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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a wireless, multi-platform headset you can carry from PC to Switch to Android with a detachable mic and a steel-reinforced frame, choose SteelSeries Arctis 1; if you need a budget-friendly wired USB headset for a desktop PC with big 50mm drivers and RGB flair, choose Glaeptio Gaming Headset.
• SteelSeries Arctis 1 — biggest strength: lossless 2.4 GHz wireless plus a USB-C dongle that moves between PC, PS4, Switch and Android, backed by a 20-hour battery and a detachable Discord-certified mic.
• SteelSeries Arctis 1 — biggest trade-off: it's a wireless-first design, so you're managing a battery and a dongle rather than just plugging in a cable; the 3.5mm wired path only covers iOS.
• Glaeptio Gaming Headset — biggest strength: 50mm drivers, 7.1 surround sound and a fixed USB connection that needs zero charging or pairing.
• Glaeptio Gaming Headset — biggest trade-off: it's tethered to a USB port with a 1.8m cable, so it's a desk-bound PC headset and nothing else.
• Who each is for: the Arctis 1 suits someone who games across several devices and wants wireless freedom; the Glaeptio suits someone who wants a simple, comfortable wired headset for one desktop setup.
The Arctis 1 is built around one idea: take the same headset everywhere. A compact USB-C dongle delivers 2.4 GHz wireless to PC and PS4, and that same dongle plugs straight into a Switch, Switch Lite or an Android phone. Wireless range is quoted at 30ft / 9m, which is enough to walk to the kitchen mid-match without losing audio. If you split your time between a desk and a handheld, that single dongle is the whole appeal.
The audio hardware is worth noting too. SteelSeries says these are the same 40mm drivers used in the Arctis 7, with a 20–20,000 Hz frequency response, 32 Ohm impedance and 98 dBSPL sensitivity. The mic is a detachable bidirectional noise-canceling boom with a 100–6,500 Hz response, and it's Discord Certified. The headband is steel-reinforced and adjusts to fit different head sizes while staying light. Battery life is rated at 20 hours, and volume plus mic mute sit right on the earcup.
Who should buy it: anyone juggling PC, PlayStation and a handheld, or an Android gamer who wants a real wireless headset instead of a dongle-free Bluetooth compromise. Who should skip it: if you only ever game at one desk and never want to think about charging, the wireless premium buys you nothing. The over-ear cups are circular with metal and plastic construction, so this is a functional build rather than a plush one, and the 3.5mm fallback is limited to iOS rather than a universal wired mode.
The Glaeptio is the opposite philosophy: plug in and play. It's a USB wired headset — you push the USB connector into a computer port and it works, with no pairing, no dongle and no battery to top up. The 1.8m / 5.91ft cable gives you reasonable slack to lean back, and because there's no battery inside, the whole thing weighs about 290g / 0.64lbs, which is genuinely light for a full-size headset.
The spec sheet leans into comfort and atmosphere. The 50mm drivers are larger than the Arctis 1's 40mm units, with the same 20–20,000 Hz frequency range, and Glaeptio pairs them with 7.1 surround sound processing for positional cues. There are soft skin-friendly ear cushions, a suspended headband design that spreads pressure, and a breathable fit Glaeptio claims avoids overheating over long sessions. RGB lighting with a solid-color mix adds a visual accent to a desk setup. The whole package is a single headset in the box — no transmitter, no cable swaps.
Who should buy it: a PC-only player on a tight budget who wants a big-driver, surround-sound headset with a comfortable suspended band and some RGB personality. Who should skip it: console players, handheld players, anyone who wants wireless, and anyone who needs a boom mic they can remove. The connection is USB to a computer, so a PlayStation, Switch or phone isn't the target here. Note the 90-day manufacturer warranty, which is shorter than the 1-year coverage on the SteelSeries.
• Best for multi-device gaming → SteelSeries Arctis 1. PC, PS4, Switch, Switch Lite and Android all run off the same USB-C dongle.
• Best for pure PC simplicity → Glaeptio Gaming Headset. USB in, audio out, nothing to charge or pair.
• Best for battery life → SteelSeries Arctis 1. A rated 20 hours per charge, versus no battery at all on the wired Glaeptio.
• Best for big drivers → Glaeptio Gaming Headset. 50mm drivers against the Arctis 1's 40mm.
• Best for positional audio on PC → Glaeptio Gaming Headset. 7.1 surround sound is the headline feature; the Arctis 1 instead leans on PS5 Tempest 3D AudioTech support.
• Best for mic flexibility → SteelSeries Arctis 1. The ClearCast boom detaches completely, and it's Discord Certified; the Glaeptio's mic is part of the fixed frame.
• Best for cable-free movement → SteelSeries Arctis 1. 30ft / 9m of wireless range, versus a 1.8m cable on the Glaeptio.
• Best for a lightweight desk headset → Glaeptio Gaming Headset. Around 290g with a suspended, breathable headband.
• Best for build longevity → SteelSeries Arctis 1. A steel-reinforced headband and a 1-year warranty, against a 90-day warranty on the Glaeptio.
I'd buy the SteelSeries Arctis 1. In my opinion, the wireless dongle is the feature that keeps paying off: one headset that follows you from a PC to a PlayStation to a Switch to an Android phone is worth more than any single spec bump, and the 20-hour battery, steel-reinforced headband and detachable Discord-certified mic round out a genuinely flexible package. The Glaeptio is a sensible pick if you sit at one desktop and want 50mm drivers, 7.1 surround and RGB without ever touching a charger — but it can't leave that desk. If your gaming happens in more than one place, the Arctis 1 is the one I'd recommend.
It's primarily wireless. It uses 2.4 GHz RF wireless via a USB or USB-C dongle for PC, PS4, Switch and Android, and it also has a 3.5mm jack that's listed for iOS. There's no Bluetooth.
Not according to the specs. It's a USB wired headset for PC and the Series X, with a 1.8m cable. There's no wireless mode and no 3.5mm jack listed, so it's a computer-first product.
That depends on what you want. The Glaeptio has larger 50mm drivers and 7.1 surround sound for positional cues on PC. The Arctis 1 uses the same 40mm drivers as the Arctis 7 with a 20–20,000 Hz range and supports PS5 Tempest 3D AudioTech. Both cover the same frequency range, so the difference is driver size and surround processing versus wireless freedom.
Both are built for marathon sessions, in different ways. The Glaeptio emphasizes a lightweight ~290g frame with a suspended headband and breathable cushions. The Arctis 1 uses an adjustable steel-reinforced headband and over-ear cups. Neither spec sheet gives a clamping-force number, so try to match the design to your preference.
Yes — this page doesn't list prices, so use the button on this page to check the current price on Amazon for each headset before you commit, since the two sit in very different budget tiers.
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See also: Amazon Renewed HyperX Cloud Alpha vs SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1, SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P vs Jabra Evolve3, SteelSeries Arctis 1 vs FIFINE Amplitank HD18