Wireless tech has come a long way over the years and headsets have improved drastically in that time not just in sound quality and latency, but also in robust feature sets and battery life. While there are still a few unique advantages to going with wired audio gear (especially when you approach audiophile range), it's almost a given that my recommendations for the best gaming headsets will be wireless as well, since theyre so much more common now. So, here we are!TL;DR These are the Best Wireless Gaming HeadsetsOur Top PickSteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro WirelessAudeze MaxwellHyperX Cloud IIISee it at AmazonTurtle Beach Stealth 500See it at AmazonAlienware Pro HeadsetSee it at AmazonPlayStation Pulse EliteSee it at AmazonXbox Wireless HeadsetSee it at AmazonSteelSeries Arctis GameBudsSee it at AmazonAll the listed headsets were chosen based on several factors sound quality and comfort being the most important. But other things like positional audio, microphone clarity, user experience, and battery life were accounted for as well as overall value. So, no matter which one fits your needs and/or budget, youre getting a great overall headset.1. SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Best Overall Wireless Gaming HeadsetOur Top PickSteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro WirelessMultiple connectivity options, including simultaneous listening on different devices, a hot-swappable battery, excellent sound, and hybrid active noise canceling make this a hard-to-top headset.Product SpecificationsConnectivity2.4 GHz wireless, Bluetooth, wiredDrivers40mm NeodymiumBattery life18-22 hours (per battery)Weight338gPROSFully featured with ANC, base station, etcSwappable battery system is innovativeFantastic sound qualityCONSANC could be betterIf youve checked out our other best gaming headset roundups, then it should be no surprise that the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro is one of our top picks here. It earned a coveted 10/10 in our Arctis Nova Pro headset review for several reasons, namely its top-notch sound quality and long-term comfort. But its the smaller things that make it stand above the rest.It comes with a convenient base station to control various features on the headset including profiles you can program in the SteelSeries software, EQ presets, and active noise cancelling. Other headsets may do ANC a bit better than the Arctis Nova Pro, but its sufficient in helping isolate the audio experience if you need it. For built-in microphones, it has one of the best in terms of clarity, but its also great about blocking out ambient noises. Its unique battery system is a major perk as well; you get an extra battery unit and can swap out the battery pack easily, allowing you to let one charge as you continue to use the headset wirelessly.Its bold and balanced audio out of the box is one of the big reasons to look into the Arctis Nova Pro, but its also built for competitive play with great spatial and positional audio. Its cool to get an immersive sound experience, but its even cooler when you can anticipate enemy movement because you can pick up on their footsteps or gunfire and make smarter judgments in critical situations. Its the finer details like these that push this headset above most. It may be pricey, but you definitely get what you pay for.SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Photos2. Audeze MaxwellBest High-End Wireless Gaming HeadsetAudeze Maxwell90mm planar magnetic drivers deliver crisp, clear sound on a comfortable headset with an 80-hour battery life.Product SpecificationsConnectivityUSB-A / USB-C, Bluetooth 5.3, 3.5mm wiredDrivers90mm planar magneticBattery life80+ hoursWeight490PROSTop-notch audio experienceSleek, low-key designCONSLeans on the heavier sideWhere something like the Arctis Nova Pro stands out as an all-around fully featured product, the Audeze Maxwell has a particular focus on sound quality. Its a chunky headset, and it is a beast when it comes to the audio experience, rivaling some of the studio-grade headphones Ive used. It rocks a sleek, nondescript design so it certainly looks the part and it definitely delivers as if youre attaching a home theater setup to your head.The Maxwell sports 90mm planar magnetic drivers, which are the biggest of any headset Im recommending. Now, bigger drivers doesnt always mean better sound quality, but in the case of the Maxwell, its drivers are tuned nicely to create a rich natural audio profile out of the box with strong and balanced frequencies that remain clear at high volumes. This aspect alone would shoot it to the top of any list of high-end headset recommendations, but it has the important features that justify such a price tag.For a headset as robust as this one, you should expect comfort for long sessions. Even though the Maxwell lands on the heavier side of headsets, it doesnt necessarily feel that way because of its comfortable earpads and headband. You also get toggleable ANC to block outside noise, great microphone clarity for in-game communication, and one of the longest lasting batteries, which can go for about 80 hours under ideal conditions.3. HyperX Cloud IIIBest Mid-Range Wireless Gaming HeadsetHyperX Cloud IIIWith great comfort, sound quality, microphone