Turtle Beach Air
By Turtle Beach · Gaming Headsets · Audio & Electronics
- 40mm drivers, open-back design
- 24-bit/96kHz hi-fi audio (PC mode)
- 301g weight
- 50-hour battery life
- Bluetooth 5.2 + 2.4GHz wireless + 3.5mm wired
Lowest price seen
~$139.99 (approx.)
from $139.99 at Amazon
- Amazon ~$139.99 (approx.)View at Amazon
- Turtle BeachView at Turtle Beach
- eBay (used) eBay: used, open-box, refurbishedView at eBay (used)
- eBayView at eBay
Prices are snapshots. Check the current price with the store.
Summary
A wireless open-back gaming headset for PC and PlayStation players who want natural, spacious sound and all-day comfort without shutting out the room. Check two things first: the 24-bit/96 kHz audio works only over the 2.4 GHz PC connection, and Xbox support is wired only.
Strengths
- Open-back earcups give a wide, natural soundstage and let you hear the room around you.
- At 301 g it is among the lightest wireless gaming headsets, with a floating earcup and mesh suspension headband.
- Battery life is a consistent strength: the manufacturer claims 50 hours and TechRadar tested about 70 hours on one charge.
- PCMag found the detachable mic crisp, and TechRadar called it clearer than the HyperX Cloud III.
- The 24-bit/96 kHz mode over 2.4 GHz is rare in a wireless headset and helps games and music alike.
- Replacement ear cushions and headband Mod Packs sell for $24.99 (Turtle Beach), so the parts that wear are serviceable.
Weaknesses
- Noise isolation is effectively zero and sound leaks out; that is the open-back design working as intended.
- Bass is weak next to closed-back headsets; PCMag found it present but not palpable.
- The all-plastic frame keeps weight down, but reviewers say it does not feel premium and one calls the fabric cheap.
- Swarm II is a consistent complaint: TechRadar calls it hard to navigate and Tom’s Hardware calls it a personal attack.
- Mic reports split: Tom’s Hardware says it is not great, and a Reddit owner describes very quiet, walkie-talkie-like audio.
- The headband adjusts only through a Velcro elastic strap, which one larger-headed reviewer found uncomfortable.
Verified specifications
| Model | Atlas Air, TBS-5101-05. |
|---|---|
| Drivers | 40 mm, 20 Hz–40 kHz frequency response. |
| Audio | 24-bit/96 kHz in PC mode only. |
| Microphone | detachable, uni-directional, flip-to-mute, 16-bit/32 kHz sampling. |
| Connectivity | 2.4 GHz wireless, Bluetooth 5.2 and 3.5 mm wired. |
| Battery | 800 mAh lithium polymer, manufacturer-claimed 50 hours. |
| Weight | 301 g with microphone, 292.5 g without. |
| Dimensions | 198 × 167 × 102 mm. |
| Earcups | open-back, athletic weave fabric over memory foam. |
| Compatibility | PC (Windows 10+), PS5, PS4 and Bluetooth mobile; Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One wired only. |
| Software | Swarm II app with 10-band EQ, mic EQ and Superhuman Hearing. |
| Controls | QuickSwitch button toggles between 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth. |
| In the box | headset, USB-A wireless transmitter, removable microphone with windscreen, 1.8 m USB-A-to-USB-C charging cable, 1.8 m 3.5 mm audio cable, carrying pouch and quick-start guide. |
Full research notes and sources
Battery life and charging
The manufacturer rates the battery at 50 hours, and TechRadar tested for roughly 70 hours across PC and console on a single charge, calling the claim conservative. An owner reported charging only twice over two weeks of use. The pack is 800 mAh lithium polymer and recharges over USB-C with the supplied 1.8 m cable.
Fit, comfort and build
At 301 g with the mic (292.5 g without) the Atlas Air is lighter than most wireless gaming headsets. The floating earcup system uses bungees under a mesh suspension headband, and reviewers and owners repeatedly call it very light and comfortable. The trade-offs are the Velcro-only headband adjustment, which pressed on one larger-headed tester, and the all-plastic frame that looks less premium than metal rivals. The flip-to-mute mic boom can also bump the side of your head when you rotate it up.
Sound and isolation
The 40 mm drivers and open-back earcups produce a wide, natural soundstage with a bright, low-distortion profile. RTINGS and PCMag both praise the detail while noting the bass is not head-rattling. The same open design means near-zero noise isolation and audible leakage, so it is a poor fit for noisy rooms, travel and shared spaces. The 24-bit/96 kHz mode works only over the 2.4 GHz PC connection; Bluetooth and wired do not carry it.
Connections and compatibility
Wireless runs on a 2.4 GHz USB-A transmitter with a QuickSwitch button to jump to Bluetooth 5.2, and a 3.5 mm cable is in the box for wired use. PC (Windows 10 and up), PS5 and PS4 are supported wirelessly, while Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One work only over the wire. There is no wireless Xbox support.
Software and microphone
The Swarm II app handles the 10-band EQ, mic EQ and Superhuman Hearing, but reviewers consistently find it less polished than rivals. Mic quality is the biggest split: PCMag and TechRadar rate it highly, while Tom’s Hardware calls it not great and a Reddit owner reports very quiet, broken-walkie audio. PCMag also noticed occasional volume dips from aggressive AI noise cancellation. Treat it as a possible unit or settings issue rather than a guaranteed defect.
Parts, repairs and running costs
Ownership costs are low. Replacement ear cushions and headband Mod Packs sell for $24.99 in royal purple, rebel pink and Bermuda blue (Turtle Beach), and there is no subscription or other consumable. No long-term durability data exists for the floating earcup bungees or the elastic headband strap. The manual warns against disassembling the headset, dropping it or exposing the battery to heat, and asks you to use only the supplied charger.
Is it worth it?
At the launch list price of $179.99 the Atlas Air is a niche buy: the open-back wireless design, 301 g weight and 24-bit PC audio have to matter to you, because closed-back rivals at the same money offer better bass and isolation. Around $139.99, as Turtle Beach’s own store has listed it, it becomes a strong pick for PC and PlayStation players who want comfort and a natural soundstage. Best Buy listed it at $179 and $139.99 in 2024, and Target at $193.99 (Tom’s Hardware, August 2024). TechRadar notes the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P at $179.99 with a retractable mic and more refined software. The fit does not change: quiet room, PC or PlayStation, wired Xbox only.
Which model this is
This page covers the Turtle Beach Atlas Air wireless open-back gaming headset, model TBS-5101-05 (EAN 0731855051069). The US listing is ASIN B0D13VX3S6. Don’t confuse it with the wired Atlas 200 or the closed-back Stealth 500, 600 and 700 lines, which are different headsets.
Sources
Manufacturer:
Independent reviews:
Owner reports:
