B&O Beoplay Portal | Premium Xbox Headset Review

Reviewing Bang & Olufsen's Beoplay Portal gaming headset for Xbox Series X, S and One X. These premium headphones double up as the best Xbox headset I've tested in 2021, boasting premium lossless Bluetooth audio with Dolby Atmos surround sound support. The Beoplay Portal is also the most expensive set I've reviewed, at £450 in the UK. Ouchies.
These B&O headphones are great for everyday music streaming, although the ANC (Active Noise Cancelling) isn't as good as some rivals like the Sony XM4 'phones. Even over Bluetooth, you get great sound quality for a range of music and strong vocals. They're definitely matching the H95 as one of my favourite headphones of 2021.
However, hook up the Beoplay Portal to your Xbox Series X, Series S or older One X console and you'll be blown away. The Dolby Atmos audio is terrifying for horror games and vital for action games, where you can hear anyone creeping up on you.
Check out my review of the Series X for more on Microsoft's nifty console, which happens to cost the same as the Portal headset! Bonkers!
Beoplay Portal Gaming Headset Review Chapters:
0:00 - Intro shenanigans
0:58 - Design
1:41 - Setup
2:33 - Controls
3:13 - Noise Cancelling
3:45 - B&O app
4:10 - Audio quality/music
4:34 - Xbox experience
5:40 - Battery life

[@archduke27]

I can’t wait to get mine this Thursday! Thanks for the review!

[@Len_M.]

Did you get them? Worth it for playing on the Series X?

[@harveywhitehouse919]

Just picked these up for £152 on amazon, what a steal!!!

[@Stampistuta]

He are they? They are reduced again so looking into them myself.

[@harveywhitehouse919]

I am getting on really well with them, the mic is abit on the quiet side according to my friends but overall the sound quality and build quality are awesome

[@Stampistuta]

@@harveywhitehouse919 thanks.

[@SpaceWithSam]

Another incredible video Bro!

[@ManpreetSingh-yt9xn]

I love your review man keep it up

[@BangOlufsenManchester]

Love your tech reviews Chris, you are my go to when I'm looking to buy something new. All the best, John.

[@Nudel-nc1cp]

Hey guys. I have one question: can you charge them via Xbox usb port while playing?

[@sascha6313]

I have tested it for 3 days and I must say I send mine back because of the returning Audio cut outs every 15-20 min. The Sound ist good but I think the Lucid Sound LS 50x winns the race and I have ordered them!! The Beoplay Portal is more for People who hearing a lot of music too and at the price point for 270€ on A I am getting the same good Sound but more for gaming! 😃

[@turboeddy]

Great video,thanks

[@0fflineish]

“Setting up the beoplay portals with your xbox console is an absolute piece of piss” - Legendary. Legendary line. And brilliant review!

[@Scuzzfest]

Great video mate. Really helpful. How have things been connecting them and using them on your ps5 as well, chatting to people and all that? Looking for that one pair of headphones that covers EVERYTHING. Even if it’s not perfect audio on everything as you mentioned with the lack of atmos. Cheers 👍🏻

[@robertgist4698]

Portal issues Sound quality is great but i have encountered many issues. I would like to include the issues I'm experiencing because I have watched alot of reviews and these issues have either not been brought up or experienced. • Audio cuts in and out on xbox and P.C. (Worst on P.C.) • Sound cuts out if pushed to max on headset (Not if adjusted on app) • No noise gate setting • Tested mic and voice sounds far away • Tested mic and background noise is very noticeable. Bottom presses can be heard on the controller • Voice/game volume mixer does not work on P.C. • Settings do not save when headset is turned or or after switching modes • Audio cue needs to be louder when voice/game mixer is maxed or in the middle • Volume cues would be nice at 1/2 and max volume. • No command to end calm only answer • No command for next/previous song.

[@jd5507]

What’s your EQ settings? Both in B&O and atmos. Great review

[@Its-Angela]

I need a new gaming headphones for my Xbox One 🙄 these look very interesting.

