Trust Gaming GXT 488 Forze-G PS5 Gaming Headset Review UK 2027

Look, I’ve tested dozens of gaming headsets over the years, and I’ve learned that the budget end of the market is absolutely littered with proper rubbish. Flimsy plastic that snaps if you look at it wrong, ear cups that feel like cardboard after an hour, and microphones that make you sound like you’re broadcasting from inside a biscuit tin. So when Trust Gaming sent over the GXT 488 Forze-G at under £25, I’ll be honest – my expectations were somewhere near the floor.

Trust Gaming GXT 488 Forze-G [Officially Licensed for PlayStation] Gaming Headset for PS4 and PS5 with Flexible Microphone and Inline Remote Control, Over Ear Gaming Headphones - Grey

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.3 (4,441 reviews)

£24.99

• OFFICIALLY LICENSED FOR PS4 – Gaming headset officially licensed for your PlayStation 4 console. Also compatible with PlayStation 5
• POWERFUL SOUND – Headset with mic for gamers with crisp and powerful sound thanks to the headphones’ 50mm drivers
• ADJUSTED FOR YOUR COMFORT – Soft over-ear pads and foldable gaming microphone to ensure comfortable use during long gaming sessions
• STURDY AND STYLISH – Adjustable reinforced headband with a design that perfectly matches the look of the your PlayStation 4 and its accessories
• PLUG AND PLAY – Connect the headset into the DUALSHOCK 4 or DUALSENSE wireless controller with the 1.2m nylon braided cable and adjust the volume with the inline remote (or turn it off)

View on Amazon →

Price checked: 10 Jan 2026 | Affiliate link

📸 Product Gallery

×

‹ ›

View on Amazon

But here’s the thing about budget gaming gear: occasionally, very occasionally, a manufacturer gets the basics right. They understand that comfort matters more than RGB lighting, that a decent mic trumps flashy marketing claims about “7.1 surround sound” that’s just software trickery. The Trust Gaming GXT 488 Forze-G PS5 Gaming Headset isn’t trying to compete with £200 audiophile cans. It’s officially licensed for PlayStation, built for gamers who want something that works without breaking the bank, and after spending the past few weeks with it clamped to my head through countless Warzone sessions and Elden Ring boss fights, I’ve got some surprisingly positive things to say.

Currently sitting at £24.99 with over 4,441 customer reviews averaging 4.3 stars, this headset has clearly found an audience. But does it deserve your attention in 2026, or is it just another forgettable piece of gaming plastic?

After testing this headset properly, I reckon it deserves consideration. Let me walk you through what actually matters. Trust Gaming GXT 488 Forze-G [Officially Licensed for PlayStation] Gaming Headset for PS4 and PS5 with Flexible Microphone and Inline Remote Control, Over Ear Gaming Headphones - Grey

Wearing Experience: The Make-or-Break Factor

Right, let’s address what genuinely matters most with any gaming headset – can you actually wear the thing for more than two hours without wanting to rip it off your head? Because I don’t care how brilliant a headset sounds if it’s crushing your skull like a vice after the first match.

The GXT 488 Forze-G weighs in at a reasonable 270g. That’s light enough to forget you’re wearing it, but substantial enough to feel like it won’t fall apart. The over-ear cups are covered in soft synthetic leather with memory foam padding underneath, and here’s where Trust Gaming surprised me – they’re actually quite generous in size. My ears (which aren’t small, to be fair) sit completely inside the cups without touching the drivers. That’s proper over-ear design, not the “on-ear masquerading as over-ear” nonsense you get with some budget headsets.

Clamping force is moderate. Not so loose that the headset slides around when you move, but not so tight that you feel like your head’s in a bench press. I wore these for a six-hour session last Saturday (yes, I know, but it was raining and Baldur’s Gate 3 had just updated), and genuinely forgot I was wearing them after the first hour. That’s the sweet spot you want.

The headband is adjustable with clear numbered notches, reinforced with a metal band inside the plastic housing. It’s padded along the top, though not as generously as the ear cups. I’m a size 7 3/4 hat (yes, I have a large head, my mum says it’s because I’m clever), and I had the headband extended to notch 8 out of 10 for a comfortable fit.

Now, glasses compatibility – this is where many headsets fall down. I tested with both my regular specs and blue-light blocking glasses. The ear cup padding is soft enough that it moulds around the arms of your glasses rather than pressing them into your skull. After four hours, I had minimal discomfort. Not zero, mind you – physics is physics, and putting something between your head and the headset padding will always create some pressure points. But compared to the Turtle Beach Recon 70 Silver Gaming Headset I tested last month, which felt like it was trying to saw through my glasses arms, the Trust GXT 488 is significantly more forgiving.