clarity, and durability, the Cloud III is one of HyperX's best headsets.See it at AmazonProduct SpecificationsConnectivityWired (3.5mm), USB-A / USB-CDrivers53mm Angles DriversBattery lifeN/AWeight318gPROSExtremely durable and flexibleDense earpads for premium-grade comfortGreat sound and mic quality, especially in its price rangeCONSMay clamp a little too tightOne of the most impressive aspects of the HyperX Cloud headsets is its build quality it uses a sturdy aluminum frame that can twist and contort any which way without ever feeling like its breaking. That flexibility and durability speaks to the quality of the latest iteration in the Cloud III. Because of the way its built, it doesnt clamp too tightly, letting its dense and plushy earbuds rest easy over your ears. This makes it super comfortable.This also creates a natural noise isolation that lets its big 53mm audio drivers deliver great sound quality that punches above its weight. You get strong audio across the frequency spectrum and minimal distortion even at louder volumes, while positional audio will take care of you in competitive shooters. In my Cloud III headset review, I felt comfortable tracking enemy footsteps while playing a ton of Valorant and enjoyed the balanced audio in Final Fantasy XIV both of which this more affordable headset handled gracefully.And if that wasnt enough to impress at the mid-range, the Cloud IIIs microphone is among the best regardless of price range. No built-in mic is going to match that of a standalone mic, but the Cloud III approaches a level I would be comfortable streaming with. So, if you just need to communicate clearly in-game, youll probably sound much better than most people youre playing with. Im always recommending the Cloud III for those who still want a high-end experience, but dont want to ball out for the top-tier options.4. Turtle Beach Stealth 500 Best Budget Wireless Gaming HeadsetTurtle Beach Stealth 500Affordable, balanced wireless audio with up to 40 hours battery lifeSee it at AmazonProduct SpecificationsConnectivity2.4GHz, Bluetooth 5.2Drivers40mm driversBattery life40 hoursWeight335gPROSDurable and flexible buildGreat sound quality for its priceCONSBulky design with messy button layoutTurtle Beach has a long history of making gaming headsets, and its latest lineup proves that it knows what its doing. Perhaps surprisingly, the one that stands out the most is its entry-level option in the new Stealth 500. Dont get me wrong, the likes of the Stealth 600 and Stealth 700 are fantastic in their own right, but when I reviewed the Stealth 500, I loved that it doesnt necessarily feel like youre downgrading by going with the more affordable model.Its a hefty headset with chunky earcups that make you look like youre doing air traffic control, but the super-flexible synthetic frame strikes a good balance of durability and weight. It may feel a bit cheap but that also makes it easy to handle and without worry of it breaking. That flexibility does keep the clamp force down so its comfortable to wear for long sessions, especially with the dense earpads and cloth upholstery that makes it nice to wear.For a budget-friendly wireless gaming headset, it still brings booming sound quality that doesnt sacrifice much. It has impressive bass and clarity across other frequencies and can still bring out the finer audio details in terms of positional audio for competitive gaming. Its rounded out with Bluetooth thats easy to swap between devices and easy customization through the Turtle Beach Swarm II software. Overall, the Turtle Beach Stealth 500 is a fantastic value and delivers the kind of experience you rarely get in its price range.Turtle Beach Stealth 500 Headset - Photos5. Alienware Pro HeadsetBest Multi-Purpose Wireless HeadsetAlienware Pro HeadsetDefying its own brand tradition, Alienware went with a super-sleek design for the Pro headset and brings great sound quality as well as great ANC and comfort.See it at AmazonProduct SpecificationsConnectivityBluetooth, USB-C dongle, USB wiredDrivers50mm Graphene-CoatedMax battery life70 hours (35 hours with ANC)Weight315gPROSStrong bass responseSleek, non-descript designANC and mic ANC both work excellentlyCONSSoftware support isn't greatThe latest Alienware Pro headset goes against typical design conventions of an Alienware product you would think this was a pair of Bose or Apple headphones at first glance. Its a slim and sleek headset with a no-nonsense aesthetic yet still performs fantastically as a proper gaming headset, which also makes it easily double-up as a casual everyday pair of headphones, and that really makes its active noise-canceling features sing. As a gaming headset, it brings strong bass to support all the other frequencies so games are going to have a powerful low-end to give a proper cinematic experience, but it's also tuned to be fit for competitive games as well.If you're looking for good ANC above all else, I can easily recommend the Alienware Pro headset since it's very good at drowning out ambient noise and retains solid battery life even though ANC tends to drain battery rapidly. That good ANC extends to the microphone as well, so while the overall microphone quality isn't that impressive, it's fantastic at isolating your voice.When it