Tatybo Gaming Headset UK 2026 Review: Can a £13 Headset Actually Be Any Good?

The gaming headset market is utterly bonkers right now. You’ve got budget options starting at £15 that promise the world, mid-range contenders between £40-80 fighting for attention, and premium wireless sets pushing £300 with features most of us don’t need. The Tatybo Gaming Headset UK 2026 sits firmly in that “surely this can’t be good” price bracket at £13.29, competing directly with the Turtle Beach Recon 70 (around £25) and our previously reviewed Turtle Beach Recon 50P (£20-ish).

Tatybo Gaming Headset for Ps5 Ps4 Xbox Series X/S, Wired Gaming Headphones for Switch Xbox One PC Stereo Surround Sound Noise Cancelling Mic LED Lights

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.3 (8,169 reviews)

£13.29

• Immersive Sound for Optimal Gaming Experience: Experience the thrill of every battle with our superior 50mm over-ear speakers that deliver crisp highs and thunderous lows. Hear all the details from every direction as if you’re right there on the battlefield
• Convenient On-Ear Controls & LED Lighting: Easily adjust volume on the ear for quick access. Featuring cool LED lights on the ear cups to enhance your gaming atmosphere, making your gaming session more exhilarating. Note: The USB cable only powers the LED lights, and we include a 1.5-meter USB extension cable for your convenience
• Adjustable Noise-Canceling Microphone: Our omnidirectional highly sensitive microphone with noise isolation technology ensures crystal-clear voice quality and reduces background noise. The flexible design allows you to adjust it 360° for optimal voice capture
• Comfort Unlike Any Other: Equipped with an ergonomic, adaptive suspension headband design made from leather and steel for optimal comfort and durability. It automatically adjusts to your head size, and the lightweight design ensures hours of comfortable gaming with comfortable memory foam ear cups (only 260g in weight)
• Cross-Platform Compatibility: Designed for versatile use, the 9059 headset works seamlessly with PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One(adapter not included), Switch and PC & mobile devices using a 3.5mm connection

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Price checked: 10 Jan 2026 | Affiliate link

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Here’s the landscape: under £20, you’re gambling. Between £20-50, you get established brands with proven track records. Above £50, you start seeing wireless options, better drivers, and actual build quality. The trade-off at this price point is always the same: something has to give. Usually it’s comfort, mic quality, or build that feels like it’ll snap if you breathe on it wrong.

I’ve tested this Tatybo headset for two weeks, wearing it through marathon gaming sessions, subjecting my teammates to voice quality tests they didn’t sign up for, and comparing it against headsets costing five times as much. The question isn’t whether it matches a £100 headset. It’s whether it’s actually usable, or just another piece of RGB-laden rubbish destined for a landfill.

If you need something right now and have less than £15 to spend, Tatybo Gaming Headset for Ps5 Ps4 Xbox Series X/S, Wired Gaming Headphones for Switch Xbox One PC Stereo Surround Sound Noise Cancelling Mic LED Lights will get you through a few months of gaming. Just don’t expect miracles.

Long Session Comfort: The Four-Hour Test

Right, let’s address the elephant in the room. Comfort at this price point is usually atrocious. I’ve tested £15 headsets that felt like they were actively trying to crush my skull into a singularity. The clamping force on some budget units could probably crack walnuts.

The Tatybo surprised me here, which is perhaps the most damning praise I can give. It’s not comfortable. But it’s not torture either.

At 260g, it’s genuinely lightweight. For context, the Sony INZONE H5 weighs 260g and costs twenty times as much. The suspension headband design actually works – it’s a simple steel band with padding that auto-adjusts to your head size. No fiddly adjustments, no clicking mechanisms to break. It just sits there.

The memory foam ear cups are where reality bites. They’re small. If you’ve got larger ears, they’ll sit on them rather than around them, which becomes uncomfortable after about 90 minutes. The foam itself is adequate but lacks the density of proper memory foam. After two hours, I could feel heat building up. After four hours during a particularly intense Warzone session, I needed a break.

Clamping force is moderate. It’s not vice-like, but it’s not loose either. I wear glasses, and here’s the specific test that matters: after three hours with my specs on, I had mild pressure points above my ears. Not painful, but noticeable. Without glasses, comfort extends to about four hours before I wanted them off.

The leather padding on the headband is fake leather (obviously at this price), and it started showing wear marks after two weeks of daily use. Not tearing, just surface scuffing. The steel band feels sturdy enough, but the plastic yokes connecting the ear cups to the headband are the weak points. They flex more than I’d like when adjusting position.

