The sub-$100 gaming headset market has changed. Some wireless models with multi-day battery life now sell for under $100 on sale, and a solid wired headset can cost as little as $60. Here’s how the current field shakes out.
Short answer: the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 3 is the best pick for most people. RTINGS tested it as the best gaming headset under $100 it has reviewed. If you’d rather stay wired, the HyperX Cloud III is a strong option, and the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 is the budget pick at about $60.
Our picks
Best overall (wireless): Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 3. RTINGS measured just over 85 hours of continuous battery life, a bit above the 80 hours Turtle Beach advertises. It has 50mm drivers, 2.4GHz wireless plus Bluetooth 5.2, and a flip-to-mute mic with AI-based noise reduction. The full price is $109.99. It has recently sold for about $89 to $90 at several retailers, but prices vary by color and version and it has been back at full price at times, so check before you buy. Two things to know: it’s wireless only (RTINGS notes it can’t be used wired), and it comes in Xbox, PlayStation and PC versions. RTINGS says the Xbox version also works on PC and PlayStation, while the PC and PlayStation versions don’t work with Xbox. Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 3, Xbox version (also works on PC and PlayStation), on Amazon.
Wired pick: HyperX Cloud III. It has 53mm angled drivers, memory foam cushions, and a detachable 10mm mic, with mute and volume controls on the earcup. It connects by 3.5mm, USB-C, or the USB-A adapter in the box. The list price is $99.99, and it has recently sold for as little as about $58 at Amazon and around $70 elsewhere, though sale prices come and go. RTINGS lists the GLORIOUS GHS Eternal RGB as its wired pick and compares it closely with the Cloud III, saying the two perform similarly: the HyperX has a fuller EQ app, while the GLORIOUS puts more controls on the headset itself. HyperX Cloud III on Amazon.
Budget pick: SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1. The list price is $59.99, and it has been discounted below that at times. It weighs 253g and has AirWeave memory foam cushions and a fully retractable ClearCast Gen 2 mic. Its 3.5mm jack works with PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, Mac and mobile. It’s wired only, and it skips the RGB lighting and USB connection of SteelSeries’ pricier Arctis Nova 3. SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1.
What matters at this price
Wired versus wireless. The old assumption that affordable wireless means short battery life no longer necessarily holds. Our top pick is wireless and lasted over 85 hours in RTINGS’ testing, though not every budget wireless model does as well (Turtle Beach rates its older Stealth 500 for up to 40 hours). The real trade-off now is convenience against price: wireless frees you from the cable, while wired headsets never need charging and often cost less.
Comfort. Over-ear designs with memory foam cushions are common at this price, but weight, clamping force and your head shape matter as much as the spec sheet. Buy from a retailer with easy returns if you can.
The mic. Make sure you can mute quickly. All three picks have a fast mute: the Stealth 600’s mic boom flips up to mute, and the Cloud III and Nova 1 have a mute button on the headset.
Quick comparison
| Pick | Price | Connection | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 3 | About $89 on sale ($109.99 full price) | Wireless (2.4GHz dongle and Bluetooth) | Most people, long battery life |
| HyperX Cloud III | $99.99 list, recently about $58 to $70 on sale | Wired (3.5mm, USB-C, USB-A adapter) | Wired players who want a detachable mic |
| SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 | $59.99 list | Wired (3.5mm) | Tight budgets |
Prices checked August and September 2026.
Who this isn’t for
If you want one headset that works both wired and wireless, the Stealth 600 Gen 3 isn’t it, since it connects wirelessly only. RTINGS lists the Razer BlackShark V2 HyperSpeed as a notable mention that works both ways, but notes its price creeps above $100 at times. If you play on Xbox, buy the Xbox version of the Stealth 600, because the PC and PlayStation versions won’t connect. And if you never want to think about charging, either wired pick is the safer choice.
Bottom line
Get the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 3 if you want the best all-round headset under $100 and don’t mind wireless. Get the HyperX Cloud III if you prefer a cable and a detachable mic, and the Arctis Nova 1 if you’re on a tight budget. Prices on all three move around, so check the current price before you buy.