Xbox Wireless Headset Review: A Good Deal – When It Works

The Xbox Wireless Headset has the main features I want for gaming headphones – I can pair it with my Xbox Series X and my laptop (via Bluetooth) at the same time. I can easily adjust the mix of voice chat and in-game audio with a twist of an earpiece. It looks nice and at $ 99.99 it’s cheaper than most of the competition. If only its quality lived up to its promise.

When the Xbox Wireless Headset is working, it provides a comfortable experience with serviceable sound. In games, the headphones create a 360-degree soundscape that promotes dialogue. The headphone seal did a decent job of blocking out outside noise, but it can’t compare to the active noise cancellation technology of its more expensive counterparts from companies like Sony and Bose – that’s understandable!

No, it can’t compete with high-end headphones, but compared to so many mid-range video game headsets, the Xbox Wireless Headset is a strong option – when it works. For many reviewers, this seems to work well most of the time. For me, not so much.

During two weeks of testing I encountered a lot of issues. Chat gameplay and audio are regularly interrupted. Sometimes I could hear myself speak with a second delay. Other times the game audio was coming from the TV, despite my Xbox settings directing the audio to the headset.

Image: Microsoft

I used the headphones for a full reading of It takes two with my colleague Russ Frushtick. He joked that we need to set aside time at the start of each gaming session so that I can take care of the headset to keep it working reliably. If you’re an adult with limited playtime, it’s maddening to waste even five minutes of computer support on headphones when you can just plug in headphones and activate Discord.

The headset has performed better in other use cases. It was ideal for chatty TV like reruns of The simpsons, but sounded when it came to more cinematic content. Looking at both Malcolm X and The Falcon and the Winter SoldierI noticed that the crowd lines in the background were almost as loud and clear as the main character’s dialogue. It was disorienting.

There might be something unusual in my desktop setup, that something continues to interfere with the headset. Or maybe the headset needs a few software updates before it’s ready for prime time, as most games do these days. Either way, I hope it will work better over time.

The design is by far the best in the space: a simple, stylish and comfortable on-ear option. The microphone is flexible and discreet, its LED tip lights up to indicate if it has been muted. But for now, the look isn’t enough to keep the Xbox Wireless Headset in my rotation. I’ll give it another chance when Infinite halo pops up – hopefully I can finish the fight with its picky connectivity and other sporadic frustrations.

The Xbox Wireless Headset is now available and compatible with Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Windows 10, and Bluetooth devices. This exam was performed using a unit provided by Microsoft and is based on testing with an Xbox Series X, Windows 10 PC, and iPad Pro. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, although Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased through affiliate links. You can find more information on Polygon’s ethics policy here.