5 Best Gaming Headsets Under $50 For PC, Xbox & PS4 (2022)
A closer look at the market's leading gaming headsets to see which is best for under $50
The best gaming headsets don’t always have to put increasing pressure on your mounting PC costs, but can you really get a good headset for under $50? This is one of the main questions we get asked in regard to budget headsets, so we thought we’d answer that question with an article.
Budget headphones can often be packed with suitable features for your needs. You probably won’t see flashy wireless headphones in this category, but you will see an array of decent features that vary from 7.1 surround sound to swivel-to-mute microphones.
When it comes to a good headset, you want good sound quality, comfort, and clarity to give you a competitive edge when it comes to esports titles and competitive bouts.
In this article, we are going to go through the run-down of our top five gaming headsets for under $50 with price-to-performance taking a lead role. All these gaming headsets have been hand-selected based on value, reviews, and our general opinion after extensive usage and testing. We will cover the features of these budget gaming headsets and go into the technical terms in thorough detail to help you pick the best headset for under $50 for your needs.
So, with all that in mind, let’s dive straight into it!
Our Top Picks
Best Gaming Headset Under $50
In-depth Review
HyperX Cloud Stinger Headset
HyperX Cloud Stinger Headset
HyperX comes to the table with our top pick in the best gaming headset for under $50. The Cloud Stingers are a popular pair of headphones and represent excellent value too. This lightweight gaming headset comes with earcups that can rotate 90 degrees and have 50mm Directional drivers for audio precision.
The Stingers feature HyperX’s signature memory foam and steel sliders giving this pair of headphones great flexibility and a greater degree of comfort than most in this price range. One of the best design features to this gaming headset is the swivel-to-mute microphone which self mutes whenever it is swiveled upwards into a vertical position.
The frequency may not be quite as good as a high-resolution headset but for the price, in this budget gaming pair, it ain’t half bad!
HyperX delivers a simple yet aesthetically pleasing gaming headset with enough features to make this a serious gaming option. The comfort is decent from the Cloud Stingers thanks to its memory foam padding and adjustable ear cups, making this a great pair of headphones for under $50.
See the full review of the HyperX Cloud Stinger Headset here.
Corsair HS60 Gaming Headset
Corsair HS60 Gaming Headset
Corsair is regarded as specialists when it comes to manufacturing peripherals and you can normally rely on them to build quality at the very least. The HS60 gaming headset won’t be winning any awards in the audio department but they do offer great value and sound quality for the price. This lightweight pair is comprised of mostly metal construction ensuring a bit of long term durability.
The Corsair HS60’s feature 50mm directional drivers for audio precision and 7.1 surround sound. The Corsair HS60s feature memory foam to keep the headset comfortable when using for an extended period of time. The adjustable earcups have some movement to them to cater for different size heads with the sliders functioning as you would expect. The microphone is detachable meaning you can use these for music on the go or with a stand-alone microphone.
This headset features one of the worst frequency responses in the category but the difference is minute when compared to others and not noticeable.
So, Corsair delivers a solid set of headphones with the sound quality you will find quite surprising. The microphone is of good quality and performs closer to more expensive headsets. With this headsets comfort and low price, it easily factored into considerations.
You can read our full review of the Corsair HS60 gaming headset here.
Astro A10 Gaming Headset
Astro A10 Gaming Headset
Astro Gaming are better known for their high-performance gaming headsets that fall into the “premium” price bracket. Having said that, their Astro A10 headset which comes in at just under $50, might be one of their best value for money products available right now.
The Astro A10’s come to shelves with a very aesthetically pleasing design which, if not for the microphone, could certainly pass for an everyday headset. The build quality is superb and easily one of the standout features of this headset. Premium materials have been used throughout, making this headset feel much more expensive than its price would suggest. The A10 is definitely the most durable in this list and should stand the test of time.
The 40mm drivers that this headset comes equipped with offer a very boomy sound profile which sound great for immersion whilst gaming or listening to music. Whilst the highs and mids do leave a little to be desired, the spacial awareness and in-game sound queues were bang on point. It was easy to pinpoint where enemies were from footsteps and gunfire.
The headset features a very good microphone which sounds clear and accurate. On the downside, it is slightly tinny, but for under $50, you can’t really complain.
Razer Kraken X Ultralight Gaming Headset
Razer Kraken X Ultralight Gaming Headset
The Razer Kraken X is one of the latest arrivals to the Kraken lineup of headsets. This one comes to shelves boasting an array of cool features, excellent comfort, and good sound quality too – when comparing to similarly priced alternatives, that is.
This Kraken X headset has a very subtle and understated design, compromised of mostly plastic with steel found in the earcups and headband. The color theme is, as expected, all-black – giving this headset a sleek and sophisticated look.
The 40mm directional drivers do provide pretty good sound if truth be told. The bass isn’t too overpowering and the highs have been tweaked to allow better understanding of your enemy’s position in competitive esports titles. The Krakens weigh in at a slender 250 grams and feel extremely comfortable while in use.
The microphone, which is non-detachable, offers very good sound recreation as far as budget headsets go. The cardioid technology used in the microphone allows sound to be picked up from several different directions, providing a clearer, more accurate portrayal of your voice. On the downside, it can pick up a decent amount of ambient noise.
Overall, as far as cheap headsets go, this one is pretty damn good. The only downside is that the build quality doesn’t feel overly robust. At this price range though, it isn’t the worst on the market.
Logitech G430
Logitech G430
The name Logitech is a brand a lot of gamers and enthusiasts trust. It’s even a name that professional esports players and companies trust. But is it really worth getting the G430? Right off the bat, it’s a guarantee that you really do get what you pay for. This has an attractive black-and-blue color and really does have the appearance of a gaming headset.
The G430’s share a similar feature with our top pick since the ear cups can be rotated 90 degrees for convenience. Aside from that, it also shares yet another feature with the SADES A60 since this also has a DTS and Dolby 7.1 surround sound system.
Weight won’t be an issue when worn since this is also lightweight and comfortable. The earcups of the Logitech G430 can also be adjusted easily, which makes it really great if you intend to wear this for hours on end. In fact, we didn’t really have issues with discomfort as we tested this out.
The audio quality isn’t the best but it did deliver the needed performance and output fairly well. The gunshots and the footsteps can definitely be heard clearly. We’ve read some users find the surround sound to be a little off but as we tested this out – it was just perfect.
The microphone also delivers how it should but the problem is that this isn’t incorporated with a noise-reduction feature, which could cause a problem to your teammates if there are environmental or ambient sounds around you.
Final Word
So, there you have it, our complete guide to the best gaming headset for under $50. If you venture deep enough on Amazon, you’ll find enough products to fully stock a store with just headphones at this price point.
Unsurprisingly, the HyperX Cloud Stinger still came out on top for their exceptional build quality, comfort, and price. For less than $50, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better pair of headphones despite their few weak points.
Let us know what you thought of this comprehensive guide by leaving us a comment in the section below. Better still, why not head on over to the WePC Community hub where you can discuss everything peripheral related with like-minded individuals.