SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5P Gaming Headset Review UK 2026

You know the drill. You walk into a shop, or more likely scroll through Amazon at midnight, and you see a headset with "GAMING" plastered all over the box in aggressive fonts. It costs more than a decent pair of regular headphones, and half the time it sounds worse. I've been testing headsets for eight years now, and that pattern is depressingly common. So when the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5P landed on my desk, the first question I asked myself was: does this actually justify its upper mid-range price tag, or is it just another pair of headphones with a boom mic bolted on and a "gaming" tax applied?

The Nova 5P sits in SteelSeries' refreshed Arctis Nova lineup, positioned as the PlayStation-focused sibling to the Nova 5X (which targets Xbox and PC). I spent three weeks with this thing on my head across a proper mix of gaming sessions, from sweaty ranked matches in Warzone to slower-paced story time in Baldur's Gate 3, plus a fair bit of music and a couple of films. That's the only way to really know if a headset is worth your money. Test tones and spec sheets don't tell you much. Actual hours of use do.

So here's my full SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5P Gaming Headset Review UK 2026, covering everything from the sound signature to the mic quality, battery life, and whether the SteelSeries Sonar software is actually useful or just bloat. Let's get into it.

Driver size sits at 40mm, which is fairly standard for this category. SteelSeries uses what they call "Neodymium" drivers here, and the frequency response is rated at 20Hz to 20,000Hz, covering the full audible range on paper. The headset is designed to work with SteelSeries' Sonar software on PC, and there's also a companion app for mobile. Build-wise, you're looking at a mostly plastic construction with a steel headband slider, fabric-covered earcups, and a retractable microphone that tucks away when you don't need it.

Weight comes in at around 260g, which is reasonable for a wireless headset at this price. The earcups rotate flat for storage, and the headband has a decent amount of adjustment range. It's not the most premium-feeling thing in the world when you first handle it, but it doesn't feel cheap either. There's a USB-C charging port, a 3.5mm jack for wired use as a fallback, and physical controls on the left earcup for volume, mic mute, and power. Here's the full spec breakdown:

Sensitivity is also not officially listed, which is a recurring frustration with gaming headset manufacturers. They'll give you the frequency response range (20Hz to 20kHz) but leave out the stuff that actually tells you how loud it'll get and how efficiently it converts power to sound. What I can tell you from actual use is that the Nova 5P gets plenty loud at moderate volume settings, and I never found myself maxing out the volume dial to hear things clearly. The wireless connection via the 2.4GHz dongle delivers audio without any noticeable compression artefacts, which is more than you can say for some cheaper wireless headsets.

The frequency response curve in practice leans into a mild V-shape, with a boosted low end and a slight lift in the upper mids and treble. It's not a flat, reference-style response, and it's not trying to be. This is a gaming headset tuned for entertainment rather than studio monitoring, and that's fine as long as you know what you're getting. The bass extension is decent, reaching down into sub-bass territory without completely falling apart, though it doesn't have the tightness you'd get from a closed-back audiophile headphone. Treble is present and reasonably detailed without being harsh, which is something I appreciate after testing headsets that make high-pitched game audio genuinely fatiguing over long sessions.

In competitive play, the V-shape is a bit of a double-edged thing. On one hand, the boosted treble helps with high-frequency directional cues like footsteps and distant gunfire, which is genuinely useful in something like Warzone or Apex. On the other hand, the slightly scooped mids mean that some positional audio detail that lives in that frequency range can feel a touch less precise compared to a more neutral headset. It's not a dealbreaker, but if you're a hardcore competitive player who prioritises positional accuracy above everything else, it's worth knowing. For most people, including me during three weeks of ranked play, it's absolutely fine.

For cinematic gaming and story-driven titles, the V-shape actually works really well. Playing through Baldur's Gate 3, the orchestral soundtrack sounded full and engaging, and the bass weight during combat added to the atmosphere nicely. Films are similarly enjoyable, with action sequences having real punch and dialogue remaining clear enough not to be a problem. Music is where the V-shape is most obvious. Pop and electronic music sounds great. Acoustic music or jazz, where the midrange warmth is important, sounds a bit thin. But honestly, most people gaming aren't sitting there listening to Miles Davis through their headset, so this is a minor point.

