We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-23 · 8 min read · Independent comparison
I'd put most gamers in a headset. The single reason is the microphone: a headset gives you voice chat and game audio in one device, and that's the thing you'll miss the moment you need to call out a position to your squad.
• Headset — best if you want one wired device that handles game audio and your voice at the same time, without adding a separate mic.
• Earbuds for Gaming — best if you already have a mic sorted (a desk mic or a streaming setup) and you want the lightest possible thing on your head.
A headset is a pair of headphones with a microphone bolted on, and that's the whole idea. One cable goes into your computer, one device sits on your head, and you can both hear the game and talk to your team. No dongle juggling, no "hold on, my mic didn't connect" at the start of a match.
The Logitech H390 is a good illustration of how plain this category can be. It's a wired USB-A headset with 30 mm dynamic drivers, a frequency range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz on the headphone side, and 32 ohm impedance. It's on-ear, with a swivel-mounted leatherette cushion setup and an adjustable headband. The mic is a rotating boom on the left side — you swing it down to talk and tuck it out of the way when you don't. There's a mute button and volume controls inline on the cable, and the cable itself is 6.23 ft, which is enough slack to stand up and stretch mid-call.
That last detail matters more than it sounds. A long cable is the difference between a headset you wear and a headset you fight. The plug-and-play USB connection is the other practical win — you plug it in, the computer sees it, you're done. No software install, no pairing, no battery to remember. It's also tested for Chromebook compatibility, which tells you this is built for the boring, reliable end of the market rather than the flashy one.
The trade-off is exactly what you'd expect. It's a wired on-ear headset weighing 7.04 ounces, so it's a visible thing on your desk and on your head. It won't disappear into a pocket. If you want something you can also wear on a walk, this isn't it. And the sound signature is tuned for calls and meetings — clear, digital stereo, not a bass-forward gaming profile.
Gaming earbuds are in-ear monitors pointed at games. They sit inside your ear canal, seal it off, and block outside noise passively — no batteries, no active noise cancellation, just a physical seal doing the work. That seal is also why bass feels stronger than the driver size suggests.
The KZ EDX Pro is a useful example. It runs a single 10 mm dual-magnet dynamic driver with a 24 ohm impedance and 112 dB sensitivity — that combination means a phone or a laptop's headphone jack can drive it directly without a separate amp. The cable is 5N oxygen-free copper, and the connection to each earbud is a detachable 0.75 mm 2-pin design, so you can swap cables later. The housing is resin-inlaid metal, and the earpieces hook over your ear rather than hanging straight down.
The version in this data sheet is the "without mic" variant, and that's the honest headline. There's no boom, no inline mic, no voice pickup of any kind. You get media controls on a remote, and that's it. If you want to talk to teammates, you're supplying the microphone yourself — a desk mic, a modmic-style clip-on, or whatever your setup already has.
The upsides are real. Passive isolation plus an over-ear hook fit means these stay put and cut room noise without any electronics. The detachable cable is a genuine longevity feature — cables are the part that dies first on wired earbuds, and here you replace one instead of the whole thing. It's light, it disappears in a bag, and it works off a plain 3.5 mm jack on a phone, a handheld, or a laptop. The trade-off is the flip side of all that: no mic, a narrower frequency range on paper (10 Hz to 20 kHz), and a fit that depends entirely on getting the right eartip seal. Get the seal wrong and you lose the bass and most of the isolation.
Voice chat. This is the deciding axis. The H390 ships with a noise-canceling rotating boom mic and inline mute — you are ready to talk out of the box. The KZ EDX Pro in this configuration has no microphone at all. If your only goal is "hear the game, talk to friends," the headset wins before any other comparison happens.
Fit and fatigue. Earbuds are lighter and don't clamp your head or mess up your hair, but they put pressure inside your ear canal, which some people can't tolerate for three-hour sessions. The H390 is on-ear with leatherette cushions and swivel mounts, and it's built for long calls — but it's 7.04 ounces sitting on your head. Neither is universally comfortable. It's a personal anatomy question.
Isolation and space. The earbuds isolate passively and take up almost no desk space. The headset is a visible object that lives on your desk or a hook. If you share a room or play somewhere noisy, the earbud seal is the better noise blocker; if you need to hear a doorbell or a kid, the headset's lighter isolation is friendlier.
Versatility. The H390 is USB-A only, which ties it to a computer. The KZ EDX Pro uses a standard 3.5 mm jack, so it works with a phone, a handheld console, or a laptop — and the detachable cable means you're not throwing it away when the wire fails. The headset is a one-trick device that does its trick reliably. The earbuds are more flexible but ask you to bring your own mic.
Ownership over time. Both are wired, so neither needs charging. The earbuds have a replaceable cable and replaceable eartips; the headset's cushions are described as easy to clean, which matters because leatherette pads pick up skin oil and hair product. On the headset you're maintaining pads; on the earbuds you're maintaining tips and cables.
In my opinion, get the headset. For the typical gamer — one computer, voice chat with friends, no separate mic on the desk — a wired USB headset is the simpler, more complete answer, and it removes an entire category of setup problems. Get the earbuds instead only if you already have a microphone you like and specifically want the lightest, most isolating thing you can put in your ears.
The Logitech H390 is the straightforward version of this category. Fine-tuned 30 mm drivers, a rotating noise-canceling boom mic that tucks away when you're not talking, inline volume and mute, and a 6.23 ft USB-A cable — plug it in and it works, no software. The adjustable headband and swivel-mounted leatherette cushions are aimed at long sessions, and the pads are described as easy to clean, which I appreciate in something you wear against your face daily.
It's also tested and certified for Chromebook compatibility and ships in FSC-certified packaging, which tells you Logitech built it for the practical, mixed-use desk rather than the RGB battlestation. If you want a wired headset that handles game audio and calls without any fuss, this is the one I'd point you to.
The KZ EDX Pro is my pick for the earbud route, and the reason is the hardware rather than the marketing. A 10 mm dual-magnet dynamic driver, 24 ohm impedance and 112 dB sensitivity mean a phone or laptop jack drives it fine on its own. The 5N oxygen-free copper cable is detachable at 0.75 mm 2-pin, so a dead cable is a cable swap, not a replacement purchase.
The resin-inlaid metal housing and over-ear hook fit keep it stable, and the passive seal blocks room noise without any electronics. Just go in clear-eyed: this is the "without mic" version, so budget for a separate microphone if you plan to talk. For single-player games, handhelds, and anyone who already owns a mic, it's a sensible, repairable choice.
Only if they have a microphone. The KZ EDX Pro in this configuration does not — you'd need a separate desk or clip-on mic. If voice chat matters and you don't want extra gear, get a headset.
It depends on what bothers you. Earbuds are lighter but put pressure in your ear canal; a headset like the H390 sits on your ears with padded cushions and an adjustable headband but weighs 7.04 ounces. Neither is automatically better.
Yes, if they use a standard 3.5 mm jack — the KZ EDX Pro does. The H390 is USB-A, so it's tied to a computer. That's the biggest practical difference in connectivity between the two.
Not for these. At 24 ohm impedance and 112 dB sensitivity, the KZ EDX Pro is easy to drive from a phone or laptop jack. The H390 is plug-and-play over USB with no software install.
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See also: headset vs microphone for gaming, earbuds vs headphones gaming, BEVCEFCC Headset vs Rolosar Earbuds