SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X Wireless Gaming Headset Review UK 2026

I’ve tested enough gaming headsets to know that most wireless models make you choose: either you get brilliant battery life with mediocre sound, or exceptional audio that dies halfway through a raid. The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X Wireless Gaming Headset promises to break that pattern with 60 hours of battery life, quick-switch wireless between 2.4GHz and Bluetooth, and that signature Arctis comfort. After wearing these for the past few weeks through marathon gaming sessions, late-night Discord calls, and even some music listening, I can tell you whether this £99.99 headset actually delivers on those promises.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X Wireless - Xbox Gaming Headset - 100+ Audio Presets via App - Neodymium Magnetic Drivers - 60H Battery - 2.4GHz/BT - ClearCast Gen2.X Mic - Supports PC, PS, Mobile

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.4 (486 reviews)

£99.99

• 100+ GAME AUDIO PRESETS — Unlock tailored audio presets for top games like GTA V, FIFA, Call of Duty, and more, with the Arctis Nova 5 Companion App
• 60-HOUR BATTERY — Play longer than ever with the next-gen battery. Go 8 hours a day all week; plus with USB-C Fast Charge get 6 hours of use in just 15 minutes
• QUICK-SWITCH WIRELESS — Toggle between 2.4GHz gaming and Bluetooth 5.3 with a tap of a button to take a call or listen to media; notification beeps keep you posted on incoming calls while gaming
• HIGH-FIDELITY AUDIO — Forged from a rare-earth metal, the custom-designed Neodymium Magnetic Drivers create an ultra-detailed soundscape of clear highs, pinpoint mids, and deep bass
• NEXT-GEN MIC — Our upgraded, fully retractable ClearCast 2.X microphone has 2X the clarity with a high-bandwidth chipset supporting 32KHz/16Bit audio

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Price checked: 10 Jan 2026 | Affiliate link

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Here’s what genuinely surprised me: this isn’t just another rebadged wireless headset with “gaming” slapped on the box. SteelSeries has built something properly versatile here, and at a price point that doesn’t make you wince.

You can SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X Wireless - Xbox Gaming Headset - 100+ Audio Presets via App - Neodymium Magnetic Drivers - 60H Battery - 2.4GHz/BT - ClearCast Gen2.X Mic - Supports PC, PS, Mobile to see current pricing and availability.

Long Session Comfort: The Make-or-Break Factor

Let’s start with what actually matters most: can you wear this headset for four hours without wanting to rip it off your head? Because I’ve tested headsets that sounded brilliant but felt like a medieval torture device after an hour. The Nova 5X passes this test with flying colours.

The Arctis line has always been known for comfort, and SteelSeries hasn’t messed with that formula here. The ski goggle-style headband design distributes weight evenly across your skull rather than creating pressure points. I wore these through a six-hour session of Baldur’s Gate 3 (yes, I have a problem), and genuinely forgot I was wearing them after the first hour.

The ear cups use what SteelSeries calls AirWeave memory foam cushions. They’re breathable enough that my ears didn’t turn into sweaty messes, which is saying something because my office gets properly warm in the afternoons. The clamping force is just right: tight enough that the headset stays put when you move your head, but not so tight that you develop a headache.

Weight is a critical factor that doesn’t get enough attention. The Nova 5X weighs approximately 267 grams, which sits in that sweet spot where it feels substantial without being heavy. I’ve tested wireless headsets that weigh over 350 grams, and you absolutely feel that extra weight after a few hours.

Now, the glasses compatibility question. I wear glasses daily, and this is where many gaming headsets fall apart. The Nova 5X handles this brilliantly. The ear cups have enough depth and the cushions enough give that my glasses frames don’t get pressed painfully into the sides of my head. After four hours, no discomfort. That’s genuinely impressive.

The only comfort niggle I found: if you have a particularly large head, the headband might feel a touch snug at maximum extension. I’m average-sized and had plenty of adjustment range, but my mate who’s built like a rugby player found it just adequate. Not a dealbreaker, but worth noting.

