STEALTH PANTHER Sky Gaming Headset Review UK 2026: The £18 Reality Check

The budget gaming headset market in 2026 is absolutely flooded. Between £15 and £30, you’ll find dozens of options promising “studio-quality audio” and “crystal-clear comms” whilst looking like they’ve been designed by someone who thinks more RGB equals better sound. I’ve tested enough of these to know that at £17.78, the STEALTH PANTHER Sky Gaming Headset sits in the most competitive price bracket imaginable.

STEALTH PANTHER Sky - Over Ear Gaming Headset PS4/PS5, XBOX, Switch, PC with Flexible Mic, 3.5mm Jack, 1.5m Cable, Lightweight, Comfortable and Durable

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.2 (414 reviews)

£17.78

• Perfect for all platforms! Compatible with XBOX One, XBOX Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, PC, Mobile & Tablet via 3.5mm jack connection**
• Control: talk to your team loud and clear with the easily positioned boom mic with Volume and mute control at your fingertips
• Fully adjustable headband and flexible lightweight frame designed to fit most gamers comfortably without clamping or slipping
• Soft foam cushioned headband and a lightweight, slim design are the keys to absolute comfort during long gaming sessions
• Over-ear flexible, cushioned leatherette ear cups to help block out distractions and keep your head in the game

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Price checked: 10 Jan 2026 | Affiliate link

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Here’s the landscape: At the bottom, you’ve got £15-20 headsets like the Turtle Beach Recon 70 and Tatybo Gaming Headset competing on pure value. The £30-50 range brings slightly better build quality with options like the Trust Gaming GXT 488. Then there’s the massive jump to £100+ territory with the Logitech G535 and SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X, where you’re paying for wireless connectivity, premium materials, and brand recognition.

The trade-offs at this price point are predictable: wired-only connectivity, plastic construction, basic mic quality, and sound tuning that’s often bass-heavy to mask detail deficiencies. The question isn’t whether the STEALTH PANTHER Sky can compete with a £200 headset (it can’t), but whether it offers enough comfort, decent enough audio, and acceptable mic quality to justify its existence in an oversaturated market.

I’ve spent the past few weeks using this headset across multiple gaming sessions, voice chat tests, and music listening to determine exactly where it sits in the value equation.

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Comfort & Fit: The Unexpected Win

I’ll be honest, I expected this headset to hurt. At under £20, most manufacturers prioritise looking the part over actually being comfortable. But after a six-hour session playing through Baldur’s Gate 3, I was genuinely surprised that my head didn’t feel like it had been in a vice.

The clamping force is moderate, not aggressive. I’ve tested headsets three times this price that squeeze your skull like they’re trying to extract information. The STEALTH PANTHER Sky applies enough pressure to stay secure during movement but doesn’t create hotspots around your temples. The adjustable headband has a decent range, extending enough to fit my admittedly large head without maxing out the adjustment.

The ear cups use what STEALTH calls “leatherette” cushioning, which is marketing speak for pleather. They’re over-ear in design, though the internal cavity is on the smaller side. If you have larger ears, you might find them sitting partially on the cartilage rather than fully around your ears. For me, they achieved a proper over-ear fit, which is crucial for comfort during extended sessions.

Here’s where budget materials show up: the foam density. It’s soft initially, but after about three hours, I noticed the cushioning compressing enough that I could feel the harder plastic beneath. Not uncomfortable exactly, but noticeable. Premium headsets use memory foam that maintains its shape better. This uses basic foam that will likely flatten further over months of use.

Weight is genuinely impressive at this price point. The entire headset feels light on your head, which reduces fatigue significantly. I’ve used the NUBWO Wireless Gaming Headset which costs more but feels heavier and less balanced.

Glasses compatibility is acceptable. I wear medium-framed glasses, and whilst there’s some pressure on the arms, it’s not the instant discomfort I’ve experienced with tighter headsets. The ear cups have enough give to accommodate the frames without creating painful pressure points. After four hours, I needed a break, but that’s fairly standard for budget headsets with pleather cushions.

