The Xbox Wireless Headset are gaming headphones designed for Xbox One and Xbox Series S|X consoles. The manufacturer previously released the Xbox Stereo Headset, a wired headset, and this is their first wireless pair of headphones. It has Xbox Wireless technology built-in and can connect to your Xbox console without a cable or dongle. It also supports Bluetooth, which makes it easy to connect with your phone.
The Xbox Wireless Headset is disappointing for neutral sound. Out-of-the-box, these headphones have a bass-heavy sound profile that can overwhelm your mixes. They're also very prone to inconsistent bass and treble delivery, and their passive soundstage is perceived as closed-off and unnatural, which doesn't make for a very immersive audio experience. You can customize them using the graphic EQ or presets to help achieve a more neutral sound profile.
The Xbox Wireless Headset is passable for commute and travel. These headphones aren't designed for this purpose and have a gamer-centric design. They don't have onboard call or music controls, can't fold into a more compact size, and don't come with a carrying case. They also block out virtually none of the rumble from bus or plane engines and struggle to reduce mid-range sound like ambient chatter. On the upside, they have a long-lasting battery life and are comfortable to wear for a few hours.
The Xbox Wireless Headset isn't designed for sports and fitness. They're gaming headphones and don't have a very breathable or portable design. While they won't shift in positioning if you're sitting down, they can easily fall off with moderate physical activity. They also don't have an IP rating for water resistance, but that's the norm for gaming products.
The Xbox Wireless Headset is just okay for office use. If you don't mind their gamer-centric design, these well-built headphones have a comfortable fit and deliver over 19 hours of continuous playback time. However, they won't block out ambient chatter around you, and they aren't the most breathable, so they can warm your ears when worn for long periods.
The Xbox Wireless Headset is just okay for wireless gaming. These comfortable headphones are for Xbox consoles, so you'll want to look elsewhere if you game on other consoles. Their default sound is bass-heavy and can be overwhelming, but their companion software offers a graphic EQ and presets to help you adjust it. They also have over 19 hours of continuous playback time. Their boom mic does a great job recording your voice, meaning you won't have problems being understood. However, they have high latency, which can cause audio lag issues during gameplay.
The Xbox Wireless Headset is fair for wired gaming. These headphones can connect to Xbox consoles and PCs with their USB-C to USB-A cable. While some users may find their bass-heavy sound overwhelming, you can tweak their sound using their graphic EQ or presets. Their boom mic also does a great job recording your voice, although it struggles more to separate speech from ambient sound in noisy environments. Unfortunately, their passive soundstage isn't very immersive, and the headphones are prone to inconsistent bass and treble delivery.
The Xbox Wireless Headset is fair for phone calls. Its boom mic has great recording quality, so your voice sounds natural and clear. However, it struggles to separate your voice from ambient noise in moderately loud environments like a subway or busy street. The headphones also have poor noise isolation performance, making it hard to hear the person on the other end of the line.
The Xbox Wireless Headset comes in one main color variant: 'Black'. These headphones also come in a limited edition called 'Starfield', which has a white, gray, and red look. If you encounter another variant, please let us know in the forums, and we'll update our review.
The Xbox Wireless Headset is meant for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S consoles. These comfortable and well-built headphones have Xbox Wireless built-in and support Bluetooth for more casual use. Unlike the Razer or the SteelSeries, they offer mic and audio support with Xbox and PC via USΒ. However, they have higher latency via Xbox Wireless than headphones like the Razer Kaira Pro Wireless or the SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless. While some users may find their especially bass-heavy sound profile overwhelming, their companion software offers a graphic EQ and presets, meaning you can customize their sound to your liking.
Check out our recommendations for the best headsets for the Xbox Series X|S, the best Xbox One headsets, and the best gaming headsets under $100.
The SteelSeries Arctis 7X Wireless are better gaming headphones than the Xbox Wireless Headset. The SteelSeries are better-built, have a more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box, which some users may prefer, and have a better overall mic performance. They have a longer continuous battery life, lower wireless latency, and can be used wirelessly on PCs and PlayStation consoles in addition to Xbox consoles.
The Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 Wireless and the Xbox Wireless Headset are similar gaming headphones for Xbox consoles. The Turtle Beach are better-built and have a more stable fit. They reproduce audio more consistently, have a more neutral default sound profile, and their boom mic offers a slightly better overall performance. They also have lower wireless latency. However, the Xbox are more comfortable, have a longer-lasting battery life, and can be used wired via their USB-C to USB-A cable with full mic and audio compatibility.
The Xbox Wireless Headset and the Xbox Stereo Headset are similar gaming headphones with different strengths. The Wireless support Xbox Wireless, although they have high latency, causing lip-sync mismatch. They also have a channel mixing dial, a better overall boom mic performance, and are compatible with Xbox Accessories software, which offers a graphic EQ and presets to help you adjust their sound. However, some users may prefer the Stereo's wired 1/8" TRRS design. The ear cups are also more breathable.
The Razer Kaira Pro Wireless are better wireless gaming headphones for Xbox consoles than the Xbox Wireless Headset. The Razer are better-built, have a better overall performing boom mic, and have significantly lower Xbox Wireless latency. However, the Xbox can also be used wired with their USB-A to USB-C cable for full audio and microphone compatibility.
The SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless are better gaming headphones for Xbox consoles than the Xbox Wireless Headset. The SteelSeries are better-built, more stable, and have a more neutral default sound profile. Their boom mic also delivers better overall performance, they have a longer continuous battery life, and lower wireless latency.
The Bang & Olufsen Beoplay Portal are better headphones than the Xbox Wireless Headset. The Bang & Olufsen are better built, and they have a better noise isolation performance. Also, their default sound profile isn't as bass-heavy as the Xbox. That said, the Xbox's microphone has a better recording quality, and they have a longer continuous battery life.
The Sony PULSE 3D Wireless and the Xbox Wireless Headset are two gaming headphones and depending on your usage, you may prefer one over the other. The Sony have a more neutral default sound profile, which some users may prefer, and they can be used on PC, PS4, and PS5 consoles with full compatibility using either their analog cable or USB wireless dongle. They also have lower wireless latency for gaming. You can customize their sound using their graphic EQ and presets too, but this feature is only available on updated PS5 consoles. However, the Xbox are better-built and more comfortable. While some users may find their sound profile to be very bass-heavy, you can adjust it to your liking using their companion software's graphic EQ and presets. They also have a longer-lasting battery life than the Sony. Since they're designed for the Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, they offer full compatibility with these consoles using their USB cable or by using Xbox Wireless.
The Corsair HS75 XB WIRELESS and the Xbox Wireless Headset have different strengths and depending on your needs, you may prefer one over the other. The Corsair are better-built, have more consistent audio delivery, and are slightly better-balanced out-of-the-box. They also have a better overall performing boom mic, lower wireless latency, and longer-lasting continuous battery life. However, the Xbox have a graphic EQ as well as presets to help tweak their sound, and they support Bluetooth. They can also be used wired on PC and Xbox consoles via their USB-A to USB-C cable.
The TOZO T6 Truly Wireless and the Xbox Wireless Headset are two headphones designed for different uses. The TOZO are more for casual use as they have a very portable design, a more stable fit, and they have a great passive noise isolation performance to help cut down ambient sound around you. However, the Xbox are gaming headphones that use Xbox Wireless Technology so that you can wirelessly connect to Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S consoles. They have a longer-lasting continuous battery life and a better overall microphone performance.
This headset has a sleek and minimalist look that's very similar in design to the wired Xbox Stereo Headset. It's mostly made of black plastic with green accents on the ear cups to match the Xbox's style. While the mic can't retract or detach, you can wrap it around the ear cups when not in use.
The Xbox Wireless Headset are comfortable. The ear cups have a roomy fit, and their faux leather padding feels good on the skin. The headphones also clamp well on the ears, so you won't feel too much fatigue when wearing them for long gaming marathons. However, the ear cups don't have any range of motion, so you can't adjust their angle and position for a more comfortable fit.
