Gaming headset don’t have to be used only for gaming. As long as they’re comfortable, sound well, and the boom mic doesn’t get in the way, any decent set can also function effectively as standard stereo headphones.
How to Choose the Best Gaming Headset Under $100
Given the many options available, we know how difficult it can be to select the finest gaming headphones that best fit your needs, especially if you’re on a low budget and can’t afford to spend much.
To help you, we’ve compiled a list of the 4 best headphones for gaming under $100 along with its advantages and disadvantages so you don’t have to compromise on quality anymore.
Here are our top picks for wired best gaming headsets under $100:
1. HyperX Cloud II – Gaming Headset
Key features
- Costs $99.99
- 7.1 virtual surround sound
- Compatible with smartphones, tablets, and gaming consoles
- 3.5mm input
- Comes with a large, durable bag to carry all the accessories
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅ Lightweight & comfortable fit | ❌ Wired, not portable |
| ✅ Durable and attractive build | ❌ 7.1 Surround isn’t excellent |
| ✅ Rich, impressive sound | ❌ Poor noise cancellation |
| ✅ Detachable microphone |
Design
The Cloud II headset has a durable, solid build, is fairly lightweight and has a very decent look and feel. It’s beautifully constructed, appealing, and subtle.
The headband and built-in earpads are comprised of memory foam are extremely comfortable and when you insert and remove the earcups from the headband, robust metal joints at certain locations keep them attached.
The microphone is detachable, and all that is required to disclose the jack for attaching it is to remove a little, easily misplaced rubber cover from the left headphone’s bottom. You can place the microphone exactly where you want it thanks to the flexible mic arm. In order to improve voice clarity, it also provides noise & echo-cancellation
The Cloud II’s headphone wire ends in a standard 3.5mm port, but it also includes a USB-A cable adaptor that you connect the audio cord into. You can adjust the volume for the microphone input and headphone output using the clip on the rear of the audio control box and 7.1 Surround Sound is switchable with only one touch of a button in the middle.
Connectivity
The headset may be used on its own with any device that has a 3.5mm output, such as the controller port on a PlayStation 4 or the headset adapter on an Xbox One, however for PC use, you must utilise the USB sound card adapter.
It functions as a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), a sound card with surround capability, and conducts all audio processing independently rather than using your on-board audio. If you take the adapter out of the screen, this gaming headset serves the purpose of stereo headphones as well.
Sound
In order to simulate 7.1-channel surround sound, the Cloud II employs audio processing to combine the left and right channels of the headset. Nevertheless, no number of audio trickery can truly produce surround sound with two drivers; the result is instead more of an enlarged dynamic range than any genuine audio location.
With a finely sculpted sound that accentuates both the high end and low end to truly bring out the sounds of gunshots and explosions, the HyperX Cloud II Gaming Headset is surprisingly powerful. Moreover, It presents a noticeable level of power in the bottom end and can handle both the kick drum beats and the bass synth notes at full volume without even a trace of distortion.
Although these headphones lack active noise cancellation (ANC), they feature a closed cup design, which when used, offers passive noise cancellation.
Conclusion
Gaming headset equipped with its own configurable USB sound card, the Kingston HyperX Cloud II is well-made, comfy, and has great sound quality. It comes with a ton of extras and is compatible right out of the box with all PCs, smartphones, and gaming consoles. However, the 7.1-channel surround sound it claims to provide is merely an illusion — something that is typical of most headsets. Overall, this pair is one of the best gamer headsets under $100, excellent for both extended gaming sessions and everyday stereo use.
Buy On Amazon2. SteelSeries Arctis 3
Key features
- Costs $79.99
- Discord-certified ClearCast noise cancelling microphone
- Windows Sonic surround compatible on PC and Xbox One
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅ Easily portable | ❌ Uncomfortable if worn for longer hours |
| ✅ ClearCast MIC | ❌ Bass and treble delivery varies significantly across users. Sensitive to glasses. |
| ✅ Great sound quality | ❌ Difficult to customize |
| ✅ Impressive battery life |
Design
The Arctis 3 is a medium-sized over-the-ear pair of wired headphones composed of a lightweight plastic with cups with a specifically woven fabric. The “Airweave” ear cushions from SteelSeries are said to be inspired by athletic clothing and made from the same sweat-proof fabric.
The right ear cup is left empty, while the left ear cup has a retractable, flexible microphone, a volume control wheel, a mic mute button, and other features. These headphones are incredibly breathable, making them one of the only pairs that, even after a lengthy gaming session, prevent moisture from collecting inside the cups and have an aesthetically sleek design.
Having said that, they are not recommended for individuals with larger heads or those who wear glasses since, even after adjustment, they can become rather unpleasant if worn for a prolonged period of time. However, they are remarkably light, so wearing them won’t make you feel like your head is being weighed down and easily portable as well.
Connectivity
The Arctis 3 is a completely analogue headset that has an audio wire that fits into the left earcup. You have a choice of terminating in either a regular 4-pole 3.5mm jack or, with the help of the extension cable that is supplied, in two different 3-pole ones for audio and microphone use. It is thus well suited for gaming on consoles like the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, the Nintendo Switch, as well as mobile devices and is not simply limited to PC gaming.
Sound
The SteelSeries Arctis 3’s frequency response is subpar. Having glasses or a lot of hair seems to enhance the likelihood of feeling a loss in bass because the bass range deviation is fairly wide and deep, reaching more than 10dB at its LFE. The fit and location of these headphones affect how the treble is delivered but overall they sound pretty decent.
