ASUS TUF Gaming H3 Wireless Headset Review

ASUS is one of the leading names when it comes to high-end PC and gaming hardware, and they’ve certainly worked hard to build that reputation. I reviewed the ASUS TUF Gaming H3 headset a little over a year ago and was suitably impressed with it. It was affordable, stylish, well made and offered competitive sound quality. That made it a great choice for gamers who didn’t want to spend a small fortune on their next headset. However, what if you want to go one better? Well, the new model takes the same formula, tweaks a few things, but most importantly, it cuts the cables and goes wireless! Of course, it’s a little more expensive too, but is it worth it?

ASUS TUF Gaming H3

The headset will work on mobile devices, PC, PlayStation devices, Switch and more. Basically, if you can plug a USB dongle into it, you’re good to go! The headset comes with a USB-C dongle, but they include a Type-A adapter too. The specifications remain broadly the same as the older model H3, with the same powerful drivers and microphone. Of course, they’ve added a battery and wireless hardware, but it’s still a lightweight design overall. Plus, it comes with a built-in microphone, fast charging, and a range of ergonomic adjustments that should make it easier to live with day to day.

Features

• Multi-Format Support
• Powerful 50mm ASUS Essence Drivers
  • 20Hz-20kHz
  • 32ohm
• Fast-cooling Ear Cushions
• Stainless Steel Headband
• Unidirectional Microphone
• 2.4 GHz Wireless
• 900mAh Battery
• 15+ Hours Battery Life
• 25-Meter Range

What ASUS Had to Say

“The new TUF Gaming H3 headset is designed to provide incredible comfort and durability for gamers who play or stream for extended periods of time. Featuring a lightweight construction, ASUS fast-cooling ear cushions, stainless-steel headband, 50 mm ASUS Essence drivers and an airtight chamber design, TUF Gaming H3 headset upgrades your in-game audio experience with wonderfully rich, immersive sound.” – ASUS

What’s in the Box?

There’s a plug and play USB-C dongle that’ll work on PC, mobile, Switch, etc. However, if you don’t have Type-C, there’s a Type-A adapter for it too. Finally, there’s a USB-A to Type-C cable that is used for charging.

It’s a standard cable, too, so you could easily use one you have lying around or replace it if required.

A Closer Look & Performance

The first thing I can say about this headset is that it looks just like the wired version. Hurray, that’s my job done. I’ll pop the kettle on…

OK, so it looks the same as the headset that launched over a year ago, but really, that’s no bad thing, nor is it a big surprise. They’ve taken a working formula, cut the cables off and stuck some wireless hardware in there, and I can’t really complain about that. One thing is for certain, I loved the design then, and I still do, with that brushed aluminium effect on the back paired up with the sandblasted look of the steel headband. It’s rather elegant and stylish, and I love it.

The headband is nicely padded and covered with a soft PU leather material. What’s really neat is that instead of a load of memory foam, it feels like a rubber band and air gap on the interior. The result is its light and incredibly comfortable. I can’t recall if the original H3 was the same or if that had memory foam though.

Stamped into the top of the headset, you’ll see the TUF Gaming logo, which looks neat enough, but maybe something a lot smaller would have looked more tasteful. This looks a bit too “Gamer” for an otherwise very slick looking headset.

The ear cups are nice and large, allowing for those mighty 50mm drivers. Plus, there’s a good range of ergonomics here, ensuring you can get a comfortable fit and the best sound.

The ear cups are mounted on steel arms that allow for a massive range of movement, so they should always sit flat around your ears.

It all feels very secure and durable, which is obviously a good thing. The steel headband adjustment looks great too and provides a nice contrast to the black of the ear cups. You can adjust the headband on each side by simply pulling or pushing it. It uses a friction grip system, but it does seem to lock into place very securely, so it shouldn’t slip while you’re using it.

The headset is wireless, but like the wired version, you can see a cable running from each ear cup and passing through the headband. It’s a small detail, but it’s a nice quality cable and comes with tight braiding on it.

Taking control is easy enough with this headset, as there’s a microphone mute button, a volume jog switch, and the master power button right on the side. They all have a unique shape and feel to each other, so you can easily locate them without taking the headset off and looking.

