Best cheap gaming headsets for PS5, PS4, Xbox, and Switch

If you’re keeping an eye out for a new headset, but don’t want to break the bank, then you will want to find out what the best cheap gaming headsets are. While these won’t offer top-of-the-range sound quality or a premium build, they are a great option if you are looking to save some money and still find a new headset for your PS5, PS4, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch.

These days, cheap headsets are no longer relegated to knock off brands or bargain bin options in your local games store. Well-known brands like Turtle Beach, Razer, and Corsair all off low-to-medium price options for simple, basic headsets and premium offerings with a nice selection of features. If you prefer a more expensive option, then check out our best PS5 headsets, best PS4 headsets, and best Xbox headsets guides which go in-depth on the top products for each platform to maximize your gaming experience on the best gaming console of your choice.

The best cheap gaming headsets in 2023 are:

1. Sony Inzone H3 – best overall
2. Turtle Beach Recon 70 – best for all consoles
3. Razer BlackShark V2 X – best from Razer
4. Turtle Beach Recon 500 – most comfortable
5. HyperX Cloud Stinger Core – best wireless choice
6. Corsair HS65 Wireless – a more premium choice
7. Razer Kraken – cheapest good option

1. Sony Inzone H3

The best cheap gaming headset.

Sony Inzone H3 specs:

Pros

• Good sound quality
• On-ear audio controls
• Lightweight design

Cons

• Slightly pricy
• Weak noise isolation
• Microphone quality

The Sony Inzone H3 is slightly pricier than some of the other headsets on this list, but it is built with PlayStation gamers in mind, so you can’t get a higher quality experience for your PS5 or PS4.

Whether you are recovering from a race-losing crash in the best racing games, or taking on a new level or mission in the best PS5 games, the Sony Inzone H3 is a fantastic option for any PS4 or PS5 players. This headset is built by Sony, so you can expect the high-quality sound they are known for across their company’s range of accessories. Additionally, it is nice and lightweight compared to some of the bulkier options on this list.

If you want a headset that will last for your gaming sessions and don’t need a high-quality microphone, then the Sony Inzone H3 offers some of the best sound on this list.

2. Turtle Beach Recon 70

The best cheap headsets for all consoles.

Turtle Beach Recon 70 specs:

Pros

• Excellent value
• Good mic and sound quality
• Compatible with all major consoles

Cons

• Wired only
• Bulky design gets uncomfortable after a while

On the other end of the spectrum, we have the extremely affordable, Recon 70 headset from Turtle Beach. Despite its price tag, it doesn’t cut corners when it comes to sound or microphone quality. As such it does offer a decent bang for your buck that you would be hard to find in other headsets at this price.

But, as with a variety of Turtle Beach’s headsets, the Turtle Beach Recon 70 starts to feel uncomfortable after about 45 minutes or so of prolonged wearing due to its bulky, inflexible design. While it does mean it can survive a fall off a desk or bedside table, pressure can slowly build up on your head so if you are looking for something to wear for hours, it is probably worth checking out another headset further down this list.

Read our Turtle Beach Recon 70 review.

3. Razer Blackshark V2 X

The best cheap headset from Razer.

Razer BlackShark V2 X headset specs:

Pros

• Great price
• Top-quality microphone
• Decent audio quality

Cons

• Wired-only

If you’d prefer a budget option from a bigger name then the Razer BlackShark V2 X is a great option. Ideal for some of the best FPS games and multiplayer games in general, the V2 X comes packaged with a great microphone for communication and decent sound to boot. You also have a mic mute button on the headset itself and an extension cable for the cord if you are sitting at a long distance.

One finicky aspect of the headset however is that the earcups are independently adjustable, with each one having its own wire frame that can slide up and down. This means they often won’t sit equally on each side of your head and need occasional readjustments to have them level. Despite this pain point, the Blackshark V2 X is generally a very comfortable headset to wear thanks to its large, cushioned earcups and light overall weight.

This is a wired option like most low-price headsets, but it is a really solid choice that offers sound quality close to what its more expensive sibling, the Blackshark V2, provides. While the black and green design may suit someone with an Xbox Series X, aesthetically speaking, it’s an overall excellent headset you could use with any console.

4. Turtle Beach Recon 500

The most comfortable cheap gaming headset.

Turtle Beach Recon 500 specs:

Pros

• Good mic and sound quality
• Comfortable

Cons

• No sound customization
• Wired-only
• Price is high for a wired option

As we mentioned earlier, some of Turtle Beach’s cheaper headset offerings aren’t too comfortable to wear for prolonged periods. However, the Turtle Beach Recon 500 doesn’t suffer from those issues.

It has quality, spacious ear cups that keep pressure off of your skull and allow you to wear it for hours on end. While it doesn’t have much in the way of customization and sound options, it does offer a good-quality mic (that can be removed), crisp sound overall, and a premium feel for a wired headset. It even has good passive noise cancellation allowing you to immerse yourself in the game you are playing and block out noise around you.

Additionally, there is a mic mute button on the headset itself for quick and easy muting, and its universal 3.5mm port means you can use it across all consoles and your PC.

5. HyperX Cloud Stinger Core

The best cheap wireless gaming headset.

HyperX Cloud Stinger Core specs:

Pros

• Good sound quality
• Lightweight
• Wireless

Cons

• Bulky design
• Muffled microphone
• Battery life

Utilizing a USB dongle, the HyperX HHSS1C-KB-WT/G Cloud Stinger Core (to use its overly-long full name), doesn’t have a long wire to get tangled up in. This headset is completely wireless and one of the cheapest you can get without a cord attached.

