(checked 2026-10-10)Small sample: 208 ratings, on the PC/PlayStation listing labeled 'new Version 2026'.
RTINGS' best gaming headset and Tom's Guide's best for Xbox, with planar magnetic drivers, about 80 hours of battery and a strong mic. But it is heavy: SoundGuys found it hot and uncomfortable after a few hours, it slid off Wirecutter's tester, and 23% of its small Amazon sample is 1-2 stars.
Top complaints
- Heavy, warm and hard to adjust
SoundGuys lists 'heavy and uncomfortable over long hours': its reviewer managed 4 hours, the pleather got warm, and the headband is 'an absolute pain to adjust'. TechRadar flags the weight, and Tom's Guide calls the adjustment annoying. Wirecutter says it fell off the back of its tester's head. Amazon owners are mixed on comfort.
- No simultaneous dongle and Bluetooth
Tom's Guide, TechRadar and SoundGuys all list the lack of simultaneous 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth audio. Amazon's summary says some owners' USB dongles keep disconnecting.
- Pricey, with a mic some find only okay
TechRadar calls the mic 'merely okay': its AI noise reduction didn't work well until tuned. Tom's Guide lists the price as a con, and Amazon owners split on value, with some calling it overpriced.
What owners love
- Top-tier sound
RTINGS calls the default sound well-balanced. Tom's Guide says it is arguably the best headset on the market for music, and TechRadar calls its audio reproduction peerless.
- Excellent mic (for most testers)
RTINGS says the boom mic performs amazingly, even in noisy environments, and Tom's Guide calls it excellent.
- Very long battery
RTINGS measured 77 hours. SoundGuys lists an 80+ hour battery, and Tom's Guide cites 80 hours.
- Weight or heat bothers you
- You want Bluetooth and dongle audio at the same time
- You own the original Maxwell (a small upgrade)
- The best sound for both games and music
- Very long battery
- Players who want a premium mic
Scores (tap for why)
What experts say
- RTINGS: Best gaming headset (updated 2026-09-02). It is heavy; RTINGS suggests the lighter Astro A50 X for comfort.
- Tom's Guide: Best for Xbox (updated 2026-09-25). The cons are no simultaneous connectivity, annoying adjustment, and a high price that it still considers worth paying.
- SoundGuys: 7.7. The cons are heavy and uncomfortable over long hours, no noise cancelling, and no simultaneous wireless connections.