1. The list in brief
2. Best overall
3. Best for Razer fans
4. Best budget
5. Best official
6. Best wired budget
7. Best earbuds
8. How to choose
9. How we test
If you have a significant other who is trying to watch the best Netflix shows in peace in another room while you’re trying to win a close (and most likely extremely noisy) multiplayer match of Halo Infinite, we’d strongly recommend investing in one of the best Xbox Series X headsets.
Investing in a quality Xbox Series X headset (which bear in mind, will also most likely work on Xbox Series S too) can not only give you the edge in online games, it can help elevate your emotional investment in a story-driven epic like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla or increase your aural awareness in the brutal yet brilliant Elden Ring.
Below, you’ll find a great selection of headsets from the likes of SteelSeries, Razer and Logitech that will prove you don’t need one of the best soundbars to have a great audio experience in the best Xbox Series X games.
The quick list
Short for time? Here's a quick breakdown of the best Xbox Series X headsets on the list below, along with quick links that let you jump directly to the review of whatever headset you may be interested in.
The best overall Xbox Series X headset
Our favorite Xbox Series X headset will elevate your games thanks to its high-quality audio and reliable wireless connection. These cans are also super comfortable.
The best Razer Xbox Series X headset
The best Xbox-compatible headset Razer makes boasts impressive 50mm drivers that deliver an exciting soundscape. We dig the design, too.
The best budget Xbox Series X headset
At such a budget-friendly price point, it’s hard to top this excellent HyperX headset. Not only is it comfortable to wear, its slider-based controls prove a treat to use.
The best official Xbox Series X headset
It’s hardly a shocker that Microsoft’s first-party headset pairs extremely well with the Xbox Series X. Sound quality is top notch, it’s comfy to wear and we love the fold-away mic.
Read more below
The best wired budget Xbox Series X headset
Another ace wired headset for Xbox Series X that will also be kind to your change purse. Considering what it retails for, audio performance is seriously impressive.
The best Xbox Series X earbuds
These ultra-portable buds don’t just work with Microsoft’s high-end console, they can be used with your phone, too. The level of bass they produce is also surprisingly deep.
The best Xbox Series X headsets right now
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The best overall Xbox Series X headset
It's not cheap but the SteelSeries Arctis 7X is definitely an Xbox Series X headset you need to have on your gaming radar. It blends high-quality audio with excellent wireless reliability and comfort. You can pretty much forget about encountering any annoying crackles and pops from a spotty connection or interference. And there's a USB dongle to connect the headset to your PC or even an Android phone for added flexibility.
We can't really see a downside to the SteelSeries Arctis 7X, the elastic headband makes them easy to wear for extended gaming periods and there are extendable yokes to better find that perfect fit. Simply put, the SteelSeries Arctis 7X is a stellar gaming headset and great for the Xbox Series X and Series S.
Read our full SteelSeries Arctis 7X review.
The best Razer Xbox Series X headset
Another purpose-built, fully wireless Xbox Series X headset, the Kaira Pro improves on the standard Kaira with a removable microphone and added Bluetooth functionality. The latter lets you use the Kaira Pro with your laptop, phone or tablet at the same time as playing on the console, though be warned that powering up the headset will also turn on the Xbox Series X even if you just want to pair with a handset.
Still, there’s little to complain about otherwise. The earcups are breathable and comfortable, with the big 50mm drivers producing detailed and exciting sound that suits a wide range of genres. The Kaira Pro also looks rather mature and sophisticated, which isn’t always the case with gaming peripherals.
Read our full Razer Kaira Pro review.
The best budget Xbox Series X headset
One of the best cheap gaming headsets overall makes a brilliant money-saving option for the Xbox Series X. Despite a basic-looking design, the Cloud Stinger is light and compact enough to stay comfortable in long gaming sessions, and its onboard slider-based control scheme is a pleasure to use.
With the exception of very high volume, in which it sounds blown out, the Cloud Stinger also exhibits very good audio quality for such an inexpensive headset. The microphone, too, uses noise cancellation to quiet down background noises, and can be quickly muted by raising the boom arm upward.
The best official Xbox Series X headset
Microsoft’s very own Xbox Wireless Headset is, as you’d expect, a great match for the Xbox Series X. The Arctis 7X is more comfortable but the Xbox Wireless Headset has some clever design touches of its own, like how you can swivel the left and right earcup panels to adjust — respectively — the game/chat mix levels and volume.
The Xbox Wireless Headset also offers full support for the Xbox’s Dolby Atmos functionality, though this requires downloading the Dolby Access app for the console, and the free trial you get with the headset expires in September 2021. Still, sound quality is high enough without Atmos, and the fold-away microphone picks up your voice nice and clearly.
Read our full Xbox Wireless Headset review.
The best wired budget Xbox Series X headset
If even the HyperX Cloud Stinger seems like too steep an investment, consider the Astro A10. You won’t get more headset for less cash: This funky-looking wired peripheral plugs into the Xbox Series X controller’s 3.5mm jack and delivers surprisingly crisp yet impactful sound.
