Best Gaming Headsets in 2026

08 April 2025

Rob

digitally drawn gaming headphones on purple background

Updated: 21/05/26

Ah, gaming headphones. The unsung heroes of late-night gaming sessions, when you're trying not to wake up your partner, kids, or your long-suffering neighbours. But with dozens of options out there, finding the best gaming headset for your console or PC can feel as confusing as trying to describe the plot of Inception after a few shandies. Fear not, dear reader, we've done the legwork (and earwork?) for you.

Here's our pick of the best PS5 gaming headsets around for cinematic audio, followed by recommendations for the best headsets for Warzone and other shooting games across all platforms in 2026. Don’t say we don’t spoil you!

Best PS5 Headsets

1. Audeze Maxwell Wireless

Audeze might sound like an obscure French cheese, but don’t let that fool you - this headset offers a truly gourmet audio experience. The Maxwell Wireless uses planar magnetic drivers (sounds fancy!) for an audiophile-level gaming session. Also, in 2026, this headset is now available for a less eyewatering price, which makes them even more appealing.

Pros: Outstanding audio clarity, robust battery life, comfortable for prolonged gameplay, and now available for a similar price to Astro equivalents.

Cons: Slightly heavier than competitors.

UK Starting Price: £220

⭐

Don’t forget, you can get headphones insurance, games console insurance or gaming PC insurance in three minutes with Protect Your Bubble.* We've got over 16,900 five-star reviews on Trustpilot and counting!**

⭐

2. Sony Pulse Elite Wireless Headset

The Sony Pulse Elite Wireless Headset is like the older, more sophisticated sibling to the Pulse 3D. With enhanced audio drivers, comfy memory-foam ear cushions, and premium build quality, this headset immerses you so deeply into gaming worlds you'll forget your cup of tea has gone cold (again).

Pros: Excellent spatial audio, seamless PS5 integration, and comfort for marathon sessions. Good value. Wide availability in 2026 compared to the Pulse 3D.

Cons: Doesn’t have the refinement of some of the alternatives.

UK Starting Price: £129.99

3. Sony Pulse 3D Wireless Headset

If you want the best budget PS5 headset, the Pulse 3D is your trusty sidekick. Engineered specifically for the PS5’s immersive Tempest 3D AudioTech, this headset makes even Minecraft sound epic.

Pros: Affordable, comfortable, perfect match for PS5’s audio features. Probably the best cheap gaming headset for PS5.

Cons: Battery life is average. It won’t win any beauty contests. Plus, in 2026, it's becoming increasingly hard to find a pair since Sony have effectively stopped selling them directly, so you may be better served going for the Elite version.

UK Starting Price: £99.99

Best Headsets for Warzone

If you're serious about Call of Duty: Warzone and dominating in Verdansk (or other shooters like Apex, Battlefield and Marvel Rivals) in 2026, you'll want headphones with top-notch positional accuracy, comfort, and clarity to hear even the quietest footsteps.

Here, we’ve collated the top four specialised picks which will work well for PS5, Xbox and PC, recommended by Call of Duty audio expert, ArtIsWar:

Drop + EPOS PC38X

A collaboration between Drop and EPOS (the gaming arm of Sennheiser), this headset provides competitive gamers with exceptional directional audio and crystal-clear microphone quality - essential for coordinated attacks.

Pros: Outstanding positional audio, superb microphone quality, extremely comfortable.

Cons: Wired only, open-back design may leak audio, may be hard to find in the UK in 2026 (but worth the search).

UK Starting Price: ~£180

Sennheiser HD 560S

The Sennheiser HD 560S is an audiophile's delight. The open-back design ensures natural sound with precise spatial awareness - perfect for locating sneaky opponents. It also provides extremely well-balanced audio to ensure you can still hear small details even when you’ve got air-strikes and grenades flying at you.

Pros: Superior audio clarity, exceptional comfort for long gaming sessions. Now at an extremely affordable price.

Cons: Open-back design leaks sound, not ideal for noisy environments. Doesn’t come with a microphone (so you’d need to plug a separate one in).

UK Starting Price: £99

Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X Studio Headphones

The Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X brings studio-quality audio directly into your gaming sessions. Renowned for its accuracy and natural sound profile, it’s fantastic for pinpointing enemies' positions in Warzone.

Pros: Impressive clarity and accurate soundstage, extremely comfortable for lengthy sessions.

Cons: Open-back design leaks audio, requires a separate microphone.

UK Starting Price: £199

Xenns Mangird Tea PRO In-Ear Monitor

Not over-the-ear headphones, but they pack a punch that outclasses many headsets. Designed for professional audio, they deliver pinpoint accuracy essential for intense Warzone battles. The audio aficionado’s choice.

Pros: Incredible sound accuracy, lightweight and unobtrusive.

Cons: Might feel odd gaming with earphones, extremely pricey.

UK Starting Price: ~£319

Kiwi Ears Astral In-Ear Monitor

The Xenns Mangird Tea PRO is excellent, but it is not always easy to in 2026, so the Kiwi Ears Astral is a strong alternative for players who want a premium in-ear option. With a 1 dynamic driver and 6 balanced armature setup, it is built for detailed, accurate sound, with recent reviews praising its resolution, tonal balance and strong technical performance.

For Warzone and other shooters, that means clear positional cues without losing the punch and excitement you want from explosions, vehicles and cinematic moments.

Pros: Detailed, accurate sound, strong imaging, premium hybrid driver setup.

Cons: Still expensive, wired only, and you’ll need a separate microphone.

UK Starting Price: £270

Final Verdict

In 2026, for the best PS5 headset for cinematic gaming, go with the Audeze Maxwell Wireless. The Sony Pulse Elite Wireless also provides exceptional quality and seamless integration with your console. Budget-conscious gamers can happily pick the Pulse 3D, but if you aren't able to find a pair, the Elite is worth the extra £30.

If you are looking for the best headset for Warzone and other first-person shooters, we still recommend the Drop + EPOS PC38X (as it performs excellently and comes with a microphone), or the Beyerdynamic DT900 Pro X Studio Headphones if you already have a microphone. If you’re interested in trying earphones or in-ear-monitors (which many pros swear by these days), and don’t mind an (extremely) premium price-tag, consider the Xenns Mangird Tea PRO, or if you can't find a pair, go for the Kiwi Ears Astral In-Ear Monitor.

Where can you find the best PS5 headset deals?

AO, Amazon, Argos, and John Lewis usually offer the best deals on PS5 gaming headsets and other high quality gaming headsets, but, as always, we highly recommend checking out price-comparison sites like hotukdeals and PriceSpy to snag a bargain.*** Waiting for sales like Black Friday or January can also score you fantastic discounts.

Happy gaming (and ignoring everyone around you)! 🎧🕹️