Today we’re taking a look at seven of the best gaming headsets under $100 currently available. If you’re looking for a fairly affordable pair of gaming headphones, one of these pairs should do the trick.
If you have a tight budget and you’re looking for an affordable headset for gaming you’ll be happy to know that you have quite a few different options to choose from. We’ve picked seven of the top gaming headsets (with mics) under $100.
We’ve rated and reviewed each of these seven budget-friendly headsets based on sound performance, comfortability, mic-quality, and feature-set. And, we’ve also limited this guide to headsets that fall within the $50-$100 price range, as we will be covering the top gaming headsets under $50 in an upcoming post. But, if you do need an affordable gaming headset, one of the options below will likely work for your needs.
Table of Contents
1. Quick-Look: Top Gaming Headsets Under $100
2. Top Pick: SteelSeries Arctis 5
3. Runner-Up: HyperX Cloud Alpha
4. Wireless Pick: Logitech G533
A Quick Look at the Best Gaming Headsets Under $100
The table below gives you a quick look at our top picks for the best gaming headsets under $100. We’ve highlighted our choice for the best option overall, a runner-up selection, the best wireless gaming headset under $100, and the best value option.
| | NAME | SPECS | RATING | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOP PICK |  | SteelSeries Arctis 5 |
| /10 | |
| RUNNER-UP |  | HyperX Cloud Alpha |
| /10 | |
| WIRELESS |  | Logitech G533 |
| /10 | |
| VALUE |  | SteelSeries Arctis 3 |
| /10 |
*If you want to read the full overview of each of the four headsets listed above, click on “Read Review »” to jump to that headset and read more about it. We’ve also made three honorable mention selections further down below.
Best Gaming Headset Under $100:
SteelSeries Arctis 5
SteelSeries has piled up awards with its Arctis line of gaming headsets and their Arctis 5 gaming headset, specifically, has received its fair share of rave reviews as well. And, the Arctis 5 is our top choice for the best gaming headset under $100, too.
It offers the most complete experience for gamers (in this price range) thanks to the high-quality sound it delivers, the class-leading microphone that it comes with it, and the superior level of comfort it possesses over its competitors.
While the HyperX Cloud Alpha listed below does meet (or exceed) the sound quality of the Arctis 5, it doesn’t quite offer the same quality microphone and it isn’t as comfortable as the Arctis 5 (and the Arctis 5 comes in at ~$7 cheaper, too.)
The Arctis 5 comes with 40mm dynamic speaker drivers, a noise-canceling microphone that has a bidirectional design (meaning it only picks up audio from the front and back of the microphone) for advanced clarity, soft fabric-covered ear cushions, and it delivers multichannel audio via DTS 7.1 surround.
Overall, while the Arctis 5 won’t be the best option for audiophiles who want the best audio experience possible, for gamers who need an affordable headset that sounds great, has a solid microphone, and is comfortable for long sessions, the Arctis 5 offers incredible performance for the price.
Our Runner-Up Pick:
HyperX Cloud Alpha
While we gave the nod to the SteelSeries Arctis 5 for being the best headset for gamers under $100, the HyperX Cloud Alpha is another worthy option. In fact, in terms of sound quality, many have found that the Cloud Alpha is able to deliver a similar (if not better) audio experience to the Arctis 5.
However, for comfort and mic quality, the HyperX Cloud Alpha lags a bit behind the Arctis 5, making it our runner-up choice instead of our top pick overall.
The Cloud Alpha also opts for stereo sound rather than virtual surround, but the directional hearing on it should still help you pinpoint approaching enemies. And, HyperX does offer USB-based adapters that will allow the Cloud Alpha to deliver virtual 7.1 surround—however, they will run you an extra ~$30.
In the end, if sound performance is your main concern and you don’t necessarily need a higher-end microphone and you’re not particular about the comfort of your headset (the Cloud Alpha still offers solid comfort), then you could definitely make a case for choosing the Cloud Alpha over the Arctis 5.
Best Wireless Headset Under $100:
Logitech G533
If you’re looking for an affordable wireless gaming headset under $100, you basically have two options: the Logitech G533 and the Corsair Void. Of the two, we felt the Logitech G533 narrowly edged out the Corsair Void in terms of the overall experience it delivers.
And, at the forefront of that is the G533’s superior single charge lifespan. Of course, both the G533 and the Corsair Void can be used while charging, but the G533 does offer a longer battery life—which, if you’re looking for a wireless headset, is probably something you’re concerned about.
