This guide explains what to compare when choosing a gaming headset and lists specifications for seven models as published by their manufacturers. Gimaxo has not tested these headsets, so there are no sound, comfort or microphone verdicts here. Specifications change, so check the manufacturer’s page before you buy. We do not list prices, because they vary by store and over time.

For the wider picture of PC audio, see our gaming gear guide.

What to compare

Compare connection, battery, weight and fit, microphone, sound design and noise handling. Each has a catch worth knowing.

Wired or wireless

A wired headset has no battery to charge and no wireless link. A wireless headset trades that for freedom of movement and depends on its battery and radio connection. For a wireless model, check how stable the connection is, not only the latency figure. Some manufacturers publish latency figures for their own wireless links (for example, Razer says its BlackShark V3 reaches latency “as low as 10 ms”), but these are manufacturer claims, and we have not measured them.

Battery life

Battery figures come from manufacturers and depend on how they were measured. HyperX, for example, gives a footnote for its 120 hours that reads “Tested at 50% volume. Battery life varies based on volume and usage.”, and Logitech says the PRO X Wireless figure of up to 20 hours is based on headset volume set to 50% and may vary with the user and computing conditions. Several other manufacturers do not state their test conditions on the pages we read. Read every number as the manufacturer’s stated value. Where the test conditions are not given, it is not necessarily a maximum.

Weight and fit

Weight is listed for some models and not for others. A lighter headset is not automatically more comfortable: clamping force, ear-cup size and head shape matter, and glasses can change the fit. Logitech says the G435 “fits a wide range of players but is optimized for the comfort of younger players and those with smaller heads”, and it also names esports pros in training. If you have a larger head, check the fit before buying. Try a headset with a good return policy when you can.

Microphone

Microphones differ in kind: a retractable or detachable boom microphone, or built-in beamforming microphones. Specifications cannot tell you how a microphone will sound to your teammates. Manufacturer claims about noise reduction are claims, not measurements.

Sound design

Driver size in millimetres does not tell you how a headset sounds. Our gaming gear guide explains why spec-sheet figures like this are a weak guide. The same guide explains the difference between open-back and closed-back designs. Open-back designs let sound pass through the ear cups, so audio leaks out and outside noise comes in, which suits quiet, private rooms.

Generic illustration of open-back headphones, used only to show the design. It does not represent any model in this guide.

Noise handling

Passive isolation depends on the cup design and seal. Active noise cancellation (ANC) uses microphones and electronics and is a listed feature on only some headsets. A headset’s page tells you whether it has ANC. It does not tell you how well it works for you.

Seven models and what their makers list

The images in this guide are generic illustrations, not photos of the headsets discussed.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1

• Connection: wired, 3.5 mm jack that SteelSeries says works with PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, Chromebook and Mac.
• Fit: a stretchy headband with four points of adjustment, and AirWeave memory foam ear cushions.
• Weight: SteelSeries says 253 g in the product text; an image description on the same page says 236 g.
• Microphone: the product page’s microphone tiles show the Arctis Nova 3, so we do not list microphone specifications for the Nova 1. The page mentions a mute button.
• Worth knowing: being wired, it has no battery or wireless link, and it needs a cable to your device.

Logitech G435 Lightspeed

• Connection: Lightspeed wireless and Bluetooth. The page does not say whether both can be used at once.
• Weight and battery: 165 g, and 18 hours of play time on a full charge (test conditions not stated).
• Microphone: dual beamforming microphones built into the headset instead of a boom arm.
• Worth knowing: Logitech says it “fits a wide range of players but is optimized for the comfort of younger players and those with smaller heads”.

HyperX Cloud III Wireless

HyperX’s Cloud III collection page labels this model Discontinued, and its button reads “Out Of Stock”. We keep the entry for reference, with specifications taken from HyperX’s launch announcement.

• Connection and range: 2.4 GHz wireless, with a listed range of “up to 20 meters”.
• Battery: 120 hours. HyperX’s footnote says “Tested at 50% volume. Battery life varies based on volume and usage.”
• Build: over-ear, closed-back, 53 mm dynamic drivers with neodymium magnets, steel and aluminium frame, memory foam and premium leatherette ear cushions.
• Weight: 330 g, or 342 g with the microphone.
• Microphone: detachable.

Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 3

• Connection: 2.4 GHz wireless and Bluetooth 5.2, with a QuickSwitch button that switches your audio and chat source between the two. The page does not say whether both can be used at once.
• Battery: 80 hours with quick charge (test conditions not stated).
• Build: 50 mm drivers, memory foam ear cushions in an athletic weave fabric, designed to be glasses-friendly.
• Microphone: uni-directional, flip-to-mute, with AI-based noise reduction.
• Weight: not listed on the page we read.

