Microsoft Announces the Xbox Wireless Headset
- Paul Thurrott
- Feb 16, 2021
-
22
Microsoft today announced that it will soon sell an Xbox Wireless Headset, and unlike its Surface Headphones, it will be reasonably priced at $99.99.
“The Xbox Wireless Headset delivers best-in-class audio and chat performance, outstanding design and comfort, and unique experiences that are tailored for each gamer,” Microsoft’s Will Tuttle writes in the announcement post. “We are also looking forward to bringing more value to the headset category with innovations not previously found in this price range.”
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According to the team, the Xbox Wireless Headset offers loud and clear lossless audio with low latency. It supports spatial sound technologies like Windows Sonic, Dolby Atmos, and DTS Headphone, and what Microsoft calls “clear and intelligent chat audio quality.” It has dual beamforming microphone elements with voice isolation tuning that helps the headset focus on speech audio and not any surrounding sounds. The mics auto-mute when you’re not talking.
From a comfort perspective, the Xbox Wireless Headset has a lightweight design with soft, large, and rotating earcups made of “polyurethane leather” (read: fake leather) that distribute pressure evenly over the ears. It also has an adjustable headband with a thick cushion that accommodates most head sizes and spreads pressure more evenly over the top of the head. And there are controls for adjusting the volume and game/chat audio balance.
The Xbox Wireless Headset works with Xbox Series X|S, of course, but also Xbox One and Windows 10 PCs. It can also connect to mobile devices via Bluetooth and to consoles with Xbox Wireless technology just like an Xbox Wireless Controller. And it supports simultaneous pairing with a phone and an Xbox. Yes, you can game and call into a conference call at the same time.
The Xbox Wireless Headset will be available beginning March 16 in most worldwide Xbox markets, Microsoft says. And it can be pre-ordered at select retailers, including Microsoft Store, starting on February 16 at 7 a.m. PST.