The Nintendo Switch is a remarkable console that offers unmatched versatility. However, its built-in back-firing speakers are noticeably its weakest points. They just don’t get loud enough for outdoor gaming. Fortunately, you can make your portable gaming experience more immersive by buying decent headphones. The real challenge is sifting through the wide variety of options on the market.
Searching for the best headphones for the Nintendo Switch is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Some headphones are made specifically for the console, but offer no real advantage over other brands. You also have a choice between wired and wireless audio input. With the ocean of options out there, the trick to finding the ideal headphone is knowing what to look for.
Generally, you want your Nintendo Switch headphones to be comfortable enough for long durations of gaming and adjustable to fit your head shape and size. You should also consider the sound fidelity as well as the microphone quality for online gaming.
If you don’t have the luxury of time to do the research but want to enhance your portable gaming experience, check out our picks below!
| Preview | Product | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Astro A10 - Zelda: Breath of the Wild | |
| ||
| ||
| SteelSeries Arctis 3 | |
 | ||
| Steelseries Arctis 1 Wireless | |
| ||
| ||
|
Contents of this Page
Astro A10 – Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Overall Best Nintendo Switch Headphones
| Type | Over-ear |
| Enclosure | Closed-back |
| Driver Diameter | 40 mm |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs |
The ASTRO A10 – Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a gorgeous black-and-gold gaming headphone. You can’t pass up this headphone if you’re a fan of the Zelda franchise, especially since they’re so reasonably priced. Out of the box, it comes with a detachable rubber audio cable with an in-line volume rocker that feels really well-built. It also comes with an audio chat adapter that you can use to chat with your friends.
In terms of comfort, the Astro A10 has adequate cloth padding on the ear cups and the headband. They are very soft and breathable, but the material lets in a fair amount of ambient noise. The headphones is also very durable and flexible, so you don’t have to worry about hyperextending the band.
RELATED: 5 of the Best Portable Chargers for the Nintendo Switch
Sound quality is where the Astro A10 really stands out. It sounds similar to the higher-end Astro headphones, but at a more affordable price point. You can also use it on your other consoles, and it will still sound great. The microphone is passable for the price, and you can add a third-party windscreen to make it sound better.
Turtle Beach Recon 70
Best In-Game Audio Headphones for Nintendo Switch
| Type | Over-ear |
| Enclosure | Closed-back |
| Driver Diameter | 40 mm |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs |
The Turtle Beach Recon 70 is an impressive gaming headphone that is remarkably affordable. For a very reasonable price, you get a great design, excellent in-game sound quality, and a decent microphone. However, you can’t expect it to come without some drawbacks.
Since the Turtle Beach Recon 70 is a gaming headphone, it doesn’t translate very well to music or movies. The bass-heavy audio signature has a tendency to bury higher-frequency sounds.
Moreover, the pleather ear cups on the Turtle Beach Recon 70 can get uncomfortable during long gaming sessions, which shouldn’t be a big deal if you play only on handheld mode for a couple of hours. Other than that, this headphone performs really well for the bargain price.
PDP Zelda Nintendo Switch Premium Chat Earbuds
Best Earbuds for Nintendo Switch
| Type | In-ear |
| Enclosure | Closed-back |
| Weight | 0.3 lbs |
The PDP Zelda Nintendo Switch Premium Chat Earbuds is a great option if you prefer sleek earphones over headphones. These earbuds come with a sturdy, compact carrying case to help keep the flat cable organized. The cable also comes with an in-line chat microphone so you can voice chat with your friends online. You can play with these earbuds for hours with no discomfort owing to the snug and comfortable fit.
In terms of audio quality, these earbuds produce a decently well-balanced and clear sound that is adequate for playing games, watching movies, or listening to music. They may not be able to compete with the broad drivers of over-ear headphones, but the light weight and compact design make up for its shortcomings.
SteelSeries Arctis 3
Best All-Around Headphones for Nintendo Switch
| Type | Over-ear |
| Enclosure | Closed-back |
| Driver Diameter | 40 mm |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs |
The SteelSeries Arctis 3 is a mid-range gaming headphone that allows for simultaneous wired in-game audio and Bluetooth connectivity if you want to use the smartphone chat application. You can also use this headphone with your other gaming consoles or use it for listening to music during your daily commute. It has a subtle design compared to the other options on this list, which makes it great as a daily driver.
The sound signature on the SteelSeries Arctis 3 is excellent on any system, including mobile phones. For in-game communication, it has a microphone that handles ambient noise well, so your friends should be able to hear your voice clearly.
In terms of comfort, the padding on the ear cups and headband of the SteelSeries Arctis 3 are adequate and breathable enough that you can wear them until the battery on your Nintendo Switch drains. The black performance fabric material also makes this headphone look stylish even for casual use.
HyperX Cloud Alpha
Best Value Headphones for Nintendo Switch
| Type | Over-ear |
| Enclosure | Closed-back |
| Driver Diameter | 50 mm |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs |
The HyperX Cloud Alpha has been one of the most popular gaming headphones on the market for a very long time and for good reasons. Combining functionality and versatility with a very reasonable price has worked wonders for this headphone. It is remarkably comfortable and excellent at blocking ambient noise so you can focus on your gameplay.
About sound quality, the HyperX Cloud Alpha has a rather bass-heavy audio signature that is excellent for gaming. Although it is also passable for music and movies, the sound quality really stands out in-game.
