Turtle Beach Stealth 500 vs 600: Which Wireless Headset Is Worth It?

If you want the honest split: the Stealth 500 is the one to buy when you want solid wireless sound for the lowest price, and the Stealth 600 is worth the jump only if longer battery life, stronger bass, and a roomier fit matter to you. Both are good. The 600 is not twice the headset even though it can cost close to twice as much, so let your priorities pick, not the model number.

The Stealth 500: the value pick

The 500 is Turtle Beach's entry wireless headset, and it punches above where its price sits. You get 40mm drivers, a flip-to-mute mic, around 40 hours of battery, and a lightweight build that stays comfortable through a long session. For most players buying a first real wireless headset, this is enough headset. The Stealth 500 for Xbox at $57.59 covers the Xbox side, and there is a separate PlayStation, PC, and Switch version so you buy the one wired to your platform rather than hoping for compatibility.

One thing to get right before you order: match the version to your console. Turtle Beach sells platform-specific Stealth 500 models, and the Xbox one and the PlayStation one are not interchangeable for wireless. Read the title, not just the picture.

The Stealth 600: the step up

The 600 is the mid-tier, and the newest revision is the Gen3. Compared to the 500 you get a larger 50mm driver, noticeably more low end, a bigger battery rated around 80 hours on the Gen3, and a plusher fit that suits larger heads better. The Stealth 600 Gen3 for PlayStation at $69.99 is the current version and the one to get if you are choosing between generations.

The earlier Stealth 600 for PlayStation at $89.99 is the prior generation, brand new in box. It is still a strong headset, but note the pricing quirk in front of you: the newer Gen3 is the cheaper of the two here at $69.99, which makes the Gen3 the easy call unless you specifically want the older model's tuning.

Connection and everyday use

Both headsets run on a low-latency wireless dongle rather than standard Bluetooth, which is the right choice for gaming: audio stays in sync with the picture, and there is no lag between a footstep on screen and the sound in your ears. The tradeoff is that the dongle ties each headset to the platform it was built for, which is why matching the version to your console matters so much. The 600 Gen3 adds a second connection path on some platforms so you can take a phone call or hear a chat app at the same time as game audio, where the 500 keeps things simpler with a single wireless link. Charging on both is over USB-C, and a quick top-up gives you several hours, so a flat battery mid-session is a short interruption rather than a dead night.

500 versus 600: the real differences

Three things actually separate them. Battery: the 500 lasts around 40 hours, the 600 Gen3 pushes toward 80. Sound: the 600's 50mm drivers move more air and hit harder in the low end, while the 500 stays cleaner and a touch brighter. Fit: the 600 has more padding and a wider clamp range, which matters if the 500 ever feels tight after two hours. Mic quality between the two is close enough that it should not decide your purchase.

Which one is worth it

Buy the Stealth 500 at $57.59 if you want the most wireless headset for the least money and your sessions are a couple of hours at a time. Step up to the Stealth 600 Gen3 at $69.99 if you play long, want more bass, or have found lighter headsets pinch. Skip the older 600 at $89.99 unless you have a specific reason, since the newer version costs less here. Whichever way you lean, buy the version built for your console. You can see all three brand new at Trend Circuit.