Here’s my honest assessment: for 2-3 hour gaming sessions, it’s tolerable. For all-day wear or marathon weekend sessions, you’ll need breaks. It’s miles better than the worst budget headsets I’ve tried, but nowhere near the comfort of even mid-range options.

How It Sounds: Managing Expectations

Let’s be brutally honest about audio quality at £13. You’re not getting audiophile-grade sound. You’re not getting accurate frequency response. You’re getting 50mm drivers in plastic housings with tuning that prioritises bass because that’s what “gaming” headsets are supposed to do, apparently.

The Tatybo uses 50mm drivers, which is actually the same size you’ll find in headsets costing £100+. Driver size isn’t everything – tuning, housing design, and component quality matter far more – but it’s a start.

I tested these across multiple scenarios: competitive FPS games (Warzone, Apex Legends), single-player adventures (God of War Ragnarök), and music listening with tracks I know intimately (Radiohead’s OK Computer, Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories, and some classical for good measure).

Gaming Performance: In Warzone, I could identify directional audio well enough to be competitive. Footsteps were audible, gunfire had reasonable positional accuracy, and I wasn’t at a massive disadvantage compared to my usual headset (a £90 HyperX Cloud II). The soundstage is narrow – sounds feel close to your head rather than spatially separated – but imaging is acceptable. I could tell if someone was flanking left or right, though vertical audio cues were muddy.

The bass is boosted, as expected. Explosions have thump, but it’s not particularly tight or controlled. It’s that bloated, woolly bass that bleeds into the mids. Gunshots lack the crisp impact of better headsets. The treble is rolled off, making everything sound slightly muffled, like there’s a blanket over the drivers.

In God of War, the orchestral score sounded compressed and lacking detail. Dialogue was clear enough to follow the story, but the richness and texture were absent. Environmental sounds blended together rather than presenting as distinct elements.

Music Listening: This is where budget gaming headsets always fall apart, and the Tatybo is no exception. The frequency response is a V-shape: boosted bass, recessed mids, rolled-off treble. Thom Yorke’s vocals on “Paranoid Android” sounded distant and thin. The intricate electronic layers in Daft Punk tracks became a muddy mess. Classical music revealed the lack of detail resolution – individual instruments in an orchestra weren’t clearly separated.

But here’s the thing: for £13, I wasn’t expecting accurate sound reproduction. I was expecting it to produce audio without crackling, distorting, or cutting out. It does that. The volume gets loud enough without distortion creeping in. There’s no noticeable hiss or interference.

The “7.1 virtual surround” mentioned in marketing materials is, as always with budget headsets, completely meaningless. It’s stereo. The positioning you get is from decent stereo imaging, not from any surround processing. Ignore that marketing claim entirely.

Is the sound quality good? No. Is it functional for gaming at this price point? Yes, just about.

The Mic Test: Your Teammates Will Know You’re On a Budget

Microphone quality is where budget headsets typically embarrass you. I’ve used £20 headsets where my teammates asked if I was speaking through a tin can from inside a tunnel. The Tatybo’s mic is… well, it’s not great, but I’ve heard worse.

The microphone is omnidirectional (picks up sound from all directions) and features a flexible boom arm that adjusts 360 degrees. The flexibility is actually decent – it holds position once you bend it, though it feels fragile. There’s no pop filter, no windscreen, just a bare mic capsule.

I recorded voice samples in three environments: quiet room, with background music playing, and with a fan running nearby. Then I subjected my Discord mates to these samples during actual gaming sessions.

Voice Quality: In a quiet environment, my voice came through clearly enough for communication. There’s noticeable compression and a thin quality – I sound like I’m speaking through a cheap phone rather than a proper mic. The frequency range is limited, cutting off both low-end warmth and high-end clarity. But words were intelligible, which is the baseline requirement.

Noise Rejection: The marketing claims “noise isolation technology,” which is optimistic. With background music at moderate volume, it definitely came through. The fan noise was picked up constantly. This is an omnidirectional mic without proper noise gating, so it captures everything in your environment.

There’s no sidetone (mic monitoring), so you can’t hear yourself speak. This isn’t unusual at this price, but it means you might not realise you’re shouting or that your mic is too close to your mouth.

The honest feedback from my gaming group: “You sound worse than usual, but we can understand you.” One mate said I sounded “a bit robotic.” Another asked if I’d switched to my laptop’s built-in mic. That tells you everything.

For casual gaming with friends who’ll tolerate slightly dodgy audio quality, it’s adequate. For streaming, content creation, or if you take your comms seriously, you’ll want something better. Even a £25 Turtle Beach Recon 70 has a noticeably superior mic.

Build Quality: Plastic, Plastic Everywhere

Let’s not pretend this is a premium build. At £13.29, you’re getting plastic construction with a steel headband. The question is whether it’ll survive normal use or fall apart after a month.

