wired models for PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Switch, from budget picks to a premium headset with its own base station. Every product links to its full review below.
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1
HyperX Cloud IIBest Choice
9.1 out of 10
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2
Razer BlackShark V2 XBest Budget
8.7 out of 10
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3
HyperX Cloud III S Wireless
8.6 out of 10
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4
Logitech G733 Lightspeed
8.6 out of 10
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5
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5
8.4 out of 10
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6
Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 3
8.4 out of 10
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7
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless Gen 2
7.9 out of 10
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8
Logitech G325 Lightspeed
7.7 out of 10
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9
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite
7.5 out of 10
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10
Astro A30 Lightspeed Wireless
7.3 out of 10
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Why No. 1 beats No. 2
The HyperX Cloud II (9.1) beats the Razer BlackShark V2 X (8.7) because it leaves owners clearly happier.
The full gaming headset reviews
1.HyperX Cloud II
A wired classic with an aluminium frame, memory foam and 53mm drivers. It plugs into PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch and phones and never needs charging.
What makes up the score
- How happy owners are1st of 10
- How many rated it1st of 10
- How new it is10th of 10
Each bar shows its place in this guide, so a full bar is 1st of 10. How happy owners are counts for most of the score.
Why it's here
- 53mm neodymium drivers with a USB box for virtual 7.1 surround
- Memory foam ear cups and an aluminium frame
- Detachable noise-cancelling mic
- Wired 3.5mm connection works on every platform, with no battery to charge
Keep in mind
- Wired only, so you trail a cable
- 320g with leatherette cups that can run warm in long sessions
- On Xbox it connects by 3.5mm only, so the USB control box and its 7.1 mode are unavailable
2.Razer BlackShark V2 X
A no-frills wired esports headset with large drivers and a clear mic. It is the cheapest here and works on any device with a 3.5mm jack.
What makes up the score
- How happy owners are2nd of 10
- How many rated it2nd of 10
- How new it is8th of 10
Each bar shows its place in this guide, so a full bar is 1st of 10. How happy owners are counts for most of the score.
Why it's here
- 50mm TriForce drivers in closed-back cups with passive noise isolation
- HyperClear cardioid boom mic
- 240g with memory foam cushions
- 3.5mm connection works with PC, Mac, PS5, Xbox, Switch and Steam Deck
Keep in mind
- Wired only, with no USB connection, app or EQ
- The 7.1 surround mode is a Windows software feature
- On consoles it plugs into the controller, which ties up a cable
3.HyperX Cloud III S Wireless
The battery champion of this list, at up to 120 hours on the dongle. It has a detachable boom mic and large angled drivers, and it works with PC, PlayStation and Switch.
What makes up the score
- How happy owners are4th of 10
- How many rated it4th of 10
- How new it is4th of 10
Each bar shows its place in this guide, so a full bar is 1st of 10. How happy owners are counts for most of the score.
Why it's here
- Up to 120 hours on 2.4GHz and up to 200 hours on Bluetooth
- 53mm angled drivers
- Detachable boom mic with an LED mute indicator
- 2.4GHz dongle plus Bluetooth for phones
Keep in mind
- At 340g it is among the heaviest wireless picks here
- Not an Xbox headset
- Some owners report the dongle needing a powered USB hub on a PS5 Slim
4.Logitech G733 Lightspeed
The long-running wireless favourite for PC, with a suspension headband and RGB lighting. It is a few years old but still sold new and widely owned.
What makes up the score
- How happy owners are3rd of 10
- How many rated it3rd of 10
- How new it is9th of 10
Each bar shows its place in this guide, so a full bar is 1st of 10. How happy owners are counts for most of the score.
Why it's here
- Suspension headband that spreads the weight over the head
- 29+ hours of battery and about 20m of wireless range
- 40mm PRO-G drivers with DTS Headphone:X 2.0 surround
- Customisable RGB lighting and EQ in G HUB
Keep in mind
- No Bluetooth, so it cannot pair with a phone
- Charges over micro-USB rather than USB-C
- Not compatible with Xbox
5.SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5
A light mid-range wireless headset that covers PC, PlayStation, Switch and phones from one USB-C dongle. A 50-hour-plus battery and over 100 game presets in the app make it the easy all-rounder.
