INTRODUCTION

    The world of PC and console gaming peripherals never stands still. Every year brings new attempts to refine how we hear, feel, and interact with our favorite games. Wireless headsets, once a luxury, have become essential tools for anyone who values clean setups and unrestricted movement. The challenge now isn’t going wireless, it’s going wireless without compromise. Sound quality, mic clarity, and long‑session comfort all need to coexist. And that’s where the latest generation of multi‑platform headsets is fighting for attention. SteelSeries enters that arena again with the Arctic Nova 3P Wireless, a model built for players who want simplicity without losing capability.

        SteelSeries is the original esports brand that fuses gaming & culture, leading the way in defining a gaming lifestyle, and we have the power to help gamers through our brand, our vision, and our products. The role that gaming plays in moving culture forward is essential, and our worldwide brand creates industry-defining gaming and lifestyle peripherals with a focus on premium quality, innovation, and functionality. SteelSeries is obsessed with helping make a difference by enhancing performance through first-to-market innovations and technologies that empower gamers and fans to push boundaries. Founded in 2001, SteelSeries was the pioneering supporter of esports and competitive gaming tournaments and continues to connect gamers and foster a sense of community and purpose. The SteelSeries family of professional and gaming enthusiasts, entertainers, and athletes is the driving force behind the company and helps influence the design, craftsmanship, and engineering in every piece of gear we create, as well as the brand’s software ecosystem (SteelSeries GG, Moments video clip service, and the Sonar Audio Software Suite). The SteelSeries family of brands includes KontrolFreek, the industry leader in high-performance controller accessories, and Nahimic, the leader in 3D sound solutions for gaming. In 2022, SteelSeries joined the GN family, a global leader in innovative and intelligent audio and video communications solutions sold in approximately 100 countries around the globe.

    The Arctis Nova 3P Wireless is available in 4 colors (black, white, lavender, and aqua) and positions itself as a lightweight, multi‑platform headset built around convenience and clarity. SteelSeries equips it with custom‑designed 40mm neodymium magnetic drivers producing a frequency response of 20Hz-22kHz with 107dB sensitivity/SPL and 36Ohm resistance and an detachable ClearCast Gen 2.x boom microphone featuring bidirectional noise canceling, 100Hz-10kHz frequency response, -12dBV sensitivity and 32kHz/16Bit bandwidth. Wireless flexibility comes from 2.4GHz USB‑C plug‑and‑play support across PlayStation, PC, Switch, Mac, VR, handhelds, and mobile devices, while Quick‑Switch v5.3 Bluetooth lets you jump between gaming audio and mobile audio with a single button press. Battery performance is a highlight, offering up to 40 hours of use, plus fast charging that delivers 9 hours in just 15 minutes. Comfort is handled through a 260g lightweight frame, suspension headband and a durable dual‑hinge design built for long sessions. SteelSeries also leans into software support, providing spatial audio compatibility and software controlled audio presets for games like Call of Duty and Fortnite, letting players tune their sound profile on the fly.

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

The new Arctis Nova 3P Wireless arrived inside a small grey and blue box that has a product picture at the front surrounded by the company logo and its main features.

Both the product specifications and bundle contents are printed on the left side.

At the rear of the box, we find in-depth descriptions for the 4 main features of the new model.

Inside the box we find a formed piece of cardboard that keeps the headset secure.

Along with the Arctis Nova 3P Wireless inside the box we also find the detachable boom microphone (complete with a pop filter), 2.4GHz USB-C dongle, USB-C to USB-A cable regulatory information paper and a paper advertising kontrol freak no-slip thumb grips.

THE ARCTIS NOVA 3P WIRELESS

The new Arctis Nova 3P Wireless weigh just 260g and as expected are primarily made of plastic and fabric.

In terms of size, we're talking a small to medium sized headset.

SteelSeries has placed their logo on the exterior of both earcups.

On the lower front and rear of the left earcup we find the microphone port, USB-C port, power button with LED, volume control roller and the microphone mute button.

The detachable boom microphone is flexible and works as intended.

Both earcups can rotate up to 90 degrees as seen above for easier storage.

Left and right markings are placed on the interior just under the suspension adjustment mounts.

The earcups are dressed in soft fabric and are good in size.

The Arctis Nova 3P Wireless may have a suspension headband but it also extends up to 30mm on either side.

ENGINE SOFTWARE

There are two ways to "control" the Arctis Nova 3P Wireless, either via the Engine software when used with a PC or via the SteelSeries smartphone app for when used with consoles (in my case since I tested it on PCs I used the Engine software).

Once again this software detects available devices by SteelSeries and informs you of available firmware updates (there were for both the Arctis Nova 3P and its USB-C dongle).

From the initial tab you can tweak the equalizer, load one of the many available presets, create your very own, adjust the microphone volume and sidetone and even enable/disable a volume limiter (normalization).

You can also adjust the inactivity turn off timer, enable extended range mode (by reducing microphone quality) and perform a factory reset.

The sonar audio optimization is an important features, however you need to register a free account with SteelSeries to use it. There are 4 main tabs inside the Sonar tab the first of which is mixer which controls the volume across all of them.

Then we have game which allows you to set the equalizer (can make your own or choose one of the 277 presets), enable/disable spatial audio and the volume boost and smart volume modes.

Under the chat tab we find everything related to chat including equalizer (8 presets), noise cancellation, noise reduction, compressor and noise gate.

The mic tab is very similar to the chat one so again from here you can access the equalizer function (14 presets), noise cancellation, noise reduction, compressor, and noise gate.

CONCLUSION

    In the end, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3P Wireless lands as a well‑rounded headset that gets the fundamentals right and avoids unnecessary gimmicks. Comfort is a clear strength, making long sessions feel effortless, while the mids and highs come through with a level of accuracy that keeps dialogue, footsteps, and environmental cues crisp. Spatial audio adds another layer of clarity, widening the soundstage in a way that feels natural rather than exaggerated. Bass performance sits in the “good enough” category, present, but not the star of the show. During my 1 full month long test (last week primarily playing Where Winds Meet) I never did surpass 37 hours of battery life at 80% volume (still a great number, alas not as good as some other wireless headsets) and as for wireless range it stays stable enough to wander in the room (even the next one) without dropouts. SteelSeries’ Engine software remains one of the better tuning suites out there, and the added smartphone app gives you quick adjustments on the fly. With broad PC and console support, the Nova 3P Wireless settles into that sweet spot of reliability, versatility, and comfort, making it an easy pick for players who value consistency over flash.

    As I type these lines the Arctis Nova 3P Wireless by SteelSeries retails for USD109.99 inside the USA (Amazon.com) and for 79.19Euros inside the EU (Amazon.de) and so they are quite affordable. At the end of the day the Arctis Nova 3P may not be the best wireless gaming headset out there but it offers balanced performance with very good battery life and even better comfort levels and for those it certainly deserves the Golden Award.

PROS

- Overall Build Quality
- Accurate Mids & Highs
- 2.4GHz Dongle & Bluetooth v5.3 Connectivity
- Comfort Levels
- Up To 40 Hours Of Battery Life
- Flexible & Detachable Bidirectional Boom Microphone
- Available In 4 Colors (Black, White, Lavender & Aqua)
- Engine Software & Smartphone App

CONS

- Bass Levels (Could Be Better)