TL;DR
Looking for a budget wireless gaming headset that punches above its weight in audio? The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3P Wireless delivers impressive sound quality and spatial audio for PC and console gamers, boasting a massive 40-hour battery life with fast charging. While the plastic build and less-than-stellar microphone quality are noticeable, and the software setup can be a bit clunky, its audio performance for the price is a standout. Curious to see if its audio prowess outweighs its compromises? Dive into the full review to find out!
I have always been a big fan of SteelSeries headphones, and I was actually quite excited for these to be released. Why is that, you might wonder? Well, because the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3P Wireless is positioned in the budget segment and aims to be an affordable wireless gaming headset solution, targeting both PC and console players who want a more “premium sound” without breaking the bank.
Design & Comfort
At first glance, they look okay but leave a bit to be desired. Then I pick them up out of the box and yes… they ARE plasticky! They completely lack the premium feel that, for example, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 possesses. Due to the choice of materials, the headphones are still lightweight and surprisingly comfortable. The AirWeave ear cushions and the flexible headband do their job well, but after a couple of hours, you start to feel them clamping down and I have to take a break. To quickly mention the controls, SteelSeries continues with the “less is more” concept, as there are only three: ON/OFF (which also toggles between 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth), a volume dial, and a mute button for the microphone. However, I miss a physical EQ control to quickly adjust the balance between chat and game audio. It is worth adding, though, that even if the material choices aren’t luxurious, it is still a reasonable compromise for a headset model aimed at the type of player who cannot afford to spend thousands on a pair of gaming headphones.
Performance & Sound
Connecting the headphones is very easy, either via Bluetooth or with the included 2.4 GHz dongle. You don’t get much closer to “plug and play” than this. The Nova 3 has a battery life that extends up to 40 hours of active gaming, which is very good, and with support for fast charging, you only need to charge the headphones for 15 minutes to get up to 9 more hours.
So, what can be said about the sound? Here, I was actually impressed by the Nova 3 – the soundstage is wide, detailed, and surprisingly powerful for a pair of gaming headphones in this price segment. This is where the 40 mm neodymium drivers really get to show what they’re made of. If you also turn on the 360° Spatial Audio feature, you get a clean, fluid, and clear in-game sound. Footsteps and weapon sounds are crisp and distinct, and environmental effects like wind, rain, and explosions can be heard from different distances and directions – all of which are separated very well. If you fine-tune the EQ settings in the app, you can get even a bit more out of them.
The microphone is acceptable but leaves room for improvement. Even though it is marketed with ClearCast Gen 2 and AI noise cancellation, my teammates often experience my voice as somewhat tinny and unclear. Unfortunately, the microphone picks up quite a bit of ambient noise, especially button presses from the controller and fan noise. For the occasional casual player, these are obviously usable, but if you want them for things like streaming or podcasts, I would argue there are better alternatives.
Steelseries Arctis Companion
I must say that the Companion app feels very limited, especially considering that SteelSeries really hypes up its audio profiles. Sure, there are currently 266 pre-programmed profiles. All of these are tailored for different games and genres, which is quite impressive since SteelSeries is currently alone in offering this on the market. But in practice, it’s not that simple.
To actually be able to use the headphones to their full potential and create your own customized audio profile, you have to download SteelSeries GG – a separate program that only works on a computer. There, you can create your own advanced audio profiles with EQ and spatial audio. The problem? These must then be manually imported to the Companion app if you want to use them on other devices, such as your console or mobile phone.
To be honest, it feels unnecessarily cumbersome. Even though the Nova 3 Wireless belongs to the budget segment, I believe this feature should have been integrated into the Companion app from the start. Had it been, the entire experience would have been much smoother. Right now, it becomes a technical inconvenience that shouldn’t really be there.
Short summary
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3P Wireless is a headset that impresses sonically for its price range, but compromises on build quality and usability. With a bit more thought put into the software and microphone quality, it could have been a top choice in the budget segment. Considering the issues I believe the headphones have, but also the areas where they shine, the rating is unfortunately no more than a pass.
SteelSeries sent review units for this test. Senders of material have no editorial influence on our tests; we always write independently with you, the readers and consumers, in focus.