The headband padding is minimal, just a thin layer of foam covered in the same pleather material. For the light weight of this headset, it’s adequate. Heavier headsets need more padding to distribute weight, but here it’s not an issue.

One specific moment stands out: I forgot I was wearing them. About two hours into a gaming session, I stood up to grab a drink and was genuinely startled when the cable pulled taut. That’s the hallmark of decent comfort, when a headset disappears from your awareness.

Sound Quality: Budget Reality

Let’s establish expectations. At £17.78, you’re not getting audiophile-grade drivers or sophisticated tuning. What you’re getting is functional gaming audio that prioritises bass presence over balanced frequency response.

The sound signature is predictably V-shaped: boosted bass, recessed mids, and slightly elevated treble. This tuning makes explosions feel impactful and footsteps somewhat audible, but voices sound thin and music lacks midrange warmth. I tested with tracks I know intimately, including Daft Punk’s “Giorgio by Moroder” which has distinct layers across the frequency spectrum. The bass synths came through with reasonable punch, but the mid-range vocals felt distant and the high-frequency details were present but slightly harsh.

For gaming, the positional audio is where budget headsets typically fall apart. The STEALTH PANTHER Sky uses standard stereo drivers (no mention of driver size in the specs, which usually means 40mm generic units). I tested extensively in Counter-Strike 2, where audio positioning is absolutely critical. Can you hear which direction footsteps are coming from? Yes, broadly. Can you pinpoint vertical positioning or distinguish between distances with precision? Absolutely not.

The soundstage is narrow, which is typical for closed-back budget headsets. Sounds feel like they’re coming from inside your head rather than from a space around you. Compared to something like the Sony INZONE H5 which costs significantly more, the difference in spatial audio is night and day. But compared to other budget options like the Turtle Beach Recon 50P, it’s competitive.

Bass response is boosted but not overwhelmingly so. It adds weight to explosions and gunfire without completely drowning out other frequencies. I’ve tested budget headsets where the bass is so exaggerated that dialogue becomes unintelligible. This isn’t that. It’s tuned for gaming rather than music, which means action feels impactful but acoustic tracks sound unnatural.

Detail retrieval is limited. Subtle audio cues like distant gunfire or environmental ambience get lost in the mix. In single-player narrative games where precise audio positioning matters less, this isn’t a dealbreaker. In competitive multiplayer, it’s a genuine disadvantage.

Volume gets adequately loud without distortion creeping in until you’re at uncomfortable levels. The 3.5mm connection means you’re limited by your source device’s amplification, but I had no issues driving these from a PS5 controller, Nintendo Switch, or PC motherboard audio.

Here’s my tangent: I genuinely don’t understand why budget gaming headsets always boost bass so aggressively. I reckon it’s because bass is easy to produce with cheap drivers and it feels impressive in a quick shop demo. But for actual gaming performance, especially competitive gaming, you want clarity and positioning over thump. The STEALTH PANTHER Sky falls into this trap, though less egregiously than some competitors.

The Mic Test: Functional, Not Impressive

The boom mic is where budget headsets typically reveal their compromises most obviously, and the STEALTH PANTHER Sky is no exception.

The mic is flexible and positions easily, which is a basic requirement that some budget headsets somehow still mess up. It stays where you put it without drooping during use. There’s a simple flip-to-mute function, though there’s no visual or audio indicator when you’ve muted yourself, which has led to me talking to nobody more than once.

I recorded voice samples in Discord, tested in-game chat across multiple platforms, and asked teammates for honest feedback. The consensus: I’m audible and understandable, but I sound like I’m speaking through a cheap mic. Which, to be fair, I am.

The frequency response is limited, capturing primarily mid-range frequencies whilst rolling off both bass and treble. This makes voices sound thin and slightly nasal. Background noise rejection is minimal, so keyboard clicks, mouse movements, and ambient room noise all come through clearly. If you’re in a quiet environment, it’s acceptable. If you’re in a busy household or game with mechanical keyboards, your teammates will hear everything.