This headset has an alright control scheme. It lacks call and music controls but has gaming-oriented controls that are very easy to use. There's a dial on the left ear cup for channel mixing and one on the right earcup for volume control. The dials have stops at their max and min settings, and the channel mixing dial clicks at the middle point, so you know when your game and chat audio are balanced. There's also a mic mute button on the left ear cup with a light to indicate when the mic is on, as well as a green button for powering the headphones on and off and for pairing. There are different chimes for on, off, and pairing, so you can tell what command you've registered.
This headset has sub-par portability, but it won't be an issue if you plan to keep it next to your couch or TV. These headphones are bulky and can't fold into a more compact format, which is normal for gaming headphones. They also require an Xbox Wireless adapter if you want to wirelessly connect them to your PC without Bluetooth, and it doesn't come in the box. You can still use their USB-A to USB-C cable for audio, though.
The Xbox Wireless Headset has good build quality. The headband has a plastic coating reinforced with a metal band, and the headband and earcups have faux leather padding. The headphones feel sturdy and will survive some accidental drops and bumps without breaking. However, the yokes have very little range of motion, and the ear cups don't swivel. They also creak slightly, most noticeably on the right side, and the dials make a faint grinding sound. It may not affect every unit, so if you own these headphones, please let us know your experience in the forums.
The Xbox Wireless Headset has an extremely bass-heavy sound profile. Using the default 'Game EQ' setting, the flattest EQ, these headphones deliver a very thumpy, boomy sound that some users may find overwhelming. Luckily, they have a couple of EQ presets and a graphic EQ that you can use to tweak their sound to your liking. If you're looking for a more neutral sound profile or if you would like to see how the other EQ presets stack up against the default setting, you can see a comparison graph here. For over-ear headphones, we also do a sweep with humans and match the crossfade. Anything below 600-900Hz are human measurements. If you prefer a less thumpy sound, you can also try tweaking the bass levels using a custom EQ preset with settings like those displayed in Custom 1 or Custom 2.
This headset has disappointing frequency response consistency. Audio delivery varies depending on fit, positioning, and seal. You may especially notice a drop in bass if you have thick hair or wear glasses, as these features can rupture the headphones' seal on your head.
The Xbox Wireless Headset has bad bass accuracy. The response is overemphasized across the range, delivering intense thump, rumble, and boom. While extra bass can help emphasize sound effects like footsteps in gameplay, a lot of added bass muddies and overwhelms the rest of your mix.
This headset has satisfactory mid accuracy. There's still a bit of overemphasis coming from the bass range and into the low-mid, so if your game audio has lyrics, like the song Time Fall by CHVRCHES from the game Death Stranding, the vocals get muddied by the overemphasized bass. The rest of the range is well-balanced and neutral, so vocals and lead instruments are still present and detailed.
This headset has passable treble accuracy. The low-treble is slightly underemphasized, which veils the upper harmonics of vocals and lead instruments. However, there's an overemphasis in the mid-treble, which makes sibilants like cymbals piercing.
The Xbox Wireless Headset has mediocre peaks and dips performance. There are a couple of significant deviations, meaning the headphones have trouble controlling their sound profile. There's a large peak throughout the bass range, adding thump, punch, and significant boom to your audio, making it sound muddy. A dip in the low to mid-mid further thins out and nudges vocals and lead instruments to the back of the mix. Another dip in the low-treble veils the upper harmonics of vocals and lead instruments, while a peak in the mid-treble makes sibilants harsh and piercing.
Xbox doesn't make a lot of headsets, and we've only tested two of them. That said, both units have solid imaging, which indicates a manufacturer's quality control and ergonomics. Imaging varies between units. Our unit's L/R drivers are well-matched in group delay, resulting in tight bass and transparent treble. The drivers are also well-matched in amplitude and phase response, which helps ensure objects like voices and footsteps are placed accurately within the stereo image. However, the drivers have a mismatched phase response that's audible with frequencies from the mid-bass to high-mid. It's particularly noticeable on the right side and with vocals and can create holes and inaccuracies in the stereo image.
The Xbox Wireless Headset has a poor passive soundstage performance. Like many other closed-back headphones, the soundstage seems unnatural, closed-off, and shallow. You'll perceive audio as coming from inside your head rather than from speakers around you, so it doesn't feel very immersive.
