Some brands have made a name for themselves as appealing to the most budget-conscious of gaming fans, and the best Turtle Beach headsets are no exception. The brand's long line of cups has earned recognition amongst console and PC players, and with new luxury models hitting the shelves we're seeing more and more unique features appearing across the range as well. With a long history under its belt, there are plenty of Turtle Beach headsets to choose from no matter your preference.
The Stealth, Elite, Recon, and Atlas lines run the gamut of prices and features, with compatibility options for PC, consoles, and mobile devices to boot. That means they've got entries for all platforms, many of which are considered some of the best gaming headsets on the market.
The quick list
The Turtle Beach Stealth Pro packs a massive roster of additional features and excellent sound quality, making it the best Turtle Beach option on the market right now.
With a ton of compatibility options and superb audio quality, the latest Stealth 700 Gen 3 is the best option for those in a $100 and above mid-range price category.
The Turtle Beach Recon 70 does what you need it to - provide solid audio with a decent microphone. It's a simple but effective affair for those spending less.
The older Stealth 600 Gen 2 model offers excellent value these days; a wireless connection, fantastic audio, and solid battery life at a fantastic price.
If you don't need a wireless connection there's no need to pay for one. The Recon 500 offers a fantastic sound quality for less by sticking to the cable.
The Turtle Beach Atlas Air is the most comfortable headset we've tested yet, and it's also the best open-back model on the market right now.
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They've been around for years, but they've stood the test of time. These no-fuss buds are perfect for super portable play whenever you need to plug in.
To this day I still covet my Turtle Beach X-Wing Pilot Star Wars Gaming Headset for its lightweight comfort, great audio quality and top-tier theming but the range has grown exponentially since its release. There are a ton of options out there now, and it can be confusing to know where to start - but that's why I'm here! Using my experience reviewing headsets, and my past as a professionally trained musician with hands-on time with studio-grade audio tech, I'm on board to help recommend what Turtle Beach headset will suit your needs the most, no matter your budget.
March 12 - For this update, I included an 'also tested' section at the bottom of the guide so you know exactly what Turtle Beach headsets we've already tested and what ones haven't qualified for a part of this list. I've also swapped out the review quotes for every headset with 'buy it if' and 'don't buy if' sections to make it easier to know, at a glance, what Turtle Beach pair of cups best suits your gaming headset needs.
The best Turtle Beach headset overall
✅ Active noise cancelling is a must: The Stealth Pro comes decked out with some of the best ANC we've come across in a headset, capable of blocking sounds of up to 25dB.
❌ You have a budget to stick to: As the best Turtle Beach headset out there, the Stealth Pro comes with a price tag that won't suit everyone's budget.
The Turtle Beach Stealth Pro marks the brand's return to the high-end space, packing luxurious comfort, excellent sound quality, a wealth of additional features - and the price tag to match. This $329.99 / £279.99 device is at the top end of the price scale, but it's working particularly hard to still offer good value.
There's everything you could ask for here. Besides the luxurious sound and crystal clear microphone, we were impressed by the power of the active noise cancellation in particular. Capable of blocking sounds of up to 25dB out of your gaming experience, without causing too much of an interference with the audio quality, this is some of the best noise cancellation we've experienced in a gaming headset. It's helped by the sound-sealing cups on each side of your noggin, even if that higher clamp force does take a little getting used to.
That's not all, though, the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro has plenty of other tricks up its sleeve. Like the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless (our top pick for the best gaming headset overall), the Stealth Pro packs two hot-swappable batteries. That means you can keep one charge pack juiced up and quickly swap over when running low - no more emergency cables in the middle of a session.
Throw in simultaneous 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connections and long-lasting comfort and you've got everything you would expect from a high-end device in 2023.
Read more: Turtle Beach Stealth Pro review
The best mid-range Turtle Beach headset
✅ You want the best-sounding Turtle Beach headset: The powerful 60mm Eclipse dual audio drivers pack a punch and make any game sound its absolute best.
❌ You need a lightweight headset: Its bulky design and padded cups made this one of the least comfortable Turtle Beach headsets, which is not ideal if you have a sensitive head.
We called the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3 an "impressive package" in our review. The $199.99 / £179.99 gaming headset may be one of the pricier mid-range options out there, but its booming 60mm Eclipse Dual Drivers rival the audio quality of some of the best high-end gaming headsets. Not to mention, this Stealth 700 Gen 3 also comes with not one, but two 2.4GHz dongles giving you more compatibility options for those who can't stick to one console for long. This is the Turtle Beach headset for those who want a premium package without the premium cost.
While the headset's foam cushions could use some changes for a more comfortable experience, the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3 is densely packed with features that almost make it rival the best high-end alternatives. At $199.99 / £179.99 it is one of the pricier mid-range offerings, but its price feels nearly all but justified when you consider its superb audio quality, simultaneous Bluetooth and 2.4GHz connection capabilities, its two accompanying audio dongles and the wealth of EQ customization.