The ear cups don’t rotate or swivel, which is typical at this price point. They’re fixed in position, relying on the padding to conform to your head shape. For most people, this works fine. If you have a particularly unusual head shape or wear the headset at odd angles, you might find the fit less ideal.

Heat buildup is minimal for synthetic leather. After three hours in a warm room (my office, which gets toasty in winter with the radiator going), my ears felt slightly warm but not sweaty. The cups breathe reasonably well for closed-back design. If you’re someone who runs hot or games in a particularly warm environment, you’ll notice some heat retention, but it’s not egregious.

One specific moment stands out from testing: I was deep into a particularly tense Hunt: Showdown match, completely focused on listening for footsteps in the compound. The match lasted nearly 40 minutes of absolute concentration, barely moving. When it ended (we won, thanks for asking), I realised I hadn’t adjusted the headset once. Hadn’t pushed it up because it was sliding down, hadn’t loosened it because of pressure, hadn’t shifted the ear cups. It just… stayed comfortable. That’s genuinely impressive for a £25 headset.

How It Sounds: Gaming Performance That Matters

Let’s get something straight right away: this is not an audiophile headset. If you’re expecting studio-quality sound reproduction, delicate treble detail, and perfectly balanced frequency response, you’re shopping in the wrong category entirely. The Trust GXT 488 Forze-G uses 50mm drivers tuned specifically for gaming, which means bass-forward sound signature with emphasised low-end for explosions and gunfire.

And you know what? For gaming, that tuning actually works.

I tested these primarily with competitive shooters (Warzone, Apex Legends, Counter-Strike 2) and story-driven games (Baldur’s Gate 3, Cyberpunk 2077). The positional audio – the ability to pinpoint where sounds are coming from – is genuinely solid. In Warzone, I could reliably identify footsteps above me, below me, or to either side. The stereo imaging is clear enough that I never felt disadvantaged compared to my usual Sony INZONE H5 Wireless Gaming Headset, which costs six times as much.

The soundstage (how “wide” the audio feels) is narrower than premium headsets, which is expected. Everything sounds slightly more “in your head” rather than surrounding you. But for competitive gaming where precision matters more than immersion, this is perfectly adequate. I could hear exactly where enemies were, which is the entire point.

Bass response is punchy, perhaps overly so. Explosions, gunfire, and engine sounds have real impact. This makes action games feel more visceral, but it does come at the expense of midrange clarity. Dialogue can sometimes get slightly lost in busy scenes with lots of low-frequency noise. In Cyberpunk 2077, I occasionally struggled to hear NPC dialogue during combat sequences without turning the volume up uncomfortably high.

Treble is rolled off, which means less detail in high-frequency sounds like glass breaking, bullet casings hitting the floor, or subtle environmental audio cues. Again, this is typical for budget gaming headsets. The tuning prioritises the frequencies that matter most for competitive gaming – footsteps, gunshots, voice chat – and those come through clearly.

I also tested these with music, because that’s how you really understand a headset’s sound signature. I listened to tracks I know intimately – Radiohead’s “Weird Fishes,” Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright,” and Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams.” The GXT 488 handles electronic and hip-hop reasonably well thanks to that bass emphasis. Rock and acoustic music sounds muddy and congested, with instruments bleeding into each other. The lack of treble detail means cymbals and hi-hats lose their sparkle.

But here’s the crucial bit: this isn’t a music headset. It’s a gaming headset that costs £24.99. Judged on those terms, the audio performance is absolutely fine. Better than fine, actually – it’s legitimately good for the price.

There’s no virtual surround sound processing, no software equaliser, no fancy audio features. You plug it into your DualSense controller, and you get stereo audio. Honestly? I prefer this. The “7.1 surround sound” marketing on budget headsets is usually just reverb that makes everything sound like you’re in a bathroom. Clean stereo with decent imaging beats fake surround every single time.

Volume gets plenty loud through the PS5 controller. I typically game at around 60-70% volume, and that’s comfortable without any distortion. Push it to maximum, and you get some slight driver strain on bass-heavy content, but nothing terrible. There’s an inline volume wheel on the 1.2m braided cable, which is far more convenient than diving into PS5 menus mid-match.

Mic Performance: Will Your Teammates Hate You?

Right, microphone quality. This is where budget headsets typically fall flat on their face. You’ve heard them – tinny, muffled, distorted voices that sound like someone’s talking through a cardboard tube from inside a fish tank. Your teammates can barely understand you, and you spend half the match repeating yourself.

The GXT 488’s microphone is… actually decent. Not brilliant, not studio-quality, but genuinely usable for party chat and Discord.

