The 6 Best Budget And Cheap Gaming Headsets - Fall 2023 Reviews

The best budget gaming headset that we've tested is the Logitech G432. These wired headphones have a 1/8" TRRS cable, which allows you to connect them to most consoles via an analog connection. They also have a USB adapter that offers very low latency, so your audio and visuals stay in sync while gaming. They're decently well-built and have a comfortable and lightweight fit. Their boom microphone does a great job of ensuring that your voice sounds clear, even in moderately noisy environments, so your teammates will easily understand you during online games.

Their sound profile lacks bass, which can make action-packed games seem less immersive, but dialogue still sounds present and clear. Their companion software offers a graphic EQ and presets to help you tweak their otherwise balanced sound. Unfortunately, they're prone to inconsistent audio delivery, so you must adjust their fit and positioning to get the same sound every time you use them. The Logitech G335 are around the same price and have a more consistent sound delivery. You might prefer them because they're more comfortable and durable, but they reproduce even less low bass and don't have an app or sound customization features.

Consider the Turtle Beach Recon 50X/Recon 50P for a more affordable gaming headset. Although their simple and plasticky design is a step down from the Logitech G432 and reflects their wallet-friendly price point, they're still worth considering if the price is a major factor for you. Some color variants fluctuate in price, but all models will work with any device with an AUX port. Their large ear cups are well-padded and decently comfortable for longer gaming sessions.

Due to their wired design, their boom microphone delivers better overall performance than the similarly priced Logitech G435 LIGHTSPEED Wireless, which is great if you want to communicate with teammates. Your voice sounds clear and easy to understand, even if you're gaming in a moderately noisy environment. Their sound has an intense boom, too, which can accentuate sound effects like explosions in gameplay. That said, the extra bass overwhelms and muddies dialogue and instruments. They also don't have any sound customization features to help you adjust their sound to your liking, which isn't ideal but could be a fair trade-off if you're shopping on a budget.

It can be hard to find wireless gaming headphones under $50. Luckily, the Logitech G435 LIGHTSPEED Wireless are a solid choice if you don't want to deal with a cable. They're priced similarly to the Turtle Beach Recon 50X/Recon 50P but are better built and more comfortable. Plus, they're designed for people with smaller heads, so their fit is tighter than other gaming headphones, which may be more suitable for you.

You can easily pair these headphones to PCs and PlayStation consoles using the dongle, or you can use Bluetooth with your Nintendo Switch and smartphone with decently low latency. They also support Bluetooth and non-Bluetooth wireless, meaning you can use them while gaming or even during your daily grind. However, their integrated mic struggles to separate speech from background noise, especially compared to the Turtle Beach, so they're not quite as ideal for multi-player games.

On the upside, their warm sound profile is well-suited for gaming. The extra warmth and boom help draw attention to sound effects like footsteps while dialogue and instruments remain clear. They lack sound customization features. If you want wireless headphones to tweak to your liking, you'll need to jump to a higher price bracket. The Logitech G535 LIGHTSPEED Wireless are quite a bit more expensive but still under $100. They work with the Logitech G HUB software, which includes a graphic EQ and presets so you can adjust their sound profile. They also offer a longer continuous battery life and lower latency via non-Bluetooth wireless.

If you're looking for an affordable headset with a strong mic performance, look at the Astro A10. These headphones are the previous generation of the Astro A10 Gen 2 and offer an even better mic performance at a lower price. Their boom mic makes recorded speech sound clear, detailed, and full-bodied. It does an impressive job of separating your voice from background noise, including loud noise like a busy street outside your window, so your teammates will hear you clearly no matter where you game.

These headphones are well-built and decently comfortable, with a detachable audio cable that's easy to replace if damaged. As for sound, they bring a little extra punch and boom to emphasize sound effects like footsteps. However, dialogue and instruments are pushed to the back of mixes, and there aren't any EQ presets to customize their sound. If you don't mind buying a more expensive headset, the Astro A20 Gen 2 Wireless have a more balanced mid-range, so elements like voices are more present in the mix. However, their mic performance isn't as strong, and they also don't have an app with customization tools.

The best gaming headset under $50 with a detachable mic we've tested is the SteelSeries Arctis 1. They're especially handy if you're looking for a headset with versatility for more casual use, as you can remove the mic to just listen to music while at the office or on your commute. Although they're slowly being phased out, you can still find them online through some retailers. While they're more expensive than the Logitech G432, they offer a more comfortable fit and a better-balanced sound profile, with a bit of extra boom that can help emphasize sound effects. They don't have an app or sound customization features, however.

Their mic has excellent recording quality, so your voice sounds clear when gaming online. It also does a good job of separating your voice from background noise, although it's not ideal if you often play in a noisy place. The headphones don't isolate you from much ambient sound, though. Their build quality feels plasticky and not particularly durable, but on the plus side, their onboard controls are easy to use and include a mic mute switch on one ear cup.

It's not easy to find a sturdy-feeling headset at this price point. Our top pick has an okay build, but if you want more durable headphones, look at the HyperX Cloud 2/Cloud II. Their price varies depending on what color you buy, and they usually cost a little over $50 at the cheapest, but they have a better build quality than any headset we've tested below that price point. Plus, they perform better than the next generation HyperX Cloud III at a lower price thanks to their better bass delivery and microphone performance. They work with most consoles via analog connection and come with a USΒ dongle that provides low latency with PCs and PlayStations and gives you more features like channel mixing and virtual surround sound.

Their detachable mic's recording quality is similar to the Astro A10's, although your voice sounds a little less full-bodied. They do a better job of separating your voice from background noise but are quite a bit more expensive, so the Astro are still the best choice if you're looking for great mic performance at a low price. These headphones have a bass-rich sound profile that can help bring out game sound effects. However, instruments and voices lack some detail and articulation, and unlike our top pick, they don't have an app or come with any sound customization features.