What to look for
Gaming headset features that matter: 50 mm drivers, wired vs 2.4 GHz vs Bluetooth, mic type, surround sound and when a DAC helps. Picks from £39.99.
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What gaming headset features should buyers look for?
The gaming headset features that matter are 50 mm drivers, a connection that fits the platform, a cardioid microphone and a weight under about 350 g. Virtual surround sound, RGB lighting and brand badges matter less. The ranked field is in Best gaming headset UK 2026.
| Situation | Feature to buy | Pick | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shooters on a budget, any platform | Wired 3.5 mm, 50 mm drivers | Razer BlackShark V2 X | £39.99 |
| PC and console from one USB-C cable | Wired, 53 mm drivers, DTS | HyperX Cloud III | £54.30 |
| Cable-free on a desk, light | 2.4 GHz plus Bluetooth, 210 g | Logitech G321 LIGHTSPEED | £49.99 |
| Cable-free with 50 mm drivers | 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth, 3.5 mm | Logitech G PRO X 2 LIGHTSPEED | £168.96 |
Do gaming headsets support surround sound?
Yes, but the surround is software that runs on any stereo headset. A headset box that says 7.1 is not carrying seven drivers per ear; it is using a virtual surround engine.
- Windows 11 includes Windows Sonic for Headphones at no cost.
- Dolby Atmos for Headphones needs a paid licence from Dolby on PC and Xbox.
- The PlayStation 5 offers Tempest 3D AudioTech, which Sony supports on its own headsets and on compatible third-party models.
- The HyperX Cloud III and the Logitech G PRO X 2 LIGHTSPEED bundle DTS Headphone:X.
Platform support decides which engine is available, so console buyers should read Which headsets work with PS5 before paying for a surround licence.
Wired, 2.4 GHz or Bluetooth: which connection suits gaming?
Wired and 2.4 GHz dongles suit gaming, and Bluetooth suits phones. Wired headsets such as the Razer BlackShark V2 X at £39.99 add no battery or dongle. The Logitech G321 LIGHTSPEED at £49.99 adds 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth for £10.00 more than the V2 X.
The maths on delay is simple. An assumed 150 ms Bluetooth delay equals 9 frames at 60 frames per second (16.7 ms per frame) and 21.6 frames at 144 frames per second (6.9 ms per frame). Footsteps that arrive nine frames late do not line up with the picture, which is why gaming wireless uses a dongle rather than Bluetooth.
Battery is the other cost of wireless. At three hours of play a day, the Logitech G321 LIGHTSPEED's 20-hour rating means a charge every 6.7 days, while the Logitech G PRO X 2 LIGHTSPEED's 50-hour rating stretches that to 16.7 days. A wired headset needs no charge at all.
Do drivers and microphone matter more than brand?
Yes. Driver diameter sets diaphragm area, and area sets headroom and bass. Compare Electronic worked out the area of each pick (pi times radius squared) and divided by the Amazon UK price.
| Headset | Driver | Area per driver | Price | Area per £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Razer BlackShark V2 X | 50 mm | 1,963.5 mm² | £39.99 | 49.1 mm² |
| HyperX Cloud III | 53 mm | 2,206.2 mm² | £54.30 | 40.6 mm² |
| Logitech G321 LIGHTSPEED | 40 mm | 1,256.6 mm² | £49.99 | 25.1 mm² |
| Logitech G PRO X 2 LIGHTSPEED | 50 mm | 1,963.5 mm² | £168.96 | 11.6 mm² |
A 50 mm driver has 56.3% more area than a 40 mm one, and the Razer BlackShark V2 X delivers 49.1 mm² per pound against 25.1 mm² for the Logitech G321 LIGHTSPEED. The trade is wireless, not sound quality. Microphones follow the same rule: a cardioid pickup, which the V2 X uses, rejects sound from the sides. Streamers who need more can read Gaming headset mic vs USB microphone.
Weight is the third feature. The Logitech G321 LIGHTSPEED weighs 210 g and the Logitech G PRO X 2 LIGHTSPEED 345 g, so the heavier headset carries 135 g more, 64% above the lighter one. Under about 350 g suits long sessions; a headset heavier than that needs a wide, padded headband.