[@ippychris1555]

Dunno where else to post this...but its audio related can you do phone headphone audio reviews...I've had some lg v series phones and the audio through £200 earphones is amazing ...now I am on a s10 awefull compared to before ....I can never fund info on how good the headphone jack performs ...as most people would just think its alright ...but is there anything out there that can compete with the lg,now that they have stopped making them??

[@EnglishInterpreter]

Hi, B&O have recently launched an improved iteration of the Portal headset, which is now compatible with PC, PS5 and any mobile device. Any chance you might order, test and review it? I would like to see that review. Thank you

[@JedBullet]

I would need to trial these before selling my kidney to buy them.

[@zenbyo]

The only bummer is that i would like to connect to my phone for discord while playing on xbox. Maybe they can update the headphones in the future.

[@rowdyyoudy]

Great sounding headset both for xbox and bluetooth, sending mine back as the microphone isn't great when in Xbox mode. It is very "tinny" and also manages to pick up every single noise in the room around you. In bluetooth mode this doesn't happen and there's a noticable quality difference, will maybe pick up in 12 months time after a few firmware updates.

[@2q2qvision48]

Did you pick them up again 12 months later?

[@Goryglory0209]

Trash it is. Sending mione back today after picked the PS4/PC version @@2q2qvision48

[@LocutusOfWarborgOneOfOne]

the mic is great

[@SMIFFY101177]

Top notch review. Are you doing a give away on these 🤣🤣🤣

[@egj1975]

Why is there no mic test (both wireless and cabled). Not a call test but a chat test. I have a set where the mic sound in perfect in BT mode but when I use the gaming with a USBC cable the mic sound is just terrible.

[@iskrambolpetot2329]

Can you review Flydigi Apex 2?

[@tommy123333]

Do you have a recommendation for an Android mobile game controller ? Thanks

[@terrytaylor2104]

Does the Dolby atmos on this headset really give an accurate height panning element to the sound?

[@pigasusr2]

When you have properly set it up

[@AL-lp8io]

Only for sound quality its wort or not? Not for game for music only...Its looks similar to soundcore q30,maybe someone come for sound?

[@silkysnakee8235]

Does it have any directional audio?? By its self or do you need to pay for the Dolby atoms app?

[@addeade231]

I can buy it for 160 GDP/183 EURO cirka, is it a good buy (new, not used in package)??????

[@bkek]

Do these need to paired to the Xbox every time you use them ?

[@murilomar3974]

Hello Chris, I've a hearing problem that makes vary difficult to hear high frequencies without aid. So I use hearing aids. Can you give some ideas about headphones I (and a lot of people, i think) can use in combination with hearing aids for work videocalls and music ? For exemple, nice ear cups with a nice space don't press the ears with aids inside them. Many Tks ; )

[@DDuck777]

This is a channel promoting items that he gets for free in exchange for a favourable review. Which then get sold on eBay. He ain’t got time to be answering peoples questions as you can see. Now if you messaged offering him free gear he would be straight in your inbox.

[@Mojavekight17]

Is it better than the Sony xm40?

[@isaacddestroy3674]

I swear I keep hearing him say Bangin Awesome 😂 But by the sound of this review that wouldn’t be an inaccurate takeaway

[@johnerbudman123]

How’s the microphone nowadays I’ve just ordered these for £170 should I be happy

[@VaughnJogVlog]

Did not test mic quality...

[@FormulaProg]

Are these any good for music on your phone? iTunes library etc?

[@Itz_Dennisss]

Personally I use them for music and gaming

[@xWaxxy]

It doesn’t use bluetooth to connect to the xbox, it uses MS’s proprietary wireless connection.

[@GothicKittyMadness]

why are they only £170 now?

[@BAZ.3D]

does the microphone work on xbox or is that just the mobile side of the headsets features? wanting to get this for my birthday and would like a premium headset for gaming but obviously i need a microphone to talk to my friends and team mates

[@harveywhitehouse919]

Yup it's built into the headset and works with xbox party chat

[@BuckRogers007]

What is the range? I do stray from my console from time to time. Can I go to the kitchen without interrupting a conversation? 30 feet?

