The best gaming headset for every platform

Nobody wants a heavy headset weighing them down, especially for lengthy gaming sessions. If that's a problem that sounds neck-achingly familiar, look no further than the HyperX Cloud Stinger — not only light on the head, but light on the wallet too.

This wireless headset has memory foam ear cups that rotate at a 90-degree angle for an all-round better fit. They could possibly be a little tighter, but comfort isn't an issue thanks to the combination of the memory foam and an adjustable steel slider. They look pretty cool too.

The 50mm directional drivers position sound directly into your ear, with an intuitive volume control located on the right ear cup and swivel-to-mute noise-cancellation microphone (just flip the mic vertically to silence it). All of which keeps things simple, allowing you to focus on your game.

Sure, you lose some of the freedom you get with a wireless headset, but at this price there's not much else to complain about.

Logitech is one of the biggest names in gaming gear, so you can trust that its headsets deliver. That's why the Logitech G935 has stacks and stacks of positive reviews on Amazon. And it's easy to see why gamers love it. Indeed, the G935 is a premium headset with lots of features, not least of all its large 50-mm Pro-G drivers and woven hybrid mesh for reducing distortion.

It also boasts DTS Headphone:X 2.0 surround sound, which creates precise in-game positional awareness, so you can hear opponents sneaking around.

LIGHTSYNC RGB lighting sets this headset apart from the competition. The lighting is fully customisable and reacts to in-game action on supported games. It also has a large 6-mm flip-to-mute mic and programmable G-Keys (these allow you to perform specific commands at the push of a button).

You can combine this headset with other Logitech accessories, such as the Logitech G mouse and keyboard, for the full Logitech gaming experience.

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless headset delivers next level gaming audio, combining premium high-fidelity hardware with SteelSeries’ Sonar Audio Software Suite. Seriously, this one's a literal game changer.

It uses algorithms to create 360° Spatial Audio, an immersive surround sound experience that blasts in sound from every direction, putting you right at the centre of the action. Active noise cancellation immerses you even further.

This headset also has Pro-grade Parametric EQ, which SteelSeries boasts is a first for gaming. This feature allows you to adjust and customise every aspect of the sound, so you can lower certain elements and crank up others.

Amazingly, you can connect to both console and phone at once (via a multi-system receiver, which is included with the package). That means you can play your game and take calls from friends. And while this one's made for PS5 users, there's an Xbox version too.

The Pulse, the official PS5 headset, has seen a significant upgrade with the Pulse Elite. The name's fitting: It's a superior headset in pretty much every way. PlayStation diehards will notice that the price has gone up as well, though not by that much. It costs less than other headsets on this list and easily outperforms some of the more expensive options you'll find online.

Most importantly, the audio performance is first class, thanks to souped-up magnetic drivers. And while there's no noise cancellation, the design of the ear cups does a great job of passive isolation. If there's a complaint about the audio department, it's with the microphone performance. Sony has upgraded to a retractable mic, but the quality is a bit average, according to gamers.

There's plenty more to rave about, including a nifty interface with all kinds of audio customisation features, intuitive volume control on the left ear cup, and a lightning fast connection via PlayStation Link technology. 

The Xbox Wireless Headset is the official partner to the Xbox Series X, which will appeal to Xbox devotees. Just as the Pulse headset is a must-have for PS5 purists, these are the official companion to the latest-gen Xbox. There are more reasons to add this headset to your arsenal though, beyond making sure all your accessories have green-and-black style.

The audio is powerful and clear, with spatial sound technologies that include Windows Sonic, Dolby Atmos, and DTS Headphone. And it pairs directly to your console without the need for dongles, cables, or a base station. 

It's also flexible and lightweight, with an adjustable headband that makes it comfortable for long gaming sessions. The rotating ear cup dials have controls built in — a quick, intuitive way to adjust the volume and game/chat balance.  

If you want a cheaper alternative, there's also a budget-priced wired version of this headset available.

Turtle Beach has a strong reputation for delivering excellent gaming headsets. The Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 Max is arguably its best ever. It comes recommended for both its sound and microphone quality, probably the most important combination for any gamer.

Our favourite feature is Turtle Beach's patented "Superhuman Hearing", which gives you the ultimate gaming advantage. When switched on this feature allows you to identify small, otherwise-undetectable sounds — such as footsteps — so you can pinpoint exactly which direction the sound is coming from. Perfect if an enemy is stalking you from behind. Meanwhile, its large and more sensitive microphone will improve the clarity of your comms.

The Turtle Beach Stealth 700 is also pretty comfortable. Unless you're passionately against snug-fitting headsets, that is. In which case you might want to look elsewhere. There's not much to complain about with this headset. The vast majority of reviews are very positive.