What we found pretty impressive though is that your voice will sound full-bodied, detailed, and present when recorded using the SteelSeries Arctis 3’s superb microphone and noise cancellation works pretty well.
Conclusion
The Arctis 3 has a pleasing sound signature that is both natural and well-balanced and the ClearCast mic really adds an edge to the headset.
This wired headset isn’t made for loud bass, unlike other gaming headphones. Even though it can still provide a decent thud (particularly with the bass boost turned on), if you like booming explosions above clarity, you might want to seek elsewhere.
Nevertheless, these are ideal if you like a brighter, possibly somewhat more natural sound, are easy to carry on the subway or on an airplane and have an impressive build that makes them a worthy purchase under $100.
Buy On AmazonHere are the best wireless gaming headsets under $100 that we’ve found:
3. Logitech G435 Ultra-light Wireless Bluetooth Gaming Headset
Key features
- Price: $79.99
- Drivers: 40mm
- Weight: 165 g
- LIGHTSPEED Wireless: USB 2.0 port (type A port). PC with Windows® 10 or later, macOS X 10.14 or later, PlayStation 5, or PlayStation
- Frequency Response: 100Hz-8KHz
- Compatibility: Bluetooth, Nintendo Switch, Dolby Atmos, Tempest 3D AudioTech & Windows Sonic Spatial Sound
- Wireless range: Up to 10 meters via LIGHTSPEED USB receiver or Bluetooth
- Battery life: 18 hrs
- Charging cable: USB-A to USB-C
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅ Long battery life | ❌ No multi device-pairing |
| ✅ Comfortable for long hours | ❌ Small size/may not fit big heads |
| ✅ Lightweight | ❌ Below-average sound isolation |
| ✅ Very low latency, even on Bluetooth | |
| ✅ Aesthetic, colourful design |
Design
The G435 is surprisingly light and comes in 3 colours – Blue & Raspberry, Black & Neon-yellow and Off-white & Lilac. It’s understandable that the construction is lightweight plastic, given its 0.36-pound weight and modest cost. You can find comfort in knowing that your purchase won’t contribute to a worsening of the environment because Logitech claims it is certified carbon-neutral and contains at least 22% recycled plastic content.
What gaming’s like with the G435
Gaming with the Logitech G435 Lightspeed is quite an enjoyable experience. Long gaming sessions are undoubtedly made possible by the headset’s incredibly low weight and plush ear cushions. You’ll be able to get in a reasonable number of sessions before having to charge it thanks to the power efficiency.
The G435 performs admirably when using the 3D audio capabilities of the PlayStation 5 and has impressive sound. Although there’s no software option for things like virtual surround sound in since the Logitech G435 is incompatible with the Logitech G Hub but it’s not that big of a deal since the majority of gaming platforms now offer their own solutions.
The headset delivers really subpar noise isolation for a gaming headset though. It works great at home, but playing outside or in a café isn’t really an option unless you don’t mind a lot of background noise creeping in.
Conclusion
With a low-latency connection, the Logitech G435 Lightspeed Wireless Gaming Headset is comparatively fast. Additionally, despite being one of the best wireless gaming headset under $100, it is compact, energy-efficient, and has a decent design.
Although there aren’t many customization possibilities with these $79.99 cans and noise isolation isn’t exactly one of their strengths, they are trendy, really comfy, wirelessly compatible with a variety of devices, and the sound quality is about what you’d expect for the price.
Buy On Amazon4. HyperX Cloud Stinger Core – Wireless Gaming Headset
Key features
- Price: $88.99
- Wireless range: Upto 20 meters
- Virtual 7.1 surround sound via HyperX Ngenuity
- Weight: 244 g
- Battery life: 17 hours
- Charging cable: USB-C
- Frequency response: Headset: 20-20,000 Hz, Microphone: 50-18,000 Hz
- Compatibility: Multi-platform – PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, & mobile devices, Discord-certified, TeamSpeak-certified
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅ Great price | ❌ Too much clamping force |
| ✅ USB-C charging | ❌ Cheap feel |
| ✅ Long battery life | |
| ✅ Flexible boom arm |
Design
The padding in the Core headset’s ear cups and headband is rather light, and the ear cups are made of mesh with limited swivel. Even for extended gaming periods, the headset’s light weight (less than 244 grams) makes it comfortable.
What gaming’s like with the Cloud Stinger Wireless
Although the drivers often have a bass-forward tone, it doesn’t compromise the music. It not only succeeds in producing low booms, but it also manages to retain the bass, midrange, and high-end sounds relatively pure.
The headset’s audio not only offers superb quality, but it also conveys a lot of information. It further suffices to be able to hear audio cues in action games clearly and with directionality in order to continue playing at the same level. The 3D audio ultimately depends on the game because it is difficult to tell the tiniest difference between using the 7.1-channel option and not.
The microphone is entirely functional. It’s a little more mellow than usual, and the low end doesn’t seem to pick up as much. Close proximity to the lips causes the voice to sound a little fuller yet occasionally clipped. However, while trying to reduce noise, the microphone may occasionally miss the first sound when it is placed further away.
Conclusion
While not the greatest wireless gaming headset available, the HyperX Cloud Stinger Core Wireless + 7.1 is among the least expensive and has very limited drawbacks. The Cloud Stinger Core delivers excellent value for the money, even if other wireless competitors begin to drop below the $100 price mark as well.\
Buy On AmazonLet us know if you want us to come up with more reviews of similar headsets, or any specific ones, in the comments section below!