Best Gaming Headsets For Steam Deck

Now that the Steam Deck has been out for a while, it’s time to start thinking about what your options are for the best gaming headsets to use with it. While the speakers on the Steam Deck are fine, a gaming headset can provide a few benefits. First, let’s talk about the speakers though.

The Steam Deck speakers aren’t terrible but they’re really nothing to write home about. Not exceptional, just, not bad. They add nothing to the experience beyond being able to hear your game without additional accessories. They also don’t take anything away from the standard experience of gaming on Steam Deck.

With that out of the way, choosing to use a gaming headset while you play has its merits. For one, you could conserve battery life on the Steam Deck if you choose to use a wired headset. You could do this by either plugging something in using the 3.5mm audio port, or the USB-C port if you have a pair of USB-C wired headphones or earbuds. You could also go wireless which, won’t help the battery life, but it will make things more hassle-free due to the lack of wires.

Aside from that, using headphones while you play makes it a little more acceptable to play games on the Steam Deck in quieter public settings where you don’t want to bother others. And lastly, they can help you avoid having to hear the Steam Deck’s fans. Which are definitely noticeable. So, what are the best headsets for the Steam Deck? We’ve selected a handful of great options and listed them below.

Best Overall Gaming Headset: SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds

Gaming earbuds are a segment of the gaming audio market that isn’t as expansive as headsets, but there is definitely a place for them. More and more often these days people are choosing to spend their time listening to just about anything with earbuds over headsets. There is one simple reason for this – convenience. Earbuds are just much easier to pop in when you want some personal audio. They’re also much more portable than a headset.

So if you want to take your gaming audio with you, for use with phones or devices like the Steam Deck and other gaming handhelds, earbuds are unmatched. They also come with their own charging case. And that presents an opportunity to continue using them for several days. Not to mention easily for an entire day. This is one big reason why we chose the Arctis GameBuds as the best overall headset for Steam Deck. The Steam Deck is meant to be played in a portable state, even if that’s just across the house. The Arctis GameBuds are designed for the same purpose. More portable gaming audio. Although, they do work perfectly fine with PS5 and Xbox Series X too.

Gaming earbuds aren’t new and I’ve tried several pairs from Razer as well as brands like EPOS. All of those have been pretty good. But the SteelSeries Arctis Game Buds beat them all out. Not just on sound quality, but also on comfort. I think there’s a stigma with gaming earbuds too. People just perceive that earbuds can’t provide amazing audio quality for games. That couldn’t be further from the truth with the Arctis Game Buds.

When I tried these out with PS5, they were almost as good as my SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless. I say almost as good because the headset was definitely the winner between the two. However, the fact that SteelSeries was able to achieve such good quality in such a small package is nothing short of astounding. These are big earbuds, but that allows for more tech on the inside to deliver great gaming audio.

They have a battery life of up to 40 hours which is pretty good. Keep in mind this is with the charging case. A single charge will get you about 10 hours of game time before needing to pop the earbuds back in the case. The case supports Qi wireless charging as well. So you really don’t even have to plug the case in if you have a compatible wireless charging pad. So again, there’s that convenience.

What really blew me away with these earbuds was the quality of the spatial audio. Games like Call of Duty had crisp and clear sounds of footsteps and directional gunfire, while games like Elden Ring or Cyberpunk 2077 felt immersive and alive. The Game Buds also support the SteelSeries Arctis companion app. You’ll use this if you want to tune the audio more to your liking. It also contains more than 100 audio presets for various games. So you can find the perfect sound profile for what you’re playing.

And, these feature Active Noise Cancellation as well. So you can shut out the world whether you’re playing games or just listening to some music. These will run you $159.99, which is a solid price point for wireless earbuds with this many features. Not to mention, the fact that you can use these with just about any platform in addition to the Steam Deck is a pretty solid feature.

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Best Luxury Gaming Headset: Audeze Maxwell

When it comes to gaming headsets I’ve come to appreciate the finer points of what makes a gaming headset “good.” It’s not just about sound and comfort, but all the little details that really make up what could be considered the most important part of your gaming arsenal when it comes to accessories. Sound plays a very important role in gaming in many different ways, from immersion to tactical potential.

The Audeze Maxwell outshines all other gaming headsets on the market in just about every way. When I reviewed the headset earlier this year I was skeptical at first. I’ve played with several different gaming headsets over the years and I had my favorites. They’re still my favorites, but what I considered to be the best has changed over time. That is to say, I didn’t think the Maxwell was going to be able to live up to what I thought was the best option out there the last two years. I was pleasantly surprised.