The Xbox Wireless Headset is compatible with Windows Sonic Spatial Audio on PC and Xbox consoles, creating a more 3D, immersive listening experience. These headphones also support Dolby Atmos and DTS Headphone:X. You don't need to use an Xbox Wireless adapter to access virtual soundstage features, but if you want Dolby Atmos support, you have to set it up via the Dolby Access app, which you have to pay for.
This headset has a decent weighted harmonic distortion performance. There's a small peak at normal and loud listening volumes in the low to mid-treble range, but this is hard to hear with real-life content since only a small frequency band is affected. As a result, audio is mostly clean and pure.
These are the settings used to test these headphones. Since they don't come with a USB dongle, we used a Microsoft Wireless Adapter for Xbox One to pair it to our test PC for sound and microphone testing. Our results are only valid in this configuration.
This headset has poor noise isolation performance. Since these are gaming headphones, they don't have noise cancelling (ANC) and rely on their passive capabilities to reduce background sound. As a result, don't block out any bass-range noise like traffic from an open window. They also struggle to cut down mid-range sounds like ambient chatter. On the upside, they do a better job of isolating you from high-pitched noise like the hum of an AC unit.
These headphones have a decent leakage performance. They leak sound across the range, but escaping audio is somewhat quiet. If you like to game at high volumes and in moderately noisy environments like a shared living room, others around you won't be bothered by it.
The boom mic has great recording quality. Your voice sounds natural and clear, although lacking body. You will be understood, though.
The boom mic's noise handling performance is satisfactory. It does a great job separating your voice from moderate noise, like people chatting in the background. However, loud noise will drown out your voice.
If you're looking for gaming headphones with Xbox Wireless and a better noise handling performance, check out the Razer Kaira Pro Wireless.
The Xbox Wireless Headset has a great battery performance. It lasts for roughly 19 hours off a single charge, which is longer than the advertised 15 hours, although battery life can vary with real-life use. The headset is also equipped with an auto-off timer to help conserve battery life when you're not using it, and you can use it while charging.
If you're connected to a device via Bluetooth and use its USB-A to USB-C cable to connect to your PC or Xbox, you can play audio from your device and PC or Xbox console at the same time. However, if you're using Xbox Wireless on your PC or Xbox and plug in the headset to charge, the PC overrides the wireless audio, and the USB audio takes priority.
Xbox Accessories is a good companion app. It offers a graphic EQ and presets to customize its sound profile. You can enable 'auto-mute', which is supposed to mute the mic automatically when you're not speaking, change the brightness of the mic mute button, and adjust the mic sidetone.
You can use the Xbox Wireless Headset wired via its USB-A to USB-C cable. You can also use this cable to charge the headphones. Check out the Xbox Stereo Headset if you're looking for a dedicated wired headset for your Xbox console.
This headset has passable Bluetooth connectivity. It doesn't support NFC pairing, but it can connect to a Bluetooth device like your phone while remaining connected to an Xbox console or a PC using an Xbox Wireless adapter. It only supports the default SBC codec, though, and its PC latency is high enough to cause lip-sync delays, so it's unsuitable for gaming. However, some apps compensate for latency, though.
These headphones have mediocre wireless connectivity. They support Xbox Wireless, and to measure this via our test PC, we used an adapter. This connection has high latency, which is noticeable. If you're gaming, your audio and visuals won't be in sync. If you're looking for dedicated Xbox gaming headphones with lower latency, try the Razer Kaira Pro Wireless.
These headphones are compatible with Bluetooth-enabled PCs. If you want to connect wirelessly via non-Bluetooth wireless, you must use an Xbox Wireless Adapter unless your PC has built-in Xbox wireless. You can also plug their USB-A to USB-C into your computer for full audio and mic support via a wired connection.
This headset has full audio and microphone compatibility with the Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S via Xbox Wireless or using its USB-A to USB-C cable. If you connect to a device like your phone via Bluetooth and then use the cable to connect to your Xbox, you can simultaneously play audio from both devices.
These headphones don't come with a base or dock. You can buy an Xbox Wireless Adapter if you want to use them wirelessly with a PC that doesn't have Xbox Wireless built-in.