We've been eagerly awaiting our chance to check out the new Xbox wireless headset ever since Microsoft secretly revealed the new wireless gaming headset in a trailer, and now, nearly four months after the Xbox Series X's launch, it's finally available for purchase.

With Microsoft's Game Pass allowing gamers to play Xbox titles on PCs, consoles, and even smartphones, having a wireless gaming headset that plays well on all these platforms is a rather ambitious The Xbox wireless headset is a step up from the Xbox stereo headset of a few years ago. Microsoft has ditched the previous wired stereo headset design for something a bit more flashy now.

Its cleverest trick is that the Xbox Wireless headset handles media controls with master audio on the right side and rotating ear cups that balance gaming and chat on the left. This is a step away from the stereo headset plug-in adapter that handles all volume controls. This is an excellent design approach and it feels great to "dial in" the audio. Another small detail I noticed (but liked) is that the ear cups are flat, allowing the headset to stand sideways.

The only buttons on the headset are the microphone mute and sync buttons on the left ear cup and the USB Type-C port on the right side. The trademark Xbox green trim along each of the rotating ear cups gives the headset enough personality. It is also a bit heavier than its predecessor at 11 ounces, but still doesn't cause any strain on the neck. The headset is comfortable thanks to the leather and foam ear cushions that house the 40mm drivers.

The headset can be customized with the Xbox Accessories app on Windows 10 PCs and Xbox consoles. The equalizer has five presets and can be completely customized. This is a great feature for those who are particular about their game sound and like to tweak it. Plus, if that's your thing, the headset supports Dolby Atmos, which provides surround sound in a stereo headset.

I loaded up a more bass and heavy synth playlist on Spotify and the Xbox Wireless did a decent job. I had to tweak the equalizer a bit to get the sound to my liking. If you like vocals, the headset handled the mids well; Lupe Fiasco's Superstar was a little short on bass, but the vocals and highs sounded great. John Legend's All of You was a good test of the high frequencies, and again, the headset seems more intent on making vocals audible than anything else.

I recently gave Apex Legends another chance in my game rotation. Combined with Dolby Atmos ($15 a pop), the Xbox wireless headset somewhat redeemed the excellent surround sound of Sony's Pulse 3D headset. It was relatively easy to pinpoint where the Pathfinder was zipping overhead. For a change, I played Resident Evil 7 in stereo, and the creaking of the wood floors as I explored the creepy murder mansion really scared me.

Xbox users who have been waiting in anticipation for an official wireless headset, one with the best sound for gaming, will be relieved. Even if they had to wait a bit.

The auto-mute setting is especially useful. This feature mutes the microphone when you are not speaking, which is great for those who live in cluttered, loud households. There is nothing more embarrassing than having a teammate beg you to mute your microphone because the cold beats are too loud, or having your wife's voice leaking out of your comms while watching "The Real Housewives of New Jersey."

The flexible boom microphone can be thoughtlessly folded into the front of the left ear cup when not in use. You will notice from the voice samples that the sound quality of this microphone is clear enough to withstand competitive gaming.

The microphone itself is a bit short, so I found myself speaking louder than usual, thinking it was too far from my mouth; much better than the built-in mic on the PS5 Pulse wireless headset, but still nothing to write home about compared to the best budget microphones.

The Xbox wireless headset, which uses Bluetooth and Microsoft Wireless connectivity, is versatile and works well with Windows 10 PCs, Xbox consoles, and mobile devices.

For fun, I tried connecting it to my PS5, which recognized the headset but still refused to connect after about half a dozen attempts. So, if you want one headset for everything, the Astro A20 still seems to be the best choice, and if you don't mind the extra expense, the two-dongle solution for consoles. However, this headset is not Bluetooth and is $20 more expensive. However, the lack of decent Bluetooth controls makes the Xbox wireless headset less than ideal for commuters who listen to music or podcasts. However, it would be a good headset for mobile gaming, such as when streaming Game Pass games on a tablet. If you expect a good headset for commuting, you need to look elsewhere. It can connect to a phone, but you can't skip tracks, take calls, or pause music. There are no specific media controls as such.

The headset uses Microsoft's proprietary Xbox wireless protocol, which technically allows the headset to connect to the phone via Bluetooth and to the Xbox at the same time. This is great for those who use Discord on their phones to talk to everyone in cross-platform games like Destiny 2 or Call of Duty.

The headset has a shorter battery life of about 15 hours, but still several hours longer than the PS5 Pulse; a 30-minute charge allows for four hours of gaming, but Microsoft claims that a three-hour charge will fully charge the battery.

The $100 price tag for the Xbox Wireless Headset is quite a bargain, while packing quality and great features. It has a better microphone and longer battery life than the console's competitors' offerings. If you own a PC and an Xbox Series X/S, the Xbox Wireless Headset, like the Xbox Wireless Controller, is a well-made piece of kit worth the investment that won't let you down or hurt your wallet. It's an easy-to-use Bluetooth headset that works well with multiple devices, which is no easy feat.