You don’t need to fork out loads of money for a gaming headset for your console or PC – here are 10 amazing headsets for under £100/$100
Some gaming headsets can be on the expensive side, but there’s a growing number of gamers refusing to spend hundreds on a headset. While that once meant a compromise in build, sound quality and features, that’s no longer the case.
Here, we take a look at some of the best budget gaming headsets on the market, with a limit of £100/$100 and options for PC gamers, as well as PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch owners. Best budget gaming headsets 2023
1. Razer BlackShark V2 – Best Overall
Pros
THX spatial audio support
50mm drivers
USB sound card
Cons
Some features exclusive to PC
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.
2. Roccat Elo 7.1 Air – Best wireless headset
Pros
50mm drivers
Multi-platform wireless connectivity
Comfortable fit for glasses-wearers
Cons
Microphone arm is not stiff enough
Creaky plastic build
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.
3. Razer Nari Essential – A solid wireless alternative
Pros
Very comfortable to wear
Lightweight
Great wireless performance
Cons
40mm drivers
No RGB lighting
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.
4. Xbox Wireless Headset – Best for Xbox gamers
Pros
Perfect for Xbox gamers
Exceptional audio quality
DTS:X & Dolby Atmos support
Cons
No 3.5mm jack
Not compatible with PlayStation or Switch
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.