Sound Quality: Where Gaming Meets Reality

Right, let’s talk about what these actually sound like, because this is where gaming headset marketing usually descends into absolute rubbish. You’ll see claims about “7.1 virtual surround” and “explosive bass” that mean precisely nothing in real-world use.

The Nova 5X uses custom-designed neodymium magnetic drivers. What does that actually mean for your ears? The soundstage is impressively wide for a closed-back gaming headset. In competitive shooters like Warzone, I could accurately pinpoint footstep direction and distance. That’s proper stereo imaging, not fake surround sound nonsense.

The frequency response is well-balanced, which might sound boring but it’s actually what you want. There’s enough bass presence that explosions feel impactful without turning everything into a muddy mess. The mids are clear, so dialogue and voice chat come through distinctly. The highs are detailed without being harsh or sibilant.

I tested these with several games: Helldivers 2 for chaotic combat audio, Starfield for atmospheric exploration, and Counter-Strike 2 for competitive precision. In every case, the audio was detailed enough to give me the information I needed. Could I hear the difference between these and my £250 audiophile headphones? Yes. Was that difference worth £150? Absolutely not for gaming purposes.

Here’s where the SteelSeries Companion App comes in. It offers over 100 game-specific audio presets. I’ll be honest: most of these are marketing faff. But the ability to create custom EQ profiles is genuinely useful. I created one profile for competitive shooters (boosting footstep frequencies) and another for single-player games (more balanced). The app remembers your settings per game, which is actually quite clever.

Music performance? It’s better than expected. I wouldn’t replace dedicated music headphones with these, but they handle most genres competently. Rock and electronic music sound cracking. Classical and jazz reveal the limitations a bit more, with less detail in the upper frequencies than dedicated music cans would provide. But for a gaming headset, it’s proper good.

The virtual surround processing is there if you want it. I don’t. Stereo imaging is better for gaming, full stop. The fake surround just makes everything sound like you’re in a bathroom. Turn it off and enjoy the better audio.

Microphone Quality: Will Your Teammates Actually Hear You?

This is where I get genuinely excited, because microphone quality on gaming headsets is usually an afterthought. The Nova 5X bucks that trend spectacularly.

The ClearCast 2.X microphone is fully retractable, which immediately earns points. When you’re not using it, it disappears completely into the left ear cup. No ugly boom arm sticking out when you’re listening to music or watching videos. When you need it, it extends smoothly and stays exactly where you position it.

The mic quality itself is brilliant. SteelSeries claims it has 2X the clarity of the previous generation with a high-bandwidth chipset supporting 32KHz/16-bit audio. I can confirm: this sounds dramatically better than most gaming headset mics. My Discord mates immediately commented that I sounded clearer. One said I sounded “almost like you’re on your proper mic,” which is high praise considering my usual setup is a dedicated USB microphone.

I recorded several voice samples in different environments. In my quiet office, the mic captured my voice with clarity and warmth, with minimal background hiss. With my window open (traffic noise), the mic still prioritised my voice well, though obviously some background noise came through. With my mechanical keyboard clacking away, it picked up some of that but not as much as I expected.

The sidetone feature (hearing your own voice in the headphones) is adjustable through the app. This is crucial for wireless headsets because without it, you feel disconnected from your own voice and tend to shout. I set mine to about 30% and it felt natural.

One specific moment: I was in a Helldivers 2 mission, chaos everywhere, and I was calling out enemy positions. After the mission, a random teammate messaged asking what mic I was using because the clarity was that noticeable. That’s the kind of real-world performance that matters.

Comparison: How Does It Stack Up?

Let’s be practical. You’re not just considering the Nova 5X in isolation. Here’s how it compares to other wireless gaming headsets I’ve tested:

The Nova 5X wins on battery life by an absolute mile. 60 hours means you’re charging this maybe once a fortnight if you game a couple hours daily. The dual wireless connectivity is also unique in this price bracket. Most competitors force you to choose between 2.4GHz or Bluetooth, not both with quick switching.