It’s a flip-to-mute boom mic that extends from the left ear cup. The boom is flexible but holds its position well – you can bend it to sit right in front of your mouth, and it stays there. Flip it up vertically, and it mutes automatically. Simple, effective, no faff.

I recorded voice samples in different scenarios: quiet room, with background noise (fan running), and with game audio playing. In a quiet environment, the mic captures voice clearly with reasonable warmth. You don’t sound like a robot or like you’re underwater. There’s some slight compression and lack of bass depth – your voice sounds thinner than reality – but it’s perfectly intelligible.

Background noise rejection is where things get interesting. The mic is omnidirectional, so it picks up everything around you. Keyboard clicks, mouse clicks, that fan I mentioned – they all come through. If you game in a noisy environment or you’re a particularly aggressive keyboard user (guilty), your teammates will hear it. This isn’t a noise-cancelling mic by any stretch.

However, voice remains the primary focus. Background noise doesn’t overwhelm your speech; it’s just present in the mix. In practical terms, this means your mates might hear your mechanical keyboard during intense moments, but they’ll still understand what you’re saying clearly.

There’s no sidetone (mic monitoring), which means you can’t hear your own voice in the headset. Some people love sidetone, some hate it. I’m in the “don’t care” camp, but if you’re someone who needs to hear yourself to modulate your volume, you won’t get that here.

I ran a specific test with my regular squad: I used the GXT 488 for three evening sessions without telling them I’d switched headsets. Nobody commented on audio quality, nobody asked me to repeat myself, nobody complained. After the third session, I asked for feedback. The consensus? “You sound normal.” That’s the highest compliment a budget gaming mic can receive.

Compared to the Turtle Beach Recon 50P Gaming Headset I reviewed previously, the Trust mic is noticeably clearer with less background hiss. It’s not quite as good as the NUBWO Wireless Gaming Headset‘s mic, which has better noise rejection, but it’s competitive in this price bracket.

Build & Features: What You’re Actually Getting

Let’s talk construction. The GXT 488 Forze-G is predominantly plastic – no surprises there at this price. But it’s not the creaky, hollow-feeling plastic you find on the cheapest headsets. The outer shells have a matte finish with the PlayStation button symbols embossed, giving it that official licensed aesthetic that matches your console.

The headband has a metal reinforcement band running through it, which is crucial for durability. I’ve seen too many budget headsets snap at the headband adjustment points after a few months of use. The metal band here provides genuine structural integrity. I deliberately stress-tested this (gently, mind you – I’m not trying to break it, just assess flex and stress points), and there’s minimal creaking or flex. It feels like it’ll survive normal use.

The ear cups are attached to the headband via plastic hinges. These are the most likely failure points long-term. They’re not reinforced with metal, and the plastic feels slightly thinner here than the rest of the construction. If you’re rough with your gear – chucking it on the desk, stretching it wide to put it on – these hinges will probably be the first thing to go. Treat it with basic respect, and it should last.

Cable is 1.2m of braided nylon, terminated in a single 3.5mm jack. The braiding is decent quality – not the premium thick braiding you get on expensive headsets, but better than bare rubber. It resists tangling reasonably well. The cable length is perfect for plugging into a PS5 controller; any longer would be excessive and get in the way.

The inline remote has a volume wheel and a mic mute switch. Both are easy to find by feel without looking, which is essential when you’re mid-game. The volume wheel has nice tactile resistance – it’s not so loose that it spins freely, but not so stiff that you need two hands to adjust it.

Now, here’s a tangent that’s been bothering me about “officially licensed” gaming peripherals: what does that actually mean in practical terms? You’re paying a licensing fee to Sony (which gets passed to you in the price) for the privilege of having PlayStation logos and matching aesthetics. The headset doesn’t gain any special functionality from being licensed. It doesn’t have secret PS5 audio processing or exclusive features. It’s just branding.

That said, the official licensing does guarantee compatibility. You know for certain it’ll work with PS4 and PS5 controllers. There’s no risk of weird audio issues or incompatibility problems. Is that peace of mind worth the licensing premium compared to a generic headset? For some people, absolutely. For others, it’s just marketing. I’ll let you decide which camp you’re in.

Features are minimal, which I actually appreciate. No RGB lighting (thank goodness – who needs glowing ears?), no software to install, no firmware updates, no companion app. You plug it in, it works. That simplicity is refreshing in an era where everything wants to be “smart” and connected.

Compatibility extends beyond PlayStation. The 3.5mm jack works with anything that accepts a standard headphone connection – PC, Xbox controllers (if they have a 3.5mm port), Nintendo Switch, mobile devices. The mic works universally too, using the standard TRRS configuration. I tested it with my PC and my phone; both recognised it immediately with full audio and mic functionality.

