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SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3P Wireless Review
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SteelSeries has added another ambitious model to its wireless headset lineup: the Arctis Nova 3P Wireless. While the "P" at the end stands for PlayStation, this model is fully compatible with a wide range of devices, including PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch, Meta Quest, mobile phones, and tablets. We took a deep dive into all the aspects that shape the user experience, from design and battery life to sound quality and software features.
The unit we have on hand comes in a striking "Aqua" color, which looks both sleek and eye-catching. In addition to Aqua, The headset is available in four color options in total: Aqua, Black, White, and Lavender. The overall design of the headset is minimalistic, functional, and lightweight. There are no flashy elements like RGB lighting; instead, SteelSeries has clearly prioritized simplicity and portability.
The physical control buttons are located on the left side of the headset. A small scroll wheel allows you to adjust the volume, while the mic mute button and LED-lit power button are also positioned on the same side. This model charges via USB-C and features a dedicated port for the detachable ClearCast Gen 2 microphone.
The headband is adjustable but somewhat limited in flexibility. You can fine-tune the fit using a three-step plastic adjustment system. Weighing in at 267 grams, the headset is relatively lightweight; however, during extended use, the headband can become slightly uncomfortable. At least in my case, with a larger head shape, it tended to feel a bit tight after long sessions.
The ear cushions are quite comfortable. Thanks to the AirWeave fabric covering, you won’t experience much sweating even during long gaming sessions. As someone living in Adana, a city known for its heat, this is a particularly important detail for me. I personally really like the fabric-covered cushions that SteelSeries uses in its headsets. However, the overall material quality of the headset isn’t exactly premium, the plastic build feels a bit on the cheaper side.
The headset features 40mm neodymium magnetic drivers. The sound is clear and clean, with satisfying bass levels. During my testing in games like VALORANT, Call of Duty, and CS2, the in-game audio came through very clearly. It was easy to pinpoint enemy locations just by their footsteps. That said, this experience can vary significantly depending on the EQ profiles you use.
Thanks to the Arctis Companion app available on mobile, EQ settings can be easily customized. The game-specific profiles offered by SteelSeries work really well and provide sound settings that are well-suited for different types of games.
With the 2.4 GHz dongle, latency is virtually unnoticeable. This mode is definitely the preferred choice for FPS games. On the Bluetooth side, it's perfectly fine for music, movies, and mobile gaming, but in competitive scenarios, slight delays may be noticeable.
The ClearCast Gen 2 microphone is detachable and very compact. It delivers 32KHz/16bit audio, and the overall voice quality is more than adequate. During Discord chats, my voice came through clearly and intelligibly to others. I also had no issues communicating with teammates during gameplay. The noise cancellation on the mic works quite well, and the included foam cover further helps to reduce background noise effectively.
Using the SteelSeries GG software, you can further enhance the microphone quality by selecting a profile that suits your voice via the Sonar feature. Simply record your voice once using Sonar and test different profiles. By choosing the one that sounds the clearest and most natural to you, you can noticeably improve the mic’s performance.
The headset supports both 2.4 GHz wireless and Bluetooth 5.3 connections, making it easy to use with PC, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and mobile devices.
The 3P model I have came with a wireless dongle and a very short USB-C cable in the box. I double-checked multiple times just to be sure, but there was no USB-A adapter included. For connecting to a PC, you only get the dongle and USB-C cable. The problem here is that I use a lot of USB ports, and the USB-C dongle is quite long. When plugged in, it ends up blocking at least one adjacent port, which is definitely inconvenient.
The Xbox version, called the 3X model, includes a USB-A adapter. In fact, the 3X dongle also features a device-switching button for easy toggling between PC and Xbox. However, the 3P model’s dongle has a simple, flat, and minimalistic design.
Switching between platforms is very convenient, especially toggling between the dongle and Bluetooth, which takes just a few seconds. Still, I can’t help but wish the included cable had been a bit longer…
You can connect and use the Arctis Nova 3P Wireless seamlessly with all the devices mentioned above.
When it comes to battery life, the Arctis Nova 3P Wireless performs impressively. It offers up to 24 hours of uninterrupted use in 2.4 GHz mode. SteelSeries states that this extends to over 40 hours when using Bluetooth mode.
Thanks to the fast charge feature, just 15 minutes of charging provides up to 9 hours of usage. For everyday use, charging once a week should be more than enough.
Microphone settings, sidetone level, auto-shutdown timer, and connection mode are all controllable through the software. The availability of the mobile app is also a major advantage for users who frequently switch between devices.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3P Wireless stands out as a versatile headset delivering balanced performance. However, it does have some shortcomings: external noise isolation is weak, the material quality isn’t quite premium, and the included cable is rather short. Still, with its sound quality, battery life, and software support, it offers a reliable solution for everyday use and competitive gaming.
As of the time we published this review, the current price of the Arctis Nova 3P Wireless in Turkey ranges between 6,499 TL and 7,299 TL. If it were priced more affordably, it could have been a much more attractive option.
If you prioritize wireless convenience, multi-platform compatibility, and enjoy software customization, the Arctis Nova 3P Wireless is definitely worth considering. However, for users with higher expectations, exploring alternative models might be a better choice.