[@wildwelshpete]

At that price they can keep them

[@ryanknox4142]

Can you use it on PC?

[@Outlawridazz]

Going on sale in a few days £300

[@KennWirUnsNein]

I got a A50 Gen 4 but idk what is better now i want the best on the Market i dont care about the price

[@ItsBillee]

A50s are ish. Sadly not many truly great headsets on the market currently. I’m waiting for Astro to hopefully come out with a new line. These were on my radar but reviews seem to say the microphone is trash.

[@X544KEY]

I need a wireless headset which can maximise all the features of my XSX and also my PS5. I spoke to B&O today on the phone, they said it can utilise all features for my XSX however if I want to use it with my PS5 then it will have to be wired into my controller and will only be stereo sound :( If anyone knows a solution to allow me to use these wirelessly on my PS5 let me know please.

[@hanswurstusbrachialus5213]

Uhm.. i missed the whole MICROFONE test.... or isnt it a headset and just headphones?? thx..

[@harveywhitehouse919]

It's a headset

[@adrianbaldwin8832]

Have an xbox x and ps5 thinking of getting theses, do u think still worth it as now on offer for 190 quid would tempest sound work on psvr 2 with theses

[@newpeople20032004]

Can I use this for ps5 also?

[@CptAloevera]

There's a PS version

[@loitersquadX]

Is the mic any good ?

[@The_Punisher202]

No

[@cautionfiamable]

Ive been playing competitively with turtle beach 420x's since they came out in 2015. been a great wireless headset with very little issues, upgraded a to newer sets a few times and always went back.. but i saw these and though, cool, let me upgrade. Let me tell you folks, these cans are fking terrible. a $500 headset that has a constant hiss in the background, terrible party chat mic quality, intermittent popping, and no matter how much i fk around with the EQ and dolby atmos, i cant get them to sound anywhere near as good as my bluetooth headset from 7 years ago.!! they are tinny and washed out. it sounds like im under water. Sure, the directional sound is good, but not much better than what the 420s provided. really astonished with just how bad these are and how many reviews claim they are amazing. money is no option, i literally dont care. Id pay $2000 for a good wireless xbox headset.... but they dont seem to exist. audeze penrose x on the way next, lets see if they can stack up to a half a decade discontinued headset.

[@Goryglory0209]

100 percent right.. Sending this joke back to Amazons's butt

[@ricbrook7059]

Struggling to get my head around the price of these, yes I know they're B&O but as they have said themselves this is just the beginning I don't know anyone who would be daft enough to splash £450 on the 1st gens when a pair of XM4's can usually be had for around £200 less

[@zulfikeralikhanchowdhury3129]

Man it’s definitely for rich folks.... Now I feel poor....😭

[@josecarlosesguerra434]

Wow

[@kalkydra]

Good review mate. Quick question, once they are already paired. Every time you turn on xbox and headphones again, are they automatically paired or do you have to press again the Xbox button everytime on the headphones?

[@rowdyyoudy]

Starts up in bluetooth mode so have to click the button

[@ettnollbajen9945]

Premium as fuck at 500€.

[@caxzrockz]

£500 they are too expensive

[@UltraCasualPenguin]

Good luck connecting anything to Xbox consoles using bluetooth. Hint: Xbox consoles never supported bluetooth.

[@jeremyb8951]

It doesn’t use Bluetooth for its Xbox connection.

[@truckdrivegermany]

500 €... great, but no thanks! 🙄

[@Seanbyford]

You need to try penrose… makes these sound rubbish and overpriced…..returned mine

[@sergiopauloplata2997]

Imagine getting a heart 💓💓💓

[@TeslaIL]

אח שלי מתחתן השבוע

[@lincolnman97]

12 hrs for $500… not gd

[@J05TI]

Wait what? A wireless gaming headset? Wireless means it introduces audio lag in games, unlike music and movies. This is stupid.