Razer BlackShark V3

• Connection: 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth and USB-C. Razer’s page also lists a simultaneous 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth mode. Razer says its wireless latency is as low as 10 ms.
• Weight and battery: 270 g, 70 hours (test conditions not stated). Razer says 15 minutes of charging gives about 6 hours of play.
• Build: 50 mm TriForce Titanium drivers, hybrid fabric and leatherette memory foam cushions.
• Microphone: detachable HyperClear Super Wideband mic.
• Surround: THX Spatial Audio, which Razer says requires Windows 11 version 23H2 or later. The gaming gear guide covers stereo versus virtual surround, so check it before relying on this.

Logitech G Pro X Wireless

• Connection: Lightspeed 2.4 GHz wireless with up to 15 m range. The page does not mention Bluetooth or a wired option.
• Battery: Logitech’s support specification page says up to 20 hours, based on headset volume set to 50%, and that battery life may vary with the user and computing conditions. The product page says “20+ hours” without conditions; we use the support-page figure because it states its conditions.
• Weight: 370 g with the mic boom, according to Logitech’s support specification page (listed as weight without cable).
• Build: 50 mm drivers with a hybrid mesh construction.
• Software features: Logitech lists Blue VO!CE microphone processing and DTS Headphone:X 2.0 surround sound. The product page says Blue VO!CE voice comms are configured through Logitech G HUB Gaming Software.

Premium and flagship models

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless

• Battery system: SteelSeries describes an Infinity Power System with two hot-swappable batteries, up to 22 hours per battery, so one can charge while the other is in use (from the announcement of the white edition).
• Noise handling: active noise cancellation with a Transparency Mode, described in SteelSeries’ announcement of the white edition.
• Connection: SteelSeries’ announcement describes 2.4 GHz wireless with Bluetooth that can be used at the same time, and a Multi-System Connect hub for several devices.
• Base station: the announcement describes an OLED display for battery and other information.
• Weight: not listed on the pages we read.

Specs at a glance

As listed by each manufacturer; “not listed” means we did not find the figure on the page we read.

• Arctis Nova 1: wired, 3.5 mm. No battery. 253 g.
• G435: Lightspeed and Bluetooth. 18 h (conditions not stated). 165 g.
• Cloud III Wireless (labelled Discontinued by HyperX): 2.4 GHz wireless, up to 20 m. 120 h, tested at 50% volume. 330 g, or 342 g with the microphone.
• Stealth 600 Gen 3: 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth, switching between them. 80 h (conditions not stated). Weight not listed.
• BlackShark V3: 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth and USB-C, with a simultaneous mode listed by Razer. 70 h (conditions not stated). 270 g.
• G Pro X Wireless: Lightspeed 2.4 GHz. Up to 20 h, based on volume at 50%. 370 g with mic boom.
• Arctis Nova Pro Wireless: 2.4 GHz plus Bluetooth that SteelSeries says can be used at the same time. Up to 22 h per hot-swappable battery. Weight not listed.

When to skip a headset

Skip it if the page hides what you need. Several pages do not state battery test conditions or weight, and a number without its conditions cannot be compared reliably. A few more cases follow from what the makers list:

• Skip a wireless model if you do not want to charge a battery or depend on a radio link. A wired headset such as the Arctis Nova 1 needs only a cable.
• Skip an open-back design for a noisy or shared room: audio leaks out and outside noise comes in.
• Skip any model whose discontinued status matters to you: HyperX’s collection page labels the Cloud III Wireless as Discontinued.

Listening at a sensible volume

Long sessions in headphones are a reason to think about volume. The WHO-ITU standard for safe listening devices and systems describes a sound-allowance reference for adults (Mode 1) of 80 dB for 40 hours per week, and says personal audio devices should offer volume-limiting options such as automatic volume reduction based on information from the user’s profile. ITU says the standard focuses on personal or portable audio systems, particularly music players, and expects future standards to address gaming consoles. Treat the figure as a general reference. Check whether your headset or software shows or limits volume. This is general information, not medical advice: if you notice ringing in your ears or changes in your hearing, speak to a health professional.

Sources

Manufacturer pages, read in October 2026:

• SteelSeries: Arctis Nova 1
• Logitech G: G435
• HyperX: Cloud III Wireless
• HyperX: Cloud III Wireless launch announcement
• HyperX: Cloud III collection
• Turtle Beach: Stealth 600
• Razer: BlackShark V3
• Logitech G: PRO X Wireless
• Logitech support: PRO X Wireless technical specifications
• SteelSeries: Arctis Nova Pro Wireless
• SteelSeries: white Arctis Nova Pro series announcement
• WHO: Safe listening devices and systems, a WHO-ITU standard
• ITU: Listen responsibly, a new ITU standard to prevent audio devices from causing hearing loss