Logitech G533 review: A great wireless headset that's both attractive and affordable

The G533 makes an interesting counterpoint to its predecessors. View photos of the 2016 G633 and

G933

headset, the apparent heirs of Logitech's old G930 - chunky air traffic controller silhouette, coffin-shaped ear cups, RGB lighting, fashion-forward accent decorations.

video game

aesthetic. Take all that and throw it away.

What do you have left? Probably something like Logitech's new G533.

This review is part of our

roundup

best gaming headsets

.Go there for more details on competing products and how we tested them.

Design: Professional Courtesy

Okay, maybe keep the air traffic controller silhouette - the G533 is a little thinner than its older siblings, but not by much.

It's still professional though. I'm not sure the pictures do the G533 justice, as much of its appeal is in the details - the way the headband wraps around the ear cups or the little groove in which the microphone folds up. The G533 grows a little more every day, with new intricacies revealed even after weeks of use.

IDG / Hayden Dingman

It's the best a Logitech headset has ever looked, I think. It's not that I care about the G633/933 pair - they had a certain spatial appeal and I loved the hidden microphone. G533 is discrete

for a gaming headset

but not fully installed like the G633.

But the G533's smooth curves, the way the matte and piano blacks complement each other, the circular ears, it doesn't sound like the Logitech I'm used to. Razer, maybe, or a more traditional audio company like Audio-Technica or Sennheiser. But for Logitech, the G533 is another big step forward aesthetically.

The G533 also seems better built than the 633/933. It's larger but also lighter and less waterproof than the G633/933. 933 had when flexed.

IDG / Hayden Dingman

The controls of the G533 have been simplified a bit compared to the G933, with only a power switch, volume roller, Micro USB port for charging and a single programmable "G-key" which by default mutes and unmutes the microphone .It's a bit redundant because the microphone mutes when you pick it up, so I eventually reprogrammed mine using Logitech's software to turn surround sound on and off, then reprogrammed it later to do scroll through the EQ settings.

As I said, the microphone doesn't fully retract like the G633/933, but it's otherwise very similar - an inflexible base with an extendable (and flexible) boom. There's a single red LED to indicate the mute state, although it's so small and hard to see that it's basically another argument for just taking advantage of the G533's mute toggling capabilities. There's also a miniature pop filter, to which we will come back later.

The only thing that doesn't excite me is that Logitech continues to use a rough mesh for all of its headsets. That's a minor gripe and Logitech isn't alone in using mesh. Something to be aware of, though. optional.)

Performance

Logitech raised my hopes by positioning the G533 as a slimmed down version of the G633/G933, but using the same drivers, the implication being similar audio quality. Drivers are only one factor in how well a headphones, and after thoroughly A/B testing the G533 and G933, I think the latter has a slight advantage.

IDG / Hayden Dingman

Not that there's a huge difference. The pair share Logitech's passion for flat, studio sound, with the G533 sounding a bit brighter than most competitors right out of the box, mainly because it doesn't. It doesn't pack the crushing bass stuffed into most gaming headsets. It's a good move by Logitech, letting the user EQ taste instead of nailing down one sound profile to the detriment of all the others.

Most people will want more bass presence though, and as with the G933 I recommend using the still silly name

Drop the bass

Adjusting the EQ in Logitech's software, then some minimal tweaking to taste. This will get you closer to the settings most people would want for gaming, adding a bit more punch to the mix.

But despite the similarities, I maintain that the G933 has the edge. There is an immediacy to the G933, a fullness or richness to sound that the G533 does not share. Particularly at lower volumes, I have found the G533 does not have the

punch

of the G933, struggling a bit to deliver the same wide soundstage as the G933.

IDG / Hayden Dingman

Surround sound performance is even more hit or miss. The G533 struggles a bit with stereo sound, but its virtual 7.1 mode sounds positive

hollow

sometimes falling in and out of that annoying echo chamber effect that I associate with poor headphone surround. It comes and goes, and with a good surround mix, the G533 still sounds great - in

battlefield 1

for example. But where I was half hot on the G933's surround, I wouldn't call that a selling point for the G533. It's unpleasant more often than not.

These are

very

slight differences, and there are certainly reasons to choose the G533 over its sibling - not only is it cheaper, but it's also more attractive and more comfortable. Don't make the mistake of thinking that the G533 and the G933 are equivalent simply because they are from the same company and use the same drivers.

What about industry-wide performance? The G533 is probably the best sounding wireless headset at this price point (

$100 on Amazon

at present).

SteelSeries Arctis 7

is pretty close - it's definitely a solid alternative. Wireless audio is finally excellent

and

affordable.

IDG / Hayden Dingman

We should also take the time to discuss the G533's unique microphone. Logitech likes to highlight the G533's miniature pop filter - a small circle made from some sort of foam/mesh hybrid that sits over the mic itself. said. It's a much prettier alternative to the standard pop filter, which on headphones usually takes the form of a big ball of foam that sits at the end of the boom.

Does it still work? Again, I resorted to testing the G533 against the G933, as both use similar microphone designs aside from the new pop filter. And yes, the G533 reduces some of the plosives - those big air-burst noises you sometimes get from "B" and "P" sounds. It works well, in other words.

It's kind of a gimmick though. The G533's microphone still isn't good enough for you to want to, say, record a podcast on it, and I don't think your teammates are going to really notice the lack of plosives. also competitors that sound as good as the G533 (or better) without needing (or drawing attention to) a miniaturized pop filter - this is an improvement for Logitech, but not necessarily an industry-wide revolution.

At the end of the line

If you want a wireless headset for your PC, though? The G533 is my new recommendation. What little it lacks in audio compared to the G933 is more than made up for by its cheaper price and more comfortable fit, as well as by its sleek looks. The Arctis 7 is a little harder to dismiss - it's still more comfortable than the G533, but I think the G533's better sound gives it the edge.

Just make sure you only need a PC headset, because that's all the G533 does: there's no phone and officially no console support, whereas the Arctis 7 and the G933 support both. This is the last factor that might point you towards an alternative, but otherwise the G533 is a great wireless option for a great price.

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