Short answer: for most people the best Xbox headset is the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7X Gen 2 ($199.99): its dongle works with an Xbox, PlayStation, PC and Switch, it mixes in Bluetooth from your phone at the same time, and the battery is rated at 54 hours. If you want the simplest setup, the official Xbox Wireless Headset ($109.99) connects straight to the console with no dongle and includes Dolby Atmos. For the longest battery for the money, the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 3 ($109.99) is rated at 80 hours.
Check the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7X Gen 2 on Amazon →
How we put this together: this guide is based on Xbox’s and manufacturers’ official 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.
Best Xbox headsets compared
| Headset | Best for | Connection on Xbox | Battery | List price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7X Gen 2 | Best overall | 2.4GHz USB-C dongle, plus Bluetooth at the same time | Up to 54 hr | $199.99 | Check price |
| Xbox Wireless Headset (2024) | Official headset, no dongle | Xbox Wireless (built in), plus Bluetooth | Up to 20 hr | $109.99 | Check price |
| Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 3 | Best battery for the money | 2.4GHz dongle, or Bluetooth (switchable) | Up to 80 hr | $109.99 | Check price |
| Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3 | Xbox plus PC or PlayStation | Two dongles (Xbox and USB), plus Bluetooth | Up to 80 hr | $199.99 | Check price |
| HyperX Cloud Alpha | Wired, through the controller | 3.5 mm (controller jack) | None needed | Under $100 | Check price |
| Audeze Maxwell 2 (Xbox) | Best sound quality | 2.4GHz dongle (plus Bluetooth) | Up to 80 hr | $349 | Check price |
| SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Omni | Premium, noise cancelling | GameHub base station, plus Bluetooth | Two swappable batteries | $399.99 | Check price |
Specs from each manufacturer’s product page or announcement. Battery figures are the maker’s ratings.
How headsets connect to an Xbox
An Xbox Series X|S doesn’t send game audio to ordinary Bluetooth headphones (Turtle Beach, Xbox Support), so an Xbox headset connects in one of three ways:
- Xbox Wireless: Microsoft’s own wireless, built into the console. The Xbox Wireless Headset pairs directly, like a controller, with no dongle.
- USB dongle (2.4GHz): most third-party wireless headsets, such as the Arctis Nova 7X, Stealth 600 Gen 3 and Maxwell 2. Buy the Xbox version. Many headsets come in separate Xbox and PlayStation versions with different transmitters, and the PlayStation version won’t connect wirelessly to an Xbox. The Stealth 700 Gen 3 avoids this by shipping with two transmitters.
- 3.5 mm wired: any wired headset plugs into the headphone jack on the Xbox controller. Audio and the mic work automatically, with no battery and no lag.
For surround sound, the Xbox supports Windows Sonic, Dolby Atmos and DTS Headphone:X. The Xbox Wireless Headset includes Dolby Atmos at no extra cost; DTS Headphone:X may need a separate purchase (Xbox).
The best Xbox headsets in 2026
1. SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7X Gen 2: best Xbox headset overall
The Arctis Nova 7X is the headset reviewers keep recommending for Xbox: RTINGS picks it as the best mid-range Xbox headset. The Gen 2 model raises the battery rating to 54 hours (about 40% more than before), with 6 hours from a 15-minute charge, and it can play your Xbox and your phone over Bluetooth at the same time. The same dongle also works with PC, PlayStation and Switch, so it follows you between devices. The Arctis app has more than 200 audio presets (SteelSeries).
Good to know: there’s no active noise cancelling. The first-generation Nova 7X (38-hour battery) is still sold and is often cheaper, if you don’t need the extra battery life.
Check the Arctis Nova 7X Gen 2 on Amazon →
2. Xbox Wireless Headset (2024): best official Xbox headset
Microsoft’s own headset is the easiest to live with: it pairs straight to the console over Xbox Wireless, so there’s no dongle to lose, and it can stay connected to your phone over Bluetooth at the same time. The 2024 model is rated for up to 20 hours (30 minutes of charging gives about 4 hours), has dual mics with auto-mute and voice isolation, and includes Dolby Atmos. It weighs 320 g and works with Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Windows PCs (Xbox).
Good to know: 20 hours is short next to the 54 to 80 hours of the third-party picks here, and it doesn’t work wirelessly with a PlayStation.
Check the Xbox Wireless Headset on Amazon →
3. Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 3: best battery for the money
For the same price as Microsoft’s headset, the Stealth 600 Gen 3 is rated at up to 80 hours. It uses a 2.4GHz dongle for low-lag game audio and Bluetooth 5.2 for your phone, with a QuickSwitch button to flip between them, 50 mm drivers, a flip-to-mute mic with AI noise reduction and a 10-band EQ in Turtle Beach’s app (Turtle Beach). RTINGS names it the best lower mid-range Xbox headset.
Good to know: it switches between the dongle and Bluetooth rather than mixing them, so you can’t hear your phone and the game at once. Choose the Xbox version.
Check the Stealth 600 Gen 3 on Amazon →
4. Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3: best for Xbox plus PC or PlayStation
If you also play on a PC or PlayStation, the Stealth 700 Gen 3 ships with two USB transmitters, one for Xbox and one for PlayStation and PC, and a CrossPlay button on the headset to switch between them. It adds 60 mm drivers, simultaneous Bluetooth, glasses-friendly memory foam cushions and an 80-hour battery rating, with 3 hours from a 15-minute charge (Turtle Beach).
