Gaming headset vs headphones: here's what I'd recommend as an audio expert this Black Friday

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Gaming headset vs headphones: here's what I'd recommend as an audio expert this Black Friday Deals By Josh Russell published 28 November 2025

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As both an audio expert and gaming nerd, the main Black Friday deals I've had my eye out for this week are reductions on gaming headsets and headphones. And there are some serious discounts in both verticals. But I have been asking myself: which category currently offers the better value for gamers?

• Shop Amazon's full Black Friday sale

Well, on the headset side, there's some meteoric savings. Probably the most striking is the fact that you can buy Turtle Beach Stealth Pro from Amazon for $164.99 (was $329.99). But, in my mind, the biggest shock is the fact that you can already get the HyperX Cloud III S from Amazon for $119.99 (was $179.99) – not bad when you factor in that it's only been available for just six months.

So how do headsets in terms of value? Well, one of the cheapest bargains I've found is that you can buy the 1More SonoFlow Pro HQ51 from Amazon for $61.18 (was $71.99) – which is great value given their massive 100-hour battery life. But if you want seriously pro sound at the heart of your home gaming setup, then I'd recommend you buy the audiophile-grade Sennheiser HD 660S2 from Amazon for $429.95 (was $599).

Also, don't panic if you're based in the UK: I've tracked down all the equivalent reductions where you are below. So you'll be able to access sweeping sonic discounts as well.

Gaming headset Black Friday deals – quick links

• Corsair HS65 Surround: was $69.99 now $54.99 at Amazon
• HyperX Cloud III S: was $179.99 now $119.99 at Amazon
• SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds: was $199.99 now $149.99 at Amazon
• Turtle Beach Stealth Pro: was $329.99 now $164.99 at Amazon
• SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless: was $379.99 now $289.99 at Amazon

Today's best gaming headset Black Friday deals

Save US$15Corsair HS65 Surround: was US$70.49 now US$55.49 at AmazonRead moreRead less▼

This wired headset is already darn impressive for its price. But on top of its super-comfortable build, flip-to-mute mic, and ace 7.1 surround sound via USB adapter, it's also had a hefty amount of its price shaved off with this $15 discount.

UK price: £79.99 at Amazon

View DealSave US$60HyperX Cloud III S: was US$179.99 now US$119.99 at AmazonRead moreRead less▼

Honestly, it's hard to know what I find most impressive about the HyperX Cloud III S. It offers both Bluetooth and 2.4GHz low-latency connectivity, a frankly absurd 200 hour max battery life and plush memory foam padding for top comfort. But, if I was pushed, I'd have to say its the fact its only been out six months and already got a third off its price.

UK price: was £129.99 now £114.98 at Amazon

View DealSave US$50SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds: was US$199.99 now US$149.99 at AmazonRead moreRead less▼

The SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds have so many features crammed into their tiny frame it's honestly astounding. They're capable of low-latency connectivity via the enclosed USB-C dongle, offer ANC, 360-degree spatial audio and over 100 different gaming presets. And they can now be yours for just $149.99.

UK price: was £159.99 now £99.99 at Amazon

View DealSave US$165Turtle Beach Stealth Pro: was US$329.99 now US$164.99 at AmazonRead moreRead less▼

A must for aspiring esports players, the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro boasts a Superhuman hearing mode that actually lives up to the name – it makes weapons and footsteps much easier to perceive, while maintaining exquisite audio quality. It's also had its price slashed right in half, meaning there really is no excuse not to pick it up.

UK price: was £279.99 now £209.00 at Amazon

View DealSave US$90SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless: was US$379.99 now US$289.99 at AmazonRead moreRead less▼

The Arctis Nova Pro doesn't just have awesome gaming features like spatial audio, dual channel connectivity and hot-swappable batteries. It can also rival the best headphones with astounding sound and impressive noise cancelling. And while it's undeniably premium, this $90 discount does makes it much more accessible.

UK price: was £329.99 now £229.99 at Amazon

View Deal

Headphones Black Friday deals – quick links

• 1More SonoFlow Pro HQ51: was $71.99 now $61.18 at Amazon
• Sony WH-1000XM4: was $349.99 now $159.99 at Best Buy
• Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 SE: was $299 now $249 at Amazon
• Sennheiser HD 550: was $349.95 now $249.95 at Sennheiser
• Sennheiser HD 660S2: was $599 now $429.95 at Amazon

Today's best headphones for gaming Black Friday deals

Save US$10.811More SonoFlow Pro HQ51: was US$71.99 now US$61.18 at AmazonRead moreRead less▼

The 1More SonoFlow Pro HQ51 offer impressively bassy, well-rounded sound, they're far more comfortable than headphones this cheap have any right to be, and they have a truly absurd 100-hour battery life. And with this 10% off deal, you'll get them even cheaper.

UK price: was £90.99 now £77.34 at Amazon

View DealSave US$190Sony WH-1000XM4: was US$349.99 now US$159.99 at Best BuyRead moreRead less▼

OK, the Sony WH-1000XM4 have received not one but two upgrades since their release. So why am I recommending them? Because, honestly, with more than 50% off their price, they're some of the best cans you'll get for your buck, with polished sound and still suitably impressive ANC.

