Best PS5 Headsets (2026): 7 Picks, Plus the New PlayStation Pulse

By Adam Levell, Editor · Updated October 24, 2026 · How we choose products

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For most people the best PS5 headset is the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 (about $130). Its small USB-C dongle gives you low-lag wireless audio on the PS5, and Bluetooth covers your phone. If you want PlayStation’s own headset, the PlayStation Pulse Elite uses PlayStation Link and planar magnetic drivers. On a budget, the wireless LucidSound LS500 (under $100) or the wired HyperX Cloud Alpha, which plugs into the DualSense controller, are the picks. Sony’s new Pulse headset launches this holiday season, so we cover it below too.

Check the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 on Amazon →

How we put this together: this guide is based on PlayStation’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 PS5 headsets compared

Specs from each manufacturer’s product page. Battery figures are the maker’s ratings.

How headsets connect to a PS5

The PS5 doesn’t send game audio to Bluetooth headphones, so a PS5 headset connects in one of three ways:

• USB dongle (2.4GHz): most wireless gaming headsets, including the Arctis Nova 5, INZONE H5, LS500 and Maxwell 2. Low lag, and the mic works in party chat. PlayStation versions of these headsets usually don’t work wirelessly with an Xbox.
• PlayStation Link: Sony’s own lossless, low-latency wireless, used by the Pulse Elite, Pulse Explore and the new Pulse headsets. They come with a PlayStation Link USB adapter for the PS5, PC and Mac, and the PlayStation Portal has it built in (PlayStation).
• 3.5 mm wired: any wired headset plugs into the headphone jack on the DualSense controller. No battery, no lag, and the mic works.

PS5 3D Audio (Tempest) works with any of these, including cheap wired headphones, so you don’t need a special headset to get it.

The best PS5 headsets in 2026

1. SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5: best PS5 headset overall

The Arctis Nova 5 gets the basics right for a fair price. Its small USB-C dongle plugs into the PS5’s front USB-C port for low-lag wireless audio, and Bluetooth lets you take calls or listen to your phone. It weighs 265 g, the mic retracts fully into the earcup, and SteelSeries rates the battery at up to 60 hours. The phone app has audio presets for more than 100 games, which is handy on a console where you can’t run PC software. Tom’s Hardware’s review calls it a cheaper Nova 7, and it’s the “best for consoles” pick in our best gaming headsets guide.

Good to know: there’s no active noise cancelling, and ChatMix (the game/chat balance dial) doesn’t work on PlayStation. It dropped to $104.99 on Black Friday 2025.

Check the Arctis Nova 5 on Amazon →

2. PlayStation Pulse Elite: best official PS5 headset

Sony’s own headset uses planar magnetic drivers and PlayStation Link, which also works with the PlayStation Portal, PC and Mac. It can stay connected to your PS5 and to your phone over Bluetooth at the same time, so you can hear a call without leaving your game. The mic retracts into the earcup and uses AI noise rejection, and PlayStation rates the battery at up to 30 hours, with about 2 hours from a 10-minute charge. A charging hanger is included (PlayStation specs). TechRadar calls it the best official PS5 headset, praising its audio and its PS5 and Portal integration.

Good to know: at about 340 g it’s heavier than most picks here, and there’s no noise cancelling. If you own a PlayStation Portal it’s the obvious choice, because PlayStation Link is built into the Portal. A new PlayStation Pulse headset is due this holiday season (see below), so watch for Pulse Elite discounts.

Check the Pulse Elite on Amazon →

3. Sony INZONE H5: lightest wireless headset for PS5

The INZONE H5 is Sony’s lighter, cheaper gaming headset for PS5 and PC. It connects with a 2.4GHz dongle (plus a 3.5 mm option), weighs about 260 g, and has a boom mic with AI-based noise reduction and up to 28 hours of battery. On PS5 it shows its settings on screen and handles game/chat balance automatically. SoundGuys’ review covers its sound and mic in detail.

Good to know: there’s no Bluetooth and no noise cancelling, so it won’t double as your phone headphones. Our Sony headphones for gaming guide compares it with the INZONE H9 II, which adds noise cancelling.

Check the INZONE H5 on Amazon →

4. LucidSound LS500: best budget wireless PS5 headset

For well under $100, the LS500 is wireless, light and long-lasting for the money. It connects to the PS5 through a USB dongle or to other devices over Bluetooth, weighs 265 g, and PowerA rates the battery at up to 50 hours on the dongle or 70 hours over Bluetooth. The 50 mm drivers have three EQ modes (Signature, Bass Boost and FPS), and the mic flips up to mute.

Good to know: PC Gamer, which picks it as the best budget headset, notes a plasticky feel and that its reviewer could only get the mic working over the dongle. Xbox players need the LS500X version.

Check the LucidSound LS500 on Amazon →

5. HyperX Cloud Alpha: best wired PS5 headset

A wired headset is the cheapest way to get everything working on a PS5: plug it into the DualSense controller and you get game audio, 3D 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 Audeze’s SLAM design for deeper bass. The PlayStation version works with the PS5, PC and Switch over a 2.4GHz dongle, and also connects by Bluetooth, USB-C or 3.5 mm. The battery is rated at up to 80 hours, and the detachable boom mic uses AI noise reduction.