Good to know: its $199.99 list price is the same as the Nova 7X Gen 2’s, though Turtle Beach’s own store had it at $159.99 at the time of writing.
Check the Stealth 700 Gen 3 on Amazon →
5. HyperX Cloud Alpha: best wired Xbox headset
A wired headset is the cheapest way to get everything working on an Xbox: plug it into the controller’s 3.5 mm jack and you get game audio and a working mic, with no battery and no lag. The Cloud Alpha’s 50 mm dual-chamber drivers keep its strong bass separate from footsteps and voices, and the mic detaches when you don’t need it. PC Gamer names it the best wired gaming headset.
Good to know: the mic doesn’t flip up to mute, so you mute with the in-line control. It dropped to $59.99 on Black Friday 2025.
Check the Cloud Alpha on Amazon →
6. Audeze Maxwell 2: best sound quality
If sound quality matters most, the Maxwell 2 uses 90 mm planar magnetic drivers, the kind found in high-end hi-fi headphones, with low-latency wireless audio up to 24-bit/96kHz. The Xbox version includes Dolby Atmos, the battery is rated at 80+ hours with 24 hours from a 20-minute charge, and the detachable boom mic uses AI noise reduction (Audeze). RTINGS picks the original Maxwell as its best Xbox headset overall.
Good to know: at 560 g it’s very heavy, and some reviewers found it uncomfortable over long sessions. Buy the Xbox version ($349) for an Xbox, not the PlayStation one ($329).
Check the Maxwell 2 on Amazon →
7. SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Omni: best premium Xbox headset
Launched in May 2026, the Nova Pro Omni is one headset for Xbox, PlayStation, PC and Bluetooth. Its GameHub base station has an OLED screen and a control dial, it can connect up to five devices and mix up to four audio sources at once, and it has active noise cancelling and a new ClearCast Pro mic. Two swappable batteries mean you can charge one while using the other (SteelSeries).
Good to know: at $399.99 it’s the most expensive pick here. The older Arctis Nova Pro Wireless for Xbox ($349.99 list) has the same swappable batteries and noise cancelling, and GamesRadar+ still rates it the best Xbox Series X headset.
Check the Arctis Nova Pro Omni on Amazon →
Can you use AirPods or Bluetooth headphones with an Xbox?
Not directly: the Xbox doesn’t support Bluetooth audio. You can plug wired earbuds or headphones into the controller, or use the Xbox app on your phone for party chat while the game plays on the TV. Headsets such as the Xbox Wireless Headset and Arctis Nova 7X Gen 2 connect to your phone over Bluetooth while also playing the game, which covers most of what people want AirPods for. Our guide to Bluetooth headphones for gaming explains why Bluetooth lag is a problem in games.
Xbox headset deals: Black Friday 2026
Black Friday 2026 is November 27, and older headset models usually get the biggest cuts. Before you buy, check three things:
- The platform: a cheap “PS5” or “PlayStation” listing won’t work wirelessly on an Xbox. Look for “Xbox” or “Designed for Xbox” on the box.
- The generation: the Nova 7X Gen 2 has a 54-hour battery against 38 hours for the original, and the Stealth 600 Gen 3 is rated at 80 hours. Older generations are fine if the price reflects it.
- The price history: for reference, the wired HyperX Cloud Alpha dropped to $59.99 on Black Friday 2025.
Our verdict
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7X Gen 2 is the best Xbox headset for most people: long battery life, Bluetooth at the same time and a dongle that works on every other system too. Get the Xbox Wireless Headset for the simplest setup, the Stealth 600 Gen 3 for the most battery for the money, the Stealth 700 Gen 3 if you switch between Xbox and PC or PlayStation, the wired HyperX Cloud Alpha on a budget, the Maxwell 2 for sound quality, and the Arctis Nova Pro Omni if you want noise cancelling and never-ending battery.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best headset for Xbox Series X?
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7X Gen 2 for most people. Its dongle works on Xbox, PC, PlayStation and Switch, it plays Bluetooth from your phone at the same time, and the battery is rated at 54 hours. The official Xbox Wireless Headset is the simplest option, with no dongle.
Does the Xbox Series X support Bluetooth headphones?
No, not for game audio. Use a headset with Xbox Wireless or an Xbox USB dongle, or plug wired headphones into the controller’s 3.5 mm jack.
Do PlayStation headsets work on Xbox?
Wired ones do, through the controller’s 3.5 mm jack. Wireless PlayStation versions usually don’t, because their transmitters aren’t licensed for Xbox. Buy the Xbox version, or a headset that ships with both transmitters, such as the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3.
Is the Xbox Wireless Headset worth it?
Yes, if you want the easiest setup. It connects without a dongle, includes Dolby Atmos and stays connected to your phone over Bluetooth. Its 20-hour battery is shorter than most rivals, and it doesn’t work wirelessly with a PlayStation.
Can I use AirPods on an Xbox?
Not directly, because the Xbox doesn’t support Bluetooth audio. You can use them for party chat through the Xbox app on your phone, but for game audio you need a wired headset or an Xbox wireless headset.
