How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a lightweight, officially licensed Xbox One headset with a noise-cancelling mic and inline mute for clean online chat, choose PDP Xbox One Afterglow; if you need one headset that plugs into almost anything — PS4, Switch, PC, even a phone — and you want bigger drivers and a longer cable, choose Glolink Black Stingers Gaming.
• PDP Xbox One Afterglow — biggest strength: Officially licensed by Microsoft for Xbox One, with a flexible noise-cancelling mic, inline volume and mic mute, and breathable leatherette cushions built for long sessions.
• PDP Xbox One Afterglow — biggest trade-off: Wired 3.5mm only, and it's aimed squarely at Xbox One — the older controller generation needs a separate headset adapter, and other consoles aren't the target.
• Glolink Black Stingers Gaming — biggest strength: Wide platform support (PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Wii U, Switch, iMac, laptop, iPad, iPhone), 50mm drivers with variable bass boost, and a long 2.1m / 6.89ft cable.
• Glolink Black Stingers Gaming — biggest trade-off: No microphone mute at all, and the manufacturer explicitly warns against wearing it for long periods to avoid hearing damage — a notable comfort caveat.
• Who each pick is for: PDP for the Xbox One player who wants simple, licensed, chat-first gear. Glolink for the multi-console or PC household that wants one headset to jump between devices.
The Afterglow LVL 3 is a stereo headset designed around one job: upgrading Xbox One chat and game audio over the basic mono chat headset that ships with the console. The 40mm dynamic drivers are, per PDP, 50 percent larger than what you'd find in a typical chat headset, tuned across a 20Hz–20,000Hz range for clear detail and strong bass. That's a straightforward step up for someone who mostly plays online and wants to hear footsteps, voice lines and explosions without spending a fortune.
What really separates it is the chat side. The microphone is noise-cancelling with a flexible boom, so you can bend it to sit where it picks up your voice best and rejects some of the room around you. Inline controls put volume and mic mute within reach of your thumb — genuinely useful mid-match when you need to cough, talk to someone in the room, or just go quiet for a second. The leatherette cushions are described as breathable and built for extended play, and the ear cups lay flat so the headset packs away easily.
Who should buy it: the Xbox One owner who wants an officially licensed, wired, plug-and-play headset for party chat and solo sessions, and who values a mic mute button. Who should skip it: anyone gaming mainly on PlayStation, Switch or PC, or anyone still on a first-generation Xbox One controller — that setup needs a separate headset adapter, which isn't included. It's also a wired-only design, so no wireless freedom here.
The Glolink Black Stingers is the opposite philosophy: one headset, as many devices as possible. The spec sheet lists PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Wii U, Nintendo Switch, iMac, laptop, iPad and iPhone support via a single 3.5mm four-pole jack. PC and laptop use needs an extra audio/mic splitter adapter, and Xbox controllers need an extra adapter too — so "universal" comes with a couple of dongles in some setups. But for a household with a PlayStation, a Switch and a laptop on the same desk, that flexibility is the whole point.
The audio hardware is bigger on paper. Glolink uses 50mm dynamic drivers with a 32ohm impedance, 105dB sensitivity and a 15Hz–20KHz frequency range, plus an "amplified audio variable bass boost" that the brand says enhances game sound for a more immersive feel. The mic is a noise-cancelling boom unit that reduces background noise for clearer voice pickup, and on-cable controls handle volume and mic positioning. The cable runs about 2.1m / 6.89ft — noticeably long, which matters if your console sits far from the couch.
Two things you should weigh honestly. First, there is no microphone mute — the controls give you volume and mic position, not a kill switch. If you're used to muting yourself instantly, that's a real adjustment. Second, Glolink itself cautions against wearing the headset for very long stretches to avoid impairing your hearing, and at roughly 339g (about 12oz) it's a heavier build than the PDP. Who should buy it: multi-device gamers, PC players, and anyone who wants big drivers and a long cable. Who should skip it: dedicated Xbox One chat players who need a mute button, and anyone who wants to wear a headset for marathon sessions.
• Best for Xbox One chat with a mute button → PDP Xbox One Afterglow. Inline mic mute is the deciding feature for online play.
• Best for multi-console and PC flexibility → Glolink Black Stingers Gaming. It covers PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Wii U, Switch, iMac, laptop, iPad and iPhone from one jack.
• Best for long-session comfort → PDP Xbox One Afterglow. Breathable leatherette cushions tuned for extended play, and a much lighter 100g build versus Glolink's ~339g.
• Best for bigger drivers and bass emphasis → Glolink Black Stingers Gaming. 50mm drivers and variable bass boost versus PDP's 40mm.
• Best for a long cable run → Glolink Black Stingers Gaming. Roughly 2.1m / 6.89ft of cable.
• Best for simple, licensed plug-and-play → PDP Xbox One Afterglow. Officially licensed by Microsoft, with no adapters needed on a 2nd-gen Xbox One controller.
• Best for quick privacy control → PDP Xbox One Afterglow. Glolink has no mic mute, so you can't silence yourself on the fly.
• Best for avoiding extra adapters → PDP Xbox One Afterglow (on Xbox One specifically). Glolink needs an adapter for Xbox controllers and a splitter for PC.
In my opinion, the PDP Xbox One Afterglow is the safer buy for the person this comparison is really about — an Xbox One player who wants better audio and clearer chat without fuss. It's officially licensed, needs no adapters on a modern Xbox One controller, gives you inline volume and mic mute, and its lighter 100g frame with breathable cushions is the better bet for long sessions. The Glolink Black Stingers wins on reach: bigger 50mm drivers, bass boost, and support for nearly every platform you own. If your gaming life is spread across consoles and a PC, I'd take the Glolink. If it's Xbox One chat night after night, I'd take the PDP. Either way, check the current price on Amazon before you commit, since that can shift.
FAQ
It's a wired 3.5mm headset, so the jack is physically standard, but PDP designed and licensed it for Xbox One. It's not marketed for PlayStation or PC, and the older first-gen Xbox One controller needs a separate headset adapter.
No. The listing states plainly that there's no microphone mute — the on-cable controls handle volume and mic position only. If muting yourself quickly matters, that's a point against it.
The PDP Afterglow, in my opinion. It's listed at 100g with breathable leatherette cushions and lay-flat ear cups, while the Glolink comes in around 339g and the manufacturer itself advises against wearing it for extended periods.
The Glolink Black Stingers. It lists support for PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Wii U, Switch, iMac, laptop, iPad and iPhone, though PC needs a splitter adapter and Xbox controllers need an extra adapter. The PDP is focused on Xbox One.
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