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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-26 · 9 min read · Independent comparison
• PIWIJOY RGB Gaming Headset — biggest strength: a 10-mode RGB headphone stand that doubles as a 2× USB 2.0 + 1× USB-C charging hub, with touch controls and auto-saved lighting memory.
• PIWIJOY RGB Gaming Headset — biggest trade-off: it is a stand, not a headset. You get zero audio, zero mic, and no drivers — it holds and lights and charges, nothing more.
• IAIEIO K98 — biggest strength: a 280 g wired over-ear RGB headset with a retractable noise-cancelling boom mic, inline volume/mute controls and a 3.5 mm jack that works across PS5, PS4, PC, Xbox Series X|S and more.
• IAIEIO K98 — biggest trade-off: it is wired only, RGB runs off a separate USB cable to your PC, and older Xbox models need an adapter that isn't the same as the included audio adapter cable.
• Who each pick is for: PIWIJOY for the desk-setup builder who already owns headphones and wants RGB plus charging; IAIEIO K98 for the player who needs a mic, chat and lag-free game audio tonight.
Strip away the marketing and the PIWIJOY RGB Gaming Headset is a tabletop headphone stand with a lighting system and a small USB hub built into it. The stand body is plastic in a black finish, and the base and the vertical pole both light up, so the glow reads as one continuous piece rather than a single glowing pad. Ten modes give you plenty of range: two color-cycle effects, one breathing effect, and seven static colors. If you like a slow shifting wash across your setup, the cycles do that; if you want a fixed accent color that matches your keyboard and mouse, the static options cover it.
The touch control is the part I'd actually appreciate day to day. There are no clicky buttons to hunt for behind your monitor, and the stand remembers your last setting, so after a power cycle it comes back the way you left it instead of resetting to a default rainbow. Small thing, but it's the difference between a gadget you keep using and one you stop bothering with.
The hub side is modest but genuinely useful: two USB 2.0 ports and one USB-C port. That's enough for a phone, a tablet, or topping up a wireless headset between rounds without crawling under the desk. USB 2.0 is not a fast data standard, so treat these as charging and accessory ports rather than a place to park an external SSD.
Who should buy it: anyone building a visible gaming desk who already owns a headset they like, wants the RGB look without buying new audio gear, and could use a couple of spare ports. Perfect gaming gift territory too, since it doesn't require knowing anything about the recipient's audio preferences or platform.
Setup is genuinely nothing: plug it into a USB port on a PC, laptop or wall adapter and it works. No software, no drivers, no companion app.
IAIEIO K98: Who It's For
The IAIEIO K98 is the real headset of the pair. It's a wired over-ear model in a white and black color scheme with aluminum alloy detailing, and the styling is deliberately minimalist — clean lines rather than the spiky gamer aesthetic. The RGB lighting is there, but here's the detail worth knowing before you buy: you activate it by plugging the USB cable into your PC. The light effects aren't powered by the 3.5 mm audio connection, and the specs note you can simply not use RGB if you don't want it. For console players, that's a real consideration — on a PS5 or Xbox you'd normally be connecting via the 3.5 mm jack, so plan on a USB port if you want the glow.
Comfort is where the numbers are most interesting. The headset is listed at 280 g with 3.5 cm of vertical adjustability, ultra-soft protein leather ear cups, memory foam padding and a breathable design. There's an explicit note that the padding is shaped with glasses wearers in mind — a small thing that a lot of headsets ignore entirely. Light weight plus vertical adjustment is the combination that usually decides whether you can wear something for a four-hour session without fidgeting, and the spec sheet is clearly aimed at that.
The mic is the standout feature. It's a 120-degree adjustable boom that extends when you need it and retracts flush into the headset body when you don't — no dangling stalk when you're just listening to music. The inline control box gives you volume plus one-touch mute, which is the fastest way to kill your mic mid-match. IAIEIO claims the mic blocks up to 95% of ambient background noise, which is a manufacturer figure, not an independent test, but the design intent is clear: clear voice pickup with the room noise pushed down.
