Xbox Series X headsets have come a long way in the last few years. Between improved drivers, extra features like noise cancellation and hot-swappable batteries, and more wireless options than ever, Microsoft's player base is well served in the audio department. However, these cups - especially cordfree options - can collect on quite the price tag, which means it's important to consider the features and specs you really can't live without when trying to find the right model for your budget.
That's because the best Xbox Series X headsets can reach around $350 / £350 - but the vast majority of players simply don't need the luxurious features on offer in these high-end devices. Instead, you're looking for strong audio quality (and you'll find that recent releases can far outperform even last year's models at lower prices), a solid microphone that keeps your voice clear, long-lasting comfort, and a battery life that can take a beating. The best gaming headset will offer all this at a price that suits you.
We've put the latest releases through weeks of testing, living and playing with each device for an extended period of time, to find the models worthy of your cash. After all that, the best Xbox Series X headset is the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro in our opinion - but this pricey beast won't satisfy everyone. You'll find all our top recommendations across the price range just below, with the best value products for every budget.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro for Xbox is easily one of the best wired Xbox Series X headsets going, and one of the best wired sets overall that we’ve ever used.
The lightweight gamer-industrial design aesthetic keeps the size and weight down, making it comfortable to wear but still feeling like there’s some sturdiness to it so I don’t have to worry about the cat or one of the kids accidentally sitting on it.
The Digital-To-Analogue (DAC) unit with the unit offers highly customisable EQ adjustment, letting you get the sound just how you like it, and the audio quality in stereo and surround mode is just superb across the board, whether it’s in action-packed action/shooting games, engaging RPGs, thoughtful adventure titles, or enjoying streaming content from the internet.
The sound quality and depth, both in stereo and surround modes, was just superb, being clear, rich, and detailed on both Xbox and PC.
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Review
The icing on the cake is compatibility with other systems including PC and PlayStation 5; you can literally have it plugged into an Xbox and something else at the same time and switch between the two systems without having to take off the headset.
The main drawbacks are the very high price ($279.99/£249.99) which easily makes it one of the most expensive mainstream wired gaming headsets going right now, and the ear cushion material; it’s a form of leatherette - and in my experience with other headsets, that tends to split or degrade after a while, especially in hot conditions or very heavy use. The fact the decent microphone isn’t retract-to-mute is also a missed opportunity, and the need to have a cable running to the DAC and then to the Xbox also means you’ve got something else to potentially get in the way (or trip over) during a gaming session.
Overall though, these aren’t enough to change the fact the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro for Xbox provides an absolutely amazing audio experience on Xbox. So if you’ve got the budget and don’t mind the wired setup, this represents an outstanding and highly recommended option.
Read more: SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro for Xbox review
Taking advantage of the audio jack connection again, and offering a solid budget choice to get you going with your new Xbox console, the Corsair HS35 is the best gaming headset for Xbox Series X for less than $50/£50 or so right now. This is a thoughtfully designed piece of kit, with a sturdy yet comfortable build and some impressive audio qualities, all in one very affordable package.
The Corsair HS35 Stereo headset is a great all-rounder as far as over-ear gaming headsets go, looking stylish and sounding superb despite the lack of 5 or 7.1 surround sound.
Corsair HS35 Review
We loved the memory foam ear-cups and a comfy headband, making the Corsair HS35 perfectly comfortable for long periods of play during our testing. Its design is also robust enough to withstand being pulled on and off your head with a carefree attitude and survive the odd bump or two. We never noticed any scuffs or scratches from everyday use here.
The audio won't win sky-high awards, but it's on a par with most mid-range headsets and manages some snappy treble. We were particularly impressed by the punchy treatment given to our weapons in Wolfenstein Youngblood, with rich tones and excellent feedback to every action. In addition, the mic is clear and detachable, and there's a color-coded cable that plugs into any 3.5mm connection. Simple, easy, and very affordable, so perhaps a risk-free Xbox Series X headset.
Read more: Corsair HS35 review
The official Microsoft Xbox Wireless Headset offers exceptional value with its low $99/£89 pricetag and has spent most of its existence sold out since launch. Quite simply, we can't find a better wireless contender for best gaming headset for Xbox Series X for such a low price.
You won't find a more rounded gaming headset on Xbox Series X for such a low price
Microsoft Xbox Wireless Headset review
Microsoft's model is super comfortable, although it's a bit on the small side if you have a larger head. The soundscape is so good we use it over our middling TVs' audio even when we have the place to ourselves. The bass is powerful despite only using 40mm drivers and the surround sound is way better than it should be for a headset this cheap. We love that the outside of the earcups rotate to adjust volume and game/chat balance too.
