Should you buy an Xbox One headset with Bluetooth?

What Bluetooth gives you

When choosing the best Xbox One headset for you, it boils down to your specific needs each and every time. Do you want something affordable without sacrificing audio? Do you want something completely wireless? Or do you want something that you can use both with your phone and laptop, in addition to your Xbox console? If the latter is true, Bluetooth might be a good option for you.

Many of today's modern smartphones have ditched 3.5mm cables completely, which is what the Xbox uses to interface with wired headsets. You can buy cheap USB-C to 3.5mm dongles to retain the use of your wired headset across both Xbox One and a modern smartphone, but you lose the charging port in the process, which is sometimes not ideal. If you get an Xbox headset that includes Bluetooth as a feature, that means you'll be able to easily use the headset both separately as a gaming headset with your console, and for music and travel with your cellphone. Most laptops also include Bluetooth functionality as well, but the Xbox itself doesn't have Bluetooth and requires a special Xbox Wireless chip to connect up.

There are some great options we list as part of our best Xbox One wireless headset round up, that include both Bluetooth and Xbox wireless connectivity. Our top pick is the SteelSeries Arctis 9X for combining both Xbox wirelessness and Bluetooth. It has a retractable microphone as well, making it an excellent option for travel and outdoor use. A cheaper option is the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 headset, which can save you $50, but isn't as high-quality as the Arctis 9X overall. You get what you pay for, essentially.

It's important to note as well that these wireless headsets allow you to mix a Bluetooth signal with an Xbox wireless signal, letting you take calls or listen to music on your phone without sacrificing your game audio. It's a cool feature, but in my experience, the close proximity of the Bluetooth transmitter to the Xbox Wireless transmitter introduces interference that Bluetooth simply can't handle. Using them separately is usually a better experience unless you have a particularly clear play space free of interference.

Finally, I should note that all of the headsets listed here will also work with the next-gen Xbox Series X.