Bass extension is genuinely good. There's real sub-bass presence when games call for it, like the low rumble of distant explosions or the thump of a soundtrack's kick drum. It doesn't get muddy or bloated, which is a common problem with gaming headsets that try to over-emphasise bass to sound impressive in a quick demo. The bass here is punchy rather than boomy, and it stays controlled even at higher volumes. I did notice a slight softness in very fast bass transients compared to a wired headset at a similar price, but it's subtle and most people won't care.

Treble clarity is one of the Nova 5P's stronger points. High-frequency detail is present and reasonably well-resolved, and I didn't experience any of the harsh, sibilant peaks that make some gaming headsets genuinely unpleasant to wear for long periods. Listening to music through this headset is a more enjoyable experience than I expected, and films with complex soundtracks come across well. The overall sound quality for gaming is comfortably above what you'd expect from a "gaming" headset at this price, and it genuinely competes with some regular headphones in the same bracket. That's not something I say lightly after eight years of testing these things.

Voice clarity is good. My teammates could hear me clearly during gaming sessions, and I didn't get any complaints about my audio sounding muffled or distant. There's a slight nasal quality to the mic's reproduction of my voice that I noticed when listening back to recordings, which is common with boom mics at this price point. It's not bad enough to be distracting in normal conversation, but if you're planning to use this for streaming or content creation, you'd want a dedicated USB microphone. For gaming comms, though, it's more than adequate. Better than most gaming headset mics I've tested, honestly.

Noise rejection is decent but not exceptional. In a quiet room, the mic sounds clean. In a noisier environment, like if you've got a fan running or someone else in the room, some of that background noise does bleed through. SteelSeries' Sonar software on PC includes noise cancellation processing for the mic, and that does help noticeably. Without it, on PS5 where you're relying on the hardware mic alone, it's acceptable but not impressive. The mic mute button on the left earcup is satisfying to press and there's a clear LED indicator so you know when you're muted, which sounds basic but is something I genuinely appreciate after testing headsets where you're never quite sure if you're muted or not.

The earcups use SteelSeries' AirWeave fabric material, which is breathable and stays cooler than leatherette or pleather alternatives. After three weeks of testing, including some longer four or five hour sessions on weekends, I didn't experience the sweaty ear problem that plagues a lot of gaming headsets. The earcups are deep enough to comfortably fit my ears without them pressing against the driver housing, which is important for both comfort and sound quality. Clamp force is moderate, firm enough to keep the headset in place during energetic gaming but not so tight that it becomes uncomfortable. I wear glasses occasionally, and the Nova 5P is one of the more glasses-friendly headsets I've tested at this price, with the fabric earcups being much kinder on the temples than rigid foam or leatherette.

Build quality is mostly plastic, which is fine for the price but does mean it doesn't feel as premium as some competitors. The steel headband slider is a nice touch and feels durable, and the adjustment mechanism has a satisfying click to it. The retractable mic mechanism feels solid and doesn't wobble when extended. My one concern is the earcup hinges, which feel slightly less substantial than the rest of the headset. They're fine for normal use, but I wouldn't want to stress-test them by throwing the headset around. The overall build is good enough for the price, just don't expect it to feel like a tank.

The 2.4GHz wireless connection is solid. I tested it across a typical UK living room setup, with the PS5 on one side of the room and me on the sofa about four metres away, with a wall between me and the console for part of the testing. No dropouts, no interference, no latency issues that I could detect during gaming. The USB-C dongle is small and unobtrusive, and the fact that it's USB-C rather than the older USB-A means it plugs directly into the PS5's front port without needing an adapter. On PC, the same dongle works fine, and you get access to the Sonar software for additional configuration.

There's also a 3.5mm wired option as a fallback, which is useful for platforms that don't support USB audio, like the Nintendo Switch in handheld mode. The wired connection sounds fine, though obviously you lose the wireless freedom. One thing worth mentioning is that the Bluetooth connection has slightly higher latency than the 2.4GHz connection, which is normal for Bluetooth. For music and calls it's completely fine, but I wouldn't recommend using Bluetooth for gaming if you can avoid it. Stick to the 2.4GHz dongle for anything where audio sync matters.

Charging is via USB-C, which is the right call in 2026. No proprietary cables, no hunting around for a specific connector. The charge time from flat is a few hours, and there's a quick charge feature that SteelSeries claims gives you a few hours of use from a short charge. I tested this once when I forgot to charge overnight and it did get me through a gaming session, so it works as advertised. The battery level is indicated by an LED on the headset and also shows up in the Sonar software on PC, which is helpful.

