SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless vs SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless Gen 2
Get the Arctis Nova 5. Unless you want your phone's audio playing alongside the game: then the Nova 7 Gen 2.
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless
A comfortable wireless headset with about 60 hours of battery, an excellent mic and Bluetooth, for well under the Nova 7's price.
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless Gen 2
Light, comfortable and sharp-sounding, with about 54 hours of battery and Bluetooth that works alongside the wireless dongle. The one most gamers should get.
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The Nova 5 costs less, lasts about as long on a charge and has the better mic. The Nova 7 Gen 2 plays the dongle and Bluetooth at the same time and sounds sharper, but its mic is thin.
- —Team chat matters.
- —You want to spend less.
- —You take calls or play music from your phone while gaming.
- —You want sharper, more detailed sound.
What verified owners report
Only reviews from checked buyers count, and every 1–3 star review is read by us. How we do this
Owners love the sound, the comfort and the long battery. Complaints are rare.
- ✓Great sound
- ✓Light and comfortable for hours
- ✓Long battery life
None came up often enough to list.
Owners love the sound, the comfort and using Bluetooth and the dongle at the same time. Complaints are rare: one found the ear cups and headband too small.
- ✓Great sound
- ✓Light and comfortable
- ✓Phone and game audio at the same time
None came up often enough to list.
Key differences
Pros and cons
- +About 60 hours of battery
- +Excellent mic for the price
- +Dongle and Bluetooth
- −Bass-heavy sound, and the treble changes with the fit.
- −It blocks little outside noise, and has no noise cancelling.
- −No wired connection.
- +Light and comfortable
- +Up to 54 hours of battery
- +Dongle and Bluetooth at the same time
- −The mic is fine for chat but sounds thin and nasal.
- −The volume and chat dials feel a little cheap.
- −The USB dongle is wide and can block the port next to it.
- Is the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 worth it?
- Is the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Gen 2 worth it?
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How we reached this verdict
We compared independent expert reviews with the manufacturer's specifications, then checked it's sold at a major retailer where you live. We don't test products ourselves.
Sources: RTINGS, Tom's Hardware, PC Gamer, manufacturer specifications.
Owner reports for the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5: 126 verified buyer ratings at Currys, read October 2026.
Owner reports for the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Gen 2: 14 verified buyer ratings at Currys, read October 2026.