Get the best from your Steam Deck with some decent headphones for your portable gameplay. Whether you're looking to talk in multiplayer or just enjoy the music, there's a pick for you.

What to Look for in Headphones for Your Steam Deck

The beauty of Valve's Steam Deck and other handheld PCs is that it allows gamers to enjoy their favorite Steam titles on the go. But to get the very best out of your gameplay, you want to invest in a decent pair of headphones to maximize your gaming audio.

Headsets and earbuds come in all shapes and sizes, with a range of features that are similarly diverse. Finding the right pair for you will come down to balancing those must-have features with a price point that suits you.

Premium headsets such as the Audeze Maxwell Wireless Gaming Headset and the Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones offer unbeatable sound quality and noise cancellation features, but they're not exactly cheap either.

Consider the features that matter most. Some headsets are equipped with dedicated low-latency gaming modes, for seamless and synced audio, while others offer multipoint connection so that you can easily take calls or multitask mid-game. Battery life is an important consideration too, as is the ability to customize your audio to suit the type of games that you love to play.

You'll want to select something that provides lasting comfort, as you won't want a headset that causes pinching or overheating while in use. And for the initial outlay, you should look at headphones that are durable enough to last some time. After all, most gaming peripherals cost a pretty penny, and you won't want to fork out for a replacement pair any time soon.

We've sifted through some of the best headphones and headsets for the Steam Deck to pick out a selection that's suitable for all budgets and requirements.

How Did We Research
Models Evaluated	Hours Researched	Reviews Analyzed
20	5	10

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Best Headphones for Steam Deck Overall: Razer Barracuda X Wireless Headset

The Razer Barracuda X Wireless Headset makes a great overall choice for your Steam Deck. This mid-range gaming headset features Razer's Smartswitch dual wireless, giving you the choice of Hyperspeed wireless or Bluetooth 5.2 connections that you can toggle between for optimized low-latency performance.

Triforce 40-millimeter drivers provide a solid and satisfying sound performance across the high and mid-ranges and some meaty, bassy lows for an immersive experience. There is also cardioid mic that can be fine-tuned to suppress background noise and provide enhanced voice capture while gaming. Don't need to talk? The microphone is detachable, so you can get it out of your way whenever you're not using it.

Flowknit memory foam ear cushions and a thick headband cushion provide plenty of comfort for extended gameplay sessions, and an impressive 50-hour battery life keeps you in the thick of the action for longer—far beyond what one Steam Deck charge can get you, so you don't need to worry about the Barracuda dying mid-session.

You can customize your experience with this headset using a plethora of options on the Razer Audio app, with a fully customizable EQ, Do Not Disturb settings, Game Modes, and more. Simple, intuitive controls on the headset itself allow you to easily toggle the Smartswitch, mute your mic, manage audio playback, or adjust the volume.

With a Type-C dongle included in the package for multi-platform support as well, this is a seriously good gaming headset for less than $100, and the best overall choice for your Steam Deck.

Best Budget Headphones for Steam Deck: Corsair HS65 Surround Gaming Headset

If you're shopping for a decent headset for your Steam Deck but have a modest budget to play with, we recommend the Corsair HS65 Surround Gaming Headset. With support for Dolby Audio 7.1 Surround Sound on PC and Mac (using Corsair's iCue software) and multi-platform support, there's plenty to admire here for the price point.

Armed with custom-tuned 50-millimeter drivers, the audio output is surprisingly hefty, given the budget price tag. The soundscape can be tweaked even further using the iCue software, which comes with a neat SoundID feature built-in. This allows you to customize your sound profile based on your personal preferences, applying the results of a simple and intuitive sound test.

Its memory foam earpads are wrapped in breathable microfiber and leatherette to provide lasting comfort, and its lightweight design won't weigh heavy on your head, even after several hours in a chair.

This gaming headset is Discord-certified and features an omnidirectional mic that provides crystal-clear voice capture for staying in touch with your squad, and a flip-to-mute function if you prefer not to be heard. On-ear controls allow you to quickly adjust the volume as you play, too, so there's no need to pause the action.

On the downside, this gaming headset works via a USB connection or 3.5mm jack, so there's no Bluetooth here. It's never ideal to be wired to your handheld while playing, but for its sound quality, customizable settings, and durability, the HS65 is still well worth considering.

Best Headphones Under $50 for Steam Deck: Razer Hammerhead Gaming Earbuds

For less than $50, you're probably going to struggle to find a decent Bluetooth headset for your Steam Deck. However, the Razer Hammerhead True Wireless Gaming Earbuds make an excellent alternative. Pocket-sized and portable, these Bluetooth earbuds are just the ticket for your morning commute.

Aimed specifically at gamers, these earbuds feature a dedicated 60ms low-latency gaming mode, for an immersive audio experience. Your audio stays synced and there's no stutter either, so you won't suffer any disruption to the overall gaming performance.

