Sony PlayStation PULSE Elite vs SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless
Get the PULSE Elite if you play on PS5. Unless you play on PC, Switch or Xbox too, or want a lighter headset: then the Arctis Nova 5.
Sony PlayStation PULSE Elite
Sony's own PS5 headset: rich, detailed planar sound, a clear retractable mic and a battery that lasted over 50 hours in testing.
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 PULSE Elite's planar drivers sound richer and more detailed, and it's made for the PS5 and PlayStation Portal. The Nova 5 is lighter and works wirelessly with more devices, with an Xbox version.
- —You play mostly on PS5.
- —You have a PlayStation Portal.
- —You play on PC or Switch too.
- —You want a lighter headset.
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 clear, detailed sound and the comfort. The main complaint is the connection dropping.
- ✓Clear, detailed sound
- ✓Light and comfortable
- ✓Blocks out noise around you
- −Connection drops, or the dongle disconnects
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
- +Rich, detailed planar sound
- +Clear retractable mic
- +PS5, PlayStation Portal and phone at once
- −Bulky and a little heavy.
- −It blocks little outside noise.
- −Some owners had the connection or dongle drop out.
- +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 PULSE Elite 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 PULSE Elite: 71 verified buyer ratings at Currys, read October 2026.
Owner reports for the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5: 126 verified buyer ratings at Currys, read October 2026.