If you’re shopping for a cheap, no-fuss gaming headset that plugs into anything with a headphone jack, Turtle Beach’s Recon 70 and Recon 50 will both show up — often side by side, often at nearly the same price. This guide is for console and PC gamers choosing between the two: it covers the real differences between them (from Turtle Beach’s own specs), which platforms each works with, and when you’d be better off with a different headset entirely. We haven’t hands-on tested these — everything here is drawn from the manufacturer’s published specs and documented product history, attributed as such.
The short answer
The Recon 70 is Turtle Beach’s successor to the Recon 50 — a refined redesign of the same basic formula, launched in 2019 at the same $39.95 MSRP as the 50, according to Turtle Beach’s own launch announcement. Both are wired 3.5mm headsets with 40mm drivers and multiplatform compatibility. The meaningful differences come down to the microphone and the controls:
- Recon 70: fixed (non-removable) boom mic with flip-to-mute, plus on-ear volume wheel and mic mute. Confirmed by Turtle Beach Support: “The Recon 70’s microphone boom is not removable.”
- Recon 50: removable high-sensitivity mic boom (detachable for movies or music), with in-line volume and mic-mute controls instead of on-ear ones.
If you want the newer design and a mic you can silence by flipping it up, get the 70. If a detachable mic matters more to you (or the 50 is noticeably cheaper), the 50 gets you essentially the same core audio.
Recon 70 vs Recon 50: specs at a glance
The following is per Turtle Beach’s published spec sheets and product claims:
| Recon 70 | Recon 50 | |
|---|---|---|
| Drivers | 40mm (neodymium) | 40mm |
| Connection | Wired, single 3.5mm jack | Wired, single 3.5mm jack |
| Microphone | Fixed boom, flip-to-mute | Removable boom, high-sensitivity |
| Controls | On-ear volume wheel + mic mute | In-line volume + mic mute |
| Earcups | Over-ear, synthetic leather cushions | Over-ear, synthetic leather cushions |
| Platforms | PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, mobile (3.5mm) | PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, Mac, mobile/tablet (3.5mm) |
| Generation | 2019 redesign of the 50’s formula | 2015 original |
| Launch MSRP | $39.95 | $39.95 (per Turtle Beach’s 2019 announcement) |
The real differences: mic, controls, and design
Microphone design is the biggest practical difference. The Recon 70’s boom is fixed — it lives on the headset permanently and mutes when you flip it up. That’s convenient mid-game (one gesture, no fumbling for a button) but means the mic is always in your peripheral vision. The Recon 50’s boom detaches entirely, which Turtle Beach markets as a plus for movie-watching or music listening — though it also means one more small part to keep track of.
Controls sit in different places. The 70 puts a volume wheel and mute control on the earcup; the 50 hangs them on the cable as in-line controls. This is pure preference: on-ear controls are easier to find blindly, in-line controls keep the earcup simpler and lighter. Neither gives you EQ, surround toggles, or game/chat mix — these are stereo analog headsets.
Design and comfort. Turtle Beach describes the 70 as a refined, lighter redesign of the 50’s platform, with synthetic leather cushions aimed at longer sessions. Both are closed-back over-ear designs with passive noise isolation — they block some room noise by sealing over your ears, but neither has active noise cancellation.
What didn’t change: the core audio path. Both use 40mm drivers over the same analog 3.5mm connection, so don’t expect a night-and-day sound difference between them — the upgrades are in usability, not in the driver hardware.
Platform compatibility: what works where
Both headsets connect through a standard 3.5mm jack, so compatibility is broad — but “multiplatform” has fine print worth knowing:
- PS5 / PS4: plugs into the DualSense / DualShock 4 controller’s 3.5mm jack. Game audio and voice chat both work through the controller.
- Xbox Series X|S / Xbox One: plugs into the controller’s 3.5mm jack. Note that Turtle Beach sells Xbox-licensed color variants of the 70 — functionally it’s the same headset regardless of box color.
- Nintendo Switch: works in handheld mode via the console’s 3.5mm jack. For docked TV play, check first: the Switch dock has no headphone output, so you’d need to run audio from your TV or monitor’s jack (or an adapter) — the headset can’t plug into the dock directly.
- PC: works with a standard combo 3.5mm jack (most laptops). If your desktop has separate headphone and mic jacks, you may need a Y-splitter adapter (sold separately) — check your PC’s ports before buying.
- Mobile / tablet: works with any device that has a 3.5mm jack.
Surround sound: the 50’s listing mentions being “surround sound ready” for Xbox. What that means in practice: plugged into an Xbox controller, the console’s own spatial audio options (Windows Sonic, Dolby Atmos for Headphones) process the stereo signal — the capability comes from the console, not from anything inside the headset. The same applies to the 70. Neither headset includes a DAC or its own surround processing, and that’s normal at this price — you don’t need extra software or hardware to use either one.
Buying factors: what to check before you pick one
- Wired vs wireless trade-off: a cable means zero latency, zero charging, and a lower price — but also cable snags and a wire as the most common failure point over time. If you mostly play at a desk or couch within arm’s reach of the controller, wired is fine; if you pace the room, it’s not.
- Comfort for long sessions (and glasses): we haven’t worn these, so treat comfort as something to verify, not something we can promise. What to check in reviews from owners: earcup depth (shallow cups press on ears), clamp force (tight out of the box is common and usually loosens), and whether the synthetic leather cushions get hot — a common complaint across budget headsets.
- Mic expectations at this price: expect a serviceable chat mic, not a broadcast mic. Budget headset mics reliably pick up your voice for teammates; they don’t reliably reject keyboard clatter, fans, or a noisy room. If you stream or record, plan on a separate mic eventually.
- Flip-to-mute vs detachable: pick based on how you use a headset outside games. Constantly switching between Discord and movies? The 50’s detachable mic is genuinely useful. Only gaming? The 70’s flip-to-mute is the faster mute.
- Which color/variant: Turtle Beach sells both models in console-branded colorways (Xbox green, PlayStation blue, Switch red, etc.). These are cosmetic — the headset underneath is the same. Buy whichever variant is cheapest.
Honest limitations of this budget tier
Headsets at this price share the same weaknesses, and neither Turtle Beach model escapes them:
- Build materials: mostly plastic with synthetic leather cushions. Fine for the price, but the cable and headband are the parts that wear out — treat the cable gently.
- Mic noise rejection is basic. Your teammates will hear your room. This is true of essentially every sub-$50 headset mic.
- No wireless, no ANC, no EQ. If you want any of those, you’re in a different price bracket — see the alternatives below.
- Who should not buy either: anyone who needs wireless, active noise cancellation, a mic good enough for streaming, or audiophile-grade sound. Also skip both if your setup has no 3.5mm jack anywhere convenient — adapters add cost and friction that erode the budget appeal.
Which one should you buy?
Get the Recon 70 if: you want the newer design, prefer flip-to-mute over a detachable mic, and like on-ear controls. It’s the safer default pick — it’s the model Turtle Beach is actively selling and supporting going forward.
Get the Recon 50 if: you specifically want a removable mic, prefer in-line controls, or find it meaningfully cheaper than the 70. The core listening experience is the same tier of hardware, so don’t pay extra for the 50.
Get neither if: your priority is wireless, noise cancellation, or a serious mic — keep reading.
Alternatives worth a look
- BENGOO G9000 — another budget wired headset in the same price bracket; consider it if you want LED styling and a slightly different fit, but expect the same budget-tier trade-offs.
- AOC Gaming Headset — a wired alternative with larger 50mm drivers on paper; worth comparing if you want a different brand’s take on the budget formula.
- Wireless Gaming Headset (2.4G/Bluetooth) — the cord-cutting option on this site; 2.4GHz wireless adds convenience at the cost of charging and potential latency, so it’s a trade, not a strict upgrade.
- Turtle Beach Recon 200 (Gen 2) — the same-brand step-up: Turtle Beach’s own next tier adds a rechargeable battery-powered amplifier for louder output through the same 3.5mm connection. One to consider if your controller’s headphone output is too quiet for you with the 70 or 50.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Prefer the detachable mic? Check the Recon 50 on Amazon