Good to know: at 560 g it’s very heavy, and some reviewers found it uncomfortable over long sessions. RTINGS’ review covers its sound in detail. Buy the PlayStation version ($329), not the Xbox one ($349), for a PS5.

Check the Maxwell 2 on Amazon →

7. PlayStation Pulse Explore: best earbuds for PS5

Regular Bluetooth earbuds can’t play PS5 game audio, but the Pulse Explore can, because they use PlayStation Link. They connect to the PS5, PC or Mac through the included USB adapter and to the PlayStation Portal directly, and they can stay connected to your phone over Bluetooth at the same time. Two hidden mics with AI noise rejection handle party chat. PlayStation rates the battery at up to 5 hours, plus 10 more from the case (PlayStation specs).

Good to know: 5 hours per charge is short for long sessions, and there’s no noise cancelling. They make the most sense with a PlayStation Portal. For more earbud options, including Sony’s dongle-based INZONE Buds, see our Sony gaming headphones guide.

Check the Pulse Explore on Amazon →

Coming soon: PlayStation Pulse and Pulse Edge

On September 15, 2026, PlayStation announced two new headsets (PlayStation Blog):

• PlayStation Pulse Wireless Headset: planar magnetic drivers (4 magnets per driver), an integrated mic with AI noise rejection, PlayStation Link and simultaneous Bluetooth. It launches in select markets starting this holiday season.
• PlayStation Pulse Edge Wireless Headset: planar drivers with double the magnet volume for deeper bass, active noise cancelling and a detachable boom mic. It launches in early 2027.

PlayStation hasn’t announced prices yet. We’ll add them to this guide once they’re confirmed. If you want a PlayStation Link headset now, the Pulse Elite is the current model, and it’s likely to be discounted as the new ones arrive.

More earbuds for PS5

The PS5 doesn’t support Bluetooth audio, so earbuds need PlayStation Link (like the Pulse Explore above), their own 2.4 GHz dongle, or a cable into the DualSense controller. These are the alternatives to the Pulse Explore:

Sony INZONE Buds: best overall for PS5

Sony’s gaming earbuds use a small USB-C dongle that plugs into the PS5, a PC or a Switch 2, and Sony rates its delay at under 30 ms. They have noise cancelling and last up to 12 hours per charge, more than twice the Pulse Explore’s 5 hours. Good to know: they don’t use PlayStation Link. If you also play on a PlayStation Portal, the Pulse Explore connect to it directly. They cost noticeably more than the Pulse Explore.

Check the Sony INZONE Buds on Amazon →

SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds (PlayStation version): most features

The white PlayStation version connects to the PS5, PC and Switch through a 2.4 GHz USB-C dongle and to your phone over Bluetooth 5.3, with 4-mic hybrid noise cancelling, 10 hours per charge (40 with the case) and 100+ game audio presets in SteelSeries’ app. Good to know: there’s a separate Xbox version, so make sure you buy the PlayStation one.

Check the Arctis GameBuds (PlayStation) on Amazon →

Razer Hammerhead V3 X (PS5 Edition): best value

Licensed by PlayStation, these use their charging case as the 2.4 GHz receiver: plug the case into the PS5 and the earbuds connect to it. Razer rates them at 10 hours per charge and 35 with the case, with IPX4 water resistance and USB-C passthrough so you can charge while playing. Good to know: the listing doesn’t mention noise cancelling.

Check the Hammerhead V3 X (PS5 Edition) on Amazon →

On a tight budget, any wired earbuds with a mic, such as the HyperX Cloud Earbuds II, work through the DualSense’s 3.5 mm jack with no delay. For PC and phone gaming too, see our best earbuds for gaming guide.

Can you use AirPods or Bluetooth headphones with a PS5?

Not directly. The PS5 doesn’t support Bluetooth audio, so AirPods and other Bluetooth headphones won’t pair with it for game sound. You have three workarounds:

• Plug wired headphones, or Bluetooth headphones that have a 3.5 mm input, into the DualSense controller.
• Use the PS Remote Play app on your phone and listen through your earbuds there (expect extra delay).
• Use a third-party USB Bluetooth audio adapter, which adds some latency and usually can’t carry your mic.

For fast games, a headset with a dongle or PlayStation Link is the better option. Our guide to Bluetooth headphones for gaming explains why Bluetooth lags.

PS5 headset deals: Black Friday 2026

Gaming headsets are some of the most heavily discounted products over Black Friday (November 27, 2026). Use last year’s sale prices as a yardstick: at or below them, it’s a good deal.

Past prices don’t guarantee this year’s deals. Check that a deal is for the PlayStation version of a headset, not the Xbox one, and see our best gaming headsets guide for more Black Friday price history.

Specs from the makers, side by side

Every figure below comes from the manufacturer’s own spec page, taken from our earbuds and headphones spec database. “Not stated” means the maker doesn’t publish it, not that the feature is missing.

Our verdict

For most PS5 owners, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 is the best headset: low-lag wireless on the console, Bluetooth for your phone and a long battery for about $130. Choose the PlayStation Pulse Elite if you want PlayStation Link and use a PlayStation Portal, the LucidSound LS500 or the wired HyperX Cloud Alpha on a budget, and the Audeze Maxwell 2 for the best sound. If you can wait, PlayStation’s new Pulse headset arrives this holiday season.

Frequently asked questions

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