The Astro A50 X are the next generation of the Astro A50 Gen 4, Astro's flagship gaming headphones. While adopting a similar design to their predecessor, this latest iteration comes with all the bells and whistles you'd expect from a top-of-the-line wireless gaming headset and some additions that set them apart from the competition. The standout feature here is the new PLAYSYNC function that enables you to switch between three systems (PC, PlayStation, and Xbox) at the press of a button. At the heart of this is a new-look base station that's optimized for HDMI passthrough, featuring three HDMI 2.1 ports and three USB-C ports. There's even the ability to blend your Bluetooth audio signal into your game/chat mix.
Our Verdict
The Astro A50 X Wireless aren't designed for sports and fitness. They score decently for this use in part because they're comfortable and support Bluetooth, but a Bluetooth connection is only possible when also using their base station, which limits their portability. They're also too bulky to be portable, and their lack of stability means they'll fall off your head during more intense bouts of exercise.
- Comfortable and well-built.
- Bulky and non-portable design.
The Astro A50 X Lightspeed are sub-par for travel and commuting. They're designed to be a set-and-forget pair of gaming headphones that are tied to a home setup. They're too bulky to carry around with you in a bag, and they lack a case or carrying pouch to protect them while you're on the move. Plus, you'll need to haul the base station around with you to use them. They also offer virtually no attenuation against external noise, so the sounds of your commute will find their way into your audio. They're very comfortable, and their 26-hour battery life is enough to last a few long journeys.
- Comfortable and well-built.
- Terrible noise isolation performance.
- Bulky and non-portable design.
The Astro A50 X are middling for office use, though they're not intended for this purpose. Their bulky design and non-detachable boom mic make them stick out a bit from the crowd, but they're comfortable enough to be worn for long days in the office, and their 26 hours of battery life will ensure they stay the course. Their poor noise isolation performance means they won't be blocking out the sound of water cooler chatter near your desk.
- Excellent mic recording quality.
- Terrible noise isolation performance.
- Bulky and non-portable design.
The Astro A50 X are great for wireless gaming. They're comfortable and well-built, with a 26-hour battery life that'll get you through the sweatiest gaming marathons. They have a balanced default sound profile that's easy to tweak to your liking via the parametric EQ and presets in the companion app. It's easy to achieve consistent audio delivery each time you use them. The boom mic has excellent recording quality and a similar level of tweakability, although its noise-handling performance isn't the best. The biggest selling point here is the new dock and PLAYSYNC compatibility. For those that game across multiple systems or like to stream, the combination of HDMI and USB-C inputs with Bluetooth functionality offers unparalleled low latency connectivity options to integrate with your setup.
- Excellent mic recording quality.
- 26 hours of continuous battery life.
- Low latency with connectivity options for HDMI passthrough and USB.
- Very consistent audio delivery.
- Terrible noise isolation performance.
You can't use the Astro A50 X with a wired connection, so they're unsuitable for wired gaming.
The Astro A50 X have impressive audio reproduction accuracy. They have a generally balanced sound with plenty of low-end thump and a fairly smooth treble. The left and right drivers are impressively well-matched in terms of phase and amplitude across the frequency spectrum, but high group delay in the bass region means thumpy 808 kick drums feel a bit flabby and loose.
The Astro A50 X have terrible noise isolation. They block out almost no noise and also leak a lot of audio, so anyone around you will be able to hear your content.
The Astro A50 X have a decent microphone. It captures your voice amazingly accurately and with plenty of detail. But it does an unremarkable job of separating your voice from any noise around you. If you're gaming at home, you'll be fine, but you might want to keep your windows closed if you live by a busy road.
The Astro A50 X have great frequency response consistency. You'll hear consistent sound with each wear, even if you have long hair or wear glasses.
Performance Usages
Changelog
- Updated Mar 24, 2026: This review has been updated to Test Bench 2.1, which removes the Group Delay test, and rebalances scoring for the Harmonic Distortion test and Audio Reproduction Accuracy performance usage. For more details, consult our full changelog.
-
Updated Nov 18, 2025:
We've updated the review to mention the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite in Bluetooth Connection.
-
Updated Jun 04, 2025:
We've updated the review to classify the headphones' equalizer as Parametric + Graphic in App Support.
-
Updated Apr 25, 2025:
This review has been updated to Test Bench 2.0, which adds the following tests: Stereo Mismatch, Group Delay, Cumulative Spectral Decay, PRTF, Harmonic Distortion, and Electrical Aspects. We've added new performance usages and updated the text throughout the Sound tests and side-by-sides.
Check Price
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Astro A50 X don't come in console-specific variants as they offer compatibility with PC, as well as Xbox and PlayStation family consoles. They come in two color variants: 'Black' and 'White.' We tested the 'Black' variant; see our unit's label.
If you encounter a different variant of these headphones, let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Astro A50 X are the next generation of the Astro A50 Gen 4. While they retain their predecessor's simple aesthetic and square ear cups, their connectivity options have been greatly improved. The new hub features three HDMI 2.1 inputs and 3 USB-C inputs to suit a range of gaming setups, and you can toggle between your different consoles and PC with the press of a button. You also get to mix in audio from a Bluetooth device and can tweak the sound profile, mic profile, and noise gate (among many other aspects) through the Logitech G HUB software. So far, this software seems less prone to issues than the Astro Command Center software used by the previous generation. While competitors like the Audeze Maxwell have a significantly longer battery life, better noise isolation, and the ability to use a wired connection, the Astro's comfortable fit, excellent mic recording quality, and many connectivity options make them a great alternative.
If you're looking for more gaming headphones, check out our recommendations for the best gaming headsets, the best headsets for Xbox Series X/S, and the best wireless gaming headsets.
The Astro A50 X are better overall gaming headphones than the Astro A50 Gen 4. The new version introduces more connectivity options via the base station, with USB-C and HDMI 2.1 inputs and the option to switch between different gaming systems and charge the headphones. While both headsets are similarly comfortable and well-built, the newer version's companion software is more reliable. They also have a longer continuous battery life. That said, the previous generation have better mic noise handling and give you the option to switch between EQ presets or enable Dolby Digital Surround sound via the physical controls.
The Astro A50 X are ever so slightly better wireless gaming headphones than the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless. The Astro have a more balanced sound with a controlled mid-range that more accurately reproduces dialogue and soundtracks. They also sound more or less the same, even if you wear glasses or have thicker hair. That said, if you plan to use these headphones in more casual settings, the SteelSeries are the better pick, since they have ANC that does a good job blocking out noise around you, while the Astro block out almost no sound. The SteelSeries' mic is also a bit better at separating your voice from noise around you.
The Astro A50 X and the Audeze Maxwell are both very good gaming headsets with different strengths that might suit your needs better. The Astro have more connectivity options via their base station, with plenty of USB-C inputs and the capability for HDMI passthrough with their three 2.1 inputs. They're also more comfortable and have a better mic recording quality. On the other hand, you can use the Audeze with a wired connection, and they have a longer continuous battery life and better noise isolation. Their mic also does a better job of separating your voice from background noise.
The Logitech G PRO X 2 LIGHTSPEED Wireless and the Astro A50 X are both premium gaming headphones that are comfortable and have solid build quality. The Astro have a myriad of connectivity options through their base station, with plenty of USB-C inputs and the capability for HDMI passthrough with their three 2.1 inputs, which is ideal for gamers with multiple systems. The PLAYSYNC function also makes it easy to switch between them. However, the base station lacks the Logitech's USB dongle's line-out port. The Logitech have a longer continuous battery life, though, and you can use them with a wired connection.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
Test Results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