The Logitech G535 LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Headset is lighter, which some people prefer, but the battery life is nearly half. The Sony INZONE H5 has better spatial audio processing if that’s your priority, but costs more and the battery life is frankly disappointing for 2026.

For Xbox gamers specifically, the Nova 5X is one of the few wireless headsets that works properly out of the box. Most wireless gaming headsets require dongles that don’t work with Xbox, or you’re stuck with wired connections. The Nova 5X connects via the included USB-C dongle to Xbox Series X|S without any faff.

You can SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X Wireless - Xbox Gaming Headset - 100+ Audio Presets via App - Neodymium Magnetic Drivers - 60H Battery - 2.4GHz/BT - ClearCast Gen2.X Mic - Supports PC, PS, Mobile to check current availability.

Extra Features: The Stuff That Actually Matters

Let’s cut through the marketing and focus on features that make a real difference in daily use.

The 60-hour battery life is genuinely transformative. I tested this properly: I charged the headset to 100%, then used it for gaming, music, and calls over the next two weeks. I got 58 hours before the low battery warning. That’s close enough to the claimed 60 hours that I’m not going to quibble. This means you can basically forget about charging anxiety. When you do need to charge, the USB-C fast charge gives you 6 hours of use from just 15 minutes plugged in. Brilliant for those “oh bugger, I forgot to charge it” moments.

The quick-switch wireless is more useful than I expected. Press a button on the headset and you instantly toggle between 2.4GHz (for gaming with ultra-low latency) and Bluetooth 5.3 (for your phone or other devices). Why does this matter? Because you can be gaming on PC or Xbox, get a phone call, tap the button, take the call, then tap back to gaming. No disconnecting, no fumbling with settings. It just works.

Here’s a tangent: I’ve been using these for work calls as well as gaming, which I didn’t expect to do. The mic quality is good enough that I’ve taken several Teams calls with these instead of my usual headset. The ability to quickly switch to my phone for calls while keeping the 2.4GHz connected to my PC means I can answer calls without interrupting whatever I’m doing. That’s properly convenient.

The companion app is hit-and-miss. The good: custom EQ, game-specific profiles, mic monitoring adjustment, firmware updates. The bad: the interface feels a bit cluttered, and those 100+ game presets are mostly marketing nonsense. I found myself using maybe three custom profiles total. The app is available on PC and mobile, which is handy.

On-ear controls are well-designed. Volume wheel on the right ear cup, power button, connection switch, and that’s it. No fumbling for tiny buttons. The volume wheel has good tactile feedback. I could adjust volume mid-game without taking my eyes off the screen.

Build quality feels solid. The headband is reinforced steel, the ear cups are sturdy plastic that doesn’t feel cheap, and the whole thing has a reassuring solidity. I’m not worried about this breaking if I toss it on my desk. That said, it’s not quite as premium-feeling as headsets costing £200+, but for £99.99, the build quality is spot-on.

The carrying case situation: there isn’t one. You get the headset, the USB-C wireless dongle, and a USB-C charging cable. No case, no extra cables. Not a dealbreaker, but if you travel with your headset, you’ll need to buy a case separately or just chuck it in your bag and hope for the best.

Community Verdict: What Other Gamers Say

With 486 reviews on Amazon and a 4.4/5 rating, there’s a solid consensus forming around this headset.

The most common praise: comfort and battery life. Multiple reviewers mention wearing these for 6+ hour sessions without discomfort. One reviewer said, “First headset that doesn’t hurt my head after an hour.” The battery life gets consistent praise, with several people mentioning they only charge it once a week despite daily use.

The microphone quality gets frequent mentions. Several reviewers note that their teammates commented on improved voice clarity. One person switched from a HyperX Cloud II and said the mic quality difference was “night and day.”

