In my never-ending quest for the one wireless headset to rule all my gaming devices is the Logitech G Astro A50
Thanks to the innovative PLAYSYNC system, the Astro A50 X can connect Xbox, PlayStation and PC/Mac and switch between them at the touch of a button. The real party trick is that the A50
Now add Pro-G Graphene drivers for lossless, lag-free 24-bit audio over LIGHTSPEED Wireless (similar to those used in the Logitech G Pro X 2 Lightspeed headset), simultaneous Bluetooth, a fold-down boom mic and 24 Hours of battery life. That's a lot and you'll certainly pay the price – $380 (£360 and AU$750) to be exact. Yes, this is a premium headset for the gamer who has everything, but is it worth it?
In terms of design, the A50 X differs little from the old A50 it replaces; They look virtually identical, which you can't tell just by looking. Logitech has gone for the “if it ain't broke, don't fix it” approach, meaning you get the same square earcups, polished metal rails for adjusting the fit, and fold-down microphone. It's proven player seek.
A50 X specifications
Driver: 40mm PRO-G GRAPHENE
Frequency response: 20-20,000 Hz
Microphone: Boom arm folds down for muting
Connectivity: USB, HDMI 2.1, Bluetooth
Characteristics: PLAYSYNC, HDMI passthrough, Dolby Atmos, PlayStation 3D Audio, 3x HDMI 2.1 ports, 40 Gbit/s bandwidth, Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), up to 24-bit audio
Battery: 24 hours
Weight: 363g
Price: $380 | £360 | AUD750
The ear pads on the A50 If you live in colder environments you may appreciate the warmth, but in hotter environments it may be uncomfortable. The cups are easily interchangeable thanks to a magnetic closure system, allowing you to purchase better replacement cups if necessary. It's worth noting that the cheaper G Pro X 2 headset comes with two different cushions in the box, while the A50
Controls are kept to a minimum with just a power button, a Bluetooth multifunction button, the PLAYSYNC button, and a volume control on the edge of the right cup. On the faceplate of the same cup are tip points for managing game/chat balance. The left earcup is empty except for the pop-out boom mic, which is pliable enough to adjust to your heart's content.
The microphone sounds great with clean, natural-sounding audio, but surprisingly isn't capable of taking advantage of Logitech's BLUE Voice features – which the G Pro X 2 can do. When it comes to performance, however, the A50 X sounds really good thanks to the Pro Graphene drivers; everything sounds clear, clean and detailed.
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The A50 X and G Pro gaming headsets The bass is not as pronounced, resulting in a cleaner but less powerful sound. That's actually quite a surprise considering the Astro's gamer bias usually results in exaggerated bass response by default. However, the drivers have enough power to occasionally produce sub-bass that can be pleasantly head-shaking. Although you can adjust the EQ settings in the Logitech G Hub, the changes may not result in a significant improvement in sound quality.
In games, the A50's every step, giggling demon, and weapon reload was easy to spot – both the distance and the verticality. Environments in games sound rich and highly detailed, and console gamers can also enjoy PlayStation 3D audio and Xbox Dolby Atmos for even better results.
Battery life is decent at 24 hours, although I never came close to feeling like the headset was running out of battery as it kept plugging into the charging dock and charging. Still, it's far more than sufficient for the most dedicated gamers who complete nighttime marathons.
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The real standout feature of the Astro A50 X is its new base station, which acts as a central hub for all connections and also features an HDMI switcher. The Lightspeed Wireless is as reliable as ever, ensuring audio transmission is latency-free. However, it should be noted that the headset cannot be used in wired mode, but is a purely wireless headset.
The base station has clearly marked ports for PC, Xbox and PlayStation USB and HDMI 2.1 inputs. Simply plug in your devices and use the HDMI 2.1 output to connect to your favorite display. To switch both audio and video between devices, press the PLAYSYNC button on the headset. The LED lights on the front display the battery status and which device connection is currently active.
Everything works as advertised, but this is where one of the first problems occurs. The A50 Logitech was clearly aimed at console owners who use a TV more than any other. I really feel a bit left out here in PC land…
Still, using the A50 Now you can get around this by connecting your PC's HDMI port to the base station. However, that means you only have control over two devices instead of three – still not ideal. And who wants to use slow HDMI for extensive PC gaming?
However, when everything works, the A50 X works great. The video passthrough still offers all the benefits of HDMI 2.1, such as 4K@120Hz, VRR, and games run and play brilliantly without any noticeable loss in quality or responsiveness. Switching back and forth between sessions on PS5 and Xbox is really wild.
Buy if…
✅ You have an Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5: If you game on a large TV and switch between them frequently for some reason, the A50 X is a winner. The convenience of not having to get up and change headsets and inputs every time is a blessing. And who doesn't love NOT messing around with USB dongles?
Don't buy if…
❌ Your main platform is a PC: Even if you have consoles that are also connected to a single display, that doesn't help as it can't handle PC video input, which then defeats the purpose. Since it's just a PC headset, it's feature-packed and overpriced, so you'd be better off with a cheaper headset.
The A50 X also enables simultaneous Bluetooth connections with your phone or laptop so you can game and chat. However, because Bluetooth comes through the base station and not the headset, you can't use the A50 X outside the home. Even at home, the range is limited as the sound cuts out when you leave line of sight or go into another room.
After almost two months with the new Logitech G Astro A50 X, I'm still not convinced by the offering. On paper, PLAYSYNC is a fantastic idea that no one has thought of before. But the reality isn't as seamless as Logitech's advertising would have you believe. It doesn't really support video switching on all three devices, which is what the A50
PC gamers will have to deal with gimmicks to get it to work, and for a PC headset it's overpriced and feature-packed. And the A50 is so good