The mic is nice and crisp and can be tucked away around the earcup when not in use. Chat clarity and the extremely stable wireless connection to your Xbox puts a lot of Razer's more expensive headsets to shame and is giving Turtle Beach something to sweat over too. Thanks to backwards compatibility, the Wireless Headset is also one of the best Xbox One accessories on the market as well.
Read more: Xbox Wireless Headset review
The SteelSeries 7X wireless gaming headset is a fantastic performer and is the best Xbox Series X headset we can recommend to all our friends. It's incredibly comfortable with soft padding around the cups that remain cool for hours and an elasticated band across the crown that feels light with no pinching. We're big fans of the 24-hour battery and that wireless signal is consistently reliable with zero dropouts during our testing.
The 40mm drivers might lack in bass a little compared to some of the 50mm efforts from the likes of Corsair and Razer, but overall we were more impressed with the audio quality across the range with a rich soundscape and the bass managed to maintain detail that some headsets often lose in favor of general, muddy loudness.
The mic quality is solid for multiplayer use and retracts into the headset itself when not needed - though even if you want to play without it hovering in front of your face it still does a decent job of picking you up in its retracted position. Volume controls and game/chat balance dials are easy to access without looking too.
The SteelSeries Arctis 7X is marketed as a Series X headset, but it's actually one of the best buys for a true multiplatform headset thanks to the USB-C dongle (there's a USB-A adapter too) which can be plugged into PS5, PC, Switch, and Android mobiles.
The Corsair HS75 XB Wireless is a 'designed for Xbox' product and has quickly become one of our favourites in the race to be best gaming headset for Xbox Series X. First, unlike other dongle-free Xbox Series X headsets, the connection here is super smooth with no audio signal dropouts. A booming pair of 50mm drivers see the headset excel at the most enthusiastic of battles and you'll enjoy 20 hours of action between battery charges.
The connection quality is excellent, with none of those ear-shredding connection drops that distort the audio at an incredibly high pitch like we've experienced on Xbox.
Corsair HS75 XB Review
Premium audio enthusiasts will be keen to hear this headset comes with free access to the Dolby Atmos app on Xbox (usually $15/£15), complete with audio presets for gaming, movies, and music, and access to equalizer settings, which is especially handy as we found we wanted to adjust the treble down a touch as it was a tad piercing on a few occasions. Not many games support full-on Dolby Atmos audio yet, but the app's settings are worth experimenting with for any game, especially as you can switch on positional audio, offering a potential edge in online shooters.
If you enjoy online gaming, then Corsair's mic makes this a superb gaming headset for multiplayer. Not only is it super clear, but it offers some of the best mic isolation around, doing a great job at cutting down on background noise around you.
The build and design quality goes some way to justify the high cost with the brushed metal earcup yokes feeling like they'll protect the headset from any drops - on their sides at least - while looking good too. Leatherette coverings around the headband and cups, along with soft padding, make the HS75 XB a comfortable wear. They do feel quite large though, even on the smaller band settings it was quite a loose fit, especially over the ears - but then again this helped our ears stay cool and we weren't planning on taking them out for a run.
Read more: Corsair HS75 XB review
Because it's an Xbox Series X headset designed to serve every tier of the Xbox experience, the Razer Kaira Pro (opens in new tab) puts ease-of-use at the forefront. Powered by wireless and Bluetooth 5.0 connections, it's flexible and easy to swap between your Series X or your cell phone.
The audio experience doesn't suffer for it, though. Because the Pro is fitted with Razer Triforce titanium 50mm drivers, you're getting a wider breadth of sound in the high, mid, and low ranges. Plus, the surround sound that accompanies them is absolutely convincing - it sells a sense of place in a way no TV speaker could.
We did notice some odd crackling in our testing, though very rarely - and with no clear cause. That, and the fact that we were ever so underwhelmed by the quality of the mic, means that the Razer Kaira Pro just falls short of a perfect score.
It sells a sense of place in a way the speakers on your TV never could.
Razer Kaira Pro Review
The addition of downloadable software and an onboard game sound/chat balancer rounds out what is already a tempting package. Indeed, the former allows players to tweak their audio experience to taste or get straight into the action with pre-set profiles.
