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I've tested my fair share of headsets in the three short months since the Nintendo Switch 2 launched back in June. As one of the resident gaming headset aficionados of the hardware team, there's a lot more where that came from.
With all those pairs of cups under my testing belt, and far too much time spent playing the likes of Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza, I know what separates one of the best Switch headsets from one of the worst, and what to look out for when it comes to grabbing your first pair.
Sound quality and comfort may be some of the most obvious features to consider, but with Nintendo hardware getting more expensive by the day, pricing is also a huge thing to keep in mind right now. Trust me, just because you see a pricey Switch 2 headset doesn't mean it's worth your hard-earned cash.
If you're on the hunt for one of the best gaming headsets but are not sure where to start, I've laid out some of the most important issues I look at when reviewing and when considering picking up a Switch 2 headset of my own. It'll still come down to what matters the most to you but, hopefully, this insight can make hunting for the perfect pair a lot less daunting.
Compatibility
As the Switch 2 is still relatively new, some of the biggest names in audio tech haven't yet made it loud and clear that they're brand-new accessories are compatible.
You're very likely to see 'Nintendo Switch' plastered on the side of headset boxes, or scribbled amongst the compatible consoles list on any given headset's product page on Amazon, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's going to be fully supported on Ninty's latest handheld, so I always check for myself.
Honestly, compatibility should be the first thing on your mind when it comes to selecting a Switch 2 headset for yourself, too. What's the point in spending upwards of $100 / £100 only to find out your headset doesn't work?
For example, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 Wireless headset was compatible with the Switch 2 when it released in June - to a point. Bluetooth worked a treat, but its 2.4GHz wireless connectivity was a no-go until a firmware update rectified things and made it one of my favorite Switch 2 headsets to date. Now that a few months have passed, other brands have had enough time to work away at their own updates to ensure Switch 2 support, but whether you're eyeing up brand new releases or older headset models, I always recommend you do some extra research to make sure it works alongside the Switch 2.
Portability
A huge part of the Switch 2's appeal is that you can easily take it with you and play your favorite Ninty games on the go. With that in mind, I always prefer my Switch accessories to be just as portable as the console itself - and that extends to my headsets too.
Luckily for me (and you fellow handheld mode fans), there are plenty of portable pairs out there. The Razer Barracuda X is incredibly lightweight, coming in at only 250g, and its detachable mic means you can minimize its size even further to fit into the most compact of backpacks. This extends to its RGB-counterpart, the Razer Barracuda X Chroma, which is slightly heavier at 285g, but keeps the portable trend going as you can customize the lighting using an app on your phone, totally negating the need for a big, bulky gaming PC by your side.
If you care about portability above all else, gaming earbuds are also an option. The SteelSeries Arctis Game Buds are my go-to for immersing myself in the wonderous jazz stylings of the Mario Kart World OST when out and about. The buds and their Qi wireless supported case take up about as much space as a Joy-Con 2, and are a permanent fixture of my gaming on the go setup.
Sound quality
The SteelSeries Arctis Game Buds only come equipped with 6mm neodymium audio drivers, so you aren't getting the gut-punching bassy sounds that the brand's headsets can muster. They still sound utterly fantastic, don't get me wrong, but for the days where I want my Ninty games to sound their absolute best, I prefer to opt for a different design.
Funnily enough, that usually means SteelSeries again, but this time it's the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless that I'll grab when I have sound quality at the forefront of my mind. The Pro Wireless is equipped with 40mm Neodymium audio drivers, which sound sublime no matter if I'm playing through The Legend of Zelda Wind Waker through the NSO game catalog, or grabbing any fossils I missed during my first playthrough of Donkey Kong Bananza, but this great sound comes at a great cost.
With an MSRP of $379.99 / £329.99, the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is one of the priciest pairs of cups you can consider for your Switch 2. The best in sound doesn't always need to equate to a pricey cost, as other options like the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3 come in cheaper at just $200 at Amazon, with plenty of deals constantly dragging that cost down even further throughout the year. The Turtle Beach alternative brings that deep bass tone that you can feel right to your core, and also happens to work perfectly alongside Ninty's latest machine.
Price
Until becoming an adult, all of my Nintendo consoles were second-hand and passed down to me by cousins and family friends. Even now, I'm still in that mindset of figuring out how to get my hands on tech without spending a fortune, and that extends to Switch 2 headsets.
Thanks to the 3.5mm headphone jack and its family-friendly reputation, there is a sea of budget headsets out there for the Switch 2. Often, these don't provide the best sound and are pretty much just there so you can keep your kids distracted in the backseat of the car, but there are low-cost options that don't skimp out on high-quality features, like the Razer Barracuda X Chroma, out there for the taking.
I'm fortunate enough to already have a pair, but if the increasing costs of Switch 2 hardware have you considering more budget-friendly alternatives, the X Chroma is one of the best options. It still provides that iconic sound from its Razer 40mm Triforce audio drivers, a lightweight and comfortable feel as it's only 285g, and it even has customizable RGB lighting at an MSRP of $129.99. Deals and discounts constantly take that cost down even further below that $100 sweet spot, if that's more suited to your budget.
In the end, I always make sure to check out the full list of features of any headset, to see if its cost is worth it. Just because a Switch 2 pair of cups is cheap, doesn't mean its quality will be cheap too, so making sure to read up on any pair that has caught your eye is equally important to ensure you get your money's worth.
Some of my top Switch 2 headset picks...
- Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3:
$199.99$139.99 on Amazon - Turtle Beach Airlite Fit: $27.99 at Amazon
- SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless:
$149.99$132.99 on Amazon
Our guides to the best PS5 headsets, best Xbox Series X headsets, and the best PC headsets for gaming are full of high-quality alternatives if you don't yet own a Nintendo Switch 2.
