The Best Headphones For Gaming In 2021

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When it comes to a gaming setup, a good gaming headphone is something that shouldn’t be overlooked at all. That’s why for today, I’ll be giving you my top recommendations of the best headphones for gaming in 2021.

Sure, things like your GPU, your monitor, keyboard are things that might be on top of your priority list. But having the right gaming headphone can make a huge difference in your overall gaming experience. Especially when audio and sound effects can potentially play such an important role in a game.

I don’t know about you, but listening to a game’s battle music just puts me in the right mood to conquer any mission or quest. Sometimes, it can even be the difference between winning or losing. But that’s just me.

Regardless if you like to immerse yourself in the game’s official audio, prefer to listen to your own playlist in the background, rather talk to your fellow gamers or friends, or need to pay attention to your enemy’s every movement or footsteps, finding the right gaming headphone to do the job can be a daunting task.

So to help you out in narrowing down your options, below are my top picks that are worth considering as you go headphone shopping.

Do You Need Gaming Headphones?

Before we dive into my list of recommendations, let’s answer some questions first.

For competitive gamers, especially the ones who get into intensive e-sport competitions, a gaming headphone can be crucial to one’s path to victory. But even casual gamers can enjoy the benefits of good gaming headphones and make their gaming sessions a lot more enjoyable.

It might not seem like it, but using the right headphones for gaming will help you communicate better with your teammates. The right headphones will let you hear even the smallest of footsteps from afar so you can anticipate your enemy’s next movements. It can also pinpoint audio cues to let you know what is happening around you.

When you have all these qualities and features in your gaming headphones, winning the game can be a lot easier for you and your team.

What is the difference between gaming headphones and regular headphones?

But how does a gaming headphone differ from the regular headphones we use every day exactly?

The answer is in the overall build quality actually. Gaming headphones are built specifically with gamers in mind. That means most gaming headphones you will come across in the market are usually equipped with things like:

• Built-in microphone. The mics on gaming headphones are usually a lot more fine-tuned. Which helps in better communication between you and your teammates. These mics can be detachable too.
• Better surround sound experience. With gaming headphones, it’s very important that you get that additional awareness or audio cues when it comes to your surroundings.
• Comfortable build quality. When you’re playing a game, you usually take plenty of hours doing it. Sometimes, we don’t even notice the time. That’s why manufacturers make it a point to make sure that their gaming headphones will provide maximum comfort to their users.
• Gamer aesthetics. When it comes to aesthetics, gaming headphones are usually a lot more stylish or edgy in terms of design. Though personally, they can be hit or miss.

And these are just a few reasons why I think a quality gaming headset is essential to one’s gaming session.

My Top Recommendations

1. SteelSeries Arctis Pro

Overview

If you truly want the best of the best when it comes to your audio during every gaming session, the SteelSeries Arctis Pro is the pair of gaming headphones you need to look into. It’s one of the industry-leading headphones in the gaming community that’s sleek, sturdy, and comfortable to use.

Known for providing terrific audio quality that e-sports competitions use, SteelSeries will surely not disappoint you whether you’re using their headphones for your games or just for listening to any kind of audio content. The sound effects from your games will specifically feel a lot more immersive with this just sitting on top of your head.

Whether you’re gaming competitively or just doing it for your own leisure, you will absolutely enjoy the quality sound the SteelSeries Arctis Pro is offering.

Not to mention, gamers who are also audiophiles or just casual listeners will ultimately love this product due to its impressive surround sound features and its built-in DAC (digital to analogue converter). This particular headset has been consistently topping review lists for some time now and for good reason.

Personally, this is probably one of the best-sounding gaming headphones you can get your hands on in the market today. The only downside I can see is that this model is on the pricier side, so if you’re someone who is on a tight budget, there are definitely other options for you to check out on this list.

Check out our dedicated review of the SteelSeries Arctis Pro here.