I will say that initially, I did find Audeze’s Maxwell headset to be a tad heavy and more taxing on my neck due to its weight. But similar to how it took time for my back to adjust to Herman Miller’s Embody gaming chair, it took time for me to get used to the Maxwell’s weight and fit. Now, I think it’s the most comfortable gaming headset I’ve ever worn, despite its heavy build. The ear cups and ear pads hug my ears in a pillowy embrace that almost gives me a sense of calm.

It’s a strange feeling because you wouldn’t think that this is something a headset could do for you. And yet, that’s how I feel when I put it on my head. This tight hug also helps to isolate me from outside sounds rather nicely. Though it isn’t necessarily needed, since the Maxwell also features active noise cancellation.

It also has a battery life of up to 80 hours. I rarely have to charge it. In fact I only charge it every couple of weeks or so on average. Where it really shines though is with the sound and mic audio. My voice has never been so clear to my friends when chatting in Discord while we play than when I’m using the Maxwell. And when it comes to the sound quality, the Maxwell is unmatched. The planar magnetic drivers make it possible to hear sounds I never heard before in games I have been playing for years.

But what really gets me is how real and transcendent it makes the audio in my games. Background music comes to life. Sound effects are fuller and slightly louder without getting muddied or distorted. Additionally, it’s multiplatform and can be connected to PS5, PC, Nintendo Switch, mobile, and more. In short, this is an excellent gaming headset, and I truly believe there isn’t anything better, for now at least. All of that does, of course, come at a cost, as the Maxwell runs about $300 (currently $289.99). It’s worth it, though.

Now you might be thinking, why in the world would you spend that kind of money on a gaming headset for the Steam Deck? The answer is simple. Because it sounds the best. Just because you’re playing games on a Steam Deck doesn’t mean you need to forfeit great-quality audio for those games.

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Best Budget Gaming Headset: SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1

No one likes to spend hundreds on a gaming headset no matter how good it is. I can tell you right now if I could buy the Maxwell for $50, I would. But that isn’t the world we live in. That being said, not everyone is concerned with having the best-of-the-best sound and the most comfortable gaming headset imaginable. Some gamers just want something decent that won’t compromise too much (if at all) on the sound and comfort but also won’t result in them feeling pain when talking about the price.

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 is what I would consider the best budget gaming headset out there. So if you’re looking to pick up a gaming headset that’s easy on your wallet, this is it. At a regular retail price of $60, you aren’t going to feel bad about this purchase. Plus, that just leaves more money for Steam Deck games.

I’ve used a few different SteelSeries headsets over the past few years and all of them have forced me to come to the same conclusion. That SteelSeries knows how to make a really good gaming headset. Even the Arctis Nova 1, at well under $100, puts out some good sound and still retains the elements of comfort so you can play games for hours. While it does have some downsides, like its lack of wireless connectivity, that also presents a benefit. You don’t have to charge it because there’s no battery.

That means you can leave it plugged into your PC, console, or other devices and just pick it up and put it on, and it’s automatically working. No muss no fuss. No talking with friends in chat and then having the audio suddenly drop out because the battery died. What’s more, is that it the mic quality is pretty decent too. So your friends shouldn’t have any trouble hearing you. The mic comes with noise cancellation as well, so your voice comes through clear and it won’t bring all that background noise with it.

And what I really like is that the mic is retractable, while also sitting flush with the left earcup when stowed. This is also a multi-platform headset because it can plug into the 3.5mm audio port on any device that has one. It features 360-degree spatial audio as well, and the cloth earpads are both comfortable and very breathable.

Honestly, at $60 I almost think SteelSeries isn’t charging enough. But it’s good that it set the price low because that makes the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 an extremely good value. This also plugs into the 3.5mm audio jack and not USB-C like the Arctis GameBuds. So you can charge your Steam Deck while you play games with this headset and not have to choose one or the other.

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Best Wired Gaming Earbuds: HyperX Cloud Earbuds II

While the Arctis GameBuds are an amazing choice for Steam Deck game audio, their higher price tag means they’ll be out of the budget of some Steam Deck owners. They also may be in the budget of some others who simply don’t want to pay a lot for a Steam Deck headset option or just don’t like wireless headsets but love earbuds.