The microphone on the HyperX Cloud Alpha is rather disappointing. Your friends will have no trouble hearing your speech, but it lacks a bit of airiness. Nevertheless, it is serviceable unless you plan on using it for streaming. Overall, the HyperX Cloud Alpha may not have the bells and whistles that other more-expensive options offer, but it is perfectly suitable for the Nintendo Switch.
Steelseries Arctis 1 Wireless
Best Wireless Headphones for Nintendo Switch
| Type | Over-ear |
| Enclosure | Closed-back |
| Driver Diameter | 40 mm |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs |
The Steelseries Arctis 1 is a wireless headphone for the Nintendo Switch that provides remarkable audio quality, comparable to that of its more premium counterparts. This headphone is well-built and has a stylish finish fit for any occasion. To connect to your Nintendo Switch, it comes with a USB Type-C dongle that is also compatible with your mobile phones.
The SteelSeries Arctis 1 offers wireless coverage of up to eight meters, with negligible latency for optimized portable gaming. Both the ear cups and the headband are highly adjustable but have subpar padding. They may not be the most comfortable pair to wear for long hours of gaming, but they are good enough to wear until your battery runs out.
The detachable microphone on the SteelSeries Arctis 1 works fine but can’t compete with the ones integrated into other headphones. On the other hand, the modular feature makes this headphone more versatile and suitable for casual use.
PDP LVL40 – Nintendo Switch Stereo Headphones
Best Budget Pick
| Type | Over-ear |
| Enclosure | Closed-back |
| Driver Diameter | 40 mm |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs |
The PDP LVL40 – Nintendo Switch Stereo Headphones has a colorful Joy-Con-inspired design to match with your handheld console. This wired, budget gaming headphone is officially licensed by Nintendo. It features a built-in bi-direction and noise-canceling boom microphone that produces decent enough recording quality for in-game communication.
In terms of design and comfort, the PDP LVL40 has a fair amount of padding that makes the headphone light and breathable. It doesn’t have the most adjustable design, but you really can’t complain at this price point.
Despite being such an affordable headphone, the PDP LVL40 has surprisingly good audio quality. It can pick up all the nuances in-game to produce a really detailed sound signature. The drivers perform exceptionally well, especially with high-frequency sounds.
Hori Nintendo Switch Gaming Earbuds Pro
Officially-Licensed Earbuds for Nintendo Switch
| Type | In-ear |
| Enclosure | Closed-back |
| Weight | 0.2 lbs |
If you want similar aesthetics to those of the PDP LVL40 headphone but in the form of earbuds, check out the Hori Nintendo Switch Gaming Earbuds Pro. These earbuds are officially licensed by Nintendo and allow you to use the mixer on the Nintendo Switch online application. They come with an in-line remote for volume and microphone control to make your portable gaming experience more immersive and interactive.
You can’t expect the microphone recording quality to be on par with that integrated into headphones, but these earbuds do a decent job, and you won’t run into issues when communicating with your friends in-game. The gaming earbuds are perfect if you are always on the go and don’t want the added bulk and weight of a full-sized headphone.
Beyerdynamic Custom Game
Premium Headphones for Nintendo Switch
| Type | Over-ear |
| Enclosure | Closed-back |
| Driver Diameter | 50 mm |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs |
The Beyerdynamic Custom Game lives up to the manufacturer’s reputation of studio-quality sound. This headphone brings professional audio to the world of portable gaming. In terms of design, it looks more like a pair of studio headphones than a gaming headphone, but don’t let that fool you. It produces in-game audio that could very well be the best you will ever hear on your Nintendo Switch. The sound signature is warm, crisp, and brilliantly balanced.
Comfort is where the Beyerdynamic Custom Game runs into some problems. Although the headphone is adequately padded, the ear cups tend to get hot during long hours of gaming. Considering the battery life of the Nintendo Switch, this shouldn’t be too much of a concern. Additionally, the ear cups do well at blocking ambient noise.
The built-in microphone on the Beyerdynamic Custom Game also works wonders for such a small unit. It reproduces a more full-bodied speech than most of the other options on this list, so your friends should be able to hear you clearly. If money is not an issue for you, then this headphone should be on top of your purchase list.
Our picks for the 9 best headphones for the Nintendo Switch
- Astro A10 – Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Overall Best Nintendo Switch Headphones
- Turtle Beach Recon 70 – Best In-Game Audio Headphones for Nintendo Switch
- PDP Zelda Nintendo Switch Premium Chat Earbuds – Best Chat Earbuds
- SteelSeries Arctis 3 – Best All-Around Headphones for Nintendo Switch
- HyperX Cloud Alpha – Best Value Headphones for Nintendo Switch
- Steelseries Arctis 1 Wireless – Best Wireless Headphones for Nintendo Switch
- PDP LVL40 – Nintendo Switch Stereo Headphone – Best Budget Pick
- Hori Nintendo Switch Gaming Earbuds Pro – Officially-Licensed Earbuds
- Beyerdynamic Custom Game – Premium Headphones for Nintendo Switch
Whether you prefer gaming earphones, compact earbuds, or studio-quality headphones for the Nintendo Switch, we’re sure you’ll find a product that suits your needs.
Which one do you think would boost your portable gaming experience the most? Did we miss a headphone that you think belongs in this list? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!