Read more: Razer Kaira Pro review
If you are looking to branch out into other consoles, the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX is the best Xbox Series X headset for the job. This is a true multiplatform headset, a title many devices claim but few deliver on quite so well. We often find that headsets are generally tuned to a specific machine, which means - while they will run across both Xbox and PlayStation, they won't sound as good on both. The 700 Gen 2 MAX is the first headset we've tested that has truly bucked that trend, offering rich, deep audio and excellent surround sound across both platforms.
Whether you're pairing this thing up with Dolby Atmos on Xbox Series X for virtual 7.1 surround sound or 3D Audio on PS5, there's a depth and clarity here that is truly impressive for the price point
Turtle Beach Stealth 700 G2 MAX Review
Picking up the Xbox version allows for wireless connectivity whatever console you're using, with Bluetooth options leaving mobile players happy as well. This is a true all-rounder, and certainly a set of cups we'll be keeping on the desk for a while to come yet.
There's little point in that stellar audio quality if you can't wear the headset, though. Thankfully, the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX retains the comfort of its predecessors, offering luxuriously chunky cups and a well padded headband. That left us comfortable for longer testing sessions, and we particularly appreciated the breathable design of the clamp force - ensuring noise isolation without squeezing the noggin too hard.
There are some drawbacks to this seemingly perfect headset, though, which may put some off. There are no EQ customization options available here, despite Turtle Beach pairing its headset with a dedicated smartphone app - you're stuck with the audio out the box here. That's not too disappointing, we found the stock levels offered an excellent balance across a wide range of genres and use cases but if you do like to tinker this isn't the headset for you.
Read more: Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX review
The SteelSeries Arctis 9X is top of our current-gen guide for good reason, and it's specially engineered to work wirelessly within Xbox's ecosystem and hardware. It has a wonderfully rich audio experience and impressive battery life in addition to a seamless connection that's going to continue with the Series X and S console.
The main selling point of the SteelSeries Arctis 9X is its integration of the proprietary Xbox Wireless protocol
SteelSeries Arctis 9X review
While the headset comes with 40mm drivers (which are smaller than many similarly priced competitors), they're well-tuned and deliver audio that punches well above its weight while retaining a nice clarity and richness. It's a great package for anyone that's serious about sound and getting the most out of their Xbox games.
The SteelSeries Arctis 9X's mic is also clear, comes with decent noise-canceling, and is retractable for when you're not using it. While you can never completely remove that microphone, we appreciated that it's hidden enough to use this headset as an everyday device. That's a real bonus. You can even plug in via the 3.5mm connection if you want to connect to other consoles or devices - although you lose a number of features like 3D Spatial Sound if you do so.
Finally, the trademark SteelSeries 'headband' design offers good levels of comfort. This means we were playing for hours in our testing without really noticing that we were wearing the headset (which clocks in at a respectable 1.2 lbs / 372g).
The top Xbox one headset really is one of the very best options for Xbox Series X.
Read more: SteelSeries Arctis 9X review
Xbox Series X headsets FAQ
What is the best Xbox Series X headset?
After all our testing, the best Xbox Series X headset remains the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro. However, that's a particularly pricey piece of kit. If you're on the hunt for something a little more affordable, the official Xbox Wireless Headset is the best for most players.
Which wireless headsets work on Xbox Series X?
There are a bunch of cord-free entrants in our best Xbox Series X headset list, but it's not as easy to find an Xbox Series X wireless headset as it is for other platforms. That's because Microsoft's console uses a proprietary wireless technology that just doesn't play nice with other devices. Thankfully, many brands release Xbox versions of their latest headsets to make sure everyone is well catered for.
The best example of this is the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless. While we reviewed the PlayStation version, you can find an Xbox alternative up for grabs. The Razer Kaira line also offers wireless Xbox support, as does the Turtle Beach Stealth range.
Do Xbox One headsets work on Series X?
The great, short answer here is an emphatic 'yes'! This was one of the first things confirmed before the launch of the current-gen consoles, and was a joy to hear as that mean that every peripheral owned by Xbox One players could just be seamlessly transferred over to the Series X or Series S console.
While this does mean that your older Xbox One headset will work beautifully on the new console, we still recommend perusing our best Xbox Series X headset guide, as some of the newer entries represent genuine audio upgrades from the older sets and can take your gaming enjoyment to another level.
We're also rounding up plenty more Xbox Series X accessories, like the best Xbox steering wheels and the best Xbox Series X controllers for those looking to kit out their full setup.
