After three long years, Xbox has finally updated its wireless gaming headset. This iteration features Dolby Atmos, extended battery life, improved microphone, and the new Bluetooth 5.3. The new headset is now available for pre-order for $110 at the Xbox Store or Microsoft Store.
Microsoft promises an exceptional audio experience on the new headset, thanks to the advanced spatial audio technology Dolby Atmos, “now included at no extra cost.” It seems that the company has worked on implementing a more immersive experience compared to the previous iteration. Paired with Windows Sonic and Headphone X, Microsoft claims that the sound is precise enough to help you in intense role-playing games, by better pinpointing sources of gunfire, approaching someone, water droplets, and more.
Another major upgrade in the new Xbox headset is a microphone that offers auto-mute and noise isolation features. This means it will reduce the ambient noise for your teammates, so they can hear you clearly and not be bothered by the loud fan noise in the background. The microphone is still a bendable arm, with an illuminated LED light to indicate that it is on. The predecessor of this headset provided a battery life of up to 15 hours, and this headset extends this range to 20 hours. It also supports fast charging, where a 30-minute charge provides approximately four hours of usage. However, the charging time is still significant; it takes three hours to transition the headset from standby to fully refreshed.
In terms of aesthetics and design, it features the same adjustable steel headband, soft leather, and cushioned ear cups that adorned the previous iteration. Like the 2021 version, it is still only available in black. The ear covers feature easily navigable control discs and can adjust game/chat balance on the fly. The left cup hosts a disc dedicated to game/chat balance, while the right earpiece houses a volume control disc. There is also a power/pairing control and mute button. For more customization and swapping, you can always go to the Xbox Accessories app. There, you can adjust equalizer settings, enhance bass, auto mute, LED brightness, and monitor the microphone.
Upgrading to the latest version of Bluetooth, Bluetooth 5.3, is a standard and expected update. You can still directly pair with Xbox and Bluetooth with a PC and mobile phone. The Qualcomm S5 Gen 2 technology ensures an extremely low latency connection, minimizing delays.