Bluetooth 5.0 with auto-pairing automatically connects to the last paired device, right out of the charging case, so they're fast and fuss-free to use. Plus, voice assistant compatibility and touch-enabled controls make them even more convenient and versatile to use.

You can squeeze 15 hours of battery life out of these wireless earbuds on a full charge (when used with the charging case), and an IPX4 water resistance rating means they'll comfortably withstand any potential splash damage as you move through your day.

With custom-tuned 13-millimeter dynamic drivers delivering high-quality audio, the Razer Hammerhead Wireless Earbuds are one of the best ways to enjoy Steam Deck gameplay on the move.

Best Over-Ear Headphones for Steam Deck: Audeze Maxwell Wireless Gaming Headset

If you're looking for the best audio performance from a pair of over-ear headphones, then the Audeze Maxwell Wireless Gaming Headset is for you. With Audeze's 90-millimeter planar magnetic drivers under the hood, your ears are in for a real treat here, particularly if you enjoy your audio served with a side dish of ultra-low, teeth-rattling bass.

Boasting ultra-low latency wireless audio plus A.I. noise filtering technology, you can expect a dynamic performance that other gaming headsets are going to struggle to compete with. Delivering high-resolution wireless audio (up to 24-bit), you can hear everything with pinpoint precision, and get the drop on your opponents every time.

The background noise suppression is excellent, with the earcups and the boom mic itself performing impeccably. The 80-hour battery life i.

Using the Audeze HQ app, you can access a range of features to customize your experience, such as setting your own EQ. It's not quite as comprehensive as some other offerings (such as the Razer Audio app, for instance), but it adds some welcome layers of possibility to the experience.

There's no point beating around the bush. This is a very expensive headset, and the price point will no doubt be prohibitive for many. But in terms of pure audio fidelity, you can't knock the sheer quality on display here. And if you like your gameplay loud, this headset will grab your attention like no other.

Best Noise-Canceling Headphones for Steam Deck: Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones

If noise cancellation is your thing, the Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones are the best in the game. Although not specifically designed for gaming, they're more than fit for the task, with eight built-in microphones working overtime to eliminate background noise and preserve audio clarity.

An Auto NC Optimizer feature provides fully optimized noise cancellation wherever you are, no matter the conditions. Four beamforming microphones (two on each ear cup) provide precise voice pickup for crystal-clear calls or voice chat, blocking out any external noise other than your voice.

Multipoint connection means you can connect two devices simultaneously, so answering the phone during gameplay isn't a problem, and you can switch between connected devices at the press of a button.

With convenient touch controls, adaptive sound control, built-in Alexa, and a handy Speak-to-Chat feature, this headset is an impressive showcase for convenience and versatility. Plus, a 30-hour battery life means you can enjoy plenty of action from a single charge.

As with the Audeze Maxwell Wireless Gaming Headset, Sony's WH-1000XM5 Headphones don't come cheap. However, they are best in class for noise cancellation right now and well worth the cost of admission.

Best Steam Deck Headphones for Kids: JLab JBuddies Play Gaming Wireless Kids Headset

Parents of will appreciate the JLab JBuddies Play Wireless Gaming Headset for kids. Not only do they feature 60ms super low-latency gaming audio, but they also come equipped with a built-in volume regulator to protect their ears.

Suitable for kids aged six and up, this gaming headset restricts audio output to an ear-friendly 85 decibels, giving you peace of mind that they are gaming safely while still experiencing high-quality audio.

A built-in retractable boom mic allows kids to talk to their friends easily and a 22-hour battery life means they won't need to be too vigilant when it comes to keeping their headset charged.

While they aren't as feature-rich as other wireless gaming headsets, they're not aimed at hardcore gamers—the purpose of the JBuddies are to be kid-friendly first and foremost. And for their reasonable price tag, they offer a decent output that is bound to impress your kids (if they notice).

Simple yet effective, and available in a variety of colors, this volume-limiting gaming headset is ideal for junior gamers and Steam Deck fans.

FAQ

How do I connect my headphones to my Steam Deck?

Connecting your Bluetooth headphones to your Steam Deck is a straightforward process. First, press the Steam button on the side of your console. When the on-screen menu appears, you'll need to scroll to the settings tab.

In the settings menu, navigate to the Bluetooth tab, and make sure that Bluetooth is switched on. Your headphones should appear under the available devices to pair with. Select your headphones from this list, and they should automatically pair with your Steam Deck.

Does the Steam Deck have a headphone jack?

Yes. The Steam Deck comes equipped with a 3.5mm headphone jack, and can therefore be used with wired headphones as well as wireless ones.

How do I switch a Bluetooth connection from my Steam Deck to another device?

The Steam Deck can support multiple device connections, either via USB or Bluetooth. It has a Bluetooth Multipoint connection which can switch between multiple devices seamlessly.