Razer BlackShark V2 X vs SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless
Get the Arctis Nova 5 if you can go wireless. Unless you want to spend as little as possible: then the BlackShark V2 X does the job wired.
Razer BlackShark V2 X
A very light, cheap wired headset with an excellent mic for the money. It feels plasticky, and the sound is bass-heavy.
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.
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The Nova 5 is wireless with about 60 hours of battery and Bluetooth, and both have excellent mics. The BlackShark V2 X is a light wired headset that works with any controller for about half the price.
- —You want to spend as little as possible.
- —You switch between consoles, Xbox included.
- —You want to move around without a cable.
- —You'd like Bluetooth for your phone.
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, comfort and mic for the price. The main complaint is a mic that sounded poor or stopped working.
- ✓Good sound for gaming
- ✓Comfortable and light
- ✓Clear mic
- −The mic sounded poor or stopped working
- −Clamps too tightly
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.
Key differences
Pros and cons
- +Excellent mic for the price
- +Very light and comfortable
- +Works with every console and PC
- −The plastic build feels fragile.
- −The mic doesn't come off, and some owners had mics that failed.
- −Dark, bass-heavy sound, and no software to adjust it.
- −No USB adapter in the box.
- +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.
- Is the Razer BlackShark V2 X worth it?
- Is the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 worth it?
- SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Gen 2 vs Logitech G Pro X 2
- SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Gen 2 vs HyperX Cloud III S Wireless
- SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless vs SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Gen 2
- SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless vs Razer BlackShark V3 Pro
- Best gaming headsets
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 Razer BlackShark V2 X: 221 verified buyer ratings at Currys and Best Buy (Canada), read October 2026.
Owner reports for the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5: 126 verified buyer ratings at Currys, read October 2026.