Features & Specifications

• Product Dimensions: ‎8.5 x 1.65 x 7.76 inches
• Manufacturer / Brand: SteelSeries
• Type: Over Ear
• Item Weight: 1.15 pounds
• Wireless: No.
• Connectivity: USB, Optical, 3.5mm
• Mic: Yes.
• Driver/s: 40mm neodymium
• Frequency Response: 10–40,000 Hz
• Noise Cancelling: No
• Compatibilities: PC & PS4
• Color: ‎Black
• RGB Lighting Effects: Yes
• Special Features: 40mm drivers, retractable boom microphone, DTS Headphone: X v2.0, RGB lighting effects, included DAC.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10.

Where Can I Buy The SteelSeries Arctis Pro?

2. Razer BlackShark V2 Pro – Wireless

Overview

Another huge name in this list is the BlackShark V2 Pro – Wireless from Razer. If you’re unaware, Razer is one of the top and most popular brands in the gaming market right now. Almost every gamer in the world knows them and their company.

Whether it be gaming keyboards, mouses, or headphones, you’re assured that their products are of the highest quality. They’re not one of the leading gaming companies for no reason after all. Aside from that, many of their products have won multiple awards and received recognition as well.

With that being said, what you’re getting with Razer’s BlackShark V2 Pro is no different from their many award-winning peripherals.

Aside from giving impeccable audio quality, the BlackShark V2 Pro is also priced pretty reasonably. No need to break the bank on this one! What’s more, the software used in this pair of gaming headphones is also pretty easy to understand.

So how does the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro pull it off? By making discrete ports for their 50mm TriForce Titanium drivers to make sure that the bass, mid, tremble tones are separated from each other and will avoid any kind of clashing.

In turn, you will get a much richer, brighter, and fuller sound without experiencing any distortion whatsoever.

If you were disappointed by the SteelSeries Arctis Pro’s steep pricing, the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro is surely a more budget-friendly option for you that doesn’t make any compromises or sacrificed any major bells and whistles.

Check out our dedicated review of the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro here.

Features & Specifications

• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 3.94 x 7.88 inches
• Manufacturer / Brand: Razer
• Type: Over Ear.
• Item Weight: 320 g or 1.78 lbs.
• Wireless: Yes.
• Connectivity: Wireless 2.4GHZ / 3.5mm
• Mic: Yes, removable mic.
• Driver/s: TriForce Titanium 50mm Drivers
• Frequency Response: 12 Hz – 28 kHz.
• Noise Cancelling: Yes, passive noise cancellation.
• Color: Black.
• Special Features: THX 7.1 Spatial Surround Sound, Removable Razer™ HyperClear Supercardioid Mic, 24-hr. battery life, Ultra-soft FlowKnit memory foam ear cushions, Advanced mic control features, Removable Razer™ SpeedFlex Cable, and Connectivity – Razer™ HyperSpeed Wireless Technology (2.4GHz), plus a 3.5mm jack.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10.

Where Can I Buy The Razer BlackShark V2 Pro- Wireless?

3. HyperX Cloud II Wireless

Overview

If you have been on the hunt for the best wireless gaming headset in the market, then your search is finally over. The HyperX Cloud II Wireless offers its unparalleled sound and build quality to its users on top of the features we already know and love from its predecessors.

Coming from a long line of excellence, HyperX does not disappoint at all with the Cloud II Wireless. It’s an ultra-comfortable pair of headphones with a closed-back design that ensures top quality in the audio department.

The spacious 53mm with neodymium magnets are there to make sure that your game’s audio’s highs, lows, and mids resonate without clashing with one another. While admittedly, the bass quality could have been a lot better, its other impressive features more than make up for it.

Such impressive features include a 30-hour battery life in a single charge depending on usage, great padding, high comfort levels despite long hours of playtime, and a clear microphone just to name a few.