There’s no sidetone (mic monitoring), which means you can’t hear your own voice in the headset. This isn’t surprising at this price point, but it does mean you might find yourself speaking louder than necessary because you can’t gauge your volume naturally.

Volume control is handled via an inline controller on the cable, which includes separate dials for volume and mic mute. The dials are small and undifferentiated by touch, so adjusting volume in the dark requires looking at the controller. The cable length to the inline controller is reasonable, sitting roughly at chest height when worn.

Honestly? If you’re serious about voice chat, buy a separate microphone. Even a £20 USB mic will outperform this dramatically. But if you just need functional team communication for casual gaming, it does the job. Your mates won’t compliment your audio quality, but they won’t constantly ask you to repeat yourself either.

Comparison: How Does It Stack Up?

The value proposition is clear: the STEALTH PANTHER Sky trades audio quality and mic performance for comfort and multi-platform compatibility at the absolute bottom of the price spectrum. If those trade-offs align with your priorities, it makes sense. If audio quality matters, the extra £15-20 for a mid-tier option delivers noticeable improvements.

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Build & Features: Plastic Reality

The entire headset is plastic. Not premium-feeling plastic with rubberised coatings or metal reinforcements, just straightforward budget plastic. The headband adjustment mechanism uses notched plastic teeth that click into place with an audible snap. It feels functional rather than durable.

Flexibility is actually reasonable. The headband has enough give to absorb minor impacts without snapping, and the ear cups rotate slightly to accommodate different head shapes. I wouldn’t throw this in a bag without protection, but it’s not as fragile as some ultra-budget options I’ve tested.

The cable is non-detachable, which is standard at this price but frustrating for longevity. When (not if) the cable develops issues from repeated twisting and pulling, the entire headset becomes e-waste. The cable itself is approximately 2 metres long, rubber-coated, and terminates in a standard 3.5mm four-pole TRRS connector.

Multi-platform compatibility is genuinely useful. The 3.5mm connection works with Xbox controllers, PlayStation controllers, Nintendo Switch (both docked and handheld), PC (via motherboard audio or front panel), mobile devices, and tablets. No drivers, no software, no faff. Plug it in and it works.

There’s no software, which means no EQ adjustments, no virtual surround processing, and no mic monitoring. For some users, this is a limitation. For others, it’s refreshing simplicity. You’re getting the raw sound signature the drivers produce, for better or worse.

The inline controller feels cheap. The plastic housing is lightweight and the control dials require more force to turn than I’d like. The mic mute switch is a small sliding toggle that’s easy to accidentally activate. After a few weeks of use, I can already feel slight looseness in the volume dial mechanism.

Aesthetically, it’s aggressively “gamer” with angular design elements and colour accents, but at least it’s not covered in RGB LEDs. The predominantly black colour scheme with blue accents is reasonably subtle compared to some competitors that look like they were designed by someone who thinks Transformers is the peak of industrial design.

Durability concerns centre on the headband adjustment mechanism and cable. Both are common failure points for budget headsets. The ear cup cushions will flatten over time, and the pleather will eventually start flaking (a universal problem with this material). I’d estimate 12-18 months of regular use before something fails, which isn’t terrible for £18 but isn’t impressive either.

Amazon Buyer Feedback: The 412 Review Reality

With 412 reviews averaging 4.2 stars, the STEALTH PANTHER Sky has accumulated substantial real-world feedback. Digging through verified purchase reviews reveals consistent patterns.

Positive feedback consistently mentions comfort and value. Multiple reviewers note surprise at how comfortable the headset is for the price, with several specifically mentioning successful 4+ hour gaming sessions without discomfort. Parents buying for children appreciate the adjustable sizing and lightweight design.

The multi-platform compatibility receives frequent praise, particularly from users who game across multiple systems and want a single headset solution without spending premium money.

Negative feedback focuses predictably on mic quality and build concerns. Several reviewers mention teammates complaining about voice quality or background noise. There are scattered reports of cable issues developing after several months, and a few instances of headband adjustment mechanisms breaking.

