Before you throw open your pocketbook, knowing what features are most important to you in a gaming headset will guide you towards the right purchase. Consider how long you will wear it per day and for what purpose.
If that’s going to be all-day long, then look out for cushy features like memory foam earcups and plenty of headband padding. Lighter is better is often a good rule to follow when it comes to comfort, although it must be said that some of our favorite gaming headsets can be quite heavy.
That’s the trade-off you sometimes need to make for good drivers, although that’s not always the case. Speaking of which, larger drivers are often better at handling bass, but many headsets have some sort of software boost for those that like plenty of low-end thump, even if the drivers are on the smaller side. I wouldn’t buy a 50 mm driver-toting headset over a 40 mm model simply because one number is bigger than the other, so make sure to pay attention to the recommendations and reviews to find out what the sound is really like.
A noise-cancelling mic is also a good idea for multiplayer gamers, so your teammates don’t have to listen to your mechanical keyboard going click-clack. Noise cancelling is a good thing to consider for the cans themselves as well, particularly if you game in a shared space.
If you’re going wireless, consider dropping RGB lighting down your priority list, as it’ll sap battery life like nobody’s business. Otherwise, if you’re looking to stand out among streamers, an RGB headset will surely hypnotize those fans into subscribing.
Oh, and should you be concerned about wireless latency? Nope, not as long as you’re buying something with a 2.4 GHz wireless connection. Bluetooth is a nice optional extra to have, enabling you to take your headset out into the big wide world, but it’s a bit laggy for gaming—so treat it as an extra rather than the main event.