After two weeks of daily use, here’s what I’ve observed:

The steel suspension headband is the strongest component. It flexes without feeling like it’ll snap, and the padding attached to it is stitched reasonably well. No loose threads or separation yet.

The plastic yokes connecting the ear cups to the headband are concerning. They’re the typical weak point on budget headsets, and these feel no different. There’s visible flex when adjusting the headset, and the plastic feels thin. I wouldn’t be surprised if these crack within 6-12 months of regular use, especially if you’re not careful when taking them on and off.

The ear cups themselves are plastic with that fake leather covering. The stitching on the padding is acceptable – no loose threads after two weeks – but the material is already showing minor scuff marks. The memory foam inside has compressed slightly but hasn’t completely flattened yet.

Cable quality is adequate. It’s a braided cable, which is more than I expected, though the braiding is loose and feels like it could fray over time. The 3.5mm jack is straight rather than angled, which makes it more prone to stress damage if you’re plugging into a controller. There’s an inline volume control and mic mute switch on the cable, which are functional but feel cheap. The volume wheel is loose and doesn’t have satisfying clicks.

The LED lights on the ear cups are powered by a separate USB cable. They’re bright, they’re blue, they serve no functional purpose whatsoever. The USB cable for power is a nice touch if you want the aesthetic, but it’s another cable to manage. The lights themselves work fine, but I switched them off after day one because I’m not 12 years old.

One specific moment during testing: I knocked the headset off my desk onto a carpeted floor. Not a dramatic fall, maybe two feet. It survived without damage, but the plastic creaked ominously when I picked it up. That creak is the sound of plastic under stress.

Will this last a year? Maybe, if you’re gentle with it. Will it last two years? I seriously doubt it. The plastic components will likely fail before the audio drivers do. This is a headset you buy knowing you’ll replace it relatively soon.

Comparison: Where Does It Sit in the Budget Landscape?

The sub-£30 gaming headset market is crowded with options, each making compromises in different areas. Here’s how the Tatybo stacks up against alternatives you should consider:

The brutal truth? The Tatybo only makes sense if you absolutely cannot stretch to £20-25 for a Turtle Beach option. That extra £7-12 gets you noticeably better build quality, a superior microphone, and a brand with actual customer support. Tatybo Gaming Headset for Ps5 Ps4 Xbox Series X/S, Wired Gaming Headphones for Switch Xbox One PC Stereo Surround Sound Noise Cancelling Mic LED Lights exists in that awkward price tier where saving a bit more delivers disproportionate improvements.

If you’re buying for a child who might be rough with equipment, the Tatybo’s low price makes it less painful when it inevitably breaks. If you need a temporary solution while saving for something better, it’ll do. But as a long-term gaming headset, you’re better off in the £20-30 bracket.

The NUBWO Wireless Gaming Headset is another alternative if you want wireless connectivity, though that typically starts around £35-40 for anything remotely decent.

Owner Experiences: What Are 8,000+ Buyers Actually Saying?

With 8,169 reviews averaging 4.3 stars, the Tatybo has accumulated substantial real-world feedback. I’ve trawled through hundreds of verified purchase reviews to find patterns beyond the usual “great value” platitudes.

The most common positive themes:

Value for money dominates the praise. Buyers repeatedly mention being shocked that a headset this cheap functions at all. Many are parents buying for children, where the low price reduces anxiety about inevitable damage. Several reviewers mention buying multiple units as backups because they’re so inexpensive.

Lightweight comfort gets frequent mentions, particularly from users upgrading from heavier budget headsets. The 260g weight and suspension headband design resonate with buyers who’ve experienced the skull-crushing clamping force of other cheap options.

Adequate sound for casual gaming appears repeatedly. These aren’t audiophiles or competitive esports players – they’re casual gamers playing FIFA, Fortnite, or Minecraft who just need functional audio. For that use case, the Tatybo delivers.

The recurring complaints paint a clearer picture:

Build quality concerns are the most frequent criticism. Multiple reviewers report the plastic yokes cracking within 3-6 months. The cable is another common failure point, with several reports of audio cutting out or the cable separating near the jack after regular use. One reviewer mentioned the headband snapping after their child dropped it.

Microphone quality receives consistent criticism. Words like “tinny,” “muffled,” and “quiet” appear frequently. Several buyers mention teammates complaining about voice quality, forcing them to use a separate mic. The omnidirectional pickup means background noise is a constant issue.

Ear cup size is problematic for users with larger ears or heads. Multiple reviews mention the on-ear rather than over-ear fit becoming uncomfortable after 1-2 hours. The heat buildup is mentioned by several users, particularly during summer months.