Features & Specifications

• Product Dimensions: 7.48 x 5.35 x 3.66 inches
• Manufacturer / Brand: HyperX
• Type: Over ear.
• Item Weight‎: 10.6 ounces
• Wireless: Yes, Wireless 2.4GHz.
• Connectivity: USB Dongle, 2.4GHz
• Mic: Yes, detachable with mute LED.
• Driver/s: 53mm with neodymium magnets.
• Frequency Response: 15Hz-20kHz
• Noise Cancelling: Yes.
• Color: Red and Gun metal.
• Special Features: 30-hour battery life,

Rating: 9 out of 10.

Where Can I Buy The HyperX Cloud II Wireless?

4. Logitech G Pro X Wireless

Overview

Another impressive wireless option in our best headphones for gaming list this 2021 is the Logitech G Pro X Wireless.

Gone are the days where gamers were plagued with constant latency issues when it came to wireless gaming headphones. This is all thanks to Logitech setting the bar and the high standard for wireless audio with the Logitech G Pro X Wireless.

Aside from offering you low latency, this particular pair of gaming headphones is also undoubtedly one of the best wireless headphones in the market today. With amazing build quality, sleek and comfortable design, as well as excellent sound quality, you really can’t go wrong considering this one as one of your top picks.

If that’s not enough to convince you, the Logitech G Pro X Wireless also boasts 20 hours of battery life on a single charge with this model while providing a wireless range of up to 15 meters. My only qualm with this unit is that the microphone could have been done a lot better by Logitech.

But if you’re the type of gamer who likes to play solo anyway and don’t use a microphone that often, then the mediocre mic shouldn’t pose any problem at all to you.

Features & Specifications

• Product Dimensions: 5.43 x 3.7 x 7.68 inches
• Manufacturer / Brand: Logitech
• Type: Over ear.
• Item Weight: 0.82 lbs
• Wireless: Yes.
• Connectivity: USB Lightspeed
• Console Compatibility: PS4, PC, and Nintendo Switch
• Mic: Yes.
• Driver/s: PRO-G 50 mm drivers
• Frequency Response: 20 Hz-20 KHz
• Noise Cancelling: No.
• Color: Black.
• Special Features: Blue Vo!ce Advanced Mic Technology.

Rating: 9 out of 10.

Where Can I Buy The Logitech G Pro X Wireless?

5. SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless

Overview

Xbox gamers will love this next gaming headphones from SteelSeries. The SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless offers a built-in Xbox Wireless Technology to make sure that you’re getting low audio latency whenever you’re gaming.

Apart from that, this particular pair of gaming headphones also come in with Bluetooth connectivity. That means you can also pair up these headphones with your phone so you can listen to your all-time favorite music while still being connected to your console.

And because SteelSeries is known for its amazing audio quality, gamers and audiophiles alike will truly enjoy using the Arctis 9X. Not to mention, the model is wireless. So if you’re worried about annoying cables snaking around your space, then you won’t have to think about that anymore.

Performance isn’t sacrificed at all despite the SteelSeries Arctis 9X being wireless and you’re getting more than 20 hours of playtime from a single charge. You can also continue using the headset while it’s still charging.

When it comes to comfortability, the ski goggle found on the upper part of the headset prevents its overall weight from digging onto your head. So even after long marathons of gaming, the headset still feels pretty comfortable to wear.  

However, keep in mind that some users of this particular model have also reported some inconsistencies in terms of sound delivery. Some also complained that their headphones would disconnect from their devices on their own which some found an inconvenience or interference in their gameplay.

But overall, the SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless is still a pretty solid choice for gaming headphones and should please most of you.

Features & Specifications

• Product Dimensions: ‎8.07 x 8.26 x 3.62 inches
• Manufacturer / Brand: SteelSeries
• Type: Over ear.
• Item Weight: ‎1.2 pounds
• Wireless: Yes.
• Connectivity: Bluetooth.
• Mic: Yes.
• Driver/s: 40mm neodymium drivers.
• Frequency Response: 20Hz-22,000Hz
• Noise Cancelling: Yes.
• Color: Black.
• Special Features: Retractable noise cancelling mic, DTS Headphone: X, 7.1 surround, 20+ hours of battery life.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10.