Worry not, because the HyperX Cloud Earbuds II are an excellent earbud option for those who prefer wired gaming audio. The cherry on top is that these earbuds only cost about $39.99 normally, and right now they’re even on sale through Amazon for $34.99. That’s an incredible price and a great way to save money, so you can spend more of that on other stuff. Like say, more games for your Steam Deck, a larger microSD card, or even both!

The HyperX Cloud Earbuds II are an improvement over the original model, which we also had on this list before. What I really like about these other than the low price, is that they come with a hard shell carrying case. This allows you to store the earbuds away while keeping them protected. This way they don’t get damaged if you stuff them into your bag or pocket. The case is about the size of a charging case for wireless earbuds too. So it’s totally pocketable.

The other really nice feature of these is that they come with four different ear tip sizes. The ones that come on the Cloud Earbuds II might be the perfect fit for you. If not, all you need to do is try on the other sizes to see what fits best. Chances are, one of them will fit your ears perfectly, or as close to perfect as possible.

HyperX also designed these earbuds with a 90-degree plug. I can’t stress enough how nice this is for something like the Steam Deck. Because you won’t have as much of the plug sticking up from the 3.5mm jack. The Cloud Earbuds II come in two different colors as well, red and black. Additionally, these have a built-in microphone. If you want to use voice chat with a friend while you play, you totally can. What’s more, these earbuds have flat wires that won’t tangle up.

That’s one fact about these that everyone should love. Because it’s always awful to have to try and untangle a pair of earbuds that use round wires. As an added bonus, these can also be used with Nintendo Switch or any other handheld with a 3.5mm audio jack, and they work with mobile devices too.

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Best Multi-Platform Gaming Headset: Astro A50 Gen 5

Most if not all of the gaming headsets on this list will be multi-platform, but the Astro A50 Gen 5 is easily the best of them for multi-platform use. See, with headsets like the Audeze Maxwell, you have to plug in the USB-C dongle. So you need to move it from platform to platform if you want to switch. The Arctis Nova 1 from SteelSeries is the same. You have to unplug the 3.5mm cable and plug it into the new platform. With the Astro A50 Gen 5, you simply plug everything in once.

From then on, all you have to do is press the PLAYSYNC button and boom. Now audio is playing through the other platform. It takes no more than a second and I never have to get up. I don’t even have to reach for anything because all of the controls are contained in the headset itself. Simple, quick, effortless. This is all made possible by the base station (which also charges the headset by the way), and Logitech G’s PLAYSYNC technology.

While the base station connection won’t work super well for the Steam Deck, you can connect the Astro A50 Gen 5 to the Steam Deck using Bluetooth. Then if you feel like swapping over to the console, you can easily do that.

To get everything set up, all you have to do is plug in your PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC using the corresponding USB-C ports on the back of the base station. Then you’re good to go. The PLAYSYNC button takes it from there. In addition to this unmatched connectivity, the Astro A50 Gen 5 also has incredibly good sound quality. And when you’re using Bluetooth for the Steam Deck, all you have to do is turn the headset on and it should automatically connect. As long as it’s not already connected to another device first.

Thanks to the use of Logitech G’s Graphene drivers, the Astro A50 Gen 5 is almost as good as the Audeze Maxwell at delivering footstep sounds and all of those small audio details that can make or break a match. While I don’t think the overall audio is as rich and detailed, it’s still excellent. The Astro A50 Gen 5 also provides something that the Audeze Maxwell does not – simultaneous audio from two separate sources.

For a long time, this one feature is what held the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless at the top of my list. Because it gave me the ability to connect to my PS5 for low-latency audio while connecting the headset to my phone using Bluetooth. In doing this, I could chat through the Discord mobile app and hear my game at the same time. The Astro A50 Gen 5 offers this, too. Sadly, the Audeze Maxwell does not, unless you’re using the headset with the cable. Which for me, defeats the purpose of having a wireless gaming headset.

The Astro A50 Gen 5 also has a flip-to-mute mic. I have always loved this design even if it makes the headset a little less sleek-looking. It’s just so simple to mute when you need to step away or talk to somebody. Plus, it’s so simple to swap out the ear pads for any reason. They connect to the ear cups using magnets so if they ever get damaged, you can literally pull them right off with zero issues. Then just snap on a new pair.

