Best budget gaming headsets in 2023

It might not offer wireless connectivity, but Razer’s Black Shark V2 offers something unique when compared to other budget headsets in our chart; THX support. THX spatial audio simulates positionally-accurate sound that allows you to pinpoint, with accuracy, the direction and origin of gunshots, footsteps, voices and anything else you notice when gaming.

It’s an incredible thing to experience, offering a more immersive gaming experience than most other budget headsets, and Razer’s set to take that further with the release of THX Game Profiles. Game Profiles offer game-specific audio enhancements for supported games. There were over 30 at launch, with more being released all the time. 

That experience is powered by Razer’s all-new 50mm drivers, the TriForce Titanium, sporting titanium-coated diaphragms to allow for better audio separation. It’s the first in the Razer collection to sport the new drivers, and offers a noticeable upgrade over our previous first choice, the Razer Kraken TE. 

The THX smarts and improved HyperClear Cardioid microphone are all powered by a small USB sound card, compatible with PC. That sound card also allows you to tweak the audio output via Razer Synapse (for PC) to either focus on immersion or spatial awareness, depending on the gaming experience you want. The 3.5mm jack makes it compatible with PS4, Xbox One and other consoles, but you won’t get the advanced audio tweaking capabilities. 

And, as is the case with most of Razer’s headsets, it’s an absolute joy to wear over long periods without a hint of pressure build-up. The full-ear enclosed cup design provides unmatched comfort, complemented further by soft-touch memory foam and a leatherette finish. 

Simply put, it’ll keep your ears cool and comfortable during even the most intense gaming sessions, and that’s something that many can appreciate.

Gaming headsets under £100/$100 that are both wireless and surround sound are difficult to find, but that’s what the Roccat Elo 7.1 Air looks to offer. 

It doesn’t have Bluetooth, but the 2.4GHz connection is solid via the USB-A transmitter and, importantly, the large 50mm drivers offer excellent sound quality. The surround sound really gives you a great sense of spaciousness and will help you determine where an enemy is in games like first-person shooters. 

Mic quality is also very good, making this a great headset for team games where chat is essential. We’d just like the microphone (which is removable) to have a stiffer arm as it can be difficult to adjust it to exact positions.  

A Mic Monitoring dial on the headset allows you to control how much of your own voice you can hear in order to avoid shouting due to the noise isolation of wearing the headset. 

It’s a very comfortable over-ear fit and dual foam earpads (aka the ProSpecs Glasses Relief System) help anyone wearing glasses with a softer section where they make contact. The Elo 7.1 Air is lightweight, has RGB logos on the earcups and a self-adjusting headband.  

It comes in black or white, but the plastic build can be a little creaky at times. This is made up for somewhat by USB-C charging and long 24-hour battery life. 

As well as PC support, you can use the Elo 7.1 Air with PlayStation 4/5 (although master volume control isn’t supported) and Nintendo Switch when the console is in docked mode. 

As you might expect from Razer, this stretches the limits of ‘budget’ ever so slightly, but if you want a relatively affordable entry point into Razer’s wireless gaming gear, this is a great starting point.

The stellar features here are build and comfort: the basic design is the exact same as you’ll find in Razer’s much more expensive flagship headsets, which are among the most comfortable on the market.

This is undeniably bulky, but deceptively lightweight, thanks to a combo of light materials and a headband that does a great job of distributing the weight.

Sound quality is where this really differs from Razer’s more expensive headsets, with 40mm drivers – smaller than the 50mm of the Elo 7.1 Air – on offer, but the sound quality is still very solid and includes simulated surround sound. It also delivers wireless with a USB dongle, and sound quality over the wireless system is great too.

There’s also no support for Razer’s Chroma lighting, another con compared to Roccat’s wireless headset, but that’s not a major dealbreaker. 

Microsoft’s Xbox Wireless Headset is the ideal option if you play on a recent Xbox console or PC, offering similar features and audio quality to headsets almost double the price, but the lack of a 3.5mm jack means it’s a no-go if you also play on a PlayStation or Switch.

Still, if you are primarily an Xbox gamer, there’s a lot to love about the new headset; aside from the simplistic, dongle-free wireless connectivity, the headset looks and feels the part, complete with green highlights and rotating outer cups to adjust overall volume and chat/game mix on-the-fly. There isn’t a proper boom microphone like most alternatives, but we’ve not found this to be a problem during testing. 

