Turtle Beach Stealth 500 Wireless Over-Ear Gaming Headset for Xbox Series X|S
A 40-hour battery life and QuickSwitch button for seamless 2.4GHz-to-Bluetooth 5.2 transitions set this headset apart for multi-platform use. Its 231g weight, floating headband, and memory foam cushions deliver all-day comfort that belies its budget-friendly positioning. This is best for Xbox and PC gamers who frequently take calls or listen to mobile audio mid-session without removing their headset.
Snapshot
The 30-Second Version
The Turtle Beach Stealth 500 is an absurdly comfortable wireless Xbox headset with great sound and a 40-hour battery for around $80. The mic is a standout, but the build feels cheap and there's a weird mute toggle bug on Xbox. If you want a no-sweat wireless upgrade and don't need ANC, this is a top contender.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Incredibly lightweight and comfortable for all-day gaming. 94th
- Crisp, immersive sound with a satisfying bass punch. 91st
- Excellent battery life that easily lasts a full week. 88th
- The flip-to-mute mic is dead simple and works great. 88th
Cons
- Build quality feels cheap and plasticky for the price.
- A known mic glitch on Xbox requires a mute toggle to fix.
- Noise cancellation is practically non-existent.
- The setup instructions could be clearer for some users.
What owners think
The Word on the Street
How owner sentiment changed over time
ExclusiveBased on when customers actually wrote their reviews - so you can see whether early praise held up.
Based on 200 dated customer reviews, grouped by calendar quarter. Period analysis is in English.
The proof
Performance
The 40mm drivers deliver a clear, punchy sound that sits in the 82nd percentile for its class. It's not the absolute flattest or most detailed profile, but for gaming, the spatial audio and deep bass give you a real edge in picking up footsteps and explosions. The mic quality is a standout, landing in the 91st percentile, with crisp voice pickup. Battery life is solid at 40 hours, good for about a week of heavy use, though it's not quite chart-topping. The real weak spot is the build, which feels a bit plasticky and lands in a disappointing 34th percentile. It's light, but it doesn't scream premium.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Design
| Form Factor | over-ear |
| Open/Closed | closed |
| Foldable | Yes |
| Weight | 0.2 kg / 0.5 lbs |
| Ear Cushion | Plush Leatherette, Memory Foam |
| Headband | Fabric |
Audio
| Driver Type | dynamic |
| Driver Size | 40 |
| Freq Min | 20 |
| Freq Max | 20000 |
| Impedance | 32 |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC |
Noise Control
| ANC | No |
| Transparency | No |
Connectivity
| Wireless | Yes |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 |
| Multipoint | Yes |
| Wired Connector | USB-C |
| Detachable Cable | No |
Battery
| Battery Life | 40 |
| Charge Time | 3 |
| Fast Charging | quick charge |
| Charging | USB-C |
Microphone
| Microphone | Yes |
| NC Mic | Yes |
| Boom Mic | Yes |
Features
| Voice Assistant | Not Applicable |
| Touch Controls | No |
| App | Swarm II |
| Gaming Mode | Yes |
vs Competition
Stacked against the Sony ULT WEAR or Sennheiser Momentum 4, the Stealth 500 gets smoked on build quality and noise cancelling, but it's also a fraction of the price. The JBL Live 770NC offers better ANC, but the Turtle Beach has a more gamer-focused sound and a better mic. Compared to other budget champs like the Soundcore Life Q20, the Stealth 500 trades some ANC capability for a lighter, comfier fit and a much better wireless experience on Xbox. It's a specialist that knows its lane.
