SteelSeries wireless gaming headset with 60-hour battery
Product description
For gaming across a console, PC or mobile device, a headset that can switch between wireless modes may be more useful than one built around a single connection. The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 offers 2.4GHz wireless and Bluetooth 5.3, with a button to switch between them.
That means you can keep a game on 2.4GHz and move to Bluetooth for a call or other media. If you prioritise quick switching between gaming and calls, that setup is appealing, if you prefer a simpler headset with fewer app features to manage, its extra options may not matter much.
The headline is a claimed 60-hour battery life, alongside more than 100 game audio presets in the Arctis Nova 5 Companion App. It’s aimed at players who want to tailor sound for specific games rather than use one fixed profile.
Getting the most from it
The app presets are the clearest reason to spend time setting this headset up. Choose a profile for a supported game such as GTA V, FIFA or Call of Duty, then switch between 2.4GHz gaming and Bluetooth when a call or media takes priority. For example, you could be playing on a console, hear a call notification and tap the headset button to move over to Bluetooth without taking the headset off.
Its listed compatibility includes PC, PS4 and PS5, Switch and mobile. The product information doesn’t explain setup steps or whether every feature behaves the same across those devices, so check the requirements for your intended platform before choosing it. The presets are also a companion-app feature, if you rarely change sound settings, they may add little to your day-to-day use.
Why it’s worth it
The appeal is the combination of flexible wireless use and a long stated battery life, rather than a single headline feature. SteelSeries claims up to 60 hours, with USB-C fast charging providing six hours of use from a 15-minute charge. That could be handy when you realise the headset needs charging shortly before a session, though actual battery life will depend on use.
The custom neodymium magnetic drivers are described as producing clear highs, defined mids and deep bass. Treat that as the intended sound profile, not a guarantee that it will suit everyone’s taste. The retractable ClearCast Gen2.X microphone is another practical touch: it can be put away when you’re listening rather than chatting, and its stated audio support is 32 kHz/16-bit.
The essentials
- Wireless: 2.4GHz or Bluetooth 5.3, with button-based switching.
- Battery: stated 60-hour life, USB-C fast charge claims six hours of use from 15 minutes.
- Sound: neodymium magnetic drivers and more than 100 app-based game presets.
- Microphone: retractable ClearCast Gen2.X with stated 32 kHz/16-bit support.
- Listed devices: PC, PS4/PS5, Switch and mobile.
There’s no weight, fit or comfort information in the supplied details. If you wear a headset for long sessions, that’s worth bearing in mind alongside the wireless and audio features, without that detail, comfort is difficult to judge in advance.
When to choose it
It suits you if you want one headset for gaming and Bluetooth listening, expect to use the app presets, or value the stated battery life and quick top-ups. It is not the right buy if you need confirmed comfort details before committing, don’t want to rely on companion-app features, or are looking for information about sound customisation beyond the listed presets. Compared with a basic single-mode gaming headset, the Nova 5 puts more emphasis on switching and tuning, choose that extra flexibility only if it fits how you actually play.