UK price: was £349 now £178 at Best Buy

View DealSave US$50Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 SE: was US$299 now US$249 at AmazonRead moreRead less▼

The sequel to one of my favorite pairs of headphones for gaming on the go, the P100 SE offers up to 100 hours of battery life, great ANC, and an impressively detailed soundstage. And now, with $50 off, their price is much closer to their predecessor's, making them a bit of a bargain.

UK price: was £249 now £199 at Amazon

View DealSave US$100.50Sennheiser HD 550: was US$350.45 now US$249.95 at us.sennheiser-hearing.comRead moreRead less▼

This is simply a great discount to see on the brilliant HD 550 headphones. Supremely comfortable, with brilliant Sennheiser audio quality, these really could be a gaming headset killer for you as long as you don't mind being tethered. And there's also a new record-low price in the UK, meaning the value has never been greater.

UK price: was £249 now £179.99 at Sennheiser

View DealSave US$169.05Sennheiser HD 660S2: was US$599 now US$429.95 at AmazonRead moreRead less▼

I've had my eye on the HD 660S2 for months now, and this $169.05 discount makes them much more tempting. Not only does their wired connection make them perfect for high-fidelity, low-latency audio, but that open-backed design gives them excellent dynamics and separation.

UK price: was £499 now £348.99 at Amazon

View Deal

Gaming headset vs headphones: which *does* have the better deals this Black Friday?

So what's the answer? Should you pick up one of the top gaming headsets, or will you find in the long run that a pair of the best headphones offer you better value? Well, I'm going to be really annoying here and say 'it depends'.

When you're looking for specialist gaming features to give you the edge in competitive gameplay, like extra hearing modes and low-latency connectivity, these gaming headsets will give you the edge. For example, the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro above offers that stellar Superhuman hearing mode for boosting sounds like footsteps in game, while the ten-band EQ really lets you tailor the sound to your needs.

In contrast, I'd argue that if you care most about sound quality, some of the headphone deals I've recommended will give you the best return on your spend. The open-backed design of the Sennheiser HD 660S2 above is also capable of fantastically dynamic and spacious sound, whether you're fighting your way through the surreal worlds of Clair Obscure: Expedition 33 or listening to hi-res audio. Feature-packed, they ain't, but they offer truly fantastic fidelity.

Fundamentally, then, which category offers you the best return on your investment probably relies on what your biggest priority is. Fortunately, though, there's one thing you can count on: whichever category you go for, you can rest easy knowing you'll be able to access some truly fantastic Black Friday gaming deals!

More Black Friday deals in the US

• Amazon: 45% off TVs, AirPods, air fryers & vacuums
• Apple: iPads, AirPods & MacBooks from $119
• Best Buy: $1,000 off TVs, laptops & headphones
• Dell: laptop deals from $249.99
• Home Depot: 40% off appliances, furniture, grills & tools
• Lenovo: 45% off laptops & tablets
• Lowe's: up to 30% off appliances, holiday decor & tools
• Samsung: up to $2,000 off appliances, TVs & phones
• Target: 40% off Christmas decor, clothing & furniture
• T-Mobile: up to $1,100 off latest iPhone 17
• Walmart: furniture, cheap TVs & vacs from $69
• Wayfair: 54% off Christmas, furniture & decor

More Black Friday deals in the UK

• Amazon: up to 66% off tech & essentials
• AO: up to £500 off Dyson, Bosch & Hisense
• Argos: up to 50% off appliances, tech & toys
• Boots: save on 1,000s of beauty products
• Currys: deals on Ninja, Shark & Lenovo
• Dell: laptops from £279
• Dyson: up to £550 off vacuums
• EE: Switch 2 bundles from £20/month
• John Lewis: up to 50% off tech & fashion
• Lego: sets & accessories from £2.99
• Samsung: deals on appliances & phones
• Very: up to 40% off tech, toys & fashion

Today's best gaming headset and headphones dealsSteelSeries Arctis GameBuds SG$213.54View DealSee all pricesCorsair HS65 Surround SG$102 SG$87.13View DealSee all pricesSteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless SG$605 SG$362.82View DealSee all prices1More SonoFlow Pro HQ51 SG$107.85View DealSee all pricesSony WH-1000XM4 SG$499 SG$249.99View DealSee all pricesCambridge Audio Melomania P100 SE SG$399View DealSee all pricesSennheiser HD-660S2 SG$899 SG$569View DealSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox

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Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. TOPICS Black Friday Sony CATEGORIES Seasonal Sales Josh RussellSocial Links NavigationReviews Editor

Josh is Reviews Editor at TechRadar. With over ten years of experience covering tech both in print and online, he’s served as editor of T3 and net magazines and written about everything from groundbreaking gadgets to innovative Silicon Valley startups. He’s an expert in a wide range of products from Spatial Audio headphones to gaming handhelds. When he’s not putting trailblazing tech through its paces, he can be found making melodic techno or seeking out the perfect cold brew coffee. 

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