Storage and portability: the ear cups don’t fold flat or rotate for compact storage. This is a minor annoyance if you travel with your headset or have limited desk space. It’s not a dealbreaker, but worth noting. The headset takes up more space in a bag than foldable alternatives.

The comparison above shows where the GXT 488 sits in the budget gaming headset landscape. It’s not the absolute cheapest option, but it offers better comfort and mic quality than the Recon 50P. The NUBWO offers wireless convenience but costs significantly more and has slightly less comfortable ear cups in my testing. Trust Gaming GXT 488 Forze-G [Officially Licensed for PlayStation] Gaming Headset for PS4 and PS5 with Flexible Microphone and Inline Remote Control, Over Ear Gaming Headphones - Grey

Owner Experiences: What 4,440 Buyers Actually Think

With 4,441 customer reviews and a 4.3-star average, the GXT 488 Forze-G has accumulated substantial real-world feedback. I spent considerable time reading through verified purchase reviews to identify common themes beyond my own testing experience.

The most frequently praised aspect is comfort, which aligns perfectly with my findings. Dozens of reviews specifically mention wearing the headset for “hours without discomfort” or “all day gaming sessions.” Several glasses wearers noted that the ear cup padding doesn’t press their frames uncomfortably, though a few mentioned some pressure after 5+ hours (which is consistent with my experience).

Sound quality receives generally positive feedback with caveats. Most buyers feel the audio is “good for the price” or “better than expected.” Competitive gamers specifically mention being able to hear footsteps and directional audio clearly. However, several audiophile-leaning reviewers noted the bass-heavy tuning and lack of treble detail, which tracks with my analysis. A few buyers complained about “muddy” sound, though these seem to be outliers.

Microphone performance gets mixed reviews, which is interesting because I found it quite acceptable. Reading between the lines, many of the negative mic reviews seem to stem from environmental factors – people gaming in noisy rooms, not positioning the boom correctly, or having unrealistic expectations for a budget mic. Buyers who specifically mentioned asking their teammates for feedback reported positive results, similar to my experience.

Build quality concerns appear in roughly 10-15% of reviews. Some buyers reported the headband cracking or ear cup hinges breaking after 6-12 months of use. This isn’t unexpected for a budget headset, but it’s worth noting. The vast majority report no durability issues, suggesting that careful handling makes a significant difference. One reviewer mentioned their headset lasting “two years of daily use,” which is impressive at this price point.

A recurring complaint is the non-detachable cable. Several buyers wished they could replace the cable if it gets damaged, rather than replacing the entire headset. Fair point, though detachable cables typically add cost and create another potential failure point.

Value perception is overwhelmingly positive. Phrases like “can’t believe the quality for the price” and “best budget headset I’ve owned” appear frequently. Even buyers who noted flaws typically concluded that the headset represents excellent value for money.

Negative reviews cluster around a few specific issues: some units arrived with defective mics (quality control issue), a handful of buyers found the clamping force too tight (head size variation), and a few experienced audio cutting out (likely cable or jack issues). These seem to be isolated problems rather than systemic flaws, but they’re worth mentioning for completeness.

One particularly helpful review from a parent mentioned buying these for their teenager, noting that the headset survived “typical teenage treatment” for over a year, which they considered a win given the price. That’s a useful perspective for parents considering this as a gift.

Buyer Matching: Is This Headset Right For You?

Let’s cut through the marketing and figure out if the Trust Gaming GXT 488 Forze-G actually suits your specific needs. Not every headset works for every gamer, regardless of how good it is.

You should absolutely buy this headset if:

You’re a PS5 or PS4 gamer on a tight budget who needs reliable audio without spending £50+. This is the sweet spot buyer for the GXT 488. You’ll get comfortable long-session wear, decent audio for competitive gaming, and a microphone that won’t embarrass you in party chat. The official PlayStation licensing means guaranteed compatibility, and at £24.99, you’re getting genuine value.

You wear glasses while gaming and have struggled with uncomfortable headsets in the past. The soft memory foam ear cups and moderate clamping force make this one of the more glasses-friendly options I’ve tested in this price range. You’ll still feel some pressure after many hours (physics can’t be defeated), but it’s minimal compared to tighter-clamping alternatives.

You value simplicity and hate dealing with software, drivers, or firmware updates. Plug it into your controller, adjust the volume, and game. That’s it. No companion apps, no configuration, no faff. If you just want something that works without complexity, this delivers.