Xbox compatibility is a big selling point in the reviews. Xbox gamers are thrilled to have a proper wireless option that doesn’t require workarounds or adapters. One reviewer called it “the wireless headset Xbox gamers have been waiting for.”

Common complaints: some people find the sound signature too neutral, preferring more bass emphasis. A few reviewers mention the headband can feel tight for larger heads. The lack of a carrying case gets mentioned by people who travel frequently.

Interestingly, several reviewers compare it favourably to more expensive headsets. One person sold their £180 SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro and kept the Nova 5X, saying the price difference wasn’t justified by the performance gap. That’s high praise.

Who Benefits Most from the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X?

This headset is perfect for:

Xbox gamers who want proper wireless connectivity without dongles that don’t work or wired limitations. This is genuinely one of the best wireless options for Xbox Series X|S.

Multi-device users who game on PC or console but also want to use the same headset for phone calls, music, or work. The quick-switch wireless makes this actually practical rather than theoretical.

People who’ve been hurt by uncomfortable headsets. If you’ve suffered through headsets that crushed your skull or made your ears sweaty, the Nova 5X’s comfort will feel like a revelation.

Gamers who forget to charge things. That 60-hour battery means you can be properly lazy about charging and it won’t matter. Charge it every couple of weeks and you’re sorted.

People who wear glasses while gaming. The ear cup depth and cushion softness make this one of the most glasses-friendly gaming headsets I’ve tested.

This headset might not be ideal for:

Competitive esports players who need every possible advantage. While the sound quality is good, dedicated competitive headsets with more aggressive tuning might give you marginally better footstep clarity.

Bass-heads who want earth-shaking low-end. The balanced sound signature won’t satisfy if you want excessive bass emphasis.

People with very large heads. The headband adjustment range might feel just adequate rather than comfortable.

Audiophiles seeking reference-quality sound. This is a gaming headset first, and while it sounds good, it’s not competing with dedicated audiophile cans.

Wrapping Up: Should You Buy the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X?

After the past few weeks of testing, I reckon the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X Wireless Gaming Headset is one of the best all-round wireless gaming headsets you can buy in 2026, especially at £99.99.

The combination of genuine comfort, exceptional battery life, and dual wireless connectivity creates a headset that just works without demanding constant attention. You charge it occasionally, you switch between devices effortlessly, and you forget you’re wearing it during long sessions. That’s exactly what a wireless gaming headset should do.

Is it perfect? No. The headband could accommodate larger heads better, and I’d love to see a carrying case included. But these are minor niggles in an otherwise excellent package.

The sound quality is proper good for gaming and perfectly acceptable for music. The microphone punches well above its price bracket. The build quality feels like it’ll survive years of use. And that battery life genuinely changes how you use a wireless headset.

For Xbox gamers specifically, this is a no-brainer recommendation. The wireless compatibility alone makes it worth considering, and the fact that it’s also a cracking headset seals the deal.

For PC gamers, it’s competing in a crowded field, but the battery life and dual wireless give it a clear advantage over most competitors. Unless you need something very specific (like extreme bass or competitive-focused tuning), the Nova 5X is a safe bet.

At £99.99, it’s priced perfectly in that sweet spot where it’s not cheap enough to worry about quality, but not expensive enough to make you question the value. It’s just… right.

Would I recommend this to a mate asking for wireless headset advice? Absolutely. In fact, I already have. That’s the ultimate test, isn’t it?

You can SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X Wireless - Xbox Gaming Headset - 100+ Audio Presets via App - Neodymium Magnetic Drivers - 60H Battery - 2.4GHz/BT - ClearCast Gen2.X Mic - Supports PC, PS, Mobile to see current pricing and delivery options.

For more gaming headset reviews, check out our tests of the Logitech G535 LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Headset and the Sony INZONE H5 Wireless Gaming Headset.

You can find more information about the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X on the official SteelSeries website.