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Oct 20, 2024

The best gaming headsets for Call of Duty | TechRadar

Our finest headset recommendations for avid Call of Duty fans When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. If you're a regular Call of Duty

Our finest headset recommendations for avid Call of Duty fans

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

If you're a regular Call of Duty player then using one of the best gaming headsets for Call of Duty can make a huge difference. A high-quality headset will allow you to more accurately decipher key audio cues like enemy footsteps or nearby gunshots. Having access to a headset's microphone will also let you communicate with your team more clearly, greatly improving your ability to coordinate with other players in the lobby.

Sure, you might be able to make do with just the audio from your TV and the microphone that came with your console, but it could potentially be putting you at a serious disadvantage.

Fortunately, there are loads of options available if you're shopping for a new headset and that is exactly where this guide comes in. We've scoured through our own headset coverage to assemble this list of high-quality recommendations for Call of Duty. Better still, we've taken a wide range of desirable features and budgets to still give you plenty of alternate options to choose from.

With Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 just around the corner, there has never been a better time to invest in an upgrade. If you play lots of other games, it might also be worth considering some of the picks from our more general best gaming headsets guide.

While PlayStation users might not enjoy any early access to Call of Duty this year, one way to boost your experience could be to upgrade to the PS5 Pro when it launches on November 7, this year. The new console has a beefier GPU, and fetaures AI-driven upscaling as well as improved ray tracing. You can place a PS5 Pro pre-order right now too!

Best overall

Best overall

The Corsair HS80 RGB Wireless is our top pick for a Call of Duty headset right now. This is a great-value headset that features comfortable cushioning, solid battery life, a good mic, and truly terrific audio quality.

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Best budget

Best budget

Corsair snags the top spot for the best budget headset for Call of Duty with one of its cheaper options that offers exceptional bang for your buck. Despite the low price, you're still getting great audio quality making this a fantastic option for those looking to save.

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Best premium

Best premium

If you are shopping with a high budget, then the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is for you. It features a superb digital-to-analog signal converter (DAC) which, in simple terms, makes everything sound great. Excellent battery life and a sleek design only further elevate the package.

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Best wireless

Best wireless

The BlackShark V2 Pro is our top pick if you're eager to cut the cord. Perfectly suited for Call of Duty thanks to its crystal clear audio and superb microphone, it will also make you look like a helicopter pilot - which we think is a pretty cool bonus.

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Best wired

The best wired headset for Call of Duty

It's definitely not the best when it comes listening to music, but competitive Call of Duty players are sure to appreciate the minimal delay and fantastic mic quality of the Fnatic React Plus wired headset.

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Best haptic

The best haptic headset for Call of Duty

Taking your Call of Duty immersion to new heights, the HS60 Haptic from Corsair will let you feel every shot and explosion thanks to its punchy haptics. The robust design oozes Corsair quality too, with solid audio and a good microphone.

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Our expert review:

✅ You want great audio: The Corsair HS80 RGB Wireless sounds great and offers Dolby Atmos surround sound for the most immersive experience.

✅ You enjoy long Call of Duty sessions: The Corsair HS80 RGB Wireless is incredibly comfortable over long gaming sessions thanks to its plush ear cushions and stretchy headband.

❌ You are an Xbox player: The Corsair HS80 RGB Wireless is, unfortunately, only compatible with PC, PS5, and PS4. If you're an Xbox player, consider one of the other options on this list instead.

The Corsair HS80 RGB Wireless is our pick for the all-round best gaming headset to play Call of Duty. It's an immensely comfortable headset that you won't mind wearing for hours on end, with breathable fabric that will help protect against the build up of gamer grease.

The build quality is great, featuring a combination of high-quality plastic and lightweight machined aluminum. It not only feels good in the hand, but looks great on the head. This is enhanced by the stretchy ski-style headband and the premium plush ear cups.