The sound quality receives mixed feedback, which tracks with my experience. Casual gamers find it perfectly acceptable, whilst those with experience using better headsets note the limited soundstage and bass-heavy tuning. Several reviewers mention it’s fine for single-player gaming but limiting for competitive multiplayer.

Interestingly, quite a few reviews come from users replacing failed budget headsets from other brands, suggesting this price bracket has generally poor longevity across manufacturers. The STEALTH PANTHER Sky isn’t uniquely fragile, it’s just participating in the budget headset reality of limited durability.

Should You Buy It?

The STEALTH PANTHER Sky Gaming Headset makes sense for specific use cases and budgets.

Buy it if:

You’re a casual gamer on an extremely tight budget who needs something functional across multiple platforms. The comfort-to-price ratio is genuinely impressive, and if you’re primarily playing single-player games where precise audio positioning isn’t critical, the sound quality is perfectly adequate. Parents buying for younger gamers will appreciate the adjustable sizing and lightweight design that won’t cause discomfort complaints.

You’re also a good candidate if you game in a quiet environment where mic background noise won’t be problematic, and your gaming friends aren’t particularly fussy about voice quality. For Discord calls whilst playing co-op games with mates, it does the job.

Skip it if:

You play competitive multiplayer games where audio positioning provides tactical advantages. The narrow soundstage and limited detail retrieval will put you at a genuine disadvantage. Similarly, if you create content or stream, the mic quality isn’t good enough for professional use.

If you’ve experienced mid-range or premium headsets before, the audio quality will feel like a significant downgrade. The bass-heavy tuning and lack of detail become grating once you know what proper audio staging sounds like.

Also skip if you need durability. At this price point, you’re accepting that this might last a year or two before something fails. If you need something that’ll survive daily use for years, save up for a better-built option.

Consider alternatives if:

You can stretch your budget to £30-40. The jump from £18 to £35 delivers disproportionately better audio quality and build. The Trust Gaming GXT 488 costs roughly double but offers noticeably superior sound and a better mic.

If wireless connectivity matters, the Ozeino Wireless Gaming Headset costs more but eliminates cable management hassles, though you’re trading some audio quality for that convenience.

My Recommendation

After several weeks of testing, I’m giving the STEALTH PANTHER Sky Gaming Headset a qualified recommendation with clear caveats.

This isn’t a headset that’ll impress anyone. It won’t deliver audio revelations or make your teammates compliment your voice quality. What it does is provide functional gaming audio and genuinely decent comfort at a price point where most competitors fail at one or both.

The comfort genuinely surprised me. I’ve tested headsets at triple this price that hurt after two hours, and the STEALTH PANTHER Sky remained comfortable through six-hour sessions. That alone gives it value for casual gamers who prioritise not getting headaches over audio fidelity.

But let’s be brutally honest about limitations. The mic is rubbish for anything beyond basic team communication. The sound quality is acceptable but unremarkable, tuned for impact over accuracy. The build quality screams “this won’t last forever” with every plastic creak.

Is it worth £17.78? For the right user, absolutely. If you’re buying your first gaming headset, replacing a broken budget option, or shopping for a young gamer who’ll outgrow it anyway, this represents proper value. You’re getting functional multi-platform audio and impressive comfort for less than the cost of two cinema tickets.

But if you’re serious about gaming audio or voice quality, save up. The jump to £40-50 delivers exponentially better performance. The STEALTH PANTHER Sky occupies the “good enough for now” category rather than “this is genuinely great” territory.

My rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars. It exceeds expectations for comfort whilst meeting basic expectations for audio and falling slightly short for mic quality and build. At this price, that’s actually a decent result.

For casual gaming across multiple platforms where comfort matters more than audio perfection, the STEALTH PANTHER Sky Gaming Headset delivers acceptable value. Just know exactly what you’re buying and what compromises you’re accepting for that sub-£20 price tag.