You’re buying a headset for a younger gamer (teenager, pre-teen) who might not treat gear gently. The metal-reinforced headband and robust construction should survive reasonable teenage treatment better than the flimsiest budget options. At this price, if it does break after a year, you’re not out a fortune.

You should probably skip this headset if:

You’re an audio enthusiast who cares about balanced frequency response, detailed treble, and accurate sound reproduction. This is a gaming headset with gaming tuning – bass-heavy, midrange-compromised, treble-rolled-off. It’s optimised for explosions and footsteps, not for appreciating the nuances of your favourite music. Look at proper studio headphones or audiophile-focused gaming headsets instead.

You need wireless connectivity. This is a wired headset, full stop. The 1.2m cable plugs into your controller, and that’s your only option. If you want to walk around while wearing your headset, or you hate dealing with cables, this isn’t for you. Check out the NUBWO Wireless Gaming Headset instead.

You game primarily on PC and want advanced features like customisable EQ, surround sound software, or RGB lighting synchronisation. The GXT 488 offers none of these. It’s a basic stereo headset with no software support. PC gamers who want feature-rich audio should look at headsets with dedicated USB sound cards or software suites.

You record content, stream, or need broadcast-quality microphone audio. The flip-to-mute boom mic is fine for party chat and Discord, but it’s not good enough for professional content creation. The lack of noise cancellation and the thin sound quality will be noticeable in recordings. Invest in a dedicated microphone or a headset with a superior mic like the HyperX Cloud series.

You have an unusually large or small head. The adjustment range is good for average head sizes, but if you’re at the extremes of the size spectrum, you might find the fit either too loose or maxed out on extension. The fixed ear cup position (no rotation or swivel) also means less adaptability to unusual head shapes.

My Recommendation: The Bottom Line

After spending the past few weeks with the Trust Gaming GXT 488 Forze-G clamped to my head through countless gaming sessions, I’m genuinely impressed with what Trust Gaming has achieved at this price point. This isn’t a perfect headset – it’s not trying to be. But it absolutely nails the fundamentals that matter most for budget-conscious PlayStation gamers.

The comfort is the standout feature. I cannot stress enough how rare it is to find a sub-£30 headset that you can wear for four, five, six hours without discomfort. The generous ear cup size, moderate clamping force, and quality memory foam padding make this genuinely pleasant to wear for extended sessions. If you’ve been suffering through a headset that crushes your skull or makes your ears sore, the GXT 488 will feel like a revelation.

Audio quality is fit for purpose. It’s not audiophile-grade, it’s not balanced, and it won’t impress music purists. But for gaming – which is what this headset is designed for – it delivers clear positional audio, punchy bass, and sufficient detail to remain competitive in shooters. The stereo imaging is solid, and the 50mm drivers provide adequate soundstage for the price. You’ll hear footsteps, you’ll identify enemy positions, and you’ll enjoy your games. That’s the brief, and it’s fulfilled.

The microphone exceeds expectations for this price bracket. Your teammates will hear you clearly, you won’t sound like a robot, and the flip-to-mute functionality is intuitive. Yes, it picks up background noise. No, it’s not broadcast quality. But for party chat and Discord? It’s absolutely sorted.

Build quality is the question mark. The plastic construction is better than the cheapest alternatives, and the metal-reinforced headband adds genuine durability. But the ear cup hinges are potential weak points, and this definitely won’t last as long as a premium headset. Treat it with reasonable care, and you should get a good year or more of use. Abuse it, and it’ll break. That’s the budget headset reality.

At £24.99, the value proposition is compelling. You’re getting comfort that rivals headsets costing three times as much, audio quality that’s competitive in this price range, and a microphone that actually works properly. The official PlayStation licensing guarantees compatibility and gives you that aesthetic match with your console.

Is this the best gaming headset you can buy? Of course not. Spend £100-200, and you’ll get better audio quality, superior build materials, wireless connectivity, and advanced features. But for PlayStation gamers who need reliable audio without breaking the bank, the Trust Gaming GXT 488 Forze-G delivers exactly what it promises. No gimmicks, no nonsense, just solid fundamentals executed well.

I’m giving this headset a solid recommendation for its target audience. If you’re shopping in the budget category and comfort matters to you (which it should), this is one of the best options available in 2026. Trust Gaming GXT 488 Forze-G [Officially Licensed for PlayStation] Gaming Headset for PS4 and PS5 with Flexible Microphone and Inline Remote Control, Over Ear Gaming Headphones - Grey

My Rating: 4.2/5 – Excellent value for money with comfort that punches well above its price point, let down only by budget build materials and bass-heavy tuning.

For more information about Trust Gaming and their full product range, visit the official Trust Gaming website.