At a glance, the Stealth 700 Gen 3 features a sleek all-black design with silver metal accents. There's no garish RGB lighting or in-your-face logos to be seen here. Instead, the padded headband sports an embossed logo while each cup features the 'Turtle Beach' name in a subtle silver typeface. The headset is decked out with a ton of simple to use onboard controls, which includes a re-mappable dial, and the flip-to-use mic is discreetly tucked away on the left cup for quick and easy access. Most notably, the Stealth 700 Gen 3 has an impressive battery life. Turtle Beach boasts that the headset can last up to 80 hours. Even after weeks of testing, as per our review, we couldn't argue against these claims and found not only did we rarely have to charge the headset, but it only took a few hours for the Stealth 700 to be fully juiced and ready to go.
While the Stealth 600 Gen 3 was a step up for its 50mm drivers, the Stealth 700 Gen 3 takes that even further with its 60mm dual drivers. Whether it was dealing with a barrage of sound in games like Marvel Rivals, or every music genre under the sun, they didn't falter. There's a ton of EQ customization available with this headset once you download the Turtle Beach Swarm II app, but even the out-of-the-box audio settings made the low, mid, and highs of any game's soundscape sound deep and expansive - exactly what you want from a top-tier gaming headset.
Read more: Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3 review
The best budget Turtle Beach headset
✅ You just play the Nintendo Switch: The Turtle Beach Recon 70 is a perfect Switch companion with its cheap price point, and wired connection.
❌ You need more connectivity options: As a wired-only headset, there's no 2.4GHz or Bluetooth compatibility with the Recon 70 headset.
Those looking for a Turtle Beach headset primed for Nintendo Switch - and that's wallet-friendly - should look no further than the Recon 70. Despite its low price, it's the complete package: good sound with well-balanced bass; a decent microphone; and it's fairly comfortable too. That's a strong start for a headset at the budget end of the spectrum.
Though it does have some drawbacks: it doesn't score as highly with movies or TV, for example. But that's only because it just sticks to its guns and does what its meant to do well: games.
Oh, and don't worry about the many variants that are kicking around out there. Even though there's a Recon 70P, X, and beyond, they're all the same headset with slightly different colors. Whatever one you choose, you'll get excellent value for money.
Read more: Turtle Beach Recon 70 review
The best value Turtle Beach headset
✅ You want an affordable multi-platform headset: The Stealth 600 Gen 2 (Xbox version) is compatible with the PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC and more via a 2.4GHz and Bluetooth compatible and all for under that $100 price sweet spot.
❌ Comfort is key: The build quality of the Stealth 600 Gen 2 feels a bit on the cheap side and can get uncomfortable during long gaming sessions.
The second generation of Turtle Beach Stealth 600's are a great low-budget wireless headphone that works with Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PS4, PS5, and PC. With a 15-hour battery life, a comfortable fit for glasses wearers, and finely tuned 50mm speakers, you'll be getting plenty of bang for your buck with these. Set up is a breeze - for the Xbox version it was as simple as turning on the headset straight out of the box and pressing the sync button on it and my Xbox One simultaneously. It immediately synced up and started picking up my voice and in-game volume.
This is certainly a great choice for gaming on a budget, as the sound quality is top-tier and the microphone sensitivity is ideal for those who want to communicate without shouting. However, because of the reasonable price, the headset plastic does feel a bit cheap, especially across the headband and on the ear cups, and unfortunately, the ear cups do get rather uncomfortable after an extended play session (whether that's my funny-shaped ears or not is unclear). Mic monitoring is not a feature I'm a fan of, as it echoes back any noise I make on my end, but luckily it can be turned off via the Turtle Beach audio hub.
In short, the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2's are a good sequel to an affordable wireless headset. It looks pretty good, feels pretty good, and sounds great - a no-brainer if you're looking to get a pair of headphones ahead of the next-gen release that won't bankrupt you.
The best wired Turtle Beach headset
✅ You want a wired headset with the best sound: The 600mm audio drivers of the Recon 500 make it one of the best sounding wired headsets out there.
❌ You need EQ options: As a simple gets-the-job-done wired headset, the Recon 500 doesn't come decked out with ways to tweak the audio exactly to your liking.
You make certain tradeoffs when you impose a budget on yourself. And when you’re shopping for a gaming headset, first to walk the plank are extraneous features and luxurious construction materials. You won’t find these in the Recon 500’s box, then, since Turtle Beach’s latest in the long-running line costs less than $100/£100. What you do find, crucially, is sound so good it takes you aback.
Wood composite injection technology. 60mm drivers. Dedicated woofers and tweeters per earcup. It doesn’t sound like the recipe for crisp, precise sound, and yet it all comes together in a powerful surge of ultra-responsive bass, detailed high end, and a pleasingly flat EQ curve with just a bit of audible kick further down the spectrum.
So that’s yours. Take it to the bank. But what isn’t coming along for the ride is much in the way of added features - this is a simple wired model with just a mic mute, detachable mic arm, and volume scroll wheel in the way of physical controls. Not one for perennial tweakers then, but those who enjoy simplicity and fundamentally great audio should scout out this new Recon as one of the latest best Turtle Beach headsets to appear.
