You don't need a cable to enjoy quality game audio and voice chat. Break free from wired connections with the top wireless gaming headsets we've reviewed.

Gaming headsets are headphones with built-in boom microphones that let you speak and listen⁠—they're vital for online gaming. There are countless gaming headsets available, most of which require a wire connected to your computer or game console controller. Wireless gaming headsets, on the other hand, let you cut the cord and enjoy two-way audio that's unfettered by wires. They tend to cost more than their wired equivalents, but the convenience is worth it. We've gathered the top models we've tested here, and offer advice on what to look for when shopping for a headset.

Compatibility is the most important aspect of buying a gaming headset, especially if you're a console gamer. Headsets with 3.5mm connectors work with pretty much anything, but wireless headsets generally use USB transmitters that require compatibility with your system of choice.

Most wireless headsets work with PCs out of the box, but PlayStation 4/Xbox One (and now PlayStation 5/Xbox Series X) compatibility tends to be an either/or matter. Due to how the two consoles use USB, support for the PS4 and Xbox One are generally mutually exclusive. Check the product page and packaging for whether your wireless headset is compatible with PlayStation or Xbox. Also, if you have the newest consoles, double-check to confirm that the headset is compatible with them; a PS4 headset might not work with a PS5 out of the box.

In addition, check to see exactly how the headset connects to your PC or game system. This is especially important for PS4 Slim users, because some PlayStation-compatible headsets use both USB and optical audio to work, and the PS4 Slim doesn't have an optical audio port. If this is the case, you might need to get an HDMI adapter that adds an optical output.

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Bluetooth is a nice backup for gaming headsets, but it's rarely the main method of wireless connection. Bluetooth lets you connect to your phone as well as your PC, which means you can use headsets with Bluetooth as on-the-go headphones as a bonus.

However, Bluetooth doesn't offer the same audio quality and latency performance as a 2.4GHz connection, which is why most wireless gaming headsets have their own transmitters/receivers.

All gaming headsets have microphones, but not all microphones offer the same performance. A good headset mic should provide clear voice communication at a minimum, but it probably won't be broadcast quality. Some headsets have excellent mics that you can use for streaming, commentary, and even podcasts. Others simply let you be heard in voice chat, but might have wireless artifacts, sibilance, or subpar clarity.

If you're serious about streaming or recording, you should consider a dedicated USB microphone. Good mics cost $50-$150, and offer far superior audio quality than nearly any boom mic. You need to be careful with a separate microphone's positioning and configuration, but it's worthwhile if you want to work professionally. See our story on how to make your podcast sound better for general tips that apply to all recording and broadcasting scenarios.

As for the best wireless gaming headset, you can't go wrong with any of the options we've tested here. So choose the one that meets your budgets and needs, and start playing.

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I’ve been PCMag’s home entertainment expert for over 10 years, covering both TVs and everything you might want to connect to them. I’ve reviewed more than a thousand different consumer electronics products including headphones, speakers, TVs, and every major game system and VR headset of the last decade. I’m an ISF-certified TV calibrator and a THX-certified home theater professional, and I’m here to help you understand 4K, HDR, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and even 8K (and to reassure you that you don’t need to worry about 8K at all for at least a few more years).

Home theater technology (TVs, media streamers, and soundbars)

Smart speakers and smart displays

I test TVs with a Klein K-80 colorimeter, a Murideo SIX-G signal generator, a HDFury Diva 4K HDMI matrix, and Portrait Displays’ Calman software. That’s a lot of complicated equipment specifically for screens, but that doesn’t cover what I run on a daily basis.

I use an Asus ROG Zephyr 14 gaming laptop as my primary system for both work and PC gaming (and both, when I review gaming headsets and controllers), along with an aging Samsung Notebook 7 as my portable writing station. I keep the Asus laptop in my home office, with a Das Keyboard 4S and an LG ultrawide monitor attached to it. The Samsung laptop stays in my bag, along with a Keychron K8 mechanical keyboard, because I’m the sort of person who will sit down in a coffee shop and bust out not only a laptop, but a separate keyboard. Mechanical just feels better.

For my own home theater, I have a modest but bright and accurate TCL 55R635 TV and a Roku Streambar Pro; bigger and louder would usually be better, but not in a Brooklyn apartment. I keep a Nintendo Switch dock connected to it, along with a PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X so I can test any peripheral that comes out no matter what system it’s for. I also have a Chromecast With Google TV for general content streaming.

As for mobile gear, I’m surprisingly phone-ambivalent and have swapped between iPhones and Pixels from generation to generation. I favor the iPhone for general snapshots when I need to take pictures of products or cover events, but I also have a Sony Alpha A6000 camera for when I feel like photo walking.

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