On audio, the driver type is a dynamic driver and the connection is a 3.5 mm wired jack — that's the "zero-latency" claim in practice. Wired analog audio has no wireless codec delay to worry about, which matters in competitive shooters where you're reacting to footsteps.
Platform support is broad: PS5, PS4, PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One (older models need a separate adapter), PSP, iPad, laptops, tablets, smartphones, anything with a 3.5 mm jack. IAIEIO includes a dedicated audio adapter cable and specifically flags that static or electrical interference on PC is usually an audio port incompatibility issue — so if you hear buzz, try the adapter before assuming the headset is faulty. There's also a one-year warranty listed.
Who should buy it: someone who needs a mic and lag-free audio for chat-heavy multiplayer, plays across multiple platforms, and wants a headset that looks understated rather than loud.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for RGB atmosphere on your desk → PIWIJOY RGB Gaming Headset. Ten lighting modes, synchronized base and pole glow, and touch control with saved memory.
• Best for actual game audio and voice chat → IAIEIO K98. It's a functioning headset with a retractable noise-cancelling boom mic and inline mute.
• Best for charging and cable management → PIWIJOY RGB Gaming Headset. Two USB 2.0 ports plus one USB-C port built into the stand base.
• Best for long sessions and glasses wearers → IAIEIO K98. 280 g, 3.5 cm of vertical adjustment, protein leather and memory foam padding.
• Best for multi-platform play → IAIEIO K98. 3.5 mm wired connection covering PS5, PS4, PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One (older models need a separate adapter), handhelds, tablets and phones.
• Best for latency-sensitive competitive play → IAIEIO K98. Wired analog audio, no wireless delay.
• Best for a gift when you don't know their platform → PIWIJOY RGB Gaming Headset. Plug-and-play on any USB port, no compatibility homework required.
• Best if you already love your current headphones → PIWIJOY RGB Gaming Headset. It displays and charges what you own instead of replacing it.
Notice that only one of those lines is a head-to-head decision. If you need sound, the PIWIJOY is out immediately. If you need a stand, the IAIEIO is out immediately. The overlap is the RGB aesthetic, and that's genuinely the only place these two compete.
In my opinion, most people searching this comparison actually need the IAIEIO K98, because "gaming headset" is the thing that makes a setup usable — a mic, a wired connection, and something comfortable enough for a long session. If you have no headset at all, buy the K98 and you're playing in minutes.
But if you already own headphones you're happy with, the PIWIJOY RGB Gaming Headset is the smarter buy: it gives you the RGB look, a tidy home for your cans, and three extra ports, without replacing audio gear that already works. In my opinion that's the honest split — audio first, aesthetics second.
Either way, check the current price on Amazon before you commit, since it's the one thing this comparison can't tell you.
what are rgb headphones
"RGB" refers to the red, green and blue LED lighting built into a product, usually cycled or blended to produce multi-color effects. On a headset like the IAIEIO K98, that lighting is cosmetic — it runs off a USB cable connected to your PC and adds visual flair to your setup, and you can leave it off if you prefer. It has no effect on audio quality, mic pickup or latency.
what is rgb headphones
Same question, and worth answering plainly: RGB headphones are headphones with decorative LED lighting rather than any special audio technology. The IAIEIO K98 pairs its RGB with a 3.5 mm wired connection, a dynamic driver and a retractable noise-cancelling mic, so the lighting is one feature among several. If you don't want the glow, the specs say you can simply not use it.
Is the PIWIJOY RGB Gaming Headset actually a headset?
No. Despite the name, the PIWIJOY is a tabletop headphone stand with RGB lighting and a USB hub — two USB 2.0 ports and one USB-C port. It has no speakers, no microphone and no audio connection. It holds and lights your existing headphones and charges small devices; it does not produce sound.
They're not comparable. The IAIEIO K98 uses passive noise cancellation through its over-ear protein leather and memory foam ear cups, and its microphone is rated to block up to 95% of ambient background noise. The PIWIJOY RGB Gaming Headset has no audio components at all, so noise cancellation doesn't apply to it.
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