The Corsair Void does edge have a slight edge over the G533 in terms of sound quality, though. It has bigger 50mm drivers and, therefore, can deliver better-sounding bass, which will enhance the audio experience a bit.
But the Void also lacks noise-cancellation on the headphones and so it won’t cut out background noises as much as the G533 will. And, users have found the G533 to be a bit more comfortable than the Void.
Ultimately, if you need a wireless gaming headset, you probably can’t go wrong with either the Logitech G533 or the Corsair Void. But, we gave the edge to the G533 for its superior battery life and its ability to cancel out background noise better than the Void.
Budget Value Option:
SteelSeries Arctis 3
While we did pick the Arctis 5 as our best overall gaming headset under $100, the reality is that the SteelSeries Arctis 3 is virtually the same exact headset as the Arctis 5—and, it comes in ~$15 cheaper, too.
The only differences between the Arctis 5 and the Arctis 3 is that on the Arctis 5 you get an RGB light on the outside case of the earcups and the Arctis 5 can also connect via USB and comes with the SteelSeries ChatMix USB soundcard (which lets you adjust the balance between in-game sound and chat sound on the fly).
But, obviously, neither of those differences will have an impact on the overall sound quality, mic clarity, or comfort levels between the Arctis 3 and Arctis 5. So, if you don’t care about RGB lights, or the USB connection option (and the ChatMix feature), then for $15 less, the Arctis 3 would be the better option.
Honorable Mention #1:
Razer Kraken 7.1
Another option that is comparable to both the Arctis 5 (and Arctis 3) and Cloud Alpha in terms of the overall experience it delivers is Razer’s Kraken 7.1 headset. It has larger 50mm drivers like the Cloud Alpha which will help it deliver a slightly improved audio experience over the Arctis 5.
However, like the Cloud Alpha, the Razer Kraken’s aren’t as comfortable and don’t have as good of a microphone as the Arctis 5s. And, they come in at about ~$7 more expensive than the Arctis 5s as well (although, they cost the same as the Cloud Alphas.)
Overall, while the Kraken’s are a decent gaming headset in the grand scheme of things, the fact that the Arctis 5 (and Arctis 3) cost less and will deliver a better all-around experience makes the Kraken’s a tough sell in our opinion.
Honorable Mention #2:
Sennheiser GSP 302
One alternative to the SteelSeries Arctis 3 is Sennheiser’s GSP 302 headset. The GSP 302 is a few bucks more expensive than the Arctis 3, but it does deliver a pretty similar audio experience when compared to the Arctis 3s.
However, where the Arctis 3 stands out over the GSP 302 is in microphone quality. The GSP 302’s microphone is decent, but it can’t quite match the clarity of the mic that is provided on the Arctis 3.
Both headsets offer a similar level of comfort, though. So, ultimately, the real difference comes down to the microphone. That means that if you won’t utilize the microphone as much, then the GSP 302s are a viable alternative to the Arctis 3s.
Overall, I would recommend the Arctis 3s over the GSP 302s for most gamers. But, if you can find the 302s on sale they would still offer a fairly similar experience to the Arctis 3s.
Honorable Mention #3:
Corsair Gaming VOID
We’ve already mentioned the Corsair Voids above and how they compete with Logitech’s G533s as being the best wireless gaming headsets under $100. The biggest downfall for the Corsair Voids (at least in comparison to the G533s) is its shorter battery lifespan. As we mentioned above, though, you can use the Voids via USB while they are charging.
In terms of pure sound quality, the Voids will offer a slightly better experience than the G533s thanks to its 50mm drivers versus the 40mm drivers on the G533s. However, the Corsair Void doesn’t have noise-canceling on the headphones themselves, so they won’t handle background noise as well as the G533s, do. So, if you game in a noisy area, the Voids may not be a viable option for you.
Overall, both the Corsair Void and the Logitech G533 are solid options for anyone who needs a wireless gaming headset for under $100. The choice between the two will come down to whether you’d prefer the longer battery life of the G533 or the slightly better sound quality of the Void.
Which Affordable Gaming Headset is Right for You?
Of all of the gaming headsets listed above, none will deliver a high-end audio experience. However, if you’re not an audiophile who requires the best sounding headset possible, these gaming headsets will offer you a decent-enough audio experience and a microphone that you can use to chat with your friends/teammates. And, for most gamers, that’s all that is really required.
So, if you don’t have a ton of money to spend on a headset, but you need a solid pair of headphones and a microphone for gaming, then one of the options listed above should work for you without costing you a fortune.
