After searching for what felt like an eternity for the perfect wireless Steam Deck headset, my journey ended with the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless. That may sound like a lofty claim, but I’ve tried everything from Apple’s AirPods Pro to other over-ear headset brands, and nothing has come close to the comfort and ease of use that the Steelseries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless offers.
Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t even a helmet designed specifically For the Steam Deck, but the functionality and how it all works made it perfect, to the point that if I need to take a quick call on my phone and I’m closer to the Arctis Nova 5 than my AirPods, I’ll use those instead.
Let’s start with the basics you’d expect from a headset: Like previous SteelSeries models, these are super comfortable. Padded, cushioned, and with a strap that protects your head from the plastic, I wore them for hours without any issues. Likewise, the battery life is promised at “up to 60 hours” thanks to a “next-gen chipset,” and honestly, again, I have no problem with that claim. I didn’t specifically count, but I also forgot to charge the SteelSeries on numerous occasions, and given that it’s become my daily driver, I’d say that while the 60-hour claim isn’t true, it’s not far off either.
But where this wireless headset really shines is in connectivity. There’s a small button that lets you switch between Bluetooth and the device you’ve plugged the dongle into. While there are brands that offer dual support so you can do both at the same time, this is about the only area where the Nova 5 falls short. If you want to switch between the device the dongle is plugged into and Bluetooth (like your phone), you’ll have to press a button. It’s not a hard button to press, but again, others offer this feature, and some do it better.
The reason it’s so good here, and the reason I say it’s perfect for the Steam Deck, is the dongle itself. First off, it’s USB-C. That means you can plug it directly into the Steam Deck or any good dock you’re using the Deck on. But the standout feature is the dongle’s size. Instead of a standard USB-shaped dongle, it’s a tiny, thin, rectangular shape that, when plugged into the Deck’s top USB-C slot, is barely noticeable. It’s also lightweight, adding nothing to the Deck’s weight when you’re holding it.
But that’s not all. By plugging in the USB-C dongle, the Deck instantly transfers audio from your headset and also lets you play with a wireless headset with an included microphone. When not in use, the mic retracts and remains usable, but removing it to chat online provides crystal-clear audio quality, and there’s even the option to monitor your own audio, with a push button that can toggle it on and off. I didn’t notice any unnecessary battery drain while using the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless headset on the Steam Deck, so if there is any, it’s minimal, even when you’re spending a few hours playing Stardew Valley with a friend or playing Multiversus online.
And look, a lot of the Nova 5 is visually minimalist. There aren’t a lot of buttons and mixers on the headset. There’s a power button, a pairing button, a volume dial, a switch button (to switch between Bluetooth and a dongle), a mute button, and that’s about it. But I’ve used a lot of headsets over the years, and while it doesn’t beat the most comfortable one, it does include the ability to take control of a lot of other features through the app. There are plenty of EQ settings and presets on the Arctis Nova 5 app, and these include specific presets for games like Apex Legends or EA Sports FC 24.
The app also includes the ability to adjust your mic volume and sidetone so you can hear yourself the way you want, and there are also equalizer presets for music. Like the rest of the features, this is all very easy to use, and once you download the app, you can start customizing it pretty quickly.
You may notice that I’ve talked a lot about the Steam Deck here, and that’s because the dongle really does seem to be a perfect fit for the console. However, the rectangular shape can cause issues with some PC settings, and the width can make the PS5 version a bit problematic if you have a lot of them plugged in. However, there is a USB-A to USB-C cable included in the package that can remedy this issue, and while it’s not an ideal solution, at least it exists.
With audio quality among the best for a microphone on the market, you’d expect the overall sound quality to be good too. And that’s pretty much true: it’s good, not quite amazing. But given the number of EQ presets available, your mileage may vary. If you want to play a shooter in a competitive scene, the presets can help, although at higher volumes the headset suffers slightly. The positional audio is superb, the app is excellent, but it’s where it really shines in terms of versatility. It’s at a reasonable price That’s a positive for a headset of this quality and functionality. It’s the best wireless option I’ve found for the Steam Deck and the easiest to set up, and unless Valve comes out with a wireless headset of its own, it’ll be hard to beat. It’s not perfect, but it’s a device that’s become a mainstay in my setup, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.