What makes up the score
- How happy owners are5th of 10
- How many rated it6th of 10
- How new it is6th of 10
Each bar shows its place in this guide, so a full bar is 1st of 10. How happy owners are counts for most of the score.
Why it's here
- Around 50 hours or more per charge, with USB-C fast charging
- 2.4GHz dongle plus Bluetooth 5.3, switched with one button
- Retractable mic and a 265g body that suits long sessions
- App EQ with 100+ game presets and two saved profiles
Keep in mind
- Switches between 2.4GHz and Bluetooth rather than playing both at once
- ChatMix game and chat balance only works on Windows
- Xbox owners need the separate Nova 5X edition
6.Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 3
A mid-priced wireless headset with an 80-hour battery and 50mm drivers. It is sold in Xbox, PlayStation and PC editions, which makes it the easy pick for Xbox players on a budget.
What makes up the score
- How happy owners are6th of 10
- How many rated it5th of 10
- How new it is5th of 10
Each bar shows its place in this guide, so a full bar is 1st of 10. How happy owners are counts for most of the score.
Why it's here
- 80-hour battery with quick charging
- 50mm Nanoclear drivers
- 2.4GHz plus Bluetooth 5.2 with a QuickSwitch button
- Flip-to-mute mic with AI noise reduction and a 10-band EQ in the Swarm II app
Keep in mind
- The dongle is platform-specific, so an Xbox edition will not work wirelessly on PlayStation
- Some owners report occasional connection drops and mic faults
- Software is less polished than SteelSeries or Logitech
7.SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless Gen 2
The upgrade for players who want game audio and a phone call at the same time. It plays 2.4GHz and Bluetooth together and lasts over 50 hours.
What makes up the score
- How happy owners are7th of 10
- How many rated it7th of 10
- How new it is2nd of 10
Each bar shows its place in this guide, so a full bar is 1st of 10. How happy owners are counts for most of the score.
Why it's here
- Plays game audio over the dongle and phone audio over Bluetooth together
- 50+ hours of battery, and 15 minutes on charge gives about 6 hours
- Noise-rejecting retractable mic with AI cleanup on PC
- Works with PC, PlayStation, Switch and handhelds
Keep in mind
- Costs noticeably more than the Nova 5, which shares much of its feature set
- Full ChatMix and AI mic features need a Windows PC
- Xbox needs the separate Nova 7X Wireless Gen 2
8.Logitech G325 Lightspeed
A very light wireless headset at a budget price. It pairs a Lightspeed dongle with Bluetooth and weighs 212g, which owners say stays comfortable for hours.
What makes up the score
- How happy owners are8th of 10
- How many rated it9th of 10
- How new it is1st of 10
Each bar shows its place in this guide, so a full bar is 1st of 10. How happy owners are counts for most of the score.
Why it's here
- 212g with dual-layer memory foam ear cups
- Lightspeed 2.4GHz dongle plus Bluetooth 5.2 for phones
- Beamforming mic with AI noise reduction
- Tuning through G HUB on PC and Logitech's mobile app
Keep in mind
- 24+ hours of battery is modest next to the 50 to 80 hour rivals
- Plain styling and fewer extras than the mid-range models
- Console use is limited to PlayStation and Switch, with no Xbox edition
9.SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite
The flagship: hi-res wireless audio, active noise cancellation and a base station that serves PC, PlayStation and Xbox. It is built for players who want the best sound and have the budget.
What makes up the score
- How happy owners are9th of 10
- How many rated it10th of 10
- How new it is2nd of 10
Each bar shows its place in this guide, so a full bar is 1st of 10. How happy owners are counts for most of the score.
Why it's here
- 96kHz/24-bit hi-res wireless audio over 2.4GHz, plus Bluetooth
- Active noise cancellation with a transparency mode
- GameHub base connects PC, PlayStation and Xbox, and charges a spare battery
- Swappable batteries mean no downtime mid-session
Keep in mind
- Priced at several times the cost of the mid-range picks
- Needs the GameHub base on your desk for console and PC use
- The sound gain over a good mid-range headset is small for casual play
10.Astro A30 Lightspeed Wireless
A console-minded wireless headset from the Astro line, sold as separate Xbox and PlayStation editions. It adds a detachable boom mic and Bluetooth to a Lightspeed dongle.
