10 Best Budget Gaming Headsets 2026 in the United States

The Razer BlackShark V2 X is a solid choice for gamers looking for an affordable headset with good sound and comfort. Its 50mm TriForce drivers deliver clear and balanced audio, while the Windows-only 7.1 surround sound feature can enhance positional awareness in compatible systems, which is great for competitive gaming. The closed-back design with memory foam cushions offers decent passive noise isolation and comfort for long gaming sessions, especially given its lightweight build of just 240 grams. The bendable HyperClear cardioid microphone provides decent voice clarity by focusing on your voice and reducing background noise, making team communication reliable. It connects via a 3.5mm jack, ensuring broad compatibility with PC, Mac, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and more, though Xbox users might need an extra adapter.

While the headset is well-built for its price range, it lacks wireless connectivity and active noise cancellation, and the surround sound feature is limited to Windows 10 64-bit, which might be a drawback for some users. It offers a good balance of comfort, sound quality, and versatility, making it an attractive pick for budget-conscious gamers who want reliable performance across multiple platforms.

The Turtle Beach Stealth 600 is a strong contender among budget gaming headsets, especially if you want something versatile that works across Xbox, PlayStation, PC, and mobile devices. It offers solid sound quality thanks to 50mm Nanoclear drivers that provide clear and immersive spatial audio, which helps you pick up game details easily. Comfort is addressed well with memory foam cushions designed to be gentle on your ears and glasses-friendly, plus the adjustable, lay-flat design helps for long play sessions. The microphone features AI-based noise reduction and a flip-to-mute function, making chat clearer by cutting background noise, though it lacks active noise cancellation for the headphones themselves.

Connectivity is a highlight with seamless switching between low-latency 2.4GHz wireless and Bluetooth 5.2, letting you use it with multiple devices without hassle. The headset also boasts an impressive 80-hour battery life, so you can game for days without recharging. Customization options like built-in EQ modes and a companion app with a 10-band equalizer let you tailor sound to your liking.

On the downside, while the headset feels reasonably sturdy, it’s mostly plastic and might not stand up to heavy rough use over time compared to more expensive models. Also, it doesn’t include active noise cancellation for ambient sounds, which some gamers might miss in noisy environments. If you want a budget-friendly, multi-platform gaming headset with long battery life, good comfort, and clear microphone quality, the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 is a great choice, especially for casual to moderate gamers.

The Turtle Beach Stealth 500 is a solid choice for gamers looking for a wireless headset without breaking the bank. It offers strong sound quality with 40mm amplified drivers and special audio settings like Superhuman Hearing, which can help pick up important in-game sounds. Comfort is a clear focus here, thanks to its ultra-lightweight design, floating headband, and soft memory foam cushions that should make longer play sessions more enjoyable. The microphone is omni-directional and flip-to-mute, providing clear chat and easy muting during gameplay. Battery life is impressive, lasting up to 40 hours, which means fewer interruptions for charging.

Connectivity is versatile with low-latency 2.4GHz wireless for gaming and Bluetooth 5.2 for mobile devices, plus a convenient QuickSwitch button to jump between them seamlessly. This headset works well with Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, and mobile devices, making it flexible for different setups. On the downside, while the build is mostly plastic and lightweight—which helps comfort—it might not feel as durable as pricier models. Also, there’s no wired option via headphone jack, so if your battery dies, you can’t switch to a wired connection. Some users might find the sound tuning a bit tuned for gaming rather than music or movies.

In summary, the Stealth 500 is a user-friendly and comfortable headset with good sound and mic quality, excellent battery life, and flexible wireless connectivity, ideal for budget-conscious gamers primarily using Xbox or PC.