comes to comfort, its memory foam earbuds get the job done even though they don't look impressive at first glance. The flexible headband lets the Alienware Pro headset clamp easily on my head to help it stay comfortable for several hours of play. Ive gone entire days with this headset on, conveniently swapping between 2.4GHz for gaming and Bluetooth for music on my phone and with great battery life, I could do this often without charging. If youre looking for something versatile as an everyday headset that can do it all, Alienware delivers.Alienware Pro Headset - Photos6. PlayStation Pulse EliteBest Wireless PS5 HeadsetPlayStation Pulse EliteGreat sound, a unique look, and multipoint connectivity all come with this headset made with the PS5 in mind.See it at AmazonProduct SpecificationsConnectivityWired, Bluetooth, PlayStation LinkDriversPlanar magneticMax battery life30 hours Weight347gPROSClear, detailed audioWireless multipoint connectivityGreat implementation of 3D audioCONSUnique design feels a bit flimsyWhen we reviewed the PlayStation Pulse Elite headset, it turned out to be an absolute beast. It didnt come as much of a surprise considering its more affordable counterpart, the Pulse 3D, was already a fantastic headset. It has some versatility with Bluetooth connectivity, but when connected to the PS5 with the USB dongle, you can access EQ settings and 3D audio natively. Additionally, youre able to get audio feeds from both the PS5 and a Bluetooth device simultaneously. With a sleek unibody design, its on-device controls are easy to use since its easy to distinguish each button.But at the end of the day, its all about audio quality, and the Pulse Elite delivers on that front. The planar magnetic audio drivers help minimize distortion and provide tremendous sound quality thatll get the most out of your games. Theres strong bass that doesnt overpower other frequencies, and playing games at loud volumes doesnt sound harsh when it comes to the mids and highs. Especially when you use the right EQ settings, the Pulse Elite sounds tuned just right for each game. Sony's own Tempest 3D audio is the cherry on top, and a single-player game that takes advantage of this feature gives the experience of an immersive soundstage few headsets can pull off right.For $150, youre getting a lot for your money. Its priced well below other high-end headsets, yet performs on par with many of them. Its also packed with several extra features that make the most of the PS5 as a platform. For all that and more, the Pulse Elite is one of the best PS5 headsets you can get today.PlayStation Pulse Elite Photos7. Xbox Wireless HeadsetBest Wireless Xbox HeadsetXbox Wireless HeadsetThe new official Xbox wireless headset makes some notable improvements while still delivering great comfort and sound quality from its predecessor.See it at AmazonProduct SpecificationsConnectivityXbox wireless, 2.4GHz dongle (sold separately), BluetoothDrivers40mm neodymiumMax battery life20 hours Weight320gPROSPlatform-specific features and easy connectivity with XboxSuper-fast chargingRobust sound qualityCONSTakes some EQ tuning to sound its bestLike the Pulse Elite for PS5, the official Xbox wireless headset is finely tuned for its specific platform. In the case of Xbox, this headset connects wirelessly without a dongle via Microsofts proprietary wireless tech and pairs just like a controller to make things easy. Its convenient, but doesnt come at the expense of all the important features that make it the best option for dedicated Xbox players.It brings a theater-like sound experience to a headset so single-player games like STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl or Elden Ring have the details of their respective eerie atmospheres shine through. I also played a ton of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 to give this headset a whirl in competitive games, and whether I was caught in the chaos of lightning-fast rounds in the Moshpit playlist or carefully working with teammates in Search and Destroy matches, I had both a great audio experience and a tactical advantage with sound quality and positional audio. The main thing I should note is that it takes some tweaking in the EQ settings to find the right balance since this headset can be a bit bass-heavy out of the box.It may clamp a bit tight (although it will loosen over time), but the dense earpads alleviate that pressure. Its a lightweight headset thats well-built and rocks a sleek look just like its predecessor. The right earcup acting as an entire volume dial is still one of my favorite touches on the Xbox wireless headset, too. The microphone is nicely designed on a retractable snake-like arm, but clarity was one of the originals shortcomings the new model sounds much better this time around. The thing I find most attractive about this headset is its price tag. Its an incredible value for whats one of the best designed gaming headsets available for Xbox.8. SteelSeries Arctis GameBudsBest Wireless Gaming EarbudsSteelSeries Arctis GameBudsSteelSeries built the Arctis GameBuds for gaming and deliver booming audio with solid battery life low-latency thanks to its 2.4GHz dongle.See it at AmazonProduct SpecificationsConnectivityBluetooth, 2.4GHz USB-C dongleDrivers10mm Neodymium MagneticMax