The wireless range is fantastic too, giving you plenty of freedom to move around while you play. Perhaps best of all, the battery can last around 20 hours between charges so you won't need to worry about keeping it plugged in between play sessions.

The only downside is the limited compatibility. Unfortunately, this headset is only compatible with PC, PS5 and PS4. Furthermore, if you want to make the most of the Dolby Atmos features, you will have to use a PC as that is the only platform where it is properly supported.

Our expert review:

✅ You're shopping on a budget: The sound quality of the Corsair HS50 punches well above its modest price tag making it our top choice if you're shopping for a Call of Duty headset on a budget.

✅ You appreciate a sleek design: Despite what some might say, you don't actually have to pay a lot for a great design. This headset stands out from the crowd with its neon green highlights.

❌ You might lose the microphone: This model features a removable microphone which is fantastic if you don't want it getting in the way while you game. As many Call of Duty players rely on voice chat, however, this might also mean that you could find yourself without when you need it in a match.

Looking at the Corsair HS50, you likely wouldn't even realise that it's a budget product. The design is extremely similar to a lot of their high-end offerings and even sports some striking green highlights to help this gaming headset stand out from the crowd. Corsair also haven't cut any corners when it comes to the quality of the audio or materials here.

Featuring large faux leather cups, this is a comfortable design that is very resistant to wear and tear. The detachable microphone also does a great job of picking up your voice, something that is going to be very important for most online Call of Duty players.

The one thing to note, however, is that the ability to remove the microphone can be something of a double edged sword. On one hand, it gives you one more layer of customization but, on the other, the detached module can be very easy to lose thanks to its small size. Still, if you want high-quality headset at a bargain price, you can't go wrong with this.

Our expert review:

✅ You need something with a long battery life: Having a long battery life is a huge benefit for a headset. The last thing you'd want is to find yourself without audio in the middle of a Warzone match.

✅ You want something versatile: If you play Call of Duty alongside other games, a versatile headset that will sound good in a range of titles like the Nova Pro can be a worthwhile investment.

❌ You're shopping on a budget: This headset certainly doesn't come cheap. We think it's well worth the money for an avid Call of Duty player but, if you're working with a tight budget, consider some of the cheaper options on this list.

The SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless offers impressive lossless audio playback without any of the hassle that wires bring. It's absolutely perfect for Call of Duty players who are willing to spend more to get their hands on one of the very best wireless gaming headsets.

The ultra convenient dual-battery charging system also means that you can swap out the headset's battery in a flash, getting a full charge without interrupting your game. Although it costs quite a lot, you're certainly going to be getting plenty of value for money from the incredible audio quality.

The design is also very comfortable and it is compatible with a wide range of platforms. Better still, the wireless build means you're not even restricted to a single space when playing. If you're willing and able to pay the high price for a great headset like this, you're not going to regret it.

Our expert review:

✅ You need a high-quality microphone: If the quality of your in-game communication matters to you, the microphone attached to the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro is just the thing to deliver clear audio to your teammates.

✅ You already own other Razer products: The power of the Razer brand is not to be underestimated and there's nothing better than having a fully coordinated setup from one manufacturer. Mixing this headset with other Razer products also allows you to make full use of its RGB features.

❌ You value bass: It's not uncommon for gaming headset to lack bass but if you want gunshots and explosions to sound their best in matches you might want to consider something else.

Offering fantastic sound quality and an attractive design, the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro is a great option for Call of Duty players looking for a quality wireless headset. It's also comfortable to wear which, accompanied by the long battery life, makes it ideal for long gaming sessions.

Like other wireless headsets, the lack of wires tethering you to your PC or console also offers a good degree of additional flexibility to move around while you play. The Razer BlaskShark V2 also had absolutely no noticeable audio lag whatsoever in our testing.

Now that there's a dedicated console version of the headset too, everyone can enjoy the BlackShark V2 Pro's excellence, with a lot of the headset's features transitioning to console effectively - including, of course, that excellent sound.

