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SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite review

No. 9 of 10 in our gaming headsets ranking · Updated · How we rank

Our verdict: The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite ranks 9th of the 10 gaming headsets we compare, with 7.5 out of 10.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite

7.5/10

The Arctis Nova Elite is SteelSeries' top wireless gaming headset, with hi-res audio, noise cancellation and a GameHub base for PC and consoles. It suits players who want the best sound and have the budget.

Check Price on Amazon

Why it's here

  • 96kHz/24-bit hi-res wireless audio over 2.4GHz, plus Bluetooth
  • Active noise cancellation with a transparency mode
  • GameHub base connects PC, PlayStation and Xbox, and charges a spare battery
  • Swappable batteries mean no downtime mid-session

Keep in mind

  • Priced at several times the cost of the mid-range picks
  • Needs the GameHub base on your desk for console and PC use
  • The sound gain over a good mid-range headset is small for casual play

Why the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite scores 7.5

Each bar shows where it places among the 10 gaming headsets in this guide, so a full bar is 1st of 10. How happy owners are counts for most of the score.

  • How happy owners are9th of 10
  • How many rated it10th of 10
  • How new it is2nd of 10

Why it sits behind the Logitech G325 Lightspeed

The Logitech G325 Lightspeed (7.7) beats the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite (7.5) because it leaves owners a little happier.

About the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite

The Arctis Nova Elite is a wireless headset that works through the GameHub, a desktop base that acts as the transmitter and charging dock. SteelSeries lists 96kHz/24-bit audio with its LC3+ codec, and the headset is certified by the Japan Audio Society for hi-res wireless audio. It connects over 2.4GHz or Bluetooth, and the GameHub handles PC, PlayStation, Switch, Xbox and mobile.

The GameHub can take in up to four sources at once and switch between them. That lets you, for instance, keep a PC and a console connected together. Reviewers also describe a 3.5mm cable in the box for wired use.

Power comes from two swappable batteries. One charges in the GameHub while the other is in the headset, so there is no waiting for a charge. Reviewers report roughly 20 to 30 hours from each battery, and say ANC and the microphone shorten that. SteelSeries gives no runtime figure on its page.

Active noise cancellation includes a Transparency Mode. The microphone has AI noise rejection. Reviewers put the weight at 380g, and say the boom mic is hidden in the left earcup. Sonar for PC offers a parametric EQ, and a mobile app controls EQ presets.

What owners report about the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite

We found little owner feedback we could read for this exact model, so this page reports none.

Who the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite suits

The Nova Elite is for players who want the best sound from one headset across PC and consoles, and who will keep the GameHub on the desk. It suits anyone who plays long sessions, since swapping batteries means no waiting on a charge. The ANC and Bluetooth also make it usable for music and calls.

Look elsewhere if the budget is tight or play is casual: the Elite's extra cost mostly buys refinement over cheaper headsets, and at 380g it is heavy. SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless Gen 2 or SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 give most of the wireless convenience for far less. HyperX Cloud III S Wireless lasts longer between charges. If you want no base station, Logitech G733 Lightspeed plugs into a USB dongle.

Questions about the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite

Does the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite work with PS5?

Yes. SteelSeries lists PlayStation support through the GameHub, and reviewers have used it with a PS5.

What software does the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite use?

On PC it uses SteelSeries Sonar, which has a parametric EQ and custom presets. A mobile app also controls EQ. Reviewers report it can add extra virtual audio devices in Windows, and the GameHub takes over volume control from Windows.

How long does the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite battery last?

SteelSeries gives no runtime figure. Reviewers report roughly 20 to 30 hours per battery, less with ANC and the mic in use, and you can swap in the spare.

Does the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite work with Xbox?

Yes. SteelSeries lists Xbox alongside PC, PlayStation, Switch and mobile, all through the GameHub.

Other gaming headset picks

The other badge winners in our gaming headsets ranking.

All 10 gaming headsets, compared

  1. 1 HyperX Cloud IIBest Choice 9.1 Check Price
  2. 2 Razer BlackShark V2 XBest Budget 8.7 Check Price
  3. 3 HyperX Cloud III S Wireless 8.6 Check Price
  4. 4 Logitech G733 Lightspeed 8.6 Check Price
  5. 5 SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 8.4 Check Price
  6. 6 Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 3 8.4 Check Price
  7. 7 SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless Gen 2 7.9 Check Price
  8. 8 Logitech G325 Lightspeed 7.7 Check Price
  9. 9 SteelSeries Arctis Nova EliteThis review 7.5 Check Price
  10. 10 Astro A30 Lightspeed Wireless 7.3 Check Price
See the full gaming headsets ranking

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite on Amazon

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite

The Arctis Nova Elite is SteelSeries' top wireless gaming headset, with hi-res audio, noise cancellation and a GameHub base for PC and consoles. 7.5 out of 10.

Check Price on Amazon

How we score it

Every score here comes from our ranking model; no editor sets the order. We haven't read the review sites for this guide yet, so for now it is led by owners. It ranks products by how happy owners are, holding back any product few owners have rated until more agree. How many rated it and how new it is only settle close calls, and value for money earns its own badge rather than a higher place. We compared 17 models for this guide before settling on these ten.

Brands can't pay to be included or to move up. We last checked these picks in November 2026.

How we rank, in full

Where these facts come from