What is the Best Gaming Headset for My Teen? 2022 Update

best gaming headset for teen

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Which is the best gaming headset for my teen and why is it important?

You know the drill. Master 14 year old is desperate for the latest and greatest gaming headset on the market. Of course they have lots of ideas on which ones you should buy. But sometimes (make that always) teenagers are driven more by what the latest YouTuber has rather than looking at what you are getting for your money. 

The dilemma:

You want the best headset for your money, but it's a tricky decision. Sure, if you focus just on the design, then it's pretty simple, but a cool headset is not so cool if it doesn't level up your gaming experience!

The solution:

That's why we wrote this post, to explore the specs and features of the top gaming headsets for 2021, taking the headache out of trying to pick through the many gaming headphone choices on the market!

In the following, you will discover five of the best gaming headsets for 2021 based on our evaluation and reviews from users.

Ready to take a look? Let's go! 


#What is a Gaming Headset? 

(a quick explanation for parents!) 

A gaming headset operates like an ordinary headset, except it has extra hardware to enhance your overall sound experience while playing.

As the reaction time is crucial in games such as FPS, Battle Royale, and MOBA, gaming headsets come with features (such as surround sound), which will keep you tuned into every footstep and shot fired in your game.

Comfort is another important focus of gaming headsets because you need to be happy to wear them for extended gaming sessions without getting sweaty ears or feeling like your head is stuck in a death grip!

#What is the Best Headset for Gaming?

That's a tough question to answer because gaming headsets have vastly improved over the years, and now they are better than ever.

It's a challenge to choose the best, as most check all the great gaming headset boxes.

After scrutinizing all the top headsets for gaming, we have handpicked the best ones, so you can quickly snap up your top choice! 

Enough talking, let's take a look at our top five gaming headsets for 2021!

man pointing down to indicate to read more about the top five gaming headsets for 2021

    Specifications - Razer BlackShark V2

  • Type: Wired
  • Price Point: $85 - $100
  • Connectivity: Analog 3.5mm with USB sound card
  • Compatibility: PC, Mac, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and mobile devices
  •  Microphone: Removable HyperClear Cardioid Mic 
  • Cable Length: 1.8 m / 5.91 ft
  •  Weight: 0.6 lbs / 262 g 
  •  Ear Cushions: Ultra-soft FlowKnit memory foam 
RAZER BlackSHARK V2 headset

RAZER BlackSHARK V2 Gaming Headset (photo: razer)

Razer BlackShark V2 is arguably the best gaming headset for 2021, and it's also our favorite because it has all the features of a great gaming headset.

We know the Razer brand for its quality gaming goods, and Razer BlackShark V2 is one of the finest products they make. 

You'll enjoy the super-refined audio, which ensures a complete sound awareness of your surroundings within the game.

Furthermore, the headset comes with cutting edge THX profiles to enhance your gaming experience. THX is an audio company famous for working on the acoustics in big movie productions, such as Star Wars. 

If we look at the design, the Razer BlackShark V2 gaming headset is compact and sleek. With well-positioned and comfortable ear cups, you can easily wear this headset for extended gaming sessions.

Overall, Razer BlackShark V2 is a solid gaming headset, and if you are looking for the best, you can't go wrong with it.

Pros

  • Lightweight - won't hurt your neck during long gaming sessions.
  • Quality microphone audio for calls and gaming.
  • Comfortable head clamping - not too tight or too loose.
  • THX sound profiles
  • Cable length is ample (see cons).

Cons

  • THX doesn’t support many games, but it supports games such as Apex Legends and Sekiro: Shadow Die twice.
  • Cable length is long, needs winding to keep neat.

