How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-03 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• hp USB PC Gaming — biggest strength: 50 mm dynamic drivers paired with virtual 7.1 surround and a detachable, positionable microphone, all fed through a single USB connection with an in-line controller for volume, mic mute and LED on/off.
• hp USB PC Gaming — biggest trade-off: USB is the only input. No 3.5 mm jack means no console, tablet or phone use, and the 380 g weight plus the plastic build are things you feel on a long session.
• F3 Black Universal Gaming — biggest strength: broad plug-and-play compatibility across PC, laptop, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, Switch, tablet, iPad and mobile, with a 360-degree pickup mic and a metal enclosure.
• F3 Black Universal Gaming — biggest trade-off: the feature list is broader than it is deep. There is no stated driver size, no stated impedance or sensitivity, and old Xbox One controllers need a separate Microsoft adapter that is not included.
• Who each pick is for: hp USB PC Gaming for a desktop or laptop player who wants surround cues and a clean mic in one USB cable; F3 Black Universal Gaming for a household with several devices and one headset budget.
The HP headset is the more specialised of the two, and that specialisation is the point. Its 50 mm dynamic drivers cover 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz, and HP pairs them with simulated 7.1 surround. In practice that means directional information — footsteps, gunfire, the general "where is that coming from" problem — is the design goal rather than raw loudness. The listed sensitivity of 117 dB ± 3 dB and impedance of 16 Ω ± 15% describe an easy-to-drive headset, which is what you would expect from something powered over USB rather than a phone jack.
The microphone is where HP put real thought. It is omnidirectional, covers 10 Hz to 10 kHz, and it is long, flexible and detachable. Detachable matters more than people expect: if you also use the headset for music or single-player games, you can pull the boom off and stop looking at it. The in-line controller handles volume, mic on/off and LED on/off without you alt-tabbing into software. RGB lighting on the ear cups and mic is cosmetic, but it is honest about what it is.
Buy it if you game at a desk, on Windows or Mac, and want one USB cable to carry audio, mic and controls. Skip it if you split your time between a console, a tablet and a laptop — or if you want a headset you can also use with a phone.
F3 Black Universal Gaming: Who It's For
The F3 is the generalist. Its headline claim is plug-and-play across laptop, PC, PS4, PS5, tablet, iPad, mobile, Xbox Series X and Nintendo Switch. That list is the whole sales pitch, and for a lot of households it is the correct pitch: one black headset that works on the living-room console, the kid's tablet and the desktop PC without anyone hunting for adapters. One caveat worth knowing before you buy — connecting to an older Xbox One controller needs an extra Microsoft adapter, which is not in the box.
Audio-wise, F3 describes stereo sound with a subwoofer-style low-end emphasis and "bass surround," aimed at making big cinematic games feel big. It also markets 7.1 surround in the mic section. What it does not publish is driver size, frequency range, impedance or sensitivity. That is a real gap if you are the kind of buyer who compares specs. In my opinion, the F3 is a "trust the description" purchase rather than a "read the numbers" purchase, and you should weigh that honestly.
The microphone is a 360-degree pickup design with noise reduction intended to cut background noise so your voice comes through clearly on comms. The ear pads are a soft, skin-friendly fabric chosen to avoid ear pain and heat build-up over long sessions, and the enclosure is metal rather than plastic, which is a genuine plus for something that gets thrown in a bag. The headset is listed for both adults and kids and as unisex, and it weighs 1.15 pounds — noticeably heavier than the HP on paper, though weight distribution on the head matters more than the raw number.
Buy it if you need one headset to cover many devices, you like a bass-forward sound, and metal construction appeals to you. Skip it if you want published audio specs, or if your setup is a single gaming PC where a USB surround headset would serve you better.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for multi-device households → F3 Black Universal Gaming. Console, tablet, phone and PC from one headset.
• Best for positional audio in shooters → hp USB PC Gaming. 50 mm drivers plus simulated 7.1 is a directional-audio design.
• Best for bass-forward, cinematic sound → F3 Black Universal Gaming. Its stereo subwoofer tuning is aimed at impact rather than pinpoint cues.
• Best for a mic you can remove → hp USB PC Gaming. The boom mic is flexible and detachable.
• Best for voice pickup from any angle → F3 Black Universal Gaming. The mic is built for 360-degree pickup.
• Best for published audio specs → hp USB PC Gaming. Frequency range, impedance, sensitivity and driver size are all listed; F3 publishes none of them.
• Best for a metal build → F3 Black Universal Gaming. Metal enclosure versus HP's plastic.
• Best for lightweight feel → hp USB PC Gaming. 380 g against roughly 1.15 lb.
• Best for Xbox Series X or Switch → F3 Black Universal Gaming. HP is USB PC and laptop only.
In my opinion, the HP is the better headset for the person this comparison is really about — someone building a noise isolating gaming setup around a PC. The 50 mm drivers, the simulated 7.1, the listed impedance and sensitivity, the detachable boom mic and the in-line controller add up to a headset whose behaviour I can actually predict from the spec sheet. The F3 wins on reach, not on depth: it goes more places and it is built from metal, but it asks you to take its audio quality on faith. If you own one gaming PC, I would buy the HP. If you own a console and a tablet and a laptop, I would buy the F3 and accept the trade. Either way, check the current price on Amazon before you commit, since that is the one thing that can flip this decision.
what is noise isolation headphones
Noise isolation means the ear cups physically block outside sound by sealing around your ears, rather than actively cancelling it with electronics. Both headsets here list sound isolation as their noise control method, and both use over-ear cups with soft padding to create that seal. It works best against steady background noise, not against sudden loud sounds.
are noise cancelling headphones good for gaming
Active noise cancelling is mainly useful for cutting engine hum, fans and air conditioning on planes or in open offices. For gaming, the benefit is focus rather than competitive advantage — cancelling noise does not sharpen positional audio. Neither headset in this comparison uses active cancellation; both rely on passive isolation, which is usually enough in a quiet room.
what are the best noise cancelling gaming headphones
There is no single answer, because "best" depends on which device you plug into. If you want USB surround with a detachable mic for a PC, the HP headset fits that job. If you want one headset that reaches consoles, tablets and phones with a 360-degree mic, the F3 fits that job. Match the headset to your devices first, then compare comfort and build.
are there noise cancelling gaming headphones
Yes, gaming headsets with active noise cancellation exist, but plenty of gaming headsets — including both of these — use passive noise isolation instead. That means padded over-ear cups that block sound by sealing, which is lighter, needs no battery and never runs out. If you specifically need active cancellation, check the product description carefully before buying.
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