Read more: Turtle Beach Recon 500 review
The most comfortable Turtle Beach headset
✅ Comfort if your number one priority: The elasticated mesh headband of the Atlas Air makes this one of the comfiest Turtle Beach headset's out there.
❌ You can't deal with audio bleeding: The open-back design means that audio can bleed out this headset, which isn't a good match for those who may also use this for live-streaming, or recording audio.
It's easy to forget that you're wearing the Turtle Beach Atlas Air - this is by far the most comfortable headset we've tested so far, from any brand. Its open-back design won't be for everyone, but its rich audio and wireless functionality make it a must-see for those who regularly play for longer sessions.
The elasticated mesh headband is the star of the show here, offering a springy rest for the crown that essentially fades into the background mere seconds after putting it on. There's barely any pressure on the head itself, and with large, plush cushions and a low clamp force your ears are safe from pinching as well. A 'floating' earcup design suspends each cup from the band itself using a set of elastic bands for a less constrictive fit.
The open-back construction means that the driver itself is exposed to the outside, which does mean sound will bleed in both directions. That means the Atlas Air isn't the best option for those who play in busier environments or who want their headset to double up as an everyday set of headphones as well. However, that form factor means that the Air can achieve a particularly wide soundstage, lending itself to immersive, richly textured audio. It's rare to find a wireless open back headset, though - you're usually confined to more audiophile-style wired options (like the Corsair Virtuoso Pro). However, the Atlas Air packs both 2.4GHz and Bluetooth options keeping things versatile, with a 50 hour battery running everything as well.
The microphone is detachable, but can also function as a flip to mute model - a feature we don't see every day but keeps everything flexible for both solo and competitive players.
The actual sound is particularly impressive, with a detailed mid-range, powerful bass, and intricate trebles. While it's not quite as wide as the Virtuoso Pro, it's still a much more spacious soundstage than you'll find in closed-back Turtle Beach headsets.
Read more: Turtle Beach Atlas Air review
The best Turtle Beach earbuds
✅ You prefer gaming earbuds: The Battle Buds aren't a headset at all, and are in fact a pair of gaming earbuds which are handy for those who prefer a more compact and discreet gaming audio solution.
❌ You want the audio quality of a headset: Gaming earbuds come with their own set of limitations, so you won't quite match the audio quality set by the best Turtle Beach headsets.
For anyone who plays on the go, a traditional headset isn't always the answer. That's why the Turtle Beach Battle Buds are such a great solution. They're small, convenient, and eminently portable.
They actually work better than you'd think their 10mm drivers would allow; because the frequency response is limited, you'll get a fair balance of sound regardless of what you're listening to. That's quite an achievement. The Battle Buds won't match other headsets on this list in terms of quality, yet they're still able to impress.
Their size doesn't hurt, of course. These earbuds sit very firmly in place no matter how much you shake your head and the tiny microphone is reliable, too.
Read more: Turtle Beach Battle Buds review
Also Tested
We're constantly testing out Turtle Beach gaming headsets to make sure the list above is up to date with the latest and greatest Turtle Beach devices out there. That means, plenty headsets that come across our testing bunch don't quite make the cut, but we've been sure to include them below.
FAQ
Are Turtle Beach headsets good?
Turtle Beach produces some excellent gaming headsets, but they're usually in the lower price ranges. That means, aside from the Stealth Pro, the majority can't compete with more luxury options from brands like Logitech or Razer. However, if you're looking for solid audio with a particular attention to more competitive needs then you'll be happy with these devices (and particularly happy with their price tags).
What Turtle Beach headsets are available?
Turtle Beach splits its range into different lines, with each one offering a slightly different use-case. There are four main lines on the market right now; Stealth, Recon, Battle, and Scout.
Stealth is the top of this range consisting of wireless headsets for console use and paying particular attention to extra features like hot-swappable batteries and multi-platform compatibility.
Recon is your wired go-to - cheap headsets with cables that get the job done and still pull off some fancy features for the cash.
Scout are wireless earbuds designed for Bluetooth use across mobile and Nintendo Switch.
Battle is Turtle Beach's range of cheaper wired earbuds, usually offering a detachable microphone in the process.
What is the latest Turtle Beach headset?
The latest Turtle Beach headset is the Stealth Pro, and you'll find all the latest models in each line just below.
Stealth: Stealth 700 Gen 3 (2024) / Stealth 600 Gen 3 (Purple version) / Stealth 500 (Arctic Camo version)
Recon: Recon 70 (2024)
Elite: Elite Pro 2 (2022)
Atlas: Atlas Air (2024)
How we test Turtle Beach headsets
Why you can trust GamesRadar+ Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about our reviews policy.
We test every Turtle Beach headset that comes across our desk in the same way as we would any other device. We live, work, and play with these cups for a minimum period of two weeks, across every listed compatible platform. Across each platform, we will test across a range of genres, but always test in competitive first person shooter scenarios and wide open world environments in at least two games. For more information on how we test gaming headsets, check out the full GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.
If you're looking for rundowns of some other top brands' headsets, then check out our guides to Razer headsets, and Sennheiser gaming headsets.
