Dongle, Bluetooth or Both: Choosing a Wireless Headset

Wireless gaming headsets split along one line that matters more than anything else on the box: how they connect. A dedicated 2.4GHz link over a supplied USB dongle runs at latency low enough that it is not audible in play, while Bluetooth trades that responsiveness for the convenience of pairing to a phone. Plenty of current models carry both radios and run them at the same time.

The second decision is platform. A dongle that works on a PC and a PlayStation will not necessarily be seen by an Xbox, and handhelds need the dongle in a USB-C form. Sort out connection and platform first, then compare battery figures, earcup weight and whether the boom detaches.