The best budget gaming headsets doesn’t necessarily have to cost a fortune. Rather, there are numerous budget gaming headsets that offer a fantastically comfortable design. They also offer a surprising array of audio features for surround sound and enhanced audio, and most importantly, a decent microphone for above-average quality team chats. Memory foam, large speaker drivers, metal construction, clear microphones, virtual surround sound, and even wireless connectivity are all available on a surprising number of budget gaming headsets.
While there are so many options out there, we’ve picked out and tested the best ones for you. These budget options offer a lot of value for around $100 or less. Whether you’re gaming with an Xbox Series X/S or PS5, or a gaming PC, we’ve picked out some truly outstanding budget options so you can be sure you’re getting your money’s worth.
List of the best budget Gaming Headsets
HyperX Cloud Stinger
The HyperX Cloud Stinger is one of the most popular and best budget gaming headsets on the market. It is an over-the-ear headset with a minimalist design, where manufacturer Kingston naturally gives priority to the function over luxury cosmetics. The Stinger is made of plastic, which contributes to its ultra-lightweight design. It has large, rotating ear cups that can be moved to a flat position, making it easy to store. The earcups are large enough to completely cover your ears and help to dampen background noise.
The Stinger is exceptionally comfortable to wear, where the memory foam earpads work with the adjustable steel slide to ensure that it never feels like a hard clamp on the head during extended game sessions. This gaming headset comes with audio buttons on the head. The volume control is located under the right earcup, making it easily accessible during the game. On the other cup, the Stinger has a noise-canceling microphone. It has a turn-to-mute function. Turn it in an upward position parallel to the headband, and it switches off. However, it cannot be removed from the earcup.
Compatible with multiple platforms, including PS4 and Xbox One, the Stinger has well-balanced sound quality, with precise details and the right bass level for an immersive experience in various games, including first-person shooters and expansive open-world games. Although not in the same gaming microphone, the built-in microphone can get the job done. Overall, this is one for the Best budget gaming headsets to buy right now.
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Sades A60/OMG
In appearance, the Sades A60/OMG is the opposite of the HyperX Cloud Stinger. It is a $30 gaming headset that can probably be issued as a $100 gaming headset, with a striking design complete with LED lights on the earcups. But the A60/OMG is not just about looks; it also provides real value for the table. The A60/OMG is an over-the-ear gaming headset with excellent ear foam earbuds that can easily cover your ears. It has a padded headband for extra comfort. The large ear cups keep background noise to a minimum, so you can concentrate on games, especially games that require quick responses.
Compared to the Stinger, this gaming headset is on the heavy side. It may feel a bit uncomfortable after approximately six hours of non-stop use. The omnidirectional microphone is located on the left ear cup. Although it cannot be removed, it can be retracted into the ear cup when it is not being used. The microphone quality is good but not great. It is clear and can easily record whispers, but at the same time, it lacks a noise reduction function. When it comes to sound quality, the A60/OMG is good for its price.
It is quite heavy on the bass and can sometimes become very loud, so be sure to lower the volume before testing. For casual gaming, the sound quality of this gaming headset should be sufficient. Overall, the build quality of the A60/OMG is reliable, but don’t expect it to be as durable as $200 gaming headsets. Similar to most, if not all gaming headsets of less than $30, this gaming headset is made of plastic, so it feels cheap. But on the other hand, the braided cable is really heavy. Still, this is one for the Best budget gaming headsets to buy right now.
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Turtle Beach Ear Force Recon 50X
Turtle Beach is a famous gaming headset brand with an extensive range of products ranging from budget to high end. The Turtle Beach Ear Force Recon 50 belongs to the first category. It is a gaming headset that is available in three colors: red for PC, blue for PS4, and green for Xbox One. Of the three, the Ear Force Recon 50X, or the Xbox One model, is often the cheapest on Amazon.
The Ear Force Recon 50X is an over-the-ear gaming headset with a simple but effective design. It has a pair of large ear cups with synthetic leather cushions. The earcups are large enough to cover most ear sizes, which translates into a passive noise reduction that adjusts background noise, allowing you to concentrate on the game. Although the headband filling is not that generous, the overall design of the Ear Force Recon 50X is comfortable, making it an excellent companion during extended game sessions.
Unlike our top three products here, the Ear Force Recon 50X has a gooseneck microphone design that is a lot more flexible. Besides, the microphone can be removed from the socket, but there is no option to move the microphone location from the left ear shell to the right, which may be negative for some people. Built-in microphones on cheap gaming headsets are often below standard, but in this case, the microphone is excellent. It has a crystal clear quality, which leads to better team chats.
The Ear Force Recon 50X is built for gaming. It has good sound quality for gaming but lacks juice for watching movies and listening to music. It has a balanced bass and clear mid and low tones. The audio controls can be found on the cable. Unfortunately, there is no way to adjust the game and chat volumes individually. If you want to decrease the chat volume, the game volume will decrease. Still, this is one for the Best budget gaming headsets on the market.
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Corsair HS50
The Corsair HS50 is a gaming headset that does not look. It has an all-business design, making it an excellent fit for both gaming and daily outdoor use. The HS50 is an over-the-ear headset housed in a well-built, durable frame and is one for the Best budget gaming headsets. It is not as thin as most plastic gaming headsets on the market. It has a pair of large ear cups with firm but comfortable pillows. But while the earcups feel pleasant on the ears, the pads are not the most breathable, which leads to sweaty ears in the long run.
Just like the Turtle Beach Ear Force Recon 50X, the HS50 has a flexible microphone on the left earcup. However, it is a bit short, so it rests on your cheek. If you do not intend to use it, you can remove it from the earcup. Behind the left earcup is a series of audio controls, including a mute button. The volume wheel is easily accessible, although some people may find the location awkward. The HS50 comes with a long cable that ends with a jack of 3.5 millimeters.
Corsair has opted for a non-braided cable for this gaming headset, so the cable is not the most durable. Be sure to secure the long cable with a clip or something to reduce your chances of a tangled cable. The sound quality of the HS50 is good but not great. It has a spicy bass and decent mid-tones and heights. However, it can be deafening, which can be a good thing or a bad thing – it depends on your preferences. It is not surprising that the microphone quality is pretty average. It has a noise-canceling function that keeps communication lines free of background noise but is sometimes too sensitive.
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PDP Afterglow LVL 5+
In design, the PDP Afterglow LVL 5+ is in the same boat as the Sades A60 / OMG. It has that unmistakable flashy look that immediately tells you that it is a gaming headset. The Afterglow LVL 5+ is supplied in blue or green, with each color representing the PS4 and Xbox One, respectively. Other than the color, there are no other significant differences between them. The Afterglow LVL 5+ is an over-the-ear gaming headset with a larger frame than most of the products mentioned here. It is also on the heavy side, although the batteries that power the LED lights on the ear cups contribute to the total weight. With the batteries removed, it becomes lighter.
This gaming headset comes with generous padding on both the ear cups and headband, making it comfortable to wear for long distances. But PDP designed the Afterglow LVL 5+ with children and teenagers in mind. The earcups are slightly smaller than usual and may have problems covering large ears, which may affect their passive noise reduction function. The flexible microphone is located on the left ear cup. It has a noise reduction, which ensures that your voice is delivered in crystal clear quality to your teammates.
Although the microphone is not removable, it can easily be turned away when not in use. The audio controls are also located on the left earcup. On the positive side, the location and size of the sound buttons ensure that they are easily accessible in mid-game. But on the negative side, the buttons can be confusing to push at the beginning – a volume slider or wheel is the more suitable choice for up-side control. Overall, this is one for the Best budget gaming headsets right now.
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