Microsoft’s new Xbox Wireless Headset will start shipping tomorrow, succeeding to the Xbox One Stereo headset released at the beginning of the previous console generation. As we’re still waiting to get our hands on our pre-ordered unit, an official unboxing video featuring the designers that worked on the headset has been published on the Xbox YouTube channel today.
At $99, the Xbox Wireless headset seems like an excellent accessory for Xbox consoles and PCs. The headset uses the same proprietary Xbox Wireless protocol as the Xbox Controllers, but it also supports Bluetooth pairing with mobile devices and PCs. Even better, users will be able to simultaneously connect the headset to their console and a phone via Bluetooth to make phone calls, use Bluetooth, listen to podcasts, and more while they’re playing games.
The design of the Xbox Wireless headset took some inspiration from Microsoft’s Surface headphones, with two rotating earcup dials for adjusting volume and game/chat audio balance. The large earcups are made of comfortable polyurethane leather, and the headband has also been described in the unboxing video as pretty light despite the presence of a metal band inside. The headset’s dual beamforming microphone mic is connected to the left earcup, and it integrates a light indicator that turns on when the mic is active.
The Xbox Wireless headset only comes with a sync button and a mute button, and the Xbox Accessories app for Xbox Consoles and Windows 10 PCs will allow users to customize the equalizer, the intensity of the mute light, auto-mute settings, and more. The headset also supports spatial audio technologies such as Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, as well as Microsoft’s own Windows Sonic format.
We’re really looking forward to getting our hands on Microsoft’s Xbox Wireless Headset, and we plan to publish our full review soon. If you have yet to pre-order one, it’s currently out of stock on the Microsoft Store though you may have more luck at other retailers.
