The PlayStation Pulse wireless headset costs $99.99 and launches November 19, Sony said in an update to its PlayStation Blog announcement. That gets you the planar magnetic drivers Sony introduced with the Pulse Elite, bigger this time, for $50 less than the Elite cost at launch in 2024.
Pre-orders open October 29. In the US, PlayStation Direct starts taking orders at 7am PT, and participating retailers open at 10am local time. It comes in White and Midnight Black.
What you get for $99.99
The Pulse uses planar magnetic drivers, the same kind Sony put in the Pulse Elite, but bigger. Sony says the larger drivers give it fuller, deeper bass without losing the clean sound the Elite was known for.
It connects over PlayStation Link with the included USB-C adapter, so you get lossless, low-latency audio on PS5, PlayStation Portal, PC and Mac, and you can stay connected to a Bluetooth device like your phone at the same time. The mic is built into the headset and uses AI noise rejection to filter out background sound. The earcups rotate so it lies flat in a bag.
PlayStation hasn’t given a battery life figure for the Pulse yet. The Pulse Elite is rated for up to 30 hours, so that’s the number to compare against once Sony shares one.
Pulse or Pulse Edge?
Sony also announced the Pulse Edge, a step-up model coming in early 2027. It doesn’t have a price yet. Here’s how the two compare based on Sony’s own spec table:
| Feature | PlayStation Pulse | Pulse Edge |
|---|---|---|
| Magnets per planar driver | 4 | 8 |
| PlayStation Link USB-C adapter | Included | Included |
| Microphone | Built-in, AI noise rejection | Hidden mic plus detachable boom mic, AI noise rejection |
| Volume control on the headset | Yes | Yes |
| Game and chat balance control on the headset | No | Yes |
| Active noise cancellation | No | Yes |
| Carrying case | No | Yes |
| Audio/mic jack | No | Yes |
The Edge’s extra magnets are there for richer bass, and the noise cancellation and boom mic are the real upgrades for anyone who plays in a loud room or does a lot of voice chat. If you just want good PS5 audio with a clean wireless setup, the Pulse covers that without waiting until next year.
Should you buy it, or grab a Pulse Elite?
If you already own a Pulse Elite, there’s not much reason to switch. You’d get bigger drivers and a flat-folding design, but you’d give up the Elite’s retractable mic, and the two use the same PlayStation Link connection.
If you’re still on a Pulse 3D, the Pulse is the obvious upgrade. Before this, PlayStation’s cheapest headset with planar drivers and PS Link was the Elite, which launched at $149.99.
If you want noise cancellation or a proper boom mic, wait for the Pulse Edge and see what Sony charges.
Where and when
The Pulse launches November 19 in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, the UK and most of Western and Northern Europe, along with Israel and Ukraine. Other countries get a date later. In the UK it’s £89.99, in Europe €99.99 and in Japan ¥15,980.
November 19 is also the day Grand Theft Auto VI launches, so if you were planning a new headset for that, the timing lines up. Just set a reminder for 7am PT on October 29 if you want one from PlayStation Direct on day one.