SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3X Wireless review: So close

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 is the company’s latest edition of their most affordable entry into wireless gaming, slotting in above the wired-only Nova 1 series and below the more premium Nova 5 and Nova 7 models. At just over $100, the new and purportedly improved Nova 3 implements some of the standout features that I loved from the higher-end Nova 5 headset, including access to the Arctis app with over 200 game-specific audio presets and cross-platform compatibility via a redesigned, slimmer USB-C dongle. However, it’s not without compromises, most notably some audio fidelity trade-offs that became apparent under closer listening.

I tested the Xbox variant, the Nova 3X (which is also compatible with everything else), but is it worth your money, or is it better spent elsewhere? Press start to find out.

What’s it like to use the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3X Wireless?

The Nova 3X maintains the same general build quality and materials as the Nova 5X, though it feels noticeably smaller overall. At 260 grams, it’s lightweight and comfortable for extended gaming sessions, with the signature suspension headband doing its job to distribute weight evenly and keep the headset feeling light on your head.

The fabric ear cushions remain breathable and comfortable, which some may prefer over the pleather found on many gaming headsets, which can become hot and sticky during longer sessions. The strong clamping force provides a secure fit without feeling overly tight. However, the sizing seems geared toward smaller heads. I had to extend the earcups to their maximum length from the headband to achieve a proper fit. Those with larger heads might find the adjustability somewhat limiting.

The most noticeable physical change from the Nova 5X is the shift from a retractable boom microphone to a detachable one. While this makes the headset look cleaner when using it for music or calls without gaming, it also means you’ll need to keep track of an additional component, and there’s always the risk of misplacing the mic when you need it most.

How do you control the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3X Wireless?

The Nova 3X keeps controls simple with everything located on the left earcup. You’ll find a large mic mute button that stays protruded when muted and sits flush when active, a rotating volume dial for quick audio adjustments, and a power button that handles connection switching and a number of multimedia controls in combination with the volume wheel that’s are a bit cumbersome, which you can see in the table below.

Outside of gaming, the commands that require turning or pressing the volume dial with the adjacent power button are not very intuitive with one hand. You can easily turn the dial the wrong way without intending to, and having all controls on one side does make that earcup feel busier compared to the clean right side.

Should you use the Arctis Nova app for the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3X Wireless?

Yes, the app is a big selling point for getting the most out of this headset. The mobile companion app gives you access to over 200 game-specific audio presets. Unlike many gaming headsets that require you to plug into a PC to make EQ adjustments, you can do it on the fly from your phone here.

There is no custom equalizer, but there are some music-specific EQ presets like Bass Boost and Dialogue Clarity. The game-specific presets cover popular titles like Call of Duty, Fortnite, and Apex Legends, with some focused on competitive advantage (emphasizing footsteps and weapon sounds) and others on immersion. You can also adjust microphone volume and sidetone levels, set a volume limiter, enable an extended range mode, and save separate EQ profiles for both wireless connections.

How do you connect the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3X Wireless?

The Nova 3X offers multiple connectivity options, using the same, slimmer USB-C dongle found in the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds. This smaller form factor means it’s less likely to block adjacent ports, a complaint I had with the wide dongle that comes with the Nova 5X. The dongle provides a reliable 2.4GHz wireless connection with low latency for gaming, and can be easily moved between devices like PlayