The Wireless Headset That Gets Hot-swappable Batteries Right

New gaming cogwheel is ever promising to shave milliseconds disconnected latency aliases consequence time. The improvements usually aren’t obvious. But nan Glorious GHS InfinitePlay wireless headset, connected nan different hand, could prevention you acold much than conscionable milliseconds: It has nan fastest hot-swap artillery strategy I’ve ever used, and nan headset doesn’t dice erstwhile you switch retired its artillery either.

Glorious improves connected nan look popularized by SteelSeries, which made swappable, rechargeable batteries a characteristic worthy caring astir successful a high-end headset. Its caller $229.99 headset has zero audio downtime while swapping batteries because it has a fallback artillery that tin tally up to 3 hours. This is simply a large upgrade complete competing headsets, for illustration nan SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Omni and nan Turtle Beach Stealth Pro 2, which disconnect nan infinitesimal their batteries are removed for swapping.

The InfinitePlay’s battery-swapping strategy is faster and much foolproof, too. Its batteries insert into nan correct earpiece’s unfastened slot for illustration a cartridge, and you can’t instal them incorrectly, truthful agelong arsenic their grippy separator faces down. It’s easy to slot it successful without breaking oculus interaction from my screen, and nan audio ne'er stops. Removing and inserting nan batteries is fun, excessively — though artillery life is agelong capable that I seldom had to switch them during my monthlong testing period.

Almost each facet of utilizing nan InfinitePlay is satisfying. The notched metallic knobs facing toward nan backmost of each receptor cup make it elemental to set measurement and game/chat mix, aliases prime up telephone calls and region euphony erstwhile connected to my telephone via Bluetooth. I’ve been utilizing nan headset mostly pinch a PC, wherever nan battery-charging guidelines position ever has a afloat artillery fresh for use. But I tin yank retired its USB-C 2.4GHz transmitter erstwhile I want to play connected my PlayStation 5 aliases nan Steam Deck.

Sound value is amended than I expected from a institution that’s reasonably caller to nan audio space. Its bass, clarity, and soundstage output a pleasant listening experience. You tin get amended audio value astatine this value constituent if that’s your privilege (the Fractal Scape is simply a bully alternative). But Glorious nails a batch of nan basics. The headset’s near-180-degree rotating receptor cups don’t pinch my head, moreover pinch glasses on, and its bungee-style headband and adjustable broadside arms should fto astir group find a comfortable fit.

The InfinitePlay doesn’t person everything going for it. There’s nary progressive sound cancellation, nor does it vessel pinch a bully difficult case, and its built-in mic sounds beautiful lousy (use its detachable roar mic erstwhile astatine each possible). There’s a companion app that’s serviceable, but I wish location was a browser-based app to make it simpler to set settings. There are pricier headsets that do a amended occupation astatine ticking much boxes. But if you’re looking for thing that’s bully and conscionable won’t die, this $230 headset embarrasses pricier options pinch its no-look, no-downtime swapping process.

Photography by Cameron Faulkner / The Verge