Most importantly, the audio quality is exceptional. Sporting 40mm drivers, the bass response is strong, feeling the oomph from explosions and the rev of a red-lined engine, but that doesn’t detract from the clarity, allowing you to pick out finer details like the footsteps of approaching enemies. That’s enhanced further by support for both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, but both require a separate subscription for use. 

Essentially, the Xbox Wireless Headset’s compelling combination of features and value make it a no-brainer for Xbox gamers. 

If you like the idea of a wireless headset like the Roccat Elo 7.1 or Xbox Wireless Headset but don’t want to pay the premium price, the Gioteck TX70 is a solid performer that comes in at just over half the price of the other wireless options in our chart.

The TX70 offers the same 2.4GHz connectivity as the more premium options in a compact black-and-blue package, complete with a plastic build and thick, soft-touch cushioning on both the headband and earcups. there’s a small flip mic available here too, making for a cleaner look when not chatting with your party.

Crucially, audio performance is great, with 50mm drivers providing an immersive experience with a decent balance between powerful bass and reproducing high-frequency sound, and there’s a built-in EQ mode that’ll allow you to enable or disable the bass boost depending on what game you’re playing.

The battery will last around 15 hours on a single charge before needing a top-up via micro-USB, and you’ve got 3.5mm connectivity as a backup too.

The TX70 is designed for use with the PS4, PS5 and PC, meaning those on Xbox will have to look elsewhere – unless you’re content with using the 3.5mm cable.

The follow-up to the popular Astro A10, the A10 Gen 2, is an enhancement of the gaming headset with a refined design, improved audio performance and great colour options to fit most users’ needs – all for less than £50/$60.

Compared to its predecessor, the Astro A10 Gen 2 headset is lighter at just 240g, with a more ergonomic design that doesn’t clamp down on your head over longer gaming sessions, although the on-ear design of the cups may not appeal to everyone.

Those earcups are smaller than before, but with decent 32mm drivers at the heart, the audio experience is just as impressive for the price. The closed-back headphones are great for competitive FPS games, picking up on minor details like incoming footsteps sometimes missed by open-back counterparts, with a decent soundstage making for an overall immersive experience.

There’s also a boom mic with flip-to-mute technology for convenient chat functionality. In fact, the only thing that isn’t convenient about the headset is the volume control, opting for (harder to find) in-line volume controls in place of a volume rocker on the headset itself.

Audio performance aside, the Astro A10 Gen 2 is among the most durable headsets we’ve tested, able to withstand a complete twist of the headband without snapping or losing its shape. That’s coupled with replaceable earcups and headband foam to make the A10 Gen 2 last longer than much of the competition, especially at the budget end of the market.

It’s wired, and comes with both a standard 3.5mm headphone jack for console use and a splitter cable for PC, making it compatible with most platforms and consoles.

Inzone is Sony’s new brand for cross-platform and PC gaming hardware – meaning while there’s some PlayStation tech inside, Inzone accessories aren’t built specifically for the PS5.  

The H3 is one of the first products in the line-up, and is the cheapest of three headsets Sony currently produces. It’s a wired headset, unlike some others on this list, but that allows it to deliver great build quality and some nifty audio features. 

The monochromatic design seems at least slightly PS5-inspired, but this is curved and chunky rather than slender. The headset is still light enough to wear over extended sessions though – it’s gotten me through many a workday – and the nylon earcups are soft, squishy, and deliver decent noise isolation. Build quality overall is excellent – this is sturdy as well as comfortable, and feels much pricier than it really is. 

40mm drivers deliver the sonics, which are good if not absolutely great – this is the main area where the H3 lags behind some of our absolute favourite budget cans. You do, however, get the benefit of excellent 360 Spatial Sound – based on the Tempest tech inside the PS5 – and the free Inzone Hub software offers a customisable EQ and some simple mic controls. 

Speaking of, the mic is crisp and clear, with Discord certification to that effect. You can flip it up and out of the way to mute yourself, but it is fixed to the headset – so you can’t detach it and use these as discreet headphones out of the house. 

As you’d expect, the H3 works well on PC and PS5, but thanks to the wired connection you can also use it with the Switch, Steam Deck, or even an Xbox if you don’t have strong platform loyalty. 

The EKSA Star Engine E5000 Pro (what a name, by the way!) is a wired gaming headset that looks and feels the part, partly due to the inclusion of bright green RGB lighting beneath the grated exterior of the black ear cups – it’s very hard to miss, trust me.

That black and green theme is present throughout the headset, from green stitching across the headband to green straps that connect the band to the earcups. It’s very Xbox, but due to the inclusion of USB-A, USB-C and 3.5mm cables in the box, it’s actually compatible with just about every PC and console platform out there.

The earcups are a particular favourite, sporting 1in thick memory foam cups and a soft-touch finish that feels comfortable when worn. These are over-ear headphones, with the 1.46in x 2.24in cups large enough to sit around your ears for improved seal and comfort.

The rest of the headset is made from hard-wearing plastic, and although this does mean it’s not quite as premium as it looks at a first glance, it does remain lightweight.

Of course, it’s audio that’s most important, and 50mm drivers don’t disappoint. There’s support for both stereo and virtual 7.1 surround sound, with the ability to switch on-the-fly using on-headset controls.

It’s not quite as bassy and punchy as some would prefer, especially in hectic online shooters, but it’s balanced and allows you to pick up on the finer details that could give you an edge in online gameplay.

There’s also a detachable boom microphone with built-in environmental noise cancellation to help quieten background noise when chatting to your mates. It works with quieter noise, like the click of a keyboard, but there is a downgrade to overall mic quality in return.

Overall though, the E5000 Pro is a solid headset with a signature gamer aesthetic that’s compatible with most consoles and platforms – and that’s not bad for less than £50/$60.

The E910 is a relatively inexpensive way to deliver a well-rounded gaming audio experience, and with comfortable thick leatherette cushioning and LED-emblazoned earcups, it looks the part too. 

The highlight of the EKSA E910 is the sound quality on offer. The built-in 50mm speakers deliver a well-rounded, deep sound with more than enough bass for an immersive gaming experience. Importantly, the bass doesn’t overpower the mids and highs, allowing you to still pick up on smaller details like approaching footsteps in an FPS. 

The only real complaint about audio is that it’s not quite as loud as we’d like, even at top volume, therefore lacking that impact needed at times. 

The retractable microphone packs ENC to quieten the background during tense mid-game team chats, and while it’s not the best quality we’ve heard, it’ll suffice for most day-to-day gaming. 

The E910 features wireless connectivity, but unlike most, it utilises 5.8GHz Wi-Fi for faster data transmission. There is still a slight 15ms delay, but we didn’t notice it during testing. 

You can’t lose the dongle at any cost though; despite coming with a 3.5mm cable in the box, there isn’t a 3.5mm port on the headset, so it’s 5.8GHz wireless or nothing. There isn’t even Bluetooth available as a backup.

Impressively for a wireless headset, EKSA claims the E910 is compatible with all platforms, but there’s a caveat; to use it on your Xbox or Switch, you’ll have to rely on your TV’s USB/headphone output rather than the console. That’s not a given on every TV, so we think it’s best suited to PC and PlayStation users, which it supports natively. 

Battery life is a little lacklustre at just 10 hours – likely a knock-on from the LEDs on the earcups – but it should suffice for most gaming sessions. It charges via USB-C, and can go from flat to full within a couple of hours. 

The Trust Thian gaming headset is the latest in Trust’s growing collection of budget-focused gaming headsets, and all that experience means it knows a thing or two about the budget market.

Put simply, the Thian prioritises all the right things while paying less attention to elements that don’t improve the gaming experience.  

The Trust Thian is a surprisingly lightweight gaming headset considering its wireless connectivity, with a weight of 213g that doesn’t feel heavy or bulky on the head.

That is largely down to the decision to clad the headset in plastic in place of more premium materials, but considering the budget focus, that’s not really a problem.

The headset provides a wireless connection via a super-fast 5.8GHz Wi-Fi network, and it’ll work with USB-A-equipped devices including PS4/PS5 and PC. If you’ve only got USB-C ports, or an Xbox, you’ll have to use the included 3.5mm headphone jack to connect.

Though the 40mm drivers aren’t quite as large as 50mm alternatives in our chart, the performance is decent, with crisp audio and notable bass levels. You won’t mistake it for a high-end gaming headset, lacking the depth, clarity and spatial sound associated with high-end kit, but it’s a great all-around experience for budget-focused buyers.

The boom microphone isn’t removable like some alternatives, but the positive is that it flips up into the headset when not in use.

Of course, wireless headsets require battery power, and Trust suggests you’ll get around 13 hours of use from a single charge – an accurate number based on our testing.

The Trust Thian isn’t a stellar gaming headset that’ll take on headsets that cost hundreds, but it gets enough right to provide a great experience for entry-level gamers.