How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a plug-and-play wired headset that works across nearly every gaming device you own, choose hp Gaming Headset; if you need a gaming-first headset tuned for locating footsteps and gunfire with a detachable mic, choose Anker Soundcore Strike 1.
• hp Gaming Headset — biggest strength: Extremely broad device compatibility via a single 3.5mm connection, plus a USB plug just for the LED lighting, so it moves between PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch, laptop, tablet and phone without fuss.
• hp Gaming Headset — biggest trade-off: Its design is comfort-and-convenience first (protein leather over-ear pads, a flexible mic, a wheel volume control), not gaming-tuned audio, so you get general surround-style sound rather than anything built to sharpen in-game cues.
• Anker Soundcore Strike 1 — biggest strength: Gaming-specific audio engineering — a driver enclosure that emphasizes gunfire and footsteps, plus oversized 52mm dynamic drivers for a punchier, more positional sound.
• Anker Soundcore Strike 1 — biggest trade-off: It lists compatibility with PS4 and PC only, and its gel-infused memory foam pads are cooler but the whole unit is heavier (13.76 oz vs 11.5 oz).
• Who each pick is for: hp is for the multi-device household that wants one headset for gaming, calls and music; Strike 1 is for the competitive FPS player who plays on PS4 or PC and wants audio tuned to hear enemies first.
The hp Gaming Headset is the generalist of this pair. Its headline feature isn't audio tuning — it's flexibility. A 3.5mm audio connection covers PlayStation 4, New Xbox One, PC, Nintendo 3DS, laptop, PSP, tablet, iPad and mobile phone, and a separate USB plug handles the LED lighting so the audio connection stays clean and stable. That split design is genuinely useful: you can run it off a phone or a Switch in handheld mode with just the 3.5mm jack, and only plug in USB when you want the lights on a PC or console setup. One thing to note from the spec sheet — if you have an older Xbox One controller, you'll need an extra Microsoft adapter that isn't included.
Comfort is clearly the other pillar here. The pads are protein leather over-ear cushions with a multi-point headbeam built to human-body-engineering specs, and hp frames it around reducing heat and sweat during long sessions of gaming, music or calls. In my opinion, that's exactly the right priority for someone who wears a headset for hours at a time and isn't chasing millisecond audio advantages. The microphone is omnidirectional with noise-cancelling processing, and the long flexible boom lets you angle it close to your mouth, which helps in party chat and voice calls. Volume is a physical wheel on the back of the left ear cup — simple, tactile, no software needed.
Who should buy it? Buyers who want one wired headset that travels across consoles, computers and phones, and who value all-day comfort and easy controls over gaming-specific sound tuning. Who should skip it? If your main goal is squeezing out a competitive edge in shooters, or if you want a mic you can detach, this isn't the tool for that job — the mic is fixed and the audio is general-purpose.
The Anker Soundcore Strike 1 is built around one idea: hearing your opponent before you see them. Its driver enclosure is specifically designed to emphasize the sound of gunfire and footsteps so you can pinpoint enemy positions — that's a deliberate tuning choice, not a marketing afterthought. Backing it up are oversized 52mm dynamic drivers, which are larger than what you typically find in a headset at this tier and give explosions, engines and impacts a heavier, more realistic punch. If you play FPS titles on PS4 or PC, this is the audio profile you want.
The comfort story is unusual and, I think, smart. The ear pads are memory foam infused with cooling gel, which is aimed squarely at the problem of hot, sweaty ears during long ranked sessions. The trade-off is weight — at 13.76 ounces it's noticeably heavier than the hp headset's 11.5 ounces, and heavier headsets tend to make their presence known over a multi-hour grind. The microphone is fully detachable, which is a real convenience if you also want to use the headset for solo listening without a boom in your face. It's noise-cancelling and IPX5 waterproof, so sweat, water, saliva and spilled drinks won't kill it — a small detail that matters more than people expect.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for multi-device compatibility → hp Gaming Headset. PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch, laptop, tablet, iPad and phone all work off the same 3.5mm connection.
• Best for competitive FPS audio → Anker Soundcore Strike 1. The enclosure is tuned to emphasize footsteps and gunfire, with 52mm drivers for weight and realism.
• Best for long-session comfort in warm rooms → Anker Soundcore Strike 1. Cooling gel-infused memory foam pads are designed specifically to keep ears cool.
• Best for the lightest wear → hp Gaming Headset. At 11.5 oz versus 13.76 oz, it's the easier one to forget you're wearing.
• Best for mic flexibility → Anker Soundcore Strike 1. The mic detaches entirely; the hp mic is fixed but long and flexible for easy angle adjustment.
• Best for younger players or shared setups → Anker Soundcore Strike 1. The volume-limiting control is a real safety feature for kids.
• Best for console-and-phone versatility → hp Gaming Headset. Its plug-and-play 3.5mm plus separate USB-for-lights design makes switching devices trivial.
• Best for durability against sweat and spills → Anker Soundcore Strike 1. The IPX5-rated detachable mic resists sweat, water, saliva and drinks.
In my opinion, the deciding question is what you actually play and on what. If you're a PS4 or PC player focused on shooters, I'd buy the Anker Soundcore Strike 1 — the footstep-and-gunfire tuning, the 52mm drivers, the detachable IPX5 mic and the cooling gel pads are all aimed at exactly that use case, and the volume limiter is a nice safety touch. If you bounce between a console, a PC, a Switch and a phone, I'd buy the hp Gaming Headset instead: its compatibility list is far broader and it's the lighter, simpler headset to live with day to day. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit, since both sit in a similar budget-minded tier.
FAQ
For competitive shooters, yes — in my opinion. Its driver enclosure is specifically designed to emphasize gunfire and footsteps for pinpointing enemy positions, and the 52mm drivers deliver more punch than the hp's general-purpose audio.
Yes. The 3.5mm connection supports PlayStation 4, New Xbox One, PC, Nintendo 3DS, laptop, PSP, tablet, iPad and mobile phone. Just note that an older Xbox One controller needs an extra Microsoft adapter, which isn't included.
Only on the Anker Soundcore Strike 1 — its mic is fully detachable and IPX5 waterproof. The hp Gaming Headset has a fixed but long, flexible boom mic you can angle for clarity.
It depends on your priority. The hp Gaming Headset is lighter at 11.5 oz with breathable protein leather pads, while the Strike 1 uses cooling gel-infused memory foam to fight heat but weighs 13.76 oz.
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