What makes up the score
- How happy owners are10th of 10
- How many rated it7th of 10
- How new it is7th of 10
Each bar shows its place in this guide, so a full bar is 1st of 10. How happy owners are counts for most of the score.
Why it's here
- Lightspeed dongle plus Bluetooth, with a 3.5mm wired option
- Detachable boom mic
- Dolby Atmos and 3D audio compatible
- Separate Xbox/PC and PlayStation/PC editions
Keep in mind
- Costs about the same as mid-range models but has 40mm drivers and shorter battery life
- You must buy the edition that matches your console
- Battery life trails the 50-hour-plus models
Before you buy a gaming headset
Which gaming headset works with PS5, Xbox and PC?
Wireless headsets usually need a platform-specific dongle, because Xbox uses its own wireless protocol. SteelSeries (Nova 5X, Nova 7X), Turtle Beach (Stealth 600 Gen 3) and Astro (A30) sell separate Xbox and PlayStation editions, and the PlayStation edition also works on PC. The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite is the exception, as its GameHub base connects PC, PlayStation and Xbox. A wired headset on a 3.5mm jack, such as the HyperX Cloud II or Razer BlackShark V2 X, works on all three.
Is a wireless gaming headset worth it over a wired one?
A 2.4GHz dongle has latency low enough for fast games, so most wireless headsets here use one. Bluetooth adds more delay and suits phones and calls. The best models pair both, and the Nova 7 Wireless Gen 2 plays game audio and a phone call together. Wired headsets never need charging and give more sound for the money, so they suit a desk setup.
How much should I spend on a gaming headset?
Budget models such as the Logitech G325 and Razer BlackShark V2 X cover the basics: decent drivers, a usable mic and a light fit. The mid-range, including the Nova 5, Cloud III S and Stealth 600 Gen 3, adds longer battery life, dual connection and app EQ. Premium models like the Nova Elite add noise cancellation and hi-res audio, and the gain is smaller than the jump in cost. Weight matters too: these ten run from 212g to well over 300g, and a lighter headset with slim arms sits better under glasses.
Do I need 7.1 surround sound for gaming?
No. Virtual 7.1 is software applied to stereo drivers, as on the HyperX Cloud II and Razer BlackShark V2 X, not seven separate speakers. Spatial options such as Tempest 3D Audio on PS5, Windows Sonic and Dolby Atmos can help you place footsteps in some games. Many players turn them off for music, so treat them as a preference. Driver size and a closed-back design matter more for isolation and bass.
How long should the battery last on a wireless gaming headset?
Around 20 hours covers a week of evening sessions. The Logitech G325 claims 24+ hours, the Astro A30 27+ and the G733 29+, while the Nova 7 Gen 2 claims 50+, the Nova 5 about 50 and the Stealth 600 Gen 3 80. The Cloud III S claims up to 120 hours on 2.4GHz. These are brand figures at moderate volume, and lighting or noise cancellation shortens them. Most use USB-C, and the Nova 7 Gen 2 gives about 6 hours from a 15-minute charge, while the G733 still uses micro-USB.
Will a gaming headset work on a Switch or a phone?
Wireless headsets with a USB dongle usually work in the Switch dock or the handheld's USB-C port. Logitech lists the G325 for Switch 1 and 2, SteelSeries lists the Nova 5 and Nova 7 Gen 2 for Switch, and HyperX lists the Cloud III S. Phones need Bluetooth, which most wireless picks here include, but the G733 does not. Wired headsets use the 3.5mm jack, so check your phone has one or buy an adapter.
How we ranked these ten gaming headsets
Every score here comes from our ranking model; no editor sets the order. We haven't read the review sites for this guide yet, so for now it is led by owners. It ranks products by how happy owners are, holding back any product few owners have rated until more agree. How many rated it and how new it is only settle close calls, and value for money earns its own badge rather than a higher place. We compared 17 models for this guide before settling on these ten.
Brands can't pay to be included or to move up. We last checked these picks in November 2026.
How we rank, in fullOur No. 1 gaming headset
HyperX Cloud II
A wired classic with an aluminium frame, memory foam and 53mm drivers. 9.1 out of 10.