Short answer: for most people the best headset for the Nintendo Switch 2 is the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 (about $130). Its small USB-C dongle plugs straight into the console, so you get low-latency wireless audio and a mic that works in GameChat. That matters because the Switch 2 doesn’t support Bluetooth microphones. On a budget, a wired headset such as the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 (about $60) plugs into the console or the Pro Controller and does everything. For earbuds, the Sony INZONE Buds use their own USB-C dongle instead of Bluetooth.
How we put this together: this guide is based on Nintendo’s official support pages for Switch 2 audio, manufacturers’ specifications and published reviews (linked below). It is not based on hands-on testing by iTech Level. Prices are list prices at the time of writing and change often. See how we choose products.
How headphones work on the Switch 2
The Switch 2 gives you three ways to connect headphones, and they don’t all do the same things:
| Connection | Game audio | Mic for GameChat | Catches |
|---|---|---|---|
| USB (including USB-C dongles) | Yes, low latency with a 2.4GHz dongle | Yes | Uses the console’s top USB-C port or a dock USB port |
| 3.5 mm wired | Yes, no lag | Yes, with a 4-pole headset plug | Jack on the console and the Switch 2 Pro Controller, not the Joy-Con 2 |
| Bluetooth | Yes, with some delay | No | One device at a time, max two wireless controllers, disconnects during local wireless play |
Nintendo’s support pages spell out the Bluetooth limits: “Microphone input via Bluetooth is not supported on Nintendo Switch 2”, so with Bluetooth headphones you can hear other players in GameChat but they can’t hear you through the headset (Nintendo). While a Bluetooth audio device is connected, you can only use two wireless controllers, and a pair of Joy-Con 2 counts as two (Nintendo). Bluetooth audio also disconnects when you start local wireless multiplayer, and Nintendo warns you may notice audio latency (Nintendo). USB headsets and 4-pole wired headsets have none of those limits, and their mics work in GameChat.
The best headphones for Nintendo Switch 2
1. SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5: best overall
The Arctis Nova 5 is the easiest way to get wireless audio and working voice chat on a Switch 2. Its small USB-C dongle plugs into the console’s top USB-C port, so it works in handheld mode and when docked, and it also works with PC, PlayStation, phones and handhelds. Bluetooth is built in as well, for your phone. It weighs 265 g, the mic retracts fully into the earcup, and SteelSeries rates the battery at up to 60 hours. It’s the “best for consoles” pick in our best gaming headsets guide.
Good to know: use the dongle, not Bluetooth, on the Switch 2, or the mic won’t work in GameChat. Xbox players need the Nova 5X version. It’s often discounted below its list price.
Check the Arctis Nova 5 on Amazon →
2. SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1: best budget headset
A wired headset is the cheapest way to get everything working on the Switch 2: no lag, no battery, and a mic that works in GameChat. The Arctis Nova 1 uses a single 3.5 mm combo plug, weighs just 235 g and has a ClearCast Gen 2 noise-cancelling mic. Tom’s Hardware found it slimmer, lighter and much more comfortable than the Arctis 1 it replaced, for about $60.
Good to know: plug it into the top of the console in handheld mode, or into the Switch 2 Pro Controller’s headphone jack when docked. The Joy-Con 2 don’t have a headphone jack, so docked players without a Pro Controller should go wireless with a USB dongle instead.
Check the Arctis Nova 1 on Amazon →
3. HyperX Cloud III: best wired headset
If you want a more premium wired headset, the Cloud III has large 53 mm drivers angled toward your ears, a detachable boom mic with an LED mute indicator, and a 3.5 mm plug for the console and Pro Controller. Nintendo Life recommends it for Switch 2 as a comfortable, great-sounding wired option, and Tom’s Hardware found it lighter, with better audio and a better mic, than the Cloud II, at a $99.99 list price.
Good to know: the DTS spatial audio and some extras need a PC; on the Switch 2 it works as a plain, very good stereo headset.
