Can you use an Xbox One headset with your phone?

Lucidsound Ls50x Review
Lucidsound Ls50x Review (Image credit: Windows Central)

Can you use an Xbox One headset with your phone?

Best answer: It depends ultimately on the features on your phone and your headset. Xbox headsets with Bluetooth will generally work on any phone, but many phones are now removing the 3.5mm jack that most wired Xbox headsets use.Best Xbox One headset with Bluetooth: SteelSeries Arctis 9X ($200 at Amazon)Best Xbox One headset with 3.5mm: HyperX Cloud Alpha II ($99 at Amazon)

Figuring out Xbox headset compatibility

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)

Finding the best Xbox One headset that comes with compatibility for your mobile device is a relatively straight forward process that hinges on knowing what your headset can do and what your phone can do.

The two key primary ways an Xbox headset can interface with your phone is via 3.5mm cable or Bluetooth. Even the best Xbox One headsets out there may not have Bluetooth, since the Xbox One console itself isn't compatible with the wireless format. There are a few specialist headsets out there that are compatible with Bluetooth, 3.5mm cables, and Microsoft's proprietary Xbox Wireless signal, but they are few and far between.

Our top picks for best Xbox One headset with Bluetooth are the SteelSeries Arctis 9X, the LucidSound LS50X. The SteelSeries Arctis 9X is our best Xbox One headset with Bluetooth pick overall, owing to its slightly cheaper price point than it's beefier LS50X cousin.

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)

The LS50X is arguably a better experience overall, but I'm not sure it's $50 worth of a better experience. Whichever headset you decide to buy, they won't disappoint, and they'll be fully compatible with any modern Bluetooth phone. Simply read the instructions included with the headsets to learn how to get connected up.

Wired headsets are a bit of a different problem. The vast majority of modern phones are ditching the headphone jack. Whether you're using a OnePlus, Samsung Galaxy, or iPhone, most manufacturers are dropping the 3.5mm jack socket that all wired Xbox One headsets use, opting instead to save space on the internals or use the USB-C port with a converter dongle. 3.5mm converter dongles can be purchased incredibly cheap from Amazon, like this $10 option from JSAUX. If your phone does have a 3.5mm headphone jack, practically any Xbox One headset should work simply by plugging it in. The Xbox One controllers use 3.5mm jacks to connect wired headsets to the console, which is the same socket many older phones also use.

Ideally, you'll want to see if you can find the best wireless Xbox One headset out there that uses Bluetooth before picking one up if you're interested in a device that can work across both your Xbox One console and your cellphone.

Jez Corden
Co-Managing Editor

Jez Corden is a Managing Editor at Windows Central, focusing primarily on all things Xbox and gaming. Jez is known for breaking exclusive news and analysis as relates to the Microsoft ecosystem while being powered by tea. Follow on Twitter @JezCorden and listen to his XB2 Podcast, all about, you guessed it, Xbox!