This is where companies need to strive hard to strike the perfect balance between the right combination of features sold at the right price to ensure that the customers pick them over the competition. ASUS is trying to do the same with their TUF Gaming H3 Wireless headsets.
Design & Build Quality
The hallmark of a good entry-level headphone is that it always features a pretty understated design that can appeal to a wider audience. The H3 headset does the same, with a basic oval shape for the cup and a soft cushion that is wrapped around the headband. The only fancy thing on the whole headset is the stainless steel headband itself, which features a built-in yoke for extra durability. It is finished with a nice gunmetal look that seems quite premium.
The model gets ASUS’s trademark fast-cooling ear cushions that feature protein leather and nice memory foam. You get some physical buttons to adjust or mute the volume, switch the headphone on/off, and even a special one just for the microphone. The microphone itself is an analogue unit that sticks out of the lower end, while no option for adjustability. There is also a USB-C port for charging, although it doesn’t come with a weather seal.
The only quirk of the design seems to be that the cup is almost as large as it is wide, which supposedly gives more space inside the speaker for sound to amplify. All in all, it’s a nice simple design that feels sturdy while weighing barely 307gms. You can easily wear it all day without feeling too uncomfortable.
Sound & Connectivity
For a budget headset, the sound of the TUF H3 is pretty decent. You get the same 50mm, Essense drivers that you would get on a higher-end model, along with the same airtight chamber design that is meant to amplify the output. This enables a pretty noticeable 7.1 channel virtual surround sound experience, with nice loud sound and deep bass. Although we would not recommend pushing this past the 70% mark as it can tend to get a bit distorted that high.
Wireless connectivity is handled through a low-latency 2.4GHz connection that is supported by a USB-C dongle. You get a pretty good range of up to 25 meters with it, and the dongle is compatible with PCs, Mac, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and even your smartphone. This should give you enough versatility to use this headset in all sorts of settings without any additional equipment needed.
The microphone as usual is not a strong suit of the whole setup but is passable enough that you won’t have a lot of issues unless you’re professionally streaming. Thankfully, you can customize various EQ settings to set different sound profiles for each game you play. This way you can make up for any snags that might occur with specific games and their sound design. All of this is done through the Armoury Crate app, which offers a lot of customization options for all sorts of ASUS peripherals.
The entire setup is powered by a nice-sized battery, which offers up to 15 hours of continuous playback at 50%+ volume. This is great for a full-fledged 7.1ch gaming headset that costs less than most wireless earphones. So, even if you think the features are not great enough to make it the right choice for you, take a step back and compare it to the rest of the competition in this price range, and you will be surprised by the results. The final decision as always is up to you.