Where Can I Buy The SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless?

6. Logitech G733 LightSpeed

Overview

This next gaming headset in our list of the best headphones for gaming this 2021 is for anyone who likes a bit of color in their gaming equipment while having the luxury of great audio quality. The Logitech G733 LightSpeed is exactly that.

While gaming headsets are far from boring, seeing the same colors over and over again can be quite tiring. So if you’re feeling the same, the G733 LightSpeed from Logitech is something you should set your eyes on.

This particular gaming headset offers 4 bright, color variants of black, white, lilac, and blue encased in an all-plastic body with a clashing strap, and some colored LED light strips to accentuate the design further.

Some of you might get hesitant because of the plastic build but not to worry, this device is pretty sturdy with little to no movement or tension on any of its parts. Moreover, despite its oddly shaped design, the Logitech G733 LightSpeed is a very comfortable pair of headphones to wear while also being pretty lightweight around the head.

As for its performance, Logitech rarely disappoints when it comes to its headphones. So the quality doesn’t miss either. What’s more, you can get up to 29 hours of battery life on this device on a single charge. Less if you’re using the flashy LED lights.

The only major downside I see from this model is that it doesn’t have great noise-cancelling options. But if your gaming space isn’t really that noisy to begin with, then there shouldn’t be a problem when you’re using this.

Features & Specifications

• Product Dimensions: ‎5.43 x 3.7 x 7.68 inches
• Manufacturer / Brand: Logitech
• Type: Over ear.
• Item Weight: ‎9.8 ounces
• Wireless: Yes.
• Connectivity: ‎Bluetooth.
• Mic: Yes.
• Driver/s: PRO-G 40 mm
• Frequency Response: 20 Hz-20 KHz
• Noise Cancelling: No.
• Color: Black, white, lilac, and blue.
• Special Features: Blue Voice software, 29-hour battery life.

Rating: 8 out of 10.

Where Can I Buy The Logitech G733 LightSpeed?

7. Astro Gaming A50 Wireless

Overview

Last but not least in our list of the best headphones for gaming is the Astro Gaming A50 Wireless.

I have to admit, the first thing that caught my eyes with this gaming headset is its edgy and unique look. Some will like this, some will give it a pass. However, despite its hit-or-miss design, the sound quality this provides its users is something that you shouldn’t definitely miss out on.

The Astro Gaming A50 Wireless will give you one of the most immersive and excellent audio qualities your ears will ever get to hear. And that’s no exaggeration, either. I’m pretty sure that any audiophile will also love the experience this brings.

Wireless headsets have had a reputation for latency issues, but this particular model has impressive latency so you don’t have to worry about any disconnection whatsoever. I could go on and on about how awesome this device is, but to see is to believe. So I highly suggest testing this out when you can for yourself to see what I’m talking about.

Though I have to mention such premium and amazing features also come with a premium price. So if you’re on a budget, this might not be the best option for you. But for those who can afford to splurge on a gaming headset, I would recommend giving this a try.

Features & Specifications

• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 1.15 x 4.25 inches.
• Manufacturer / Brand: Astro Gaming
• Type: Over Ear
• Item Weight: 1.49 pounds
• Wireless: Yes.
• Connectivity: USB Micro-B 
• Mic: Yes, with voice isolation.
• Driver/s: 40mm Neodymium Magnet
• Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20,000Hz
• Noise Cancelling: No.
• Color: Black.
• Special Features: Dolby Audio, Compatible with PS4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS3, PC, and mobile, Astro Audio, 5.8GHz wireless tech with MixAmp, and a USB charging with base station.

Rating: 9 out of 10.

Where Can I Buy The ASTRO Gaming A50 Wireless?

Before You Buy

Now that we have covered the best headphones for gaming in 2021, here are some quick shopping tips for you to consider before making your final purchases.

Your Budget

As with anything you’re planning to buy or invest in, the best way to approach things is by planning how much you’re willing to spend on a certain product. Or in this case, for your gaming headphones.

