The Best Gaming Headsets Under $100 That Don’t Sacrifice Sound Quality

The Arctis Nova 1 packs the same 40-millimeter drivers as its pricier siblings — the $100 Arctis Nova 3 and the $180 Arctis Nova 7, but it’s priced at a much easier-to-swallow price of just $60. The headset delivers stellar audio performance with punchy bass and a good amount of treble that makes it great for listening to music when you’re not gaming.

“The Arctis Nova 1 establishes what the baseline for budget headsets should be,” wrote Marshall Honorof, a senior editor at Tom's Guide, in his review of the headset. “With its retractable mic and handy 3.5mm connection, it makes the perfect gaming companion whether you’re on the road with your Switch or at home with your PC.”

The headset has a ski google-inspired elastic band that helps it provide a snug, comfortable fit (even if you wear glasses) and features soft and cool-to-the-touch “AirWeave” fabric ear pads so your ears won’t get overheated.

It's also worth mentioning that SteelSeries sells multiple variants of the Arctis Nova: There’s the Nova 1P for PlayStation owners, the Nova 1X for Xbox gamers, and the Nova 1 for PC users.

Related: Other Gaming Headsets We Tested and Loved

The Kraken X is a solid budget headset that packs quite a punch for its sub-$50 price point. Even better, it's sleek, lightweight, and comfortable enough to wear for long periods.

Benjamin Abbott, a contributor at PC Gamer, said for cans that only set you back around $50, the Kraken X gaming headset offers tremendous value, given its sound quality.

“Using the 7.1 (surround sound) add-on elevates the headset tremendously,” he said in a review of the headset. “It provides greater depth, clarity, and definition that makes going back to standard sound difficult.”

It’s worth mentioning that the headset has a greater focus on treble, so it isn’t ideal for listening to music. I like that it can connect to practically everything, given its 3.5mm audio cable, though. It even comes with a splitter for those who like to separate the mic and audio inputs on your gaming PC.

All in all, it’s a solid headset with an attractive design, comfortable fit, and decent audio quality.

The Cloud Stinger from HyperX has achieved rave reviews from consumers and editors alike. It has received accolades from IGN, Tom's Guide, and the Wirecutter, who all named it as the best budget gaming headset.

That's all because it has impressive 50mm drivers that crank out rich audio quality, and since it rocks plush leatherette earcups and a highly adjustable headband to provide a comfortable fit. When testing the headset, it felt as though I was wearing one of HyperX's headsets that cost twice as expensive.

I also was impressed with its microphone, which did a good job of minimizing background sounds. Overall, if you're looking for an affordable, no-frills gaming headset that is comfortable to wear for long periods, you found your match!

Five years have passed since the Astro A10 was first released, and the second iteration brings a revamped, more modern-looking design that's also lighter and provides a looser fit. The no-thrills headset comes in a wide variety of colors, including black, white, mint, gray, and lilac.

Despite going with a 32mm driver over a 40mm driver, the headset delivers a balanced and warm audio quality for both music and in-game audio, so you'll be able to easily identify approaching footsteps.

What separates the A10 Gen 2 from competing headsets is its impressive boom microphone. Compared to other headsets, your voice will sound clearer, more natural, and highly detailed. Another nifty feature is that when you want to mute the audio, all you have to do is flip the mic upward.

I think the A10 Gen 2 is a bold new take on an outstanding headset, and I can't recommend it enough for gamers who need a headset for chatting with their friends and teammates while gaming.

This colorful and incredibly lightweight headset from Logitech is one of the most inexpensive wireless headsets you can buy. Despite its affordable price point, the Logitech doesn’t require gamers to make many sacrifices when it comes to comfort and audio quality.

It comes with a 2.4GHz wireless transmitter that you use to connect wirelessly to a PC or PlayStation. Since the headset has Bluetooth, you can also use it with your Nintendo Switch or mobile device. It’s worth a quick mention that the G435 does not include a traditional 3.5-millimeter audio jack for wired connections. It also doesn’t have a boom microphone. Instead, it relies on integrated “beamforming” mics.

Although its ear cups are adjustable, I’d say this headset works best with smaller-sized heads. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how good the headset sounds, too, especially given its budget-friendly price.

The best part about the HS65 SURROUND is that it doesn’t look like a gaming headset but rather a stylish pair of over-the-ear headphones. There’s more to it than meets the eye, though — if you connect it to your Mac or PC with the included USB adapter, you’ll be able to experience Dolby Audio 7.1 surround sound for an incredibly immersive experience.

This means that audio elements will seem more three-dimensional and lifelike. So, you’ll have a leg up on the competition since you’ll be able to tell if your opponents are far off, approaching you, and what direction their avatars are coming from.

If you’re not a PC gamer, you still can use the HS65 SURROUND using a 3.5mm wired connection, but you won’t be able to make use of the Dolby Audio sound upgrades. Regardless, it’s still a stylish and overall good-sounding headset that packs a punch for a budget-friendly price point.

HyperX Cloud II is one of the most durable gaming headsets we’ve come across. Believe it or not, it can withstand a complete twist of the headband without snapping or losing its shape. Better yet, it offers replaceable earcups and metal accents, so it could potentially outlive your console.

As you’d expect from a HyperX headset, just as its name suggests, the headset is as comfy and plush as a cloud. I appreciate that the headset offers channel mixing, a feature that the similarly specced Logitech G433 lacks. However, the Cloud II lacks adjustable EQ settings.

Regardless, it’s an outstanding budget-friendly headset with a balanced sound and a convenient removable microphone, so they can pass as a regular pair of headphones to boot!

The Recon 70 is an excellent multi-platform headset that's compatible with every major console or gaming PC. Its leatherette ear cups are breathable and spacious even for folks with larger-than-average ears.

Given its mostly plastic design, it feels a little cheaper than other headsets we featured in this guide, but it still offers a comfortable fit and decent audio quality given its sub-$50 price point. Trust me — you'll have no trouble identifying where enemy footsteps and ire are coming from!

If you're torn between the similar Turtle Beach Recon 50 and the Recon 70, I think you're better off with the Recon 70, given its more comfortable design and better audio performance. If you do a lot of in-game voice chatting, though, you may want to consider the 50x because it has a slightly better microphone.