Sony has put a price and a date on its new headset.
The PlayStation Pulse costs $99.99. Pre-orders open October 29, 2026 at 10am local time (7am PT in the U.S.). It goes on sale on November 19, 2026, the same day as GTA 6. The premium Pulse Edge follows in early 2027, and Sony has not shared its price.
Sony first showed both headsets on September 15. The price and dates came in an update to that post on October 21. Both use planar magnetic drivers and Sony's PlayStation Link wireless. The Shortcut reports they were developed with Audeze. Sony's own post does not mention Audeze, so treat that part as a report, not a Sony claim.
Key dates
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| September 15, 2026 | Pulse and Pulse Edge first shown on the PlayStation Blog |
| October 21, 2026 | Price and dates added to the post |
| October 29, 2026 | Pulse pre-orders open (10am local, 7am PT in the U.S.) |
| November 19, 2026 | Pulse goes on sale |
| Early 2027 | Pulse Edge, price still unannounced |
Pre-orders run through PlayStation Direct and participating retailers. Sony lists the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, the U.K. and most of Europe for launch. Other countries come later.
Pulse vs Pulse Edge vs Pulse Elite
| PlayStation Pulse | PlayStation Pulse Edge | PULSE Elite (2024) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $99.99 | Not announced | $149.99 at launch in 2024 |
| Release | November 19, 2026 | Early 2027 | Out now |
| Drivers | Planar magnetic, 4 magnets per driver | Planar magnetic, 8 magnets per driver | Planar magnetic (Sony says the new drivers are larger) |
| Noise cancelling | No | Yes | Not listed on Sony's page |
| Mic | Built-in, AI noise rejection | Detachable boom mic, AI noise rejection | Retractable boom mic, AI noise rejection |
| Game and chat balance | Not listed | Yes, on PS5 | Not listed |
| Extras | Volume control, earcups that lay flat | Carrying case, 3.5mm audio/mic jack | Carrying case in the box |
| Wireless | PlayStation Link (USB-C adapter) plus Bluetooth at the same time | Same | PlayStation Link plus Bluetooth at the same time |
| Works with | PS5, PlayStation Portal, PC, Mac | Same | PS5, PlayStation Portal, PC, Mac |
| Battery | Not announced | Not announced | Up to 30 hours (Sony) |
Both new headsets come in White and Midnight Black. Sony has not shared battery life for either one.
What is new, and where each one wins
Pulse. This is the price story. $99.99 is $50 below what the Pulse Elite cost at launch. You get the same big ideas: planar magnetic sound, lossless low-latency PlayStation Link, and a switch between PS5, Portal, PC and Mac. You give up noise cancelling and the premium extras.
Pulse Edge. This is the "no compromises" model. It doubles the magnets in each driver, from four to eight. Sony says that gives richer, deeper bass while keeping detail. It also adds active noise cancelling, a detachable boom mic, a carrying case, a 3.5mm jack and a game and chat balance control on PS5. The catch is the wait and the missing price. Some sites have guessed at numbers. Sony has not confirmed any, so we are not repeating them.
Pulse Elite. It is the older model, but it is not worse on paper in every way. Sony lists up to 30 hours of battery and a carrying case. Sony says the new drivers are larger, so the new Pulse may sound better. We cannot say that until reviews arrive.
Which should you buy?
- Pre-order the Pulse if: you want a new PlayStation headset for GTA 6 on November 19, you play at home, and you do not need ANC. At $99.99 it is the cheapest way into planar magnetic sound on PS5. Reviews are not out yet, so only pre-order if you are happy to return it.
- Wait for the Pulse Edge if: you play in noisy rooms, use a headset on the train, or want a mic you can detach. Early 2027 is a long wait, and the price could be well above $99.99. Do not decide until Sony shares it.
- Wait for reviews if: you are unsure. Pre-orders open October 29 and the headset ships November 19. That leaves three weeks for reviews to show how it sounds and how long the battery lasts.
- Keep or buy the PULSE Elite if: you already own one, or you find one on sale. It has a known battery life and works with the same devices. Sony's prices have dropped during sales, so check today's price first.
- Look at a non-Sony headset if: you also game on Xbox or Switch, or want a long battery. The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless lists 60 hours of battery and works on several systems. Sony's Pulse headsets are built around PlayStation, PC and Mac.
- Skip both if: you already have a headset you like. The Pulse is a nice upgrade, not a must-buy.
Check PULSE Elite price on Amazon
If you are still comparing, see our best gaming headsets guide. Planning a GTA 6 setup? Our best PS5 controllers page covers the other half of the kit. For current prices on consoles and accessories, check our deals page.
Other tech news this week
- Apple "Pro and Tell" event, October 28. Apple sent invites for an event on October 28. Reports expect a MacBook Pro with a touchscreen OLED display and a redesigned iPad mini. Apple has not confirmed what it will show, and outlets disagree on the chips.
- iPhone Duo goes on sale. Apple's first foldable iPhone starts at $1,999 in the U.S. Pre-orders opened October 16 and the first deliveries were scheduled for October 23. More countries follow on October 30.
- Pulse pre-order day is next. Sony's pre-orders open on Thursday, October 29, so set a reminder if you want one at launch.
Sources
- PlayStation Blog: Introducing the next line of PS5 audio products
- The Shortcut: PlayStation Pulse and Pulse Edge price, release date and pre-order
- Push Square: Sony's revamped PS5 Pulse headset launches alongside GTA 6
- TBreak: PlayStation Pulse wireless headset price and release date
- PlayStation: PULSE Elite wireless headset
- Tom's Guide: Apple's October 28 event invite
- Channel Insider: Apple confirms $1,999 iPhone Duo, October 23 launch
Image: Sony Interactive Entertainment