Our expert review:

✅ You play Call of Duty competitively: The Fnatic React Plus is specifically designed to help you get edge in competitive shooters like Call of Duty. Though the drivers are tuned to help emphasize footsteps, they don't sound harsh or lack depth.

✅ You frequently chat with your friends: If you’re the kind of gamer who regularly jumps in to party chat with friends, the boom microphone on the Fnatic React Plus is a worthy choice.

❌ You plan on listening to music: The Fnatic React Plus sound great when gaming, but is very underwhelming to use if you're going to be listening to music.

If you're looking for a wired headset that will help you take your Call of Duty gaming to the next level, the Fnatic React Plus is a superb contender. This wired gaming headset features Dolby Atmos support for simulated surround sound and we are also huge fans of the unique black on orange aesthetic.

Available for $74.99 / £84.99 / AU$140, the Fnatic React Plus is one of the more affordable wired gaming headsets available - especially from a such big-name brand. Most Call of Duty fans will also recognise the Fnatic name, as one the most popular and long-running eSports organizations. It's safe to say that they clearly know a thing or two about how to develop audio solutions for competition, but the performance is noticeably less impressive when listening to music.

The microphone of the Fnatic React Plus is also a highlight, which makes it ideal for Call of Duty. With some gaming headsets, it can often be quite a challenge to stay heard during intense firefights, potentially leading to vital callouts being missed. That's not the case with the detachable mic found here, however, which features a cardioid pattern and pop filter that do an excellent job of ensuring that you are heard at all times without issue.

Our expert review:

✅ You want a noise-canceling microphone: You might not immediately appreciate the lack of background noise when you're talking in a match, but your teammates absolutely will.

✅ You love haptic feedback: Haptic feedback can help create an even more immersive gaming experience. If you want a headset with haptic feedback, this is the one.

❌ You don't want a wire: Having a wired headset necessitates you staying relatively close to your setup. If you don't want a wire restricting your movement, look at the wireless options on this list instead.

The Corsair HS60 Haptic is a great headset for Call of Duty players thanks to one rather unique feature. As the name suggests, it comes with haptic feedback, which works in a similar way to how force feedback works on most game controllers.

In action-heavy titles, it gives a decent buzz without compromising sound quality which is very impressive. As a feature many headsets don't include, it's undeniably something that makes this headset stand out against other alternatives you might consider when shopping.

Alongside making tense in-game moments all the more immersive, the crystal clear audio this headset offers makes it a valuable addition to our list of the best headsets for Call of Duty. Although it's among the more expensive on this list, the haptic feature comfortably justifies the additional cost. For team players, the microphone not only provides incredibly clear voice input but also comes with a few onboard controls for microphone muting, headset volume, and haptic intensity.

If we had to recommend just one headset from this list, it would be the Corsair HS80 RGB Wireless. It is a supremely comfy headset making it ideal for long gaming sessions. The addition of Dolby Atmos also greatly enhances the Call of Duty experience if you're playing on PC. It's a touch expensive, but is well worth the investment.

Many of the headsets featured in this list will have preset equalizer settings tailor-made for FPS games which can help you hear footsteps better. Typically, this EQ setting will boost quieter or distant sounds like footsteps and gunshots so that you can better understand where your enemies are.

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

There have been a huge range of headsets worn by esports professionals playing Call of Duty over the years, but we have always seen the likes of Corsair, Logitech, Razer, and HyperX adorn many of the headset, desk, and PCs that appear on the biggest stages. This is often because those sets provide not only some of the best audio, but also have terrific microphones, and are robust and sturdy too.

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Dash is a technology journalist who covers gaming hardware at TechRadar. Before joining the TechRadar team, he was writing gaming articles for some of the UK's biggest magazines including PLAY, Edge, PC Gamer, and SFX. Now, when he's not getting his greasy little mitts on the newest hardware or gaming gadget, he can be found listening to J-pop or feverishly devouring the latest Nintendo Switch otome.

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