    Specifications - SteelSeries Arctis 7

  • Type: Wireless 
  • Price Point: $150 - $200
  • Connectivity: USB, Analog
  • Compatibility: PC, Mac, PlayStation (PS4 does not support wireless surround sound feature), Switch, Mobile (wired)
  •  Microphone: Discord-certified ClearCast bidirectional microphone
  • Wireless Effective Range: 12 m / 40 ft
  •  Weight: 0.77 lb / 353 g
  •  Ear Cushions: Athletics-inspired performance fabric AirWeave
SteelSeries Arctis 7 - Wireless Headset

SteelSeries Arctis 7 - Wireless Gaming Headset (photo: SteelSeries)

When it comes to wireless gaming headsets, SteelSeries Arctis 7 is one of the very few headsets that genuinely shines.

We like this gaming headset's consistent performance, which is tough to achieve for wireless headsets. The SteelSeries Arctis 7 offers a bright and crisp audio experience.

A big problem with wireless gaming headsets is the lag, so many gamers prefer wired gaming headsets.However, with SteelSeries Arctis 7, lag is not an issue!

Furthermore, SteelSeries Arctis 7 comes with a clean design. Choose between black or white, both colors look sleek, but we recommend black as it won't get stained quickly.

SteelSeries Arctis 7 is excellent in terms of comfort, thanks to the woven ski goggle fabric used in the headset band (although possibly not to every user liking!)

Overall, SteelSeries Arctis 7 offers excellent wireless performance and comfortable design at a very reasonable price.

Pros

  • Battery life is long - 20 hours
  • Add background music to chat audio with a dial on the headset
  • Comfortable elastic "ski goggle" headband
  • Balanced and pure sound signature

Cons

  • Some users report ears touching the speakers
  • Earmuffs not sturdy
  • ski goggle material not for everyone

    Specifications - HyperX cloud Stinger

  • Type: Wired
  • Price Point: $29 - $59
  • Connectivity: 3.5mm plug (4 pole) + extension cable - 3.5mm stereo and mic plugs
  • Compatibility: PC, Xbox One, PS4TM, Wii UTM, and mobile devices
  • Microphone: Detachable with noise cancellation
  • Cable Length: Headset (1. 3m) + Extension Y-cable (1. 7m)
  • Weight: 0.61 lb / 275 g
  • Ear Cushions: Memory Foam + Leatherette
HyperX Cloud Stinger (Best Budget Gaming Headset for 2020)

HyperX Cloud Stinger (photo: HyperX)

When looking for good budget gaming headsets, you'll need to make some compromises, but you can still find a decent headset!

HyperX Cloud Stinger is our favorite budget gaming headset because it offers impressive performance at a low price. This headset is fantastic for MMO and FPS games

HyperX Cloud Stinger has decent sound quality, especially in the lows and mids. However, the headset doesn't perform as well at higher ranges, which is acceptable at this price point.

Design-wise, HyperX Cloud Stinger is streamlined, with a snug fit. The overall build quality is well constructed and light, but as it's made of plastic, be careful when having a rage-quit, smack-down moment on the table!

HyperX Cloud Stinger is a solid headset, and if you are looking for a budget headset with excellent sound, then HyperX Cloud Stinger could be precisely what you are looking for!

Pros

  • Nice and cushioned memory foam cups and headband
  • Impressive performance at low and mid ranges
  • Works well for users who wear glasses
  • Clear and sharp mic audio

Cons

  • Sound quality is not as good at higher notes
  • Cord is not long enough to go far from your device
  • Made of plastic so be careful when having a rage-quit

    Specifications - Turtle Beach Atlas Aero

  • Type: wireless
  • Price Point: $99 to $150
  • Connectivity:Wireless USB Transmitter
  • Compatibility:PC, Mac in wireless, or use with included wire cable on: Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Mobile
  • Microphone: Removable unidirectional gaming microphone
  • Wireless Effective Range: 12 m / 40 ft
  • Weight: 1.92 lb / 870 g
  • Ear Cushions: cooling gel-infused memory foam
Turtle Beach Elite Atlas Aero

Turtle Beach Elite Atlas Aero (photo: Turtle Beach)

Turtle Beach Elite Atlas Aero is a very capable gaming headset. It comes with all the bells and whistles you'd expect from a good gaming headset.

