The 6 Best Budget And Cheap Gaming Headsets - Spring 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 sounds present and clear. Their companion software offers a graphic EQ and presets to help you tweak their otherwise balanced sound. They're pretty prone to inconsistent audio delivery, so you need to 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.

If you're looking for something more affordable but still want to stick with a wired design, consider the Turtle Beach Recon 50X/Recon 50P. 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. Some color variants fluctuate in price, but all models will work with any device with an AUX port.

These over-ears have large ear cups that are well-padded and relatively comfortable overall. Due to their wired design, their boom microphone also delivers better overall performance than the similarly priced Logitech G435 LIGHTSPEED Wireless. Your voice sounds clear and easy to understand, even if you're gaming in a moderately noisy environment. Their sound has intense boom too, which can accentuate sound effects like explosions in gameplay. That said, the extra bass overwhelms and muddies dialogue and instruments. They don't have any sound customization features to help you adjust their sound to your liking either.

If you're looking for an affordable headset with a strong mic performance, look at the Astro A10. Although they're the previous generation of the Astro A10 Gen 2, these headphones are more affordable than their successor. Their boom mic offers great overall performance, so your voice sounds clear and detailed, even if you're gaming near an open window. They also have good build quality, a detachable audio cable you can easily replace if damaged, and a decently comfortable fit.

These headphones deliver extra punch and boom to help bring out sound effects like footsteps. However, their overall sound profile is uneven, so dialogue and instruments seem pushed to the back of mixes. Unfortunately, they don't have an app and also lack features like an EQ or presets that you could use to customize their sound profile. If you don't mind buying a more expensive headset, the Gen 2 have a less bass-heavy sound profile and 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.

The best gaming headset under $50 for gaming with a detachable mic we've tested is the SteelSeries Arctis 1. You might want a removable mic if you also use your gaming headphones for other purposes, like listening to music while you're working. These wired headphones are more expensive than the Logitech G432 but 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 quality, 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. They feel more durable than the other picks, with a flexible headband and sturdy-feeling joints. They work with most consoles via analog connection and come with a USΒ dongle that provides low latency with PCs and PlayStations. It gives you access to more features like channel mixing and virtual surround sound.

Their detachable mic's recording quality isn't as good as the SteelSeries Arctis 1, but it makes your voice sound clear and natural during multi-player games. As the most expensive headphones listed here, they offer the best mic noise handling performance, so noise from a busy street outside won't drown you out. They have a bass-rich sound profile that can help bring out game sound effects. Instruments and voices lack some detail and articulation, and unlike our top pick, the headphones don't have an app or come with any sound customization features.

If you're looking to cut the cable and go wireless, you'll want to consider the Logitech G435 LIGHTSPEED Wireless. Unlike other picks on this list, they're designed for teens and tweens, so their fit is smaller than other gaming headphones. However, they support Bluetooth as well as non-Bluetooth wireless, meaning you can use them while gaming or even during your day-to-day grind. While you can't connect to your smartphone and console simultaneously, you can still easily connect them to PCs and PlayStation consoles using the dongle or use Bluetooth to connect to your Nintendo Switch and smartphone with decently low latency. They also have just under 20 hours of continuous playback time and are equipped with an auto-off timer to help further conserve battery life if you forget to turn them off.

While they're comparable in price to the Turtle Beach Recon 50X/Recon 50P, they're better built and more comfortable. However, their mic performance isn't as good. They have an integrated mic instead of a boom mic, and even though it does a fair job of capturing your voice clearly, the mic struggles to separate speech from background noise, making it harder for others to hear you clearly if you're gaming in a noisy place. 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 are clear in the mix. They don't have any sound customization features, though.