Battery life isn’t really an issue either. The Astro A50 Gen 5 lasts for up to 24 hours on a single charge. But since the base station charges the headset, you’ll never run out of battery. That is unless you’re consistently playing for 24 hours straight. Because once you’re done with a session, you’re just going to place the headset on the base station. Think of it as the Astro A50 Gen 5’s throne. A throne that juices it back up. At $299.99 this is another expensive option, but there’s too much good stuff to ignore here.

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Best Mid-Range Gaming Headset: Razer Barracuda X Chroma

Battery life is one of the most important features in a wireless gaming headset, and the Razer Barracuda X Chroma has a ton of it. At up to 70 hours, I’m confident that most Steam Deck gamers will find it hard to drain the battery before an entire week is up. This isn’t the only good feature of this headset, but I think battery life is perhaps the most important feature for people who play games on the Steam Deck.

Think about it. You’re on the go, playing games on your Deck, potentially without a charger on you. Or maybe only one charger, which you are likely going to use for the Deck if it needs to be charged up. In this instance you want your gaming headset to last you a while. So you don’t have to worry about plugging in one more thing. The Barracuda X Chroma can deliver on this front. Just keep in mind that if you want to prolong battery life as much as possible, you need to forego the Chroma lighting.

I don’t think this should be much of an issue. When you’re wearing the headset, you can’t see the Chroma lighting. So it’s more for show than anything else. It is cool, sure. But it won’t do your battery life any favors. In addition to really good battery life, the Barracuda X Chroma is pretty comfortable and it’s very lightweight. More lightweight than anything else on here so far aside from the earbuds. Or so it feels. This is another aspect that translates well to Steam Deck gaming. The headset won’t weigh down your bag.

As for comfort, the headset has these nice and breathable memory foam ear cushions. So they’re soft enough to prevent irritation, but they won’t make your ears sweat. At least for me, I haven’t had this issue the few times I’ve used the headset. I also really appreciate the detachable HyperClear Cardioid mic. Because when you don’t need or want to chat, you can stow the mic in your bag. Yet it’s readily available when it’s time to talk.

You can also connect the Barracuda X Chroma to two devices at once. You won’t get simultaneous audio from both sources, but you can switch between them quickly. The headset has a button that lets you toggle between your two connected sources on the fly. One for the 2.4GHz low latency with the HyperSpeed wireless dongle, and then Bluetooth.

So if you’re playing a game on the Steam Deck, then you need to take an incoming call, just tap that button and you’re good to go. Then tap it again when you’re ready to switch back. I’ve been on the phone a lot more these past couple of months with family so this feature has become quite useful. As I was able to step away from the game and take those calls at the press of a button.

You could also use the dongle for your phone if you’re playing mobile games and then just take calls as they come in over that low-latency connection. At a price of $129.99, I think the Barracuda X Chroma is a real value for the Steam Deck gamer and its cost is fairly reasonable for this segment of gamers too.

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Best Wired Gaming Headset: HyperX Cloud Alpha

The Steam Deck can have less than desirable battery life if you’re playing a demanding game. So if you’re without a charger to plug it in, the last thing you want is to drain that battery faster with a wireless gaming headset. In this case, a wired gaming headset can save you from worrying about whether or not you have enough battery life in the Deck to continue playing.

And if you’re looking for a wired gaming headset, then look no further than the HyperX Cloud Alpha. It’s a great all-around gaming headset with decent quality sound, a good microphone if you want to use voice chat, and it’s pretty darn comfortable too. Then, there’s the price. Normally this would cost $99.99, but Amazon currently has it on sale for $76.50. That’s not a bad price at all if you’re looking to save a little money.

Plus, because it’s wired, you don’t have to worry about charging the headset either. In addition to the good quality sound, it’s durable too. The metal construction of the headband means you can toss this in your bag without worrying something is going to snap in there. Something which can’t be as easily said for headsets that have plastic headbands. While there’s nothing wrong with plastic, as it makes things more lightweight, it’s not as durable. And if you’re concerned about durability, the HyperX Cloud Alpha is the way to go.

You can also use this headset with other platforms. Most people have more than a Steam Deck to play games on. They might not want more than one gaming headset though. With the HyperX Cloud Alpha, you can plug the headset into the Steam Deck, and also plug it into your PS5 and Xbox Series X|S controllers, your PC, and even your Nintendo Switch.

It’s also really nice that the mic is detachable because you may not always want or need to use a mic. In those situations, you won’t have to deal with the mic being close to your mouth when it’s not needed. That leaves more room for you to eat snacks and take a sip of water or whatever else you’re drinking. All without having to move a mic out of the way first.

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