ConsFirst / Gaming headsets

SteelSeries

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless: the downsides first

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#1 of 8
$$Wireless5P: PS5, PC, Switch, mobileScore 4.0/5
15%
of Amazon ratings are 1–2 stars
(checked 2026-10-10)1,533 ratings. The listing is titled 'Multi-System' and may pool variants.

Tom's Guide's best gaming headset overall. It's light and comfortable, with a 60-hour battery and a phone app with 100+ game presets, for about $130. But it has no ANC, Wirecutter rejected the Xbox model over comfort or fit, and Amazon owners report connection problems and some failures.

Top complaints

  • Connection issues and units that stop working

    Amazon's summary says owners are split on wireless connectivity and reliability, with some reporting connection issues, poor audio and headsets that stop working.

    Source: Amazon.com product page (Customers say)
  • Comfort isn't universal

    Wirecutter dismissed the Nova 5X with a group of headsets it found uncomfortable for various head sizes or prone to slipping. Tom's Guide loved the comfort but says it made its tester's ears a bit hot after 3 hours.

    Source: Wirecutter (NYT) best gaming headsets, Tom's Guide review
  • No ANC, and the app has limits

    Tom's Guide and TechRadar both list the lack of active noise cancelling. TechRadar adds that not every game preset makes a noticeable difference.

    Source: Tom's Guide review, TechRadar review

What owners love

Good for
  • Mid-budget wireless with a very long battery
  • Players who like per-game EQ presets
  • Using a console and a phone at once (dongle plus Bluetooth)

Scores (tap for why)

What experts say

  • Tom's Guide: Best gaming headset overall (updated 2026-09-25). Its only listed con is no ANC.
  • TechRadar: 'All the gaming headset you'll ever need'. The cons are no ANC and some presets that don't make much difference.
  • Wirecutter (NYT): The Nova 5X was dismissed for comfort or fit (guide updated 2026-09-02).
Check price on AmazonWe don't list prices — they change daily. Paid link.

If that catch is a deal-breaker

Highly ranked gaming headsets whose biggest complaint is something else.

#2 in gaming headsetsRazer BlackShark V3 Pro

RTINGS' best upper mid-range pick. It adds ANC, a better mic and a 3.5 mm option to the V2 Pro and keeps 70 hours of battery. But it costs about $50 more than the V2 Pro and is heavier, the ANC is only decent, and Amazon owners are split on sound and reliability.

Its catch: mixed owner reports on sound and reliability#3 in gaming headsetsRazer BlackShark V2 Pro (2024) for Xbox

Wirecutter's wireless upgrade pick. It's light and very comfortable with crisp sound and 48-70 hours of battery, and the Xbox version works with every platform. But there's no wired mode, Wirecutter finds the mic slightly compressed, and nearly a fifth of its small Amazon sample is 1-2 stars.

Its catch: no wired connection#4 in gaming headsetsAudeze Maxwell 2

RTINGS' best gaming headset and Tom's Guide's best for Xbox, with planar magnetic drivers, about 80 hours of battery and a strong mic. But it is heavy: SoundGuys found it hot and uncomfortable after a few hours, it slid off Wirecutter's tester, and 23% of its small Amazon sample is 1-2 stars.

Its catch: heavy, warm and hard to adjust

Head-to-head

See all 8 gaming headsets ranked →