š Review Score: 4.5/5 ā āAwesome!ā
š
Editorās Choice Award
ā
Pros:
š§ Genuinely brilliant sound quality
š° Amazing value
šŖ¶ Super lightweight design
š¤ The detachable mic sounds clear and loud
š® Works on PC, consoles, and mobile
š Great battery life
ā Cons:
š¤·āāļø The power button can be finicky
š No simultaneous Bluetooth audio support
š£ļø No game/chat control
The Shortcut Review
Finding the best gaming headset doesnāt always mean you have to spend hundreds of dollars. The Corsair HS35 v3 is proof of that, as it delivers exceptional audio quality, comfort, and multi-format compatibility for just $80.
Youād think that the Corsair HS35 v3 would be full of compromises. But apart from missing higher-end features like active noise cancelling, simultaneous Bluetooth and gaming audio, the headset makes up for it with its lightweight build of just 250 grams, genuinely superb sound, and strong microphone performance.
The Corsair HS35 v3 may have the most balanced and appealing out-of-the-box sound Iāve heard
Iāve found the Corsair HS35 v3 wireless gaming headset to be the perfect match for my Steam Machine, as I can play for hours in comfort while lying back and still enjoy immersive sound with around 30 hours of battery life.
Corsair HS35 v3 specs š ļø
Price: $79.99
Compatibility: PC, Mac, PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, mobile
Connectivity: 2.4GHz dongle, Bluetooth, USB wired
Colors: black and white
Unlike other headsets, which often require a custom EQ, the Corsair HS35 v3 may have the most balanced and appealing out-of-the-box sound Iāve heard. Thatās a good thing as you canāt change it, but the 50mm Neodymium drivers deliver enough low-end thump to make explosions exciting, and the treble isnāt too harsh or sibilant. You also get a surprisingly wide soundstage for a closed-back pair of headphones, and I didnāt have any trouble determining where enemies were located.
The Corsair HS35 v3 sets a new standard for gaming headsets under $100 and proves that you donāt need to break the bank to get the features you need. It sounds wonderful, works across multiple devices, and the microphone wonāt let you down. Read my full Corsair HS35 v3 review below.
A review unit was provided by Corsair.
What I loved about the Corsair HS35 v3 ā¤ļø
š§ Genuinely brilliant sound quality. Perhaps the biggest surprise about the Corsair HS35 v3 is just how good they sound. No element is overshadowed, as can often be the case with gaming headsets, yet they donāt sound lifeless either. Thereās a satisfying weight to the low-end frequencies, and enough clarity and separation in the highs and mids that they performed equally well when playing more immersive single-player titles, competitive multiplayer games, and even listening to music. The headset also delivers volume in spades, which is always a big plus.
Itās astonishing just how great the Corsair HS35 v3 sounds and the features you get at this price point.
š° Amazing value. Itās astonishing just how great the Corsair HS35 v3 sounds and the features you get at this price point. Iāve tested far more expensive headsets that donāt sound half as good and arenāt as comfortable. Even the build quality is excellent, without feeling overly plastic or cheap. Thereās zero buyerās remorse at this price point.
šŖ¶ Super lightweight design. At just 250 grams, itās easy to forget youāre wearing the Corsair HS35 v3. The floating headband design also helps keep the headset from pressing down on the top of your head, and the clamping force is strong enough without squeezing your temples. The swivel earcups also make them comfortable when you have them sitting around your neck.
š¤ The detachable mic sounds clear and loud. Another aspect that can let a gaming headset down is if it has a poor-quality microphone. Thatās thankfully not the case with the Corsair HS35 v3ās omnidirectional microphone, which can be muted using the volume button. Thereās a slight buzz when speaking, but nothing that will annoy your teammates or be perceptible during a game. Crucially, my voice sounded nice and full, without the usual harsh, metallic twang that weaker mics often suffer from.
š® Works on PC, consoles, and mobile. Whether youāre connecting over Bluetooth or using the supplied 2.4GHz dongle, the Corsair HS35 v4 works across several devices, which means you donāt have to worry about switching between headsets. The USB-C dongle also connects to a USB-A dongle, giving you more flexibility. Just note that it isnāt compatible with Xbox consoles.
š Great battery life. At around 30 hours of playtime from a single charge, the Corsair HS35 v3 lasts long enough that battery life isnāt a problem. You can also replace the battery if it ever degrades in the future.
What I disliked about the Corsair HS35 v3 ā¤ļø
š¤·āāļø The power button can be finicky. Itās not a big issue, but sometimes Iād hold the power button down and the headset wouldnāt turn off, requiring me to press it again. This may be a problem with my particular unit, or something that gets smoothed out with a future update.
š No simultaneous Bluetooth audio support. While itās expected at this price point, switching between game audio and Bluetooth is rather clunky. Sometimes my Bluetooth device would refuse to play audio, despite being connected, which wasnāt ideal.
š£ļø No game/chat control. If youāre someone who spends a lot of time playing with friends, thereās no dedicated game/chat control on the Corsair HS35 v3. You can adjust the volume and mute the mic, and switch to Bluetooth, but thatās it.
Should you buy the Corsair HS35 v3? š¤
Yes, ifā¦
ā You want a superb-sounding headset for less than $100.
ā You need a headset that works across multiple devices.
ā You want a headset that can be worn for hours comfortably.
No, ifā¦
ā You need a headset with active noise cancellation.
ā Youāre constantly adjusting the game/chat balance when playing.
ā You like to create your own EQ profiles.
Adam Vjestica is The Shortcutās Senior Editor. Formerly TechRadarās Gaming Hardware Editor, Adam has also worked at Nintendo of Europe as a Content Marketing Editor, where he helped launch the Nintendo Switch. He also runs a retro gaming YouTube channel called Game on, boy! Follow him on X @ItsMrProducts.