Alongside the release of itsPlayStation Portal handheld, Sony has a set of audio devices coming fans’ way. First up was the Pulse Explore earbuds, which we were very impressed by while using them with the PlayStation Portal and as a set of daily driver buds, and now the Pulse Elite headset is up next.
ThePulse Elite is PlayStation’s latest headsetoffering and is easily its best yet. The audio quality is top notch, the design is sleek and considered, comfort is solid, and the functionality allows the Pulse Elite to compete with some of the best headsets on the market.
Pulse Elite Headset Design
As with most of its accessories, Sony has designed the Pulse Elite headset to match the look of the PlayStation 5. It will only be available in white at launch and features the unique curvature that has become a signature of this generation’s Sony console. The headset looks a lot like thePulse 3D, right down to the adjustable component of the headband, which slides upward to meet the harder plastic of the outer frame of the Pulse Elite. The main difference in terms of aesthetics is the curved pieces of plastic that go across the ear cups, one of which holds the retractable mic and the other that includes some control buttons on its underside, one for power/connectivity and a pair of +/- volume control buttons.
Sony has designed the Pulse Elite to look cool without sacrificing comfort. The adjustable headband allows it to fit any head size height and it also bends outward to accommodate different head widths. The faux leather ear cups create a nice seal over the ears but are plenty soft at the same time. One criticism is that the ear cup design can lead to strain for glasses-wearers, as they put pressure on the temples of their glasses. For shorter gaming sessions, I never had any issues, but longer “marathons” made it noticeable after taking the Pulse Elite headset off.
Without question, the Pulse Elite stands out in a crowd, but its design fits the PS5 theme and the minimalism on display is impressive. It doesn’t feel bulky or heavy and there is a lot of thought put into making sure the headset looks as clean as possible.
Planar Drivers in the Pulse Elite Headset
Planar drivers seem to be the most popular choice for high-end headsets as of late. Sony was proud to say that its Pulse Explore earbuds were the first to include planar drivers in the smaller form factor, and now Pulse Elite brings them to the over-ear model.
Typically, planar drivers are associated with a fuller, richer sound at a premium price. Dynamic drivers aren’t as expensive to incorporate and are no slouches either. In some cases, it’s personal preference, but right now it seems the major selling point of planar drivers is delivering higher-quality sound at a higher price. Which makes the Pulse Elite’s $149.99 price tag more impressive.
In terms of sound quality, I’ve been a fan of every planar driver-based headset I’ve tested, and the Pulse Elite are no exception. They work well in any scenario, from gaming to watching movies to listening to music, making sure that all the necessary audio comes through in full. Using them with games likeHelldivers 2orBanishers: Ghosts of New Eden, the Pulse Elite headset showed no faults and packed enough bass-y booms mixed with subtle details like footsteps and distant gunfire. Obviously, with this being a PlayStation headset it takes full advantage of theconsole’s 3D audio profile, but it works excellent with Dolby Atmos or Linear PCM as well.
Pulse Elite’s Retractable Mic
The Pulse Elite has a retractable mic built into the frame that grips the left ear cup and extends to sit in front of your mouth. The mic includes a dedicated mute button right on it, or you can toggle mute on/off with theDualSense controller. It also has some subtle PlayStation branding on it for a nice design touch.
In terms of audio quality, the Pulse Elite’s mic is solid. It’s better than some mics on headsets but it isn’t on the level of some other premium headsets out there. Where the mic really shines is in its AI-enhanced noise cancellation, which works to block out any background noise and keep the focus on your voice. Ultimately, the Pulse Elite shouldn’t be used as a podcast mic or anything like that, but when it comes to making sure your voice comes through clearly, the headset gets the job done.
Pulse Elite is More Than a PlayStation Headset
While the Pulse Elite is an easy recommendation for PS5 owners, its appeal and compatibility extend beyond that. For starters, this is a PlayStation Link headset, so it will work with the PlayStation Portal via that ultra-low latency connection. To take advantage of PlayStation Link on the PS5, however, you will need to plug in the included USB dongle. PlayStation Link is great and gives users a reliable connection with good range and excellent response time. There is no lag or fuzz even at a decent distance from the console.
However, you can also take that USB dongle and plug it into a PC or Mac and enjoy the same connection while playing Steam or Apple Store games. The Pulse Elite pairs with its PlayStation Link dongle right out of the box, so you can use it without even owning a PS5.
Charging and Battery Life with the Pulse Elite
Sony advertises that the Pulse Elite should hit around 30 hours on a single charge, and we found that to be accurate in our testing. It also takes only about 10 minutes to get 2 hours' worth of charge, in the event you’re in the middle of a gaming session and the headset goes out.
While the Pulse Elite can charge via a USB-C port underneath the earcup, the headset also comes with a cradle that pulls double duty as storage and charging. It’s a really clever charging solution for the headset, but keep in mind it does require anchoring the dock to a flat surface with a screw (not included) or a strong adhesive.
A personal favorite feature of the Pulse Elite is the Dual Device connectivity, which lets the headset work with a PlayStation Link-connected device and a Bluetooth-connected device at the same time. If, for example, you want to listen to a podcast while grinding inDestiny 2, the Pulse Elite allows that. Or if you want touse Discord on your phone for party chatand still hear game audio, the Pulse Elite does that too. Dual Device connectivity is such a nice feature to have on a headset these days, but it’s usually included on headsets designed for multi-platform gamers, so props to Sony for including it.
PlayStation Pulse Elite Review: Conclusion
Sony’s Pulse Elite headset could have easily been a device built only for use with the PS5 and PlayStation Portal. As a dedicated PlayStation headset, it still delivers excellent audio, solid overall comfort, and a good-quality microphone. PlayStation fans in the market for a quality headset will be happy with their purchase.
But the ability to use the headset and take advantage of PlayStation Link on PC/Mac and the Dual Device connectivity help widen the Pulse Elite’s appeal to more gamers and platforms. The sleek design is unmistakably PlayStation, but the functionality makes the Pulse Elite a great gaming headset, period.
PlayStation Pulse Elite Wireless Headset
Sony’s PlayStation Pulse Elite gaming headset features a design reminiscent of the PlayStation 5 console but will also work with the new PlayStation Portal, PC, or Mac. It features planar magnetic drivers, a unique charging hook, dual device connectivity over Bluetooth, and AI-enhanced noise cancellation on its microphone.
ThePlayStation Pulse Elite headsetreleases August 03, 2025 for $149.99. Game Rant was provided a unit for this review.
