How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-01 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• PDP Xbox One Afterglow — biggest strength: a wired 3.5mm Xbox One headset with 40mm dynamic drivers, a flexible noise-cancelling boom mic and inline volume/mute controls — purpose-built for console chat.
• PDP Xbox One Afterglow — biggest trade-off: it's wired and console-focused, and it needs the 3.5mm-equipped second-generation Xbox One controller (or a separate adapter for the first-generation controller).
• RadioShack Thunder 2 — biggest strength: Bluetooth 5.0 wireless freedom with a 300mAh battery rated for up to 7 hours of playback and a lightweight over-ear fit for everyday listening.
• RadioShack Thunder 2 — biggest trade-off: no boom mic and no wired jack, so it's a listening-first pair, not a dedicated game-chat headset.
• Who each pick is for: PDP for Xbox One players who live in party chat; RadioShack for commuters, students and casual listeners who want cable-free audio anywhere.
The Afterglow LVL 3 is, at heart, a console accessory. PDP built it as a clear step up from the mono chat headset that ships with the Xbox One, and the spec sheet backs that up: 40mm dynamic drivers running a 20Hz–20,000Hz range, which the manufacturer notes are substantially larger than the drivers in a basic chat headset. That size difference is the whole point — bigger drivers generally mean fuller bass and more separation between game audio and voice, which matters when you're trying to hear footsteps and your squad at the same time.
For chat, the flexible noise-cancelling microphone is the headline feature. A bendable boom lets you position the mic near your mouth instead of hoping a fixed one picks you up, and noise cancelling on the mic side is aimed squarely at cutting background noise so your teammates hear you and not your room. Inline push-button controls for volume and mic mute sit on the cable, so you're not diving into console menus mid-match. The leatherette on-ear cushions and lay-flat ear cups round it out — comfortable for long sessions and easy to toss in a bag.
RadioShack Thunder 2: Who It's For
The Thunder 2 plays a completely different game. This is a wireless over-ear Bluetooth headphone — Bluetooth 5.0, no jack at all — aimed at everyday listening rather than competitive chat. The 300mAh battery is rated for up to 7 hours of continuous playback, and it charges over Micro-USB in roughly the same window, so a single overnight top-up covers a normal day of commuting, study or desk work. Bluetooth 5.0 is the modern, power-efficient standard, and in practice it means steadier pairing and fewer dropouts than older Bluetooth revisions.
On comfort, RadioShack went ergonomic: soft ear cushions, an adjustable headband and a lightweight build that the manufacturer explicitly frames around extended wear and portability. The enclosure mixes fabric, silicone and memory foam, which is a softer, more breathable recipe than leatherette. Sound is handled by dynamic drivers covering the same 20Hz–20,000Hz range as the PDP, so the full audible spectrum is represented — crisp highs, present lows, fine for music, podcasts and casual gaming.
Who should buy it: commuters, students, gym-goers and anyone who wants one pair for phone, tablet and laptop without cables. The box includes a 50cm USB-A to Micro-USB charging cable and a 100cm aux cable, so you're covered for charging and for the odd wired connection. Who should skip it: anyone who needs a boom mic for party chat, anyone who wants zero-latency wired console audio as their priority, and anyone who dislikes managing battery charge. There's also no active noise cancellation here — the "noise control: none" spec is honest about that. A 6-month warranty applies.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for Xbox One party chat → PDP Xbox One Afterglow. The flexible noise-cancelling boom mic and inline mute are built for exactly this.
• Best for long gaming sessions → PDP Xbox One Afterglow. Leatherette cushions, lay-flat cups and no battery to run down mid-match.
• Best for commuting and travel → RadioShack Thunder 2. Lightweight, adjustable and described as portable, with a 100cm aux cable for the odd wired moment.
• Best for cross-device listening → RadioShack Thunder 2. It pairs with phones, tablets and laptops; the PDP is tethered to a 3.5mm source.
• Best for plug-and-play simplicity → PDP Xbox One Afterglow. No pairing, no charging — plug into a 2nd-gen Xbox One controller and go.
• Best for mic quality on calls and chat → PDP Xbox One Afterglow. A dedicated boom mic beats a headset with no microphone at all.
• Best all-rounder for non-gamers → RadioShack Thunder 2. Music, podcasts and casual video without being tied to a console.
In my opinion, the right pick comes down to one question: are you gaming on an Xbox One and talking to people? If yes, I'd buy the PDP Xbox One Afterglow. The 40mm drivers, flexible noise-cancelling mic and inline controls are a coherent, purpose-built package, and being officially licensed by Microsoft means it's designed for the console rather than adapted to it — just confirm you're on a 3.5mm-equipped controller. If you're not, and you mainly want wireless audio for music and everyday listening, I'd take the RadioShack Thunder 2 instead: Bluetooth 5.0, up to 7 hours of playback and a comfortable over-ear fit make it the more versatile everyday pair. Two different jobs, two different answers — pick the one that matches how you actually listen.
No. It's a wired 3.5mm headset with a fixed cable and inline controls. That means no charging and no latency, but it also means you're tethered to your controller.
Not directly. It's designed for the second-generation Xbox One wireless controller with the built-in 3.5mm port. On a first-generation controller you'll need a separate headset adapter.
The 300mAh battery is rated for up to 7 hours of continuous playback, with a charge time of around 7 hours over Micro-USB. That's roughly a full day of commuting or a long study session per charge.
It has no boom microphone and no wired jack, so it isn't built for party chat the way the PDP is. Treat it as a listening-first headphone for music, podcasts and casual audio.
They're aimed at different buyers, so "value" depends on your use. For Xbox One chat, the PDP's licensed design and dedicated mic make it the more sensible spend; for wireless everyday listening, the RadioShack's Bluetooth 5.0 and 7-hour battery do more for the money. Check the current price on Amazon for both before you commit.
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