Not only will this determine the models or units you need to be keeping an eye out for, but having a set budget will also help narrow down your options to avoid getting overwhelmed with the endless choices.

Fortunately for you, with so many gaming headphones available in the market right now, no matter how much budget you set you’re sure to find one that is just around the price range you’re comfortable in. Just make sure that the one you are getting has excellent value for its price and that you’re not getting the short end of the stick.

Wired or Wireless?

When it comes to gaming headphones, there are two options or variants you will most likely find: a wireless variant and a wired one. What you choose ultimately comes down to your personal preference but here are some reasons you might want to consider.

Wired Headsets

Though there are obvious advantages and disadvantages to both options, with a wired headset, you’re getting the standard headphones of most gamers. In-game sounds will be heard a lot more clearly and communication between you and your teammates are more distinguishable as well.

Many gamers in the community prefer the tried-and-tested wired headphones because they’re a lot more reliable. You don’t have to worry about the battery life, just plug it into your PC or console then you can play right away, and not to mention, pricing is almost always more affordable than their wireless counterparts.

The only thing you need to keep in mind though, a lot of wired headsets nowadays are able to retain a cheaper price due to them using a much older kind of technology. Also, cable damage is a huge possibility over time.

Wireless Headsets

When it comes to wireless headphones, you will be able to have the privilege of mobility. Though, wireless headsets didn’t always have an easy ride. Before the arrival of 2.4GHz connections, wireless headsets were unreliable due to their susceptibility to delays, lags, and signal loss. However, these days, those things are now a problem of the past.

With the right wireless headsets, you will be getting the same top-tier sound quality from their wired counterparts. That is if you will be willing to shell out a few extra bucks of cash. Plus, the reduction of clutter and not having to worry about wires getting in the way of your gaming sessions seems like a worthy upgrade.

The only thing you will be worrying about is the constant charging. Some headsets still let you use it while it’s charging though, but you are going to have to deal with the wire once again.

Surround Sound

Having surround sound gaming headphones is pretty important especially if you’re into competitive gaming. Depending on the type of games you’re into, having this feature can give you that huge competitive edge or advantage over other players.

Gaming headphones that offer surround sound provide up to a 360-degree soundscape. This means you are getting multiple speakers covering each ear. So once you’re in the game, if something or someone is coming at you from behind from any direction, you’ll hear it instantly from that exact direction.

Players of Valorant, Fortnite, and other first-person shooting games will appreciate this. So if you’re one of the million players partaking in these types of games, then taking into account a gaming headphone’s surround sound quality is a must.

Fortunately for you, surround sound is a pretty common feature now for gaming headphones to have. Unlike in other forms of entertainment where having this can cost a luxury. So they’re not that hard to find especially in the gaming community.

Do keep in mind that surround sound comes in a variety of standards. Some game companies follow the Dolby 7.1, DTS:X 2, or Windows Sonic standards, while some create their own variant. Though personally, I find there is really not a lot of difference between these surround sound standards.

So whatever type you prefer, you will still most likely get the same virtual 7.1 environment simulation.

Built-in Microphone

Microphones are usually overlooked a lot when it comes to deciding which factors matter in gaming headphones. For solo gamers, mics don’t really have a lot of use but for people who love to play co-op games wherein you need to rely on your team a lot, a good mic can make or break your matches.

While the built-in microphones on gaming headsets are either hit-or-miss, you still need to consider at least getting one that’s decent where you won’t sound too muffled, quiet, or static-y.

Conclusion

Overall, having a reliable gaming headset can make the difference between winning and losing a game. While it’s not as important as which GPU to get, it’s still something that you will ultimately invest in to complete your gaming setup.

A good and reliable pair of gaming headphones will do just the job of putting you in the right mood to conquer any battlefield or world. I just hope that you find the right one for you through the help of our list of top picks.

Do you already own any of the listed gaming headphones in our top recommendations? Did your favorite make it in our top picks? Let us know if you have any experiences or insights to share in the comments section below. I would love to hear your thoughts!

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