Gaming headset vs DAC: when does a DAC matter?
A DAC matters for high-impedance headphones, not for gaming headsets. Power into a headphone falls as impedance rises: from a 1 V RMS output, a 28 ohm headphone (Drop lists the PC38X at 28 ohms) draws 35.7 mW, and a 250 ohm studio headphone draws 4.0 mW, 8.9 times less. Most gaming headsets sit at 28 to 38 ohms, so a PC or console output drives them. A USB-C headset like the HyperX Cloud III already contains a DAC, which also bypasses a noisy motherboard jack.
An external DAC and amp make sense for 250 ohm studio headphones paired with a separate microphone. The in-ear alternative is covered in IEMs vs gaming headset.
Which gaming headset should you buy?
The HyperX Cloud III is the best all-round gaming headset on the feature list, at £54.30 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (October 2026). It combines 53 mm drivers, a USB-C cable with DAC, a detachable microphone and DTS Headphone:X.
HyperX Cloud III specifications (HyperX)
- Drivers: 53 mm, angled
- Frequency response: 10 Hz to 21,000 Hz
- Weight: 318 g
- Connection: wired, USB-C, USB-A and 3.5 mm
- Microphone: 10 mm capsule, detachable, noise-cancelling
- Surround: DTS Headphone:X on PC
The Cloud III suits PC and console players who want one headset for everything. The compromises are the cable and a 318 g weight.
HyperX Cloud III - pros and cons
Where to buy
Check price
Three alternatives cover a lower price, wireless and a premium build, at Amazon UK prices in October 2026.
Also consider
Radar · 0-100 scores
- HyperX Cloud III
- BlackShark V2 X
- G321 LIGHTSPEED
- G PRO X 2 LIGHTSPEED
Verdict
A gaming headset earns its price through drivers of 50 mm or more, a cardioid microphone and the right connection, not through surround badges. The HyperX Cloud III at £54.30 is the all-round pick and the Razer BlackShark V2 X at £39.99 is the budget pick. The ranked shortlist is in Best gaming headset UK 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What features should a gaming headset have?
Five features matter: driver size (50 mm or larger gives more diaphragm area than 40 mm), a connection that suits the platform (3.5 mm or USB-C for consoles, 2.4 GHz for wireless), a microphone with a cardioid or noise-cancelling pickup, weight under about 350 g, and a battery rated for 20 hours or more if wireless. Surround sound and RGB lighting matter least.
Do gaming headsets support surround sound?
Most do, but the surround is software, not hardware. Windows 11 includes Windows Sonic for Headphones, Dolby Atmos for Headphones needs a paid licence from Dolby, and the PlayStation 5 offers Tempest 3D AudioTech on compatible headsets. The HyperX Cloud III and Logitech G PRO X 2 LIGHTSPEED also bundle DTS Headphone:X. Any stereo headset can use the Windows options.
Is a gaming headset better than a DAC?
They solve different problems. A DAC converts digital audio to analogue and drives the headphones, and it only matters for high-impedance models around 250 ohms or when a motherboard output is noisy. Most gaming headsets sit between 28 and 38 ohms and run fine from a PC or console. A DAC is not needed for the Razer BlackShark V2 X.
Are wireless gaming headsets as good as wired ones?
On a 2.4 GHz dongle, yes for gaming purposes. Wired still wins on price: the Razer BlackShark V2 X costs £39.99 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (October 2026) and has no battery to wear out. Bluetooth adds a delay that suits music and calls, not competitive play, so a dongle is the connection to buy for wireless.
Are 50 mm drivers better than 40 mm drivers?
Larger drivers move more air, but tuning decides how a headset sounds. A 50 mm diaphragm has 56% more area than a 40 mm one (1,963.5 mm squared against 1,256.6 mm squared), and the HyperX Cloud III's 53 mm drivers have 76% more. Area helps bass and headroom, so 50 mm is a sensible floor at £40 and above.
Do I need a USB microphone as well as a gaming headset?
No, for party chat. A cardioid boom microphone like the Razer BlackShark V2 X's rejects sound from the sides and is clear enough for teammates. A separate USB microphone only matters for streaming or recording, and it brings desk space and a stand. The comparison is in Gaming headset mic vs USB microphone.