Xbox launches a luxury headset that costs the same as an Xbox Series X. The devices were designed by the prestigious audio brand Bang & Olufsen for Xbox.
Months ago Xbox announced the Designed for Xbox program, a lineup that would include devices made with the Xbox ecosystem in mind. The company has already unveiled several products with well-known brands and today announced the new and expensive products that will be added to the lineup.
“The mission of the Designed for Xbox program has always been to enhance the user experience on Xbox by building quality consumer products from brands they love,” Xbox commented last September when it unveiled the program, which would expand the ecosystem with innovative experiences and products while maintaining a level of quality they pride themselves on.
It was anticipated that within this line would be part of the prestigious audio brand Bang & Olufsen, which would offer a product that combines beautiful sound, timeless design, and unparalleled craftsmanship. It had also been anticipated that it would be a product focused on the high end, so it was expected, in effect, a premium product with a high price.
The new headset is produced with Xbox and Bang & Olufsen cooperation
Well, today Xbox and Bang & Olufsen unveiled the cool Bang & Olufsen Beoplay Portal headphones, which are part of the Limited Series.
These headphones, in addition to offering a sober and elegant design at the same time that ran on behalf of designer Jakob Wagner and the Bang & Olufsen team, have features that every video game fan will appreciate both in their gaming session and in everyday life, as they are not only compatible with Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, but also with Bluetooth 5.1 and aptX Adaptive devices.
The Bang & Olufsen Beoplay Portal fully charges in 3 hours offer 12 hours of life using them with Xbox Wireless, Bluetooth, and active noise cancellation and up to 24 hours if only used with Bluetooth and active noise cancellation.
There are several microphones inside the headphones and no extra accessory is needed, but they are responsible for picking up and amplifying the user’s voice and excluding noise for high-quality conversations.
The user can customize the sound parameters of the headphones, mute them, and have control of a large number of additional options in the Bang & Olufsen application for mobile devices.
The headphones have 3 presentations, “anthracite black”, “mist gray” and “navy blue brass”. The first one is already available for immediate purchase (Microsoft Store and Bang & Olufsen official store), while the other 2 can be reordered and will be available in May. As these are premium or high-end products, it is no surprise that they cost the same as an Xbox Series X, $499.
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay Portal headphones specifications
- Included in package – Beoplay Portal headphones, 1.8-meter USB-A to USB-C cable, 1.25m 3.5mm stereo cable, quick start guide.
- Connectivity – Bluetooth 5.1, Xbox Wireless, USB-C port, 3.5mm mini-jack.
- Duration after charging – up to 12 hours with Xbox Wireless, Bluetooth, and active noise cancellation; up to 24 hours with Bluetooth and active noise cancellation.
- Battery type – 1200mAh capacity lithium ion (non-replaceable).
- Power source – 5V USB charging via USB-C connector.
- Charging time – approximately 3 hours.
- Driver type – electrodynamic driver with Neodynium magnets, 40 mm diameter.
- Impedance – 24 Ohm +/- 15%.
- Effective frequency range – 20-22,000 Hz.
- Sensitivity – 95dB, 1 mW@1kHz.
- Audio codecs – aptXTM Adaptive, AAC, SBC.
- LED indicators – status and battery.
- Microphones – 4 digital MEMS voice microphones (2 microphones shared with active audio cancellation); 4 dedicated MEMS microphones for active audio cancellation functions (2 microphones in each earphone).