There’s an interesting divide in the reviews: buyers who paid £13-15 are generally satisfied, while those who paid closer to £20 (during price fluctuations) feel disappointed. This suggests the value proposition is highly price-dependent.

One particularly honest review summed it up perfectly: “It’s a £13 headset. It sounds like a £13 headset. It feels like a £13 headset. If you expect more, you’re delusional.” That’s the entire product in one sentence.

Who Benefits Most from This Headset?

The Tatybo Gaming Headset UK 2026 isn’t for everyone. Actually, it’s not for most people. But there are specific scenarios where it makes sense:

You should consider this if:

You’re a parent buying for a child under 12 who will inevitably break or lose it. The low price makes replacement painless, and kids are less critical of audio quality than adults. The lightweight design suits smaller heads better than heavy “gaming” headsets.

You need an emergency backup headset and have minimal budget. If your main headset died and you need something immediately while saving for a proper replacement, this will get you through a few months.

You’re an extremely casual gamer who plays a few hours per week and doesn’t care about audio quality. If you’re playing single-player games with subtitles on and just need sound effects, this is adequate.

You’re buying your first ever gaming headset and want to test whether you even like using one before investing properly. It’s a low-risk entry point to see if headset gaming suits you.

You should absolutely look elsewhere if:

You play competitive multiplayer games where audio cues matter. The muddy sound and poor positional accuracy will put you at a disadvantage. Spend £40-50 on something with proper imaging.

You create content, stream, or care about how you sound to others. The microphone quality will make you sound amateur. Even a £30 headset with a better mic is worth the investment.

You game for 4+ hours in single sessions regularly. The comfort issues will drive you mad. Look at the Trust Gaming GXT 488 or similar mid-range options with better padding.

You wear glasses and need all-day comfort. The pressure points will become painful. Save up for something with larger, softer ear cups that properly accommodate glasses.

You want something that’ll last 2+ years. The build quality won’t deliver that longevity. Budget for something in the £40-60 range with better construction.

Here’s a tangent that’s relevant: I spent years trying to convince myself that expensive headsets were just marketing hype, that £20 options were “good enough.” I bought budget after budget headset, each lasting 6-12 months before breaking. When I finally bought a proper £80 HyperX Cloud II, it lasted four years and sounded dramatically better. The cost per year was actually lower than constantly replacing cheap headsets. Sometimes being skint means you can’t afford to buy cheap.

Verdict: Functional Poverty-Spec Gaming Audio

The Tatybo Gaming Headset UK 2026 is exactly what £13.29 buys you in 2026: functional audio that does the bare minimum without being completely unusable. It’s not good. It’s not something I’d recommend if you have literally any extra budget. But it exists in that specific niche where it’s better than using your TV speakers or terrible laptop audio.

After two weeks of testing, I can confirm it works. The audio comes through both ear cups. The microphone transmits your voice. The headband doesn’t immediately snap. These are low bars to clear, but some budget headsets fail to clear them.

The sound quality is mediocre with boosted bass that lacks control, recessed mids, and rolled-off treble. Positional audio is adequate for casual gaming but not competitive play. The microphone makes you sound like you’re speaking through a cheap phone. The build quality suggests a lifespan measured in months rather than years. Comfort is acceptable for 2-3 hour sessions but deteriorates beyond that.

But here’s what frustrates me: for just £7-12 more, you can get a Turtle Beach Recon 70 that’s noticeably better in every meaningful way. Better build quality, superior microphone, more comfortable for longer sessions, and backed by a brand with actual customer support. That extra tenner delivers disproportionate value.

The Tatybo only makes sense in very specific circumstances: you’re buying for a young child who’ll break it anyway, you need an emergency backup, or you genuinely cannot stretch your budget by even £5. Outside those scenarios, saving a bit more is the smarter move.

I’m giving this a 5.5/10. It loses points for build quality concerns, poor microphone performance, and mediocre sound. It gains points for being functional at an absurdly low price and for not being as terrible as it could’ve been. That’s not exactly a ringing endorsement.

If you’re reading this review because you’re considering Tatybo Gaming Headset for Ps5 Ps4 Xbox Series X/S, Wired Gaming Headphones for Switch Xbox One PC Stereo Surround Sound Noise Cancelling Mic LED Lights, ask yourself honestly: can you save another £10-15? If yes, do that instead. If no, this will get you through some gaming sessions without making your ears bleed. Just don’t expect it to still be working this time next year.

The gaming headset market has better options at almost every price point above this one. The Tatybo exists at the absolute bottom of acceptable quality, which is both its selling point and its fundamental limitation. It’s poverty-spec audio for poverty-spec budgets. Sometimes that’s exactly what you need, but it’s never what you want.