battery life10 hoursWeight5g per earbudPROSImpressive sound qualityBetter battery life than most earbudsControls, software, and ANC add valueCONSA few features are hard to get workingGaming earbuds are a fairly recent trend with the notable peripheral companies like Razer, Asus, and PlayStation making their own that are suited for games. It's tough because of the limited driver size and battery life, earbuds tend to make sacrifices in one way or another. But the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds are so impressive because of how uncompromising these little rounded buds are.On top of having solid foundations of sound quality, battery life, and long-term comfort, SteelSeries has one of the most robust software suites, which is easily controllable through a mobile app. This takes out the inconvenience of having to flip through PS5 menus to customize the earbuds, while also letting you access its 100+ custom-tuned EQ profiles easily. Although there are a few minor inconveniences with how some of its quality-of-life features work (autoplay when taking it on and off, connecting through Bluetooth reliably), the GameBuds do all the important things extremely well. While you should definitely use these as your primary earbuds to listen to music on your phone, they really shine in games with the kind of bold audio experience you expect from a headset. For all that and more, I gave a 9 to the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds in my review, and they'll pair nicely with your PS5.At $160, these have cheaper base price than the Razer Hammerheads I previously recommended. While I still think the Hammerheads have a very slight edge in sound quality, it's the battery life, software support, and overall comfort that make the GameBuds the best all around.SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds - PhotosWireless Gaming Headset FAQHow do you determine sound quality on a gaming headset?There are ways to extract audio data from a headset to get a look at how they handle various frequencies, like artificial ear and audio analyzing software, but that alone wont be able to tell you what the actual audio experience is like. Admittedly, it can be quite abstract to have someone describe what games, music, or movies sound like. Paying attention to descriptors like distortion, drowning, cleanliness, or balance when talking about frequencies are common ways to explain the sound quality of a device, and at some point you need to trust the reviewers trained ear.Theres also the factor of driver size, the actual hardware that delivers the audio. Generally, bigger drivers means better potential for cleaner and bolder sound, but again, that alone isnt going to determine whether or not a headset sounds good. Quality can also come down to spatial or positional audio which gives the impression of sound effects having distance and direction. This is especially important for competitive settings but can make for more immersive experiences outside of trying to get an advantage over your opponents.What makes gaming headsets different from headphones?Gaming headsets tend to pack additional features that support the actual gaming experience, some of which may be gimmicky, but many that I would call essential. The key feature that separates a headset from headphones is a built-in microphone. While most headset mics are passable in terms of clarity that can suffice for in-game communication, some go the extra mile to provide better clarity or mitigate ambient noise spilling through.Good gaming headsets are generally tuned to pick up on certain sound effects and have a more intimate sound profile since youre an active participant in the experience rather than a passive observer (especially in competitive games). When it comes to wireless capabilities, most gaming headsets come with 2.4GHz USB dongles for the lowest latency possible something that wireless headphones rarely include. As youll see in the next section, software suites for USB-based headsets (wireless or otherwise) have gotten sophisticated as well, and sometimes offer a level of customization for specific gaming scenarios.Are there any disadvantages to going with wireless instead of wired?Of course, it depends on your needs. I still gravitate towards wired headsets and headphones since I tend to prefer the sound profiles of a properly-tuned analog audio device (I also tend to forget about charging devices until its too late, but thats a me-problem). However, battery life and latency of modern gaming headsets have come so far that you rarely, if ever, see them being issues on the latest releases. Good software suites and apps can also help you get more out of your headset by letting you customize EQ settings or swap sound profiles for certain games.Wireless headsets are also sometimes capable of multi-device connectivity and simultaneous Bluetooth, which makes them versatile and opens them up to more use-cases (especially swapping to a mobile connection within seconds). Even though they tend to be more expensive, theres a lot of upside to going with a wireless gaming headset, just be sure you know what youll be getting out of it.Michael Higham is the tech reviews editor at IGN and has reviewed enough headsets to fill up all of his desk space.