| Spec | Turtle Beach Stealth 500 Wireless Over-Ear Gaming Headset for Xbox Series X|S | Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 | Sennheiser HDB 630 | Sony ULT WEAR WHULT900N/B | Apple AirPods Max Midnight | Technics EAH-A800 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Form Factor | over-ear | over-ear | over-ear | over-ear | over-ear | over-ear |
| Driver Type | dynamic | dynamic | dynamic | dynamic | dynamic | dynamic |
| Driver Size (mm) | 40 | 40 | 42 | 40 | 40 | 40 |
| Impedance Ohms | 32 | - | 480 | 314 | 16 | 34 |
| Wireless | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Active Noise Cancellation | false | true | true | true | true | true |
| Open Closed Back | closed | closed | closed | closed | closed | closed |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.3 | 5.2 | 5.2 | 5.0 | 5.2 |
| Battery Life Hours | 40 | 30 | 60 | 30 | 20 | 50 |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Anc | Mic | Build | Sound | Battery | Comfort | User Sentiment | Connectivity | Social Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turtle Beach Stealth 500 Wireless Over-Ear Gaming Headset for Xbox Series X|S | 32.1 | 91 | 35 | 83.1 | 81.6 | 87.7 | 52.9 | 94.4 | 87.5 |
| Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 Compare | 98 | 99.3 | 95.7 | 99.4 | 76.1 | 53.7 | 87.1 | 97.7 | 98.4 |
| Sennheiser HDB 630 Compare | 98 | 85.3 | 77.8 | 98.2 | 90.7 | 46.5 | 87.1 | 93.8 | 87.5 |
| Sony ULT WEAR WHULT900N/B Compare | 98 | 85.3 | 77.8 | 95.6 | 76.1 | 53.7 | 70.6 | 98.9 | 87.5 |
| Apple AirPods Max Midnight Compare | 98 | 83.2 | 92.4 | 93.2 | 69.8 | 32.3 | 87.1 | 94.4 | 98.4 |
| Technics EAH-A800 Compare | 93.4 | 98.3 | 77.8 | 97.2 | 85.9 | 53.7 | 52.9 | 97.4 | 60 |
Price
Value & Pricing
For the $70 to $90 it's going for, this headset is a steal. You're getting wireless freedom, multipoint Bluetooth, a top-tier mic, and best-in-class comfort. The feature set competes with headsets that cost twice as much. Unless you absolutely need premium materials or active noise cancelling, the value here is hard to beat. It's one of the best budget-friendly wireless options for Xbox right now.
Read more
Overview
The Turtle Beach Stealth 500 is a wireless headset built for Xbox that punches way above its price tag. You get a super lightweight design, a legit 40-hour battery, and Bluetooth 5.2 with a handy QuickSwitch button for hopping between your console and phone. It's not trying to be a premium audiophile set, but for around $80, it nails the gaming essentials and then some.
Comfort is the real headline here. The floating headband and memory foam cushions make it easy to forget you're wearing anything, even during marathon sessions. The sound is tuned for spatial audio with a nice bass kick, and the flip-to-mute mic is a simple, brilliant touch. There's a weird mic bug on Xbox we need to talk about, but for most people, this is an easy recommendation.
Common Questions
Q: How do I switch between the Xbox wireless and Bluetooth connections?
There's a dedicated QuickSwitch button on the headset. One press swaps your audio and chat source between the 2.4GHz wireless connection to your Xbox and a paired Bluetooth device like your phone.
Q: What is the battery life and does it support quick charging?
You get up to 40 hours of battery life on a full charge. A quick charge feature gives you hours of playtime from just a short top-up, so you're never stranded for long.
Q: Can I use this headset with a PlayStation 5 or just Xbox?
The 2.4GHz wireless is designed specifically for Xbox consoles. While the Bluetooth mode will work with a PS5 for audio, you won't get the low-latency wireless connection or full feature support on PlayStation.
Who Should Skip This
If you need a headset that feels premium in your hands or you want active noise cancelling to block out the world, look elsewhere. The all-plastic build and non-existent ANC will disappoint you. Also, if you're a PS5 player looking for a native wireless experience, this isn't the one since the low-latency connection is locked to Xbox.
Verdict
The Turtle Beach Stealth 500 is a fantastic pick for Xbox gamers who want a wireless headset that just works without costing a fortune. It's supremely comfortable, sounds great for games, and has a battery that goes the distance. The plasticky build and the annoying mic bug on Xbox are the only real flies in the ointment. If you can live with those, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better value.