It's also wireless, but only for PC. To use with your gaming console, you would need to utilize the included cable.

We think it's as good as the SteelSeries Arctis 7, and it also doesn't come with any lag.

The area where Turtle Beach Elite Atlas Aero shines is its customization options, which you can use to tweak the sound. You get tons of EQ settings and other controls, which will help you tailor the sound to your liking.

Similarly, the Turtle Beach Elite Atlas Aero offers a battery life of 30 hours, which is 10 hours longer than the Steel Series Arctis 7.

If you are a PC gamer looking for a wireless headset with outstanding performance and long battery life, then Turtle Beach Elite Atlas Aero is a strong option for you.

Pros

  • Removable & easy to clean ear cups
  • Control suite customizable software
  • Solid build and comfortable design
  • Waves 3D audio

Cons

  • Wireless not compatible with Xbox or Nintendo
  • No bluetooth - won't wirelessly connect to your mobile device
  • Sound lower than some users would like

    Specifications - HyperX Cloud Alpha

  • Type: Wired 
  • Price Point: under $100
  • Connectivity: Detachable headset cable - 3.5mm plug (4 pole) + PC extension cable + 3.5mm stereo and mic plugs
  • Compatibility: PC, PS4, Xbox and other platforms with a 3.5mm port.
  • Microphone: Detachable noise-cancellation
  • Cable Length: Detachable headset cable (1.3m) + PC extension cable (2m)
  • Weight: 0.74 lb / 336 g 
  • Ear Cushions: memory foam + leatherette
HyperX Cloud Alpha gaming headset

HyperX Cloud Alpha Gaming Headset (photo: HyperX)

HyperX Cloud Alpha is an excellent gaming headset that comes with a terrific overall performance.

Let's start with sound quality because it's the first thing to consider in any headset. In terms of audio, HyperX Cloud Alpha is fantastic! 

Moving onto the design, HyperX Cloud Alpha also shines; not only is it a seriously good-looking gaming headset, but thanks to the sturdy metal frame, it's very durable.

HyperX Cloud Alpha is a well-built gaming headset that comes with a terrific overall performance.

A couple of things to consider: the ear cups are made of artificial leather, which may peel and shows signs of wear and tear earlier than leather. Thankfully it does come with a spare set of ear cups, which means your headset will last longer!

Secondly, the ear cups' size is on the small side, which could be uncomfortable depending on your ear size.

Overall, HyperX Cloud Alpha is a great headset, but it has some problems, which we have highlighted in the above section. So, if you are looking for the best, then Razer BlackShark V2 and SteelSeries Arctis 7 are better options.

Pros

  • Built for comfort and durability allowing you to game for hours with no discomfort
  • Comes with a spare set of ear cups
  • High positional accuracy - easy to pinpoint where game sounds are coming

Cons

  • Leatherette (artificial leather) cups
  • Chat voice control only works on PC, not on consoles

To Sum up: The Best Gaming Headset for your Teen 2021

Yoda with Headphones

Having the best gaming headset is crucial for teaming up online. You want to be able to differentiate between the gaming environment and your competitors with pinpoint precision.

We have looked at some of the top headsets for 2021, and you can't go wrong with any of them.

If you are looking for the best-wired gaming headset, then Razer BlackShark V2 is the top option for you.

Similarly, if you need the best wireless gaming headset, you have the two options: Steel Series Arctis 7 and Turtle Beach Elite Atlas Aero. Both headsets are awesome, but if you want the best, go with Steel Series Arctis 7. 

Lastly, if you are looking for the best budget option, then HyperX Cloud Stinger is our #1 recommendation for its brilliant performance and immense value for money.

Do you agree with our gaming headset choices? Comment below!

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