Check the HyperX Cloud III on Amazon →
4. Sony INZONE Buds: best earbuds for Switch 2
Earbuds are the most portable option for handheld play, and the INZONE Buds avoid Bluetooth’s problems by using a small USB-C dongle, with latency Sony rates at under 30 ms. They add active noise cancelling and Bluetooth LE Audio for your phone, and Sony’s specs list up to 12 hours of play on the dongle (11 with noise cancelling on), at about 6.5 g per bud. See our Sony gaming headphones guide for more.
Good to know: the dongle takes the console’s top USB-C port, and an earbud mic can’t match a boom mic for voice clarity. Regular Bluetooth earbuds like AirPods also work for game sound, but without the mic and with more delay.
Check the INZONE Buds on Amazon →
5. SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Omni: best premium, multi-console
If the Switch 2 is one of several systems you play on, the Nova Pro Omni (May 2026) connects to all of them. Its GameHub base station has two USB inputs plus Bluetooth and line-in and can mix several sources at once, so you can hear a Switch 2 and a PC or another console through one headset. It adds active noise cancelling, Hi-Res certified drivers, a retractable mic and two hot-swappable batteries.
Good to know: at about $400 it’s only worth it if you really do switch between systems. It’s covered in full in our best gaming headsets guide.
Check the Arctis Nova Pro Omni on Amazon →
Can you use AirPods or Bluetooth headphones with the Switch 2?
Yes, for game audio. Go to System Settings, then Bluetooth Audio, then Add Device, and put your headphones in pairing mode. They’re fine for single-player games where a little delay doesn’t matter. The trade-offs are the ones in the table above: no mic in GameChat, only two wireless controllers while connected, audio that drops when you start local wireless multiplayer, and some delay that shows in rhythm and fast action games. Our Bluetooth headphones for gaming guide explains the latency in detail.
If you already own good Bluetooth headphones, a workaround for GameChat is to use the Switch 2’s built-in microphone for your voice while listening through Bluetooth.
Setting up a headset: handheld vs docked
- Handheld: plug a USB-C dongle into the top USB-C port, or a wired headset into the headphone jack on top of the console.
- Docked: the top USB-C port is still free, so a USB-C dongle works there. A wired headset needs the Switch 2 Pro Controller’s headphone jack, since the Joy-Con 2 don’t have one. Nintendo also supports USB headsets in the dock’s USB ports.
- Check the mic: System Settings has a Test Microphone option, and in GameChat your icon shows a green border when you speak.
Our verdict
For the Switch 2, choose a headset that connects by USB or a wired plug, not just Bluetooth. The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 is the best all-round pick, with a USB-C dongle that gives you wireless audio and a working GameChat mic in handheld and docked mode. On a budget, the wired Arctis Nova 1 does everything for about $60, and the HyperX Cloud III is the wired upgrade. For earbuds, the Sony INZONE Buds skip Bluetooth with their own dongle, and the Arctis Nova Pro Omni is the premium choice if you play on several consoles.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best headset for the Nintendo Switch 2?
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 for most people. Its USB-C dongle plugs into the console for low-latency wireless audio, and because it connects over USB, its mic works in GameChat, which Bluetooth headsets can’t do on Switch 2. On a budget, a wired headset like the Arctis Nova 1 (about $60) works in the console or the Pro Controller.
Does the Switch 2 support Bluetooth headphones?
Yes, for audio. You can pair one Bluetooth audio device at a time in System Settings. But Bluetooth microphones aren’t supported, you can only use two wireless controllers while it’s connected, and Bluetooth audio disconnects during local wireless multiplayer.
Can you use AirPods with the Switch 2?
Yes, for game sound. Pair them under System Settings, then Bluetooth Audio. The AirPods’ mic won’t work in GameChat, though, so other players won’t hear you through them; the console’s built-in mic can pick up your voice instead. Expect some delay in fast games.
Why doesn’t my headset mic work in GameChat?
Most often because it’s connected by Bluetooth, which the Switch 2 doesn’t support for microphones. Use a USB headset or dongle, or a wired headset with a 4-pole 3.5 mm plug in the console or Pro Controller. Nintendo also suggests unplugging and reconnecting the headset and using the Test Microphone option in System Settings.
Do the Joy-Con 2 have a headphone jack?
No. In docked mode, plug wired headphones into the Switch 2 Pro Controller, which has a headphone jack, or use a wireless headset with a USB-C dongle in the console’s top port.