Unfortunately, it does suffer from a low battery life and bulky design, but if you don’t want to sink a ton of money into a wireless headset then the Cloud Stinger Core is still a great option. While it does look like a bit of a giant, it’s actually pretty lightweight, weighing in at the same 240g as the Razer Blackshark V2 X.

It also has on-ear audio control for the master volume. It doesn’t come with advanced settings, but being able to touch the headset and adjust the volume is great, saving you from having to waste time in game or system settings. While audio quality is on the money for its price point, the quality of its microphone sadly doesn’t match. It’s not bad by any means, but your comms won’t be as crisp and clear to your teammates as they would using some of the other models on this list.

6. Corsair HS65 Wireless

A slightly more premium option.

Corsair HS65 Wireless specs:

Pros

• Premium brand
• Comfortable to wear
• Good battery life

Cons

• Connection can be unreliable
• Choppy microphone at times

The Corsair HS65 Wireless is the most expensive headset on this list, and is in the very borderline of what we’d classify as ‘cheap’. However, it still represents great value due to the quality of product and the fact you’re getting a premium brand in Corsair. The HS65 is also one of the comfiest headsets we’ve used and is great for long gaming sessions. Additionally, you will have a solid battery life of up to 24 hours for said sessions.

While its microphone is generally pretty good it can have bouts of being a bit choppy. Additionally, we found the HS65 can have some annoying connection problems. Any time we connected it to a new device, it would drop without fail. Sure enough, once we reconnected it, it was fine, but doing that every time is a bit frustrating. But, in terms of premium wireless options, this has a lot of positives without costing you hundreds of dollars or pounds – if you can put up with annoying connectivity issues.

Read our Corsair HS65 Wireless review.

7. Razer Kraken

The cheapest gaming headset (that’s actually good).

Razer Kraken headset specs:

Pros

• Cheap
• Lightweight
• Trusted brand

Cons

• Lower sound quality than premium choices
• Gets uncomfortable after long sessions

This extremely budget option is definitely not the best on this list. It doesn’t have the best sound, and other premium options will give you more choices and customization. But, if you are looking for a budget option from a famous brand, this is the headset for you.

Due to its price, it isn’t comfortable for extended sessions as it is built with a plastic frame, but it is lightweight for a wired option and offers flexibility. Therefore when you do put it on you won’t have any issues for a short gaming session or a few multiplayer matches.

It is extremely basic when it comes to features and adjustments too. Overall the sound focuses on the mid-range and high-range frequencies with the bass often being drowned out in favor of those higher-range sounds which won’t offer you the best audio experience. But, it is one of the lowest-priced headsets on this list – so just be aware that you are getting the least premium headset that Razer offer. Something like the Blackshark V2 X will offer a bit more of that premium feel and sound quality if that is a dealbreaker.

How we chose the best cheap gaming headset

Shopping for a cheap gaming headset can be difficult. There are a lot of budget options out there that are so affordable because they’re poor quality. You can trust that it’s not the case for any of the headsets on this list, and this is how we avoided them:

• Big brands: Most big brands offer an affordable option alongside the premium headsets, and with names like Razer, Turtle Beach, and Corsair, you know can trust the quality.
• Pricing: We know you want to get something cheap, but to avoid sub-par products, we recommend using $39.99 as the yardstick.
• User reviews: Not every obscure brand offers shoddy products. Look out for user reviews of anything that catches your eye to see if you can find verifiable human beings endorsing the product you’re looking at.
• Weight: A cheap, flimsy gaming headset will typically not weigh as much as the sturdier models. Look out for anything that weighs less than 230g – it is likely very tacky.
• Wired vs wireless: Keep in mind that wireless headsets cost a fair bit more than their wired counterparts. If you see a wireless option with a price comparable to that of the cheapest wired choice, proceed with caution.

Beyond that, you can look at our how we test page to find out more about our process for determining what to include in these lists. We also recommend taking a peep at the FAQs below:

What is the best cheap PS5 headset?

Out of everything on this list if you want a good PS5 option for cheap opt for the Razer Blackshark V2 X. Or, if you want a wireless option you can’t go wrong with the Sony Inzone H3. These aren’t the lowest price headsets, but they do offer the most while putting a shallow hole in your pockets compared to some of the pricier options on this list.

What is the best cheap Xbox headset?

The best cheap headset for an Xbox is the Razer Blackshark V2 X or the Turtle Beach Recon 500. Both won’t cost you a fortune but offer a great experience from a brand you can trust. Additionally, they are also comfortable for those long gaming sessions.

What is the best budget headset for Warzone?

If you are playing Warzone or any other battle royale or multiplayer game, you will want a headset that offers great microphone quality and fantastic sound. That can be hard to find for a low price but you want to choose the Turtle Beach Recon 500 or the Corsair HS65.

The latter is a little pricier but is the most premium headset on this list, while the former offers a great all-around experience – you just don’t get some of the customization on offer with other headsets on this list. It is great for competitive matches of Warzone Ranked where you are going to be using the best Warzone guns and trying to make the most of the current Warzone meta.

For more console content, check out our list of the best PS5 accessories and best Xbox accessories available. Of course, if you need any guidance on which games to buy, you should read our list of the best games of all time too.