Microsoft announce ‘Xbox Wireless Headset’ – $99 gaming headphones that tick all the right boxes
Image Credit: Microsoft
With wireless connectivity, an over-ear design, high quality audio, spacial sound, voice isolation and more, Xbox Wireless Headset are a step up from the included wired headset in every way.
The Xbox Wireless Headset is the first wireless set from Microsoft since Xbox 360. For $99, this headset will provide a serious step up from your included wired headset and internal TV speakers.
40mm drivers produce “exceptional sound” with low-latency, for total immersion. The headset supports spacial sound technologies, including Windows Sonic, Dolby Atmos and DTS Headphone:X to give “realism and audio precision that fully surrounds you.” The ultra-soft foam ear cushions are covered in a polyurethane leather, while the foam covered steel headband ensure a lightweight and flexible design for a customisable and comfortable fit on long gaming sessions.
The adjustable mic, that can tuck up and out of the way when you’re not using it, uses beamforming and voice isolation to focus on your voice and reduce background noise. When you’re not talking, auto-mute will activate to fully drown out any noise. Physical controls include a manual mute button for privacy and power/pair. The entire left earcup dials game/chat balance, with the right earcup dialling volume, similar to the much loved control dial on the Surface Headphones.
The new headset directly pairs wirelessly to your Xbox Series X/S or Xbox One console, without the need for a dongle or base station. Bluetooth 4.2 is also included to connect the headset with Windows 10 PCs or mobile devices for calls and music. Xbox Wireless Headset can be connected to both an Xbox and mobile at the same time, making answering calls seemless. While the lack of a dock simplifies your setup, it can make charging more cumbersome. Luckily, battery life will see you through a full day of gaming with 15 hours on a full charge. 30 minutes of charging via USB-C will provide 4 additional hours of gaming. The headset fully recharges in 3 hours.
The Xbox Accessories app on Xbox and Windows 10 allows you to adjust equalizer settings, bass boost, auto-mute sensitivity and mic-monitoring levels.
The headset is available to pre-order today for $99, with shipping starting on March 16th. It would be nice to see a white model that matches the Series S in the future. Perhaps the headset could be bundled with new consoles once availability becomes widespread and prices inevitably drop.