SteelSeries SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless sits below the maker's Nova Pro in price and features, but it carries many of the ideas that made the Arctis line popular: simultaneous wireless connections, a large library of game audio presets and a microphone that tucks away completely. SteelSeries sells it as a cross-platform headset with a compact USB-C dongle. This guide is based on the manufacturer's product page and specification tables. We have not tested the headset, and the page does not show a price, so that is left blank here.

Two wireless links at once

The headset supports both a 2.4 GHz connection and Bluetooth 5.3 at the same time. SteelSeries calls the idea Quick-Switch Wireless: a button lets you move from the high-speed 2.4 GHz link to Bluetooth to answer a call or listen to music, while the game connection stays on standby. There are two save slots, so you can keep separate equalizer profiles for gaming and for Bluetooth audio, and they switch automatically with the connection. The company's example is keeping an esports preset on the 2.4 GHz link without affecting your music settings on the phone. The cross-platform angle is a compact USB-C dongle that works with PC, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Chromebook, Meta Quest, handhelds, and phones and tablets that support USB-C. The compatibility panel lists PC, Mac, PS5 and PS4, mobile, handhelds such as the ROG Ally and Steam Deck, Quest 2 for audio only and Chromebook, with a note that ChatMix is not supported on Mac or PlayStation. For a broader introduction to when wireless or wired is the better fit, see our headset buying guide for calls and gaming.

Drivers and sound

The specification table gives 40 mm neodymium drivers, a headphone frequency response of 20 to 22,000 Hz, a sensitivity of 93 dB SPL and an impedance of 36 ohms. SteelSeries describes the drivers as custom designed, with clear highs, pinpoint mids and deep bass, though that is a description rather than a measurement. For spatial sound the headset supports 360 degree audio, using free Sonar Virtual Surround on Windows, and it is compatible with Tempest 3D Audio on PS5, Microsoft Spatial Sound and other third-party systems sold separately. If you want a clear explanation of what drivers and soundstage actually change, our article on headset drivers and soundstage covers it, and it makes the numbers on this page easier to interpret.

Presets and the companion app

SteelSeries advertises more than 100 game audio presets built with esports pros and audio engineers, aimed at emphasizing footsteps and other key sounds, plus immersive presets created with developers. They are managed through the Arctis Companion App, which the page says lets you switch presets during play on console, mobile or PC. The software requirement table lists GG with Sonar on Windows 10 and above for the audio suite and for AI noise cancelling on PC, GG with Engine on Windows 8.1 and above and macOS 10.13 and above, and the Nova 5 mobile app for iOS. ChatMix, the dial that balances game and chat volume, depends on the Windows software, which means a console player does not get it. It is worth reading that line before you buy if you play on PlayStation.

Microphone

The ClearCast Gen 2 microphone is a fully retractable boom with a bidirectional, noise-cancelling pattern. Its listed frequency response is 100 to 10,000 Hz and its sensitivity is -38 dBV per pascal. SteelSeries says a new high-bandwidth chipset supports 32 kHz, 16-bit audio, double the bandwidth of the previous generation, and on PC the Sonar AI noise cancellation adds two-way noise reduction on comms. The page claims the feature was tested against jet planes and hair dryers, a promotional line that we cannot verify. The practical point is that the mic retracts completely, which lets you use the headset like ordinary headphones when you are away from the desk. An answer in the FAQ notes whether the microphone still works when retracted, though the text we saw did not spell out the answer, so check before relying on it.

Battery and charging

The page lists a battery life of up to 50 hours on 2.4 GHz wireless or 60 hours on Bluetooth, while the feature section highlights a 60-hour battery in general terms. Both figures are claims from the maker and depend on volume and use. USB-C fast charge delivers 6 hours of play from 15 minutes. SteelSeries suggests the battery lasts about five times longer than other headsets and enough for eight hours a day over a week, which is a promotional comparison without named rivals.

Design and controls

The headset weighs 265 grams, which is on the lighter side for a gaming headset. The retractable microphone adds to the clean look. On-ear controls include a power button, a mute control, a volume dial, an RGB on and off switch and the Quick-Switch button for Bluetooth. The headset has RGB lighting, which can be switched off from the headset, and SteelSeries sells color variants and special editions, including collaborations. The box holds the headset, the compact USB-C wireless dongle, a 1.5 meter USB-C to USB-A charging cable, a dongle extension cable of the same length and a product information guide.

What the page does not give

There is no price and no warranty statement on the page we read. The page covers more than one variant, including editions for other platforms, and the specification tables are shared, so the exact numbers could differ slightly between versions. It also does not describe the ear cushion material or the headband in detail, and does not give the Bluetooth codec list.

How it compares

Within the Arctis range, the step up is the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, which we cover in a full review and which adds active noise cancelling and a dual-battery base station. From another maker, the Razer Barracuda X is a lightweight dual wireless alternative with a detachable microphone and passive isolation. All models are on our headsets page.

Our take

The Arctis Nova 5 Wireless is a sensible mid-range headset built around convenience: two connections at once, long battery life, a microphone that disappears and a deep library of presets. Its weak spots are the ones the page does not address, namely the price, the warranty and the Mac and PlayStation limits on ChatMix. If you mostly play on a PC and want a headset that also handles your phone, it deserves a place on your list. If you play mainly on PlayStation and rely on chat balance, confirm which features you will actually get.