The unit we have on hand comes in a striking "Aqua" color, which looks both sleek and eye-catching. In addition to Aqua, The headset is available in four color options in total: Aqua, Black, White, and Lavender. The overall design of the headset is minimalistic, functional, and lightweight. There are no flashy elements like RGB lighting; instead, SteelSeries has clearly prioritized simplicity and portability.
The physical control buttons are located on the left side of the headset. A small scroll wheel allows you to adjust the volume, while the mic mute button and LED-lit power button are also positioned on the same side. This model charges via USB-C and features a dedicated port for the detachable ClearCast Gen 2 microphone.
The headband is adjustable but somewhat limited in flexibility. You can fine-tune the fit using a three-step plastic adjustment system. Weighing in at 267 grams, the headset is relatively lightweight; however, during extended use, the headband can become slightly uncomfortable. At least in my case, with a larger head shape, it tended to feel a bit tight after long sessions.
The ear cushions are quite comfortable. Thanks to the AirWeave fabric covering, you won’t experience much sweating even during long gaming sessions. As someone living in Adana, a city known for its heat, this is a particularly important detail for me. I personally really like the fabric-covered cushions that SteelSeries uses in its headsets. However, the overall material quality of the headset isn’t exactly premium, the plastic build feels a bit on the cheaper side.
The headset features 40mm neodymium magnetic drivers. The sound is clear and clean, with satisfying bass levels. During my testing in games like VALORANT, Call of Duty, and CS2, the in-game audio came through very clearly. It was easy to pinpoint enemy locations just by their footsteps. That said, this experience can vary significantly depending on the EQ profiles you use.
Thanks to the Arctis Companion app available on mobile, EQ settings can be easily customized. The game-specific profiles offered by SteelSeries work really well and provide sound settings that are well-suited for different types of games.
With the 2.4 GHz dongle, latency is virtually unnoticeable. This mode is definitely the preferred choice for FPS games. On the Bluetooth side, it's perfectly fine for music, movies, and mobile gaming, but in competitive scenarios, slight delays may be noticeable.
The ClearCast Gen 2 microphone is detachable and very compact. It delivers 32KHz/16bit audio, and the overall voice quality is more than adequate. During Discord chats, my voice came through clearly and intelligibly to others. I also had no issues communicating with teammates during gameplay. The noise cancellation on the mic works quite well, and the included foam cover further helps to reduce background noise effectively.
Using the SteelSeries GG software, you can further enhance the microphone quality by selecting a profile that suits your voice via the Sonar feature. Simply record your voice once using Sonar and test different profiles. By choosing the one that sounds the clearest and most natural to you, you can noticeably improve the mic’s performance.
The headset supports both 2.4 GHz wireless and Bluetooth 5.3 connections, making it easy to use with PC, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and mobile devices.
The 3P model I have came with a wireless dongle and a very short USB-C cable in the box. I double-checked multiple times just to be sure, but there was no USB-A adapter included. For connecting to a PC, you only get the dongle and USB-C cable. The problem here is that I use a lot of USB ports, and the USB-C dongle is quite long. When plugged in, it ends up blocking at least one adjacent port, which is definitely inconvenient.
The Xbox version, called the 3X model, includes a USB-A adapter. In fact, the 3X dongle also features a device-switching button for easy toggling between PC and Xbox. However, the 3P model’s dongle has a simple, flat, and minimalistic design.
Switching between platforms is very convenient, especially toggling between the dongle and Bluetooth, which takes just a few seconds. Still, I can’t help but wish the included cable had been a bit longer…
You can connect and use the Arctis Nova 3P Wireless seamlessly with all the devices mentioned above.
When it comes to battery life, the Arctis Nova 3P Wireless performs impressively. It offers up to 24 hours of uninterrupted use in 2.4 GHz mode. SteelSeries states that this extends to over 40 hours when using Bluetooth mode.
Thanks to the fast charge feature, just 15 minutes of charging provides up to 9 hours of usage. For everyday use, charging once a week should be more than enough.
- Driver: 40mm Neodymium
- Connectivity: 2.4 GHz Wireless, Bluetooth 5.3
- Microphone: ClearCast Gen 2 (detachable)
- Battery Life: 24 hours (2.4 GHz), 40+ hours (Bluetooth)
- Fast Charge: 15 min = 9 hours of use
- Color Options: Black, White, Aqua, Lavender
- Weight: 267 grams
- Software Support: SteelSeries GG (PC), Arctis Companion (mobile)
Microphone settings, sidetone level, auto-shutdown timer, and connection mode are all controllable through the software. The availability of the mobile app is also a major advantage for users who frequently switch between devices.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3P Wireless stands out as a versatile headset delivering balanced performance. However, it does have some shortcomings: external noise isolation is weak, the material quality isn’t quite premium, and the included cable is rather short. Still, with its sound quality, battery life, and software support, it offers a reliable solution for everyday use and competitive gaming.
As of the time we published this review, the current price of the Arctis Nova 3P Wireless in Turkey ranges between 6,499 TL and 7,299 TL. If it were priced more affordably, it could have been a much more attractive option.
If you prioritize wireless convenience, multi-platform compatibility, and enjoy software customization, the Arctis Nova 3P Wireless is definitely worth considering. However, for users with higher expectations, exploring alternative models might be a better choice.
