If you want a gaming headset with a detachable boom mic for mobile gaming, choose audio-technica ATH-G1; if you need closed-back headphones with passive sound isolation and swiveling earcups, choose Audio-Technica ATH-M50X. For gaming on a phone or another device with a compatible 3.5 mm connection, the ATH-G1 is the more purpose-built choice. The ATH-M50X makes more sense when listening and isolation matter more than a dedicated gaming microphone.
audio-technica ATH-G1 vs Audio-Technica ATH-M50X at a Glance
• Audio-Technica ATH-M50X’s biggest strength: An over-ear closed-back design intended to provide passive sound isolation, plus earcups that swivel 90 degrees. Its trade-off for gaming is that the listed features do not include a boom microphone.
• Both use 45 mm dynamic drivers and connect through a 3.5 mm jack, but they are designed around different priorities.
• Choose the ATH-G1 for gaming sessions where talking to teammates is part of the plan.
• Choose the ATH-M50X for listening, monitoring, and reducing outside noise without prioritizing a dedicated gaming mic.
The ATH-G1 is the clearer fit when you want a headset built around gaming communication. Its flexible boom microphone detaches when you do not need it, and its directional pickup is intended to focus on your voice for in-game chat or live streaming. A locking mic-mute switch and simple volume control sit on the attached 2.0 m cable, so the basic adjustments are within reach.
Its 45 mm drivers are tuned for gaming, and the headset works with PS5, Xbox Series X, laptops, PCs, and other devices that have a compatible 3.5 mm headset connection or separate microphone and headphone inputs. That makes it a practical wired option if your mobile gaming setup also has the right 3.5 mm connection. Check your device’s port arrangement before choosing: the listed connection is wired, not wireless.
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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-09 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
The ATH-M50X is the more listening-focused option. Its circumaural, closed-back design goes around the ears and is intended to provide passive isolation in louder environments. Audio-Technica describes its sound as clear across an extended frequency range, with deep bass response. The 45 mm drivers and 3.5 mm connection make it a wired headphone option for everyday listening as well as studio-style monitoring.
Its 90-degree swiveling earcups are a useful design choice for one-ear monitoring. The earpad and headband materials are described as professional grade, with durability and comfort in mind. For someone who switches between focused listening, monitoring, and use around the home, those details may matter more than a gaming-specific control or microphone.
The main compromise for a gaming buyer is straightforward: the listed ATH-M50X features do not include a boom mic or an in-line mic-mute switch. You can use it for game audio through its wired connection, but if clear team chat is central to your setup, the ATH-G1 is the more directly equipped choice. And while passive isolation can help limit outside noise, it is not active noise cancellation.
• Best for in-game voice chat → audio-technica ATH-G1. Its detachable, flexible boom mic is designed for directional voice pickup, and its cable has a locking mute switch.
• Best for listening with passive isolation → Audio-Technica ATH-M50X. Its closed-back, circumaural design is intended to help keep exterior noise out.
• Best for mobile gaming with a compatible 3.5 mm headset port → audio-technica ATH-G1. It combines wired audio with a dedicated microphone, but confirm that your device supports the required connection.
• Best for one-ear monitoring → Audio-Technica ATH-M50X. Its earcups swivel 90 degrees.
• Best if you want to remove the gaming microphone between sessions → audio-technica ATH-G1. The boom mic detaches, and the headset can then serve as headphones.
• Best if voice chat is not a priority → Audio-Technica ATH-M50X. Its listed strengths focus on sound, isolation, and monitoring rather than gaming controls.
• Best for a headset cable with on-cable controls → audio-technica ATH-G1. The attached 2.0 m cable includes volume control and a mic-mute switch.
• Best for a headphone-first setup in a noisy room → Audio-Technica ATH-M50X. Its passive isolation is a relevant advantage, though it should not be mistaken for active noise cancellation.
The common 3.5 mm connection does not make these identical tools. Their drivers are both 45 mm, but the ATH-G1’s key difference is its communication setup; the ATH-M50X’s is its closed-back listening design and swiveling cups. For mobile play, consider the whole setup—not just the phone. A compatible jack, the need to talk, and how much outside noise you want to reduce will shape the better fit.
Neither one is a clip-on earbud or a set of sports earbuds for mobile gaming. Both are over-ear-style headphones, so shoppers specifically looking for small earbuds should narrow their search elsewhere. Likewise, if you are searching for a noise cancelling headphone for mobile gaming, note that the ATH-M50X is described as providing passive sound isolation, while the ATH-G1 lists no noise control. Neither sheet describes active noise cancellation.
I’d choose the audio-technica ATH-G1 for mobile gaming because its detachable boom mic and on-cable mute control suit team chat better than the ATH-M50X’s listening-first feature set. Its fixed wired cable is a real trade-off, and I’d check device compatibility before buying. If I cared more about passive isolation and one-ear monitoring than microphone convenience, I’d pick the ATH-M50X instead.
For mobile gaming that includes team chat, I’d choose the ATH-G1: it has a detachable boom mic and a mic-mute switch. The ATH-M50X is the stronger match if you mainly want game audio and passive isolation.
The listed ATH-M50X features do not include a boom microphone or an in-line mic-mute control. If you need a dedicated mic for communicating with teammates, the ATH-G1 is the more suitable option based on the listed features.
The ATH-M50X has a closed-back, around-ear design intended to provide passive isolation. That is different from active noise cancellation; no active cancellation is listed for either headphone.
No. Both are over-ear-style headphones, not clip-on earbuds or sports earbuds. If you specifically want earbuds for mobile gaming, neither product matches that form factor.
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