The Astro A10 is also very well-made for such a cheap headset. It’s sturdily constructed and, thanks for the memory foam padding, comfortable to wear. At least, it is if you don’t have big ears; the A10 definitely favors a snug fit.
Read our full Astro A10 review.
The best Xbox Series X earbuds
The G333 is, clearly, not a conventional gaming headset. But this set of wired earbuds does have a gaming focus, and includes an inline microphone so you can communicate with friends and teammates just as easily as if you had a chunky over-ear model with a boom arm mic.
A surprising amount of bass comes out of these earbuds, which is impressive considering both their small size and affordable price, and the 3.5mm jack means you can simply plug it into your Xbox Series X controller without any compatibility issues. There's also a USB-C adapter in the box, so when you're done playing you can use the G333 as an everyday pair of earbuds as well — even if your phone lacks a headphone jack.
Read our full Logitech G333 review.
The Kraken X is one of the better-sounding cheap Xbox Series X headsets, at least in games; this set of cans admittedly isn’t best suited to music playback. For gaming, however, it works a treat, and digital 7.1 surround sound audio is available to those that want it.
And, despite the price, the Kraken X might just be one of the most comfortable gaming headsets in Razer’s entire catalog. Both the earcups and headband are clad in well-padded imitation leather that, while not as breathable as the Razer Kaira Pro’s mesh material, provides a soft, light fit.
Read our full Razer Kraken X review.
The As Gen 2 is both a step up from the basic Astro A10 and a refresh of the original A20, with this 2nd-gen model marking the launch of the Xbox Series X. Despite a slightly odd fit, wherein not all of the headset actually rests on your head, it’s comfortable for long sessions and offers wireless connectivity at a lower price than the SteelSeries Arctis 7X or Razer Kaira Pro.
Just make sure you buy the Xbox Series X version specifically — it can be identified by its green accents. There’s also a blue-colored version designed for the PS5, so double check before buying that you’re getting the right model for your console.
Read our full Astro A20 Gen 2 review.
If you just want a simple and straightforward headset for the Xbox Series X, one that’s affordable and sounds decent without any extravagances, the Corsair HS50 could be the one. What it lacks in advanced features it makes up for with comfortable earcups, an effective (and removable) microphone and directional audio that helps games build a sense of place. Or just helps your hear enemy footsteps in shooters.
Sure, it’s plain-looking, but the build quality is reasonably sturdy. Besides, it’s almost as cheap as entry-level headsets like the Astro A10.
Read our full Corsair HS50 review.
How to choose the best Xbox Series X headset for you
How to choose the best Xbox Series X headset for you
First, make sure that the headset you want is actually compatible with the Xbox Series X. Because Microsoft uses its own wireless protocol, Xbox Wireless, a lot of wireless headsets that might work with the PS5 or PC might not be able to interface with the Xbox Series X. Wired headsets, meanwhile, should only need a 3.5mm cable so that they can plug into the controller’s headphone jack. Naturally, all the headsets on this list will work fine.
On that note, you should think about whether you’d prefer a wired or wireless headset. With wired models, you don’t need to worry about battery life, nor add the weight of a battery to the headset, though having a cable in your lap as you play can be annoying. Even headsets with underwhelming battery life can still get through a few days of heavy use, too, though they also tend to cost more.
In our testing we generally value the quality of sound output over how the microphone sounds, but depending on how much multiplayer gaming you do, it can be worth splashing out for a headset with a great mic. Look for noise-cancelling and either detachable or retractable mics especially, as these will give you the best input quality while keeping the headset easy to store when not in use.
How we tested these Xbox Series X headsets
How we test the best Xbox Series X headsets
The best way to see how an Xbox Series X headset performs is to play games with it, so that’s what we’ll do. We always try each headset with a range of different genres, from action-packed shooters to more dialogue-heavy titles, to see how each model handles different types of sound. We usually test with music playback as well, as sometimes your gaming headset can make for a respectable pair of everyday headphones as well.
We also test microphones by having people on the other end of voice chat tell us how we sound., and to judge comfort, we’ll aim to wear a headset for at least a couple of hours and often over the course of several days. This gives us a good indication of comfort, including how well that comfort stands up over long play sessions.
Choosing one of the best Xbox Series X headsets is a surefire way to up your aural experience with Microsoft's flagship gaming console.
While some of the best TVs deliver great sound and the best soundbars can serve up plenty of sonic clout, having a good headset can add that extra layer of immersion while keeping distracting noises at bay.
Games that emphasize audio, such as horror or first-person shooters, will certainly benefit from a good pair of headphones or a dedicated gaming headset. So read on to find the best Xbox Series X headset for you.
And if you happen to own an Xbox Series S, you should find all of the headsets below will also service your audio needs when it comes to Microsoft's more budget-friendly box.