Compared to the competition, 36 hours is genuinely good. Some wireless headsets at this price are still sitting at 20-25 hours, so the Nova 5P has a real advantage here if you're the type who forgets to charge things regularly. I'm that type, so I appreciated it. The only minor gripe is that there's no way to use the headset while charging via the USB-C cable in a wired mode, which some headsets support. If the battery dies mid-session you have to either plug in via 3.5mm or wait for it to charge up a bit. Not a dealbreaker, but worth knowing.

The virtual surround sound feature is called Sonar Surround, and it's the usual software-based spatial audio processing. My honest opinion after eight years of testing these features: it's better than most, but it's still software processing rather than genuine surround sound. For some games and some people, it adds a sense of space and makes positional audio feel more three-dimensional. For others, it just makes everything sound a bit weird and processed. I tested it in Warzone and found it marginally helpful for identifying vertical audio cues, but I ended up going back to stereo for most of my competitive play. The option is there if you want it, and it's easy to toggle on and off.

Mic monitoring (hearing your own voice through the headset while you talk) is available in the software, and there's also AI-powered noise cancellation for the microphone that works noticeably well at reducing keyboard noise and background hum. Firmware updates are delivered through the Sonar app, which is straightforward. On PS5, you don't get access to any of this software, so you're relying on the headset's hardware tuning alone. That's fine, and the hardware tuning is good, but PC users do get a meaningfully better experience with the software on top. There's also a mobile app for basic adjustments when using the headset with a phone via Bluetooth.

PC compatibility is full, with the Sonar software unlocking all the customisation options I mentioned above. The headset works on PC via both the 2.4GHz dongle and Bluetooth, and you can use both simultaneously just like on PS5. For Xbox, the situation is less ideal. The 2.4GHz dongle doesn't work with Xbox consoles (Microsoft uses a proprietary wireless protocol), so you'd need to use the 3.5mm cable connected to an Xbox controller. That works fine for audio, but you lose the wireless freedom and the mic may not function depending on your controller. If you're primarily an Xbox player, this isn't the headset for you. The Nova 5X is the Xbox-focused variant.

Nintendo Switch compatibility works in handheld mode via the 3.5mm jack, and in docked mode you can use the USB-C dongle if your dock has a USB-C port, though this isn't officially supported and results may vary. Mobile compatibility via Bluetooth is good, and this is where the simultaneous connection feature really shines for people who want to take calls while gaming on PS5. The headset also works fine as a general Bluetooth headset for calls and music when you're away from your console, which adds to its versatility. Overall, the compatibility story is strong for PS5 and PC users, and limited for Xbox users.

Against the Sony PULSE 3D, the Nova 5P wins on battery life (36 hours versus around 12 hours for the PULSE 3D), build quality, and the simultaneous dual wireless connection. The PULSE 3D has the edge on Tempest 3D integration and is slightly cheaper, but the battery life difference is significant enough that I'd take the Nova 5P for most use cases. Against the BlackShark V2 Pro, it's closer. The Razer has a slightly better microphone and a more neutral sound signature that competitive players might prefer, but the Nova 5P's dual wireless and longer battery life are real advantages. Both are good headsets; it comes down to what you prioritise.

One thing worth saying is that the Nova 5P holds its own against regular headphones in the same price bracket too. I compared it briefly against a pair of Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 (which are wireless headphones, not gaming-specific) and the sound quality was closer than you'd expect. The ATH-M50xBT2 has a more balanced sound signature and better build quality, but it doesn't have a boom mic, gaming-specific features, or the low-latency 2.4GHz connection. For gaming specifically, the Nova 5P is the better choice. For general music listening, the ATH-M50xBT2 edges it. That's a reasonable trade-off.

The microphone is good enough for gaming comms and better than most at this price, though not good enough for streaming or content creation. The V-shaped sound signature suits gaming and entertainment well, but purists who want a flat, reference sound should look elsewhere. The software on PC is one of the better gaming audio applications around, and the battery life is genuinely impressive. Build quality is solid without being spectacular, and Xbox users should look at the Nova 5X instead.

If you're a PS5 or PC gamer looking for a wireless headset that does everything well without asking you to compromise on comfort or audio quality, the Nova 5P is a strong buy. It's not perfect, but at this price it's hard to find something that does more. I'm giving it a 8 out of 10. The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5P Gaming Headset Review UK 2026 conclusion: this one earns its price tag, and that's not something I say about many gaming headsets.