There’s a USB-C port here too, which is for charging the headset. You’ll get around 15 hours from a full charge, which was more than enough for me to run a few long trials on Elder Scrolls Online, listen to a few albums while working, and have a few work calls… which pretty much sums up my entire daily routine actually. However, when the battery did get low, the gaming didn’t have to stop, as it’ll charge while you play; I just plugged it into a USB power bank, actually.

The ear cup padded looks like leather, but it’s actually more breathable, making it both comfortable, but also less likely to give you a sweaty ear on a warm day. It’s not as noise isolating as leather though, but more so than just soft cloth. If you have it loud, people in the room will hear it fairly clearly, so keep that in mind. That works both ways too, and you’ll be able to talk to and hear people in the room, which has its advantages.

The ear cups are nice and big, and there’s a good recess in there, so your ears can sit behind the padding, getting the padding right around your ear for added comfort.

The microphone is the same as the one on the wired model, and its performance is the same. It’s bright, clear, and that’s about it, really. It’s got a flexible boom, so you can easily adjust it. However, it’s not a removable boom, even though it does look like one. I don’t like that, but hey, at least I can’t lose it like I normally would! It’s also “certified by TeamSpeak and Discord”, as it says on the box, and who am I to argue with that? Hmmm.

I’m happy to report that the drivers are the same as the old model, but well, I seem to be enjoying them a bit more this time. I found the old model sounded a little flat and didn’t quite have the bass I wanted. The wired model has Virtual 7.1 too, so I looked to address this in two ways. In Windows Sound Manager, I added a Bass Boost at +3dB, and the effect was a much fuller and overall a better sound. It did limit the maximum volume, but given this is already one of the loudest headsets in its class, that was definitely not an issue; I didn’t need to go past 75%.

The headset offers a powerful sound, mostly thanks to the impressive maximum volume. I’m not saying you should deafen yourself, but if you’re stuck with a source that has low volume, that extra kick can come in handy. The bass boost really does help, so I strongly suggest that. However, it was Dolby Atmos Headphone for Windows that really gave it a nice boost, and it handled the object-based audio processing really well. You can use Windows Sonic too, but I don’t think that sounded as good. Playing a 5.1 or above game, such as Shadow of the Tomb Raider, sounded spectacular, as did my recent watch of Blade Runner 2049, mostly because it’s audio design was better than the script, but that’s another story.

How Much Does it Cost?

The ASUS TUF Gaming H3 Gaming Headset is available right now in the UK for just £49.99. However, if you want this wireless version, it’ll be another £40, making it £89.99. That actually makes it one of the most competitively priced wireless gaming headsets out there right now! It offers basically the same features as the SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless, but it’s £10 cheaper!

Overview

ASUS has a long history and a strong reputation for award-winning products. Their H3 was one of the more affordable headsets they’ve done, and while not perfect, it was certainly delivering quality beyond its price range. The new wireless model is broadly the same, but I can’t help but feel it sounds a little better too. I do recommend a little bit of bass EQ, but honestly, the rich mid-range and detailed treble are great for gaming and team chat on Discord/Team Speak. Throwing a little bass on is subjective, but it worked well for me.

Powerful Sound

The maximum volume is certainly impressive, with me adding a little bass, throwing the volume to 80% and beyond made them real bone shakers, albeit you shouldn’t set about deafening yourself like that. The microphone quality was decent too, nothing that really stands out compared to other similarly priced headsets, but overall I have nothing to complain about with it. Well, except the fact that you can’t remove it, and just like I said in the previous review, “It is hard-wired though, even though it looks detachable and I totally didn’t try yanking the damn thing off… whoops.” and guess what? I forgot tried to rip it off this time too, doh!

Should I Buy One?

The ASUS TUF Gaming H3 in one of the best made and best-sounding affordable headsets on the market. While the H£ Wireless does cost a little more, it’s still one of the most affordable wireless headsets on the market right now! The build quality is still excellent, the battery life is great, it works with a wide range of devices, and with some minor tweaks, it sounds pretty great too!