Best Gaming Microphones (September 2023)

The Shure MV7 Podcast microphone is for those who want a mic that most accurately represents their voice. Of course, that kind of clarity doesn't come cheap but they're arguably the best in the business. With the MV7, Shure has created a microphone that's targeted at content creators. The mic comes with two connection types, USB Type-B Micro and XLR, giving you the best of both worlds. XLR if you're someone who uses professional grade audio software and interfaces, and Type-B Micro for those who want a more simple plug-and-play experience. Although, Type C or A would have been more preferable. The MV7 uses the ShurePlus Motiv software, which allows you to play around with your sound with ease, and being able to easily adjust things like the EQ, add voice compression and even features like Auto Level Mode, which prevents your gain from hitting the red. You also get great voice isolation.

The Blue Yeti X is a fantastic streaming microphone with a price tag to match. Like the Shure MV7, this is a top of the line, studio-grade microphone. The Blue Yeti X comes with plenty of condenser capsules, which makes sound smoother and gives the mic good sensitivity overall. There's plenty of clarity in voice when using the Blue Yeti X, and it does a good job of capturing dynamic range and making the voice sound fuller. One of the Yeti's many features is its ability to easily switch between polar patterns. There's a physical dial on the Yeti X, through which you can cycle between cardioid, bidirectional, omnidirectional, and stereo polar patterns. This is incredibly convenient, especially if you're someone who's planning to host a podcast where multiple people may need to speak into the same microphone. There's also the fantastic Blue! Voice software that lets you do a whole lot more with your voice during your streams. If you consider the quality, features and polar patterns on offer, one could actually consider the Blue Yeti X a value for money purchase.

The first microphone on our list from a prominent gaming brand, the HyperX Quadcast S is our go-to microphone if you're looking for a simple plug-and-play microphone that is both easy to use and sounds clear. While it may not be as good as the previous two microphones on this list which cost a bomb for the premium quality they offer, the HyperX Quadcast S has plenty of other features going for it. These include built-in shock mounts for when you eventually drop your microphone, a built-in pop filter, and a touch sensitive mute button on top of the mic. The benefits of a touch sensitive button are that there's no audible click or switch sound when you turn your mic on or off. The HyperX Quadcast S has four polar patterns that you can use as well, like the Blue Yeti X, making it a versatile streaming mic. Oh and of course, the RGB, the HyperX Quadcast S has oodles of that, so it won't look out of place in your flashy RGB gaming setup. Of course, if RGB is not your thing, you could for the non S variant HyperX QuadCast which is the same as the above sans the RGB.

If you're looking a plug-it-and-forget-it microphone, then the Elgato Wave:3 might just be what you're looking for. This is a fairly budget microphone with a USB input; just plug it in and you're good to go. The mic comes with a cardioid polar pattern, which is the most common on streaming and gaming microphones. At the top of the mic you've got a touch sensitive mute button, and on the front you've got indicators for the mic, headphone and whether the mic is muted or not. Under this you've got a dial to adjust gain on the mic. It's as simple as it gets, but it doesn't end there. The accompanying WaveLink software works especially well for streamers, with an intuitive design that makes the entire process a lot easier and less daunting for up and coming streamers.

The HyperX SoloCast is the budget variant of the HyperX QuadCast, so it looses some of the more expensive features for a more no-frills experience. In terms of audio quality, despite being much cheaper, the SoloCast offers near identical voice capture. Unlike the QuadCast which offers four polar patterns, you only get one polar pattern with the SoloCast, and you guessed it, it's the cardioid pattern. The SoloCast ditches pretty much all the other jazz that comes with the QuadCast, which includes the headphone jack, the gain control, the built-in pop filter, the shock mount and the RGB. But, all of that makes this a very pocket-friendly gaming microphone that is both easy to use, and offers near premium level voice quality.

Much like the HyperX SoloCast, the Blue Yeti Nano is a no-frills version of the Blue Yeti X. You still get two polar patterns with this one, including cardioid and omnidirectional. In terms of the features, the Yeti has a single dial on the front which controls volume. The same dial can be pressed to mute or unmute the mic, which is indicated by the colour of the light on the dial. In terms of quality, while it may not be as good as the Blue Yeti X, the Nano is no slouch, and can easily be considered a solid budget alternative if you're looking for a cheap studio grade mic for your streaming and podcasting needs.

Probably the cheapest microphone on this list, the Razer Seiren Mini is very compact and portable microphone. As a budget microphones you don't have a lot of features here; you just plug the mic in and get started, that's all there is to it. In terms of quality, the Razer Seiren Mini will certainly be a cut above most headphone and laptop microphones. Sure, it may not compare in terms of overall audio quality to any of the other microphones on this list, but for the price on offer, it's still a very good deal, especially if all you're looking for is a decent standlong gaming microphone just to get back into the game with your friends.