How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a headset built specifically for Xbox One with a lighter, fatigue-reducing fit and hassle-free in-line controls, choose PDP Xbox One Afterglow; if you need a more versatile, sturdier headset with 3D spatial audio and a detachable mic that works across PC, Xbox and more, choose HyperX.
• PDP Xbox One Afterglow — biggest strength: Purpose-built for Xbox One, officially licensed by Microsoft, with a split headband and plush ear cups designed to cut pressure on long sessions.
• PDP Xbox One Afterglow — biggest trade-off: It's wired, single-platform, and its flexibility is limited to whatever an Xbox One controller can deliver over its 3.5 mm jack.
• HyperX — biggest strength: A durable aluminum frame, DTS Headphone:X spatial audio, a detachable noise-cancelling mic, and a USB audio control box that spans PC, PS4, Xbox and more.
• HyperX — biggest trade-off: The full spatial-audio and control-box experience leans on PC-style setups, and it's a heavier headset overall.
• Who each pick is for: Pick the PDP Afterglow if you game almost entirely on Xbox One and want a light, no-fuss headset. Pick the HyperX if you want one headset that travels across platforms and lasts.
The PDP Xbox One Afterglow AG 6 is a straightforward wired headset that knows exactly what it is. It's officially licensed by Microsoft for Xbox One, which means the design is aimed at that console rather than spread thin across a dozen devices. You plug its 3.5 mm jack into your Xbox One controller and you're running. The 50 mm dynamic drivers cover a 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz range, which is the standard full-range window for stereo game and chat audio — nothing exotic, but a solid foundation for balanced sound.
What really stands out to me is the comfort engineering. The split headband and extra-plush ear cup pads are explicitly meant to reduce pressure and fatigue, and the description points to a breathable over-ear design with a soft fabric headband. If you've ever pulled off a headset after a four-hour session and felt that hot-spot squeeze, that's the exact problem this design is trying to solve. The mic is flexible and fully removable, with noise and echo cancelling tech, and the in-line volume and mute controls sit right on the cable so you can adjust mid-match without digging through menus.
Who should buy it: Xbox One players who want a dedicated, lightweight wired headset and value quick physical controls over software features. Who should skip it: anyone who games across PC, Switch or PlayStation, or who wants spatial audio and a USB control box. This is a one-console, plug-and-play tool, and it's honest about that.
The HyperX Cloud Core is a different animal entirely. Where the PDP is a single-purpose Xbox One headset, the Cloud Core is built to move between systems. It ships with a USB audio control box compatible with PC and PS4, and a standard 3.5 mm cable that connects to Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, mobile and VR systems that support the connection. If you own more than one gaming device, that flexibility is the whole point.
The headline feature is DTS Headphone:X. An included activation code unlocks two years of spatial audio, which is designed to give you more accurate positional awareness — footsteps, reloads, the direction a shot came from. It's compatible with PC, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. On top of that, HyperX leans hard into build quality: a sturdy aluminum frame meant to survive daily wear and tear, and memory foam ear cups for longer sessions. The detachable noise-cancelling mic is Discord and TeamSpeak certified, and it's flexible too. The USB audio control box lets you adjust mic volume, headset volume and mute without opening system menus — a genuinely handy thing mid-game.
The spec sheet also shows a 15 Hz to 25 kHz frequency range, wider at both ends than the PDP, plus 16 ohm impedance and 98 dB sensitivity — efficient numbers that a controller or phone can drive easily. The trade-offs are real, though. It's heavier, and the full spatial-audio plus control-box experience is clearly optimized for PC setups. On an Xbox One controller over 3.5 mm, you get the audio, but you won't get the same control-box conveniences. Who should buy it: multi-platform gamers who want one durable headset and care about positional audio. Who should skip it: someone who only plays Xbox One and wants the simplest possible wired setup.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for Xbox One exclusivity → PDP Xbox One Afterglow: Officially licensed by Microsoft and built for the Xbox One controller's 3.5 mm jack.
• Best for positional/spatial audio → HyperX: DTS Headphone:X with a two-year activation code is a feature the PDP simply doesn't offer.
• Best for lightweight, low-fatigue comfort → PDP Xbox One Afterglow: The split headband and plush pads are purpose-designed to reduce pressure.
• Best for durability → HyperX: The aluminum frame is explicitly built to handle daily wear and tear.
• Best for a removable mic with platform certifications → HyperX: Discord and TeamSpeak certified, flexible and detachable.
• Best for quick physical mute/volume → PDP Xbox One Afterglow: In-line controls on the cable keep adjustments instant.
• Best for PC-centric setups → HyperX: The USB audio control box gives you mic and headset volume plus mute without touching system menus.
In my opinion, if you play almost exclusively on Xbox One and want a light, comfortable, officially licensed headset with controls right on the cable, I'd buy the PDP Xbox One Afterglow. It does one job and does it without fuss. But if you game across PC, Xbox and other devices, or you want spatial audio, a detachable certified mic and an aluminum frame that shrugs off daily abuse, I'd choose the HyperX Cloud Core. It's the more versatile, longer-haul pick. Buy the PDP for simplicity; buy the HyperX for range.
Both work on Xbox One. The PDP is officially licensed by Microsoft and tuned specifically for that console, while the HyperX connects via 3.5 mm and adds DTS Headphone:X spatial audio support for Xbox One and Series X|S.
Does the HyperX Cloud Core work on PC and PlayStation?
The HyperX mic is detachable, flexible and noise-cancelling, with Discord and TeamSpeak certification. The PDP mic is also flexible, removable and noise/echo cancelling, but it isn't tied to those platform certifications.
The PDP uses a split headband and extra-plush pads specifically to reduce pressure and fatigue. The HyperX uses memory foam ear cups, though it's the heavier of the two. For a lighter feel, I'd lean PDP; for cushioned foam, HyperX.
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