Best Xbox One Headsets 2020: The best Xbox One gaming headsets
You’re here because you want the very best Xbox One headset you can buy. Who wouldn’t do that? We spend a lot of time digging through pixels and fetishizing frame rates, so why not pay attention to sound quality too?
We’ve hit the headset market deep into the headset, testing wired and wireless models, from cheap deals to the kind of purchase that offers you a monthly payment plan at checkout, all in the name of filtering the noise and emphasizing the Xbox One compatible headsets worth your attention.
It’s not just a matter of adding the cost against the number of bullets on the spec sheet, though. Functionality is important here, but so is the fundamental sound quality and comfort during those long sessions spent figuring out how the whippersnappers build around you so quickly in Fortnite.
We’ve tested a wide variety of Xbox One headsets with these criteria in mind, so read on for our favorite Xbox One headsets for different budgets.
Best Xbox One Headsets on Prime Day and Black Friday
Amazon Prime Day 2020 deals start in October and Black Friday will follow shortly after in late November, meaning we’ll likely see some great deals on Xbox One headsets.
We see small discounts on Xbox One headsets throughout the year, but during the Prime Day and Black Friday sales periods, we’ll likely see the biggest price cuts for the best Xbox One headsets. There really isn’t a better time to get a fantastic deal on a gaming headset
If you have plans to upgrade to an Xbox Series X and are concerned about buying a new Xbox One headset, the good news is that many Xbox One headsets are backwards compatible with the Xbox Series X / S. However, there are limitations and not all listed below will work with your Xbox Series X.
Microsoft has confirmed that any officially licensed Xbox One headset that connects wirelessly or via a wired USB connection will also work on Xbox Series X. And while optical connections are not supported, some Xbox One headsets they need may also work. on the new Xbox via a USB connection after a firmware update.
So if you’ve been toying with the idea of buying an Xbox One headset in the near future, or a compatible headset for the Xbox Series X / S, we recommend waiting until these sales periods – you’ll be thankful you did.
We present the best Xbox One headset Amazon Prime Day deals and Black Friday deals on TechRadar. But be sure to check back here, too, where our price tracking system will offer you the best prices for all the products we’ve selected below.
Turtle Beach is the oldest specialist gaming headset manufacturer, with a fanatical following among pro gamers – and when you get the premium Elite Pro out of the box, you’ll see why. It simply oozes cost effective design and has all sorts of fun details that come from decades of professional gaming experience.
But more importantly, it sounds spectacular, with massive bass and crystal-clear highs that add to a sound that allows you to immerse yourself in whatever game you’re playing. In terms of comfort, it is exemplary, with large, thick ear pads that eliminate all ambient noise and can be easily adapted to all head sizes. A handy feature allows you to add space to the ear pads to accommodate glasses.
On an Xbox One, we recommend pairing it with a piece of kit called the Tactical Audio Adapter, which snaps into the Xbox One controller and works as an amplifier, adding some of the extra sound control features that come in a separate image comes with an equalizer-like box called the Tactical Audio Controller (which is pricey but adds Dolby 7.1 Surround Sound).
Those features include Turtle Beach’s Superhuman Hearing, which enhances the sound of incoming players’ footsteps and is great for hardcore first-person shooter fans, and Dynamic Chat Boost, which keeps chat levels audible even as background noise increases. In addition, it allows you to independently adjust game and chat volumes.
Add a tank-like build quality to the equation and you have a headset that has become something of a status symbol for those who take their gaming seriously.
Read the full review: Turtle Beach Elite Pro headset for tournaments.
There’s an old saying that says “a ship in a harbor is safe, but ships aren’t built for that,” and Razer really pushed the boat out with its Razer Nari Ultimate headset.
The Razer Nari Ultimate is an interesting concept and something that has to be tried to be believed. Razer designed a strong pair of headphones, with a very distinct function, making the Nari Ultimate the best wireless Xbox One headset on the market.
Check out our Razer Nari Ultimate review.
A high-quality, inexpensive headset from Corsair, this wired option is arguably the best budget Xbox One gaming headset on the market. It may only contain stereo sound (rather than surround sound), but it’s hardly a noticeable shortage. It produces a dynamic sound and the actual headphones are soft and comfortable. This hardly seems like the budget headset it is.
View our full Corsair HS50 Stereo Gaming Headset Review.
The bad news is that Steelseries flagship wireless headset isn’t designed to work natively with Xbox One. The sunnier news is that you can make it work anyway if you’re willing to put in a little graft. And for this set of wireless cans, a little graft is worth it.
The Arctis range’s signature sound is crisp and precise, with noticeably less exaggerated low end than most rival models, but still plenty of punch when the occasion calls for it. You also have the best battery charging system on the market here – with two included cells, one charges in the wireless control box while the other powers your headset, so you never have to plug in and stop playing.
The downside to going off-piste with a headset meant for other hardware is that you’re limited to an SP / DIF connection, and to chat while you play you have to use the Xbox app while connected to a other device with the Bluetooth connection. Chatty Cathys should then look elsewhere, but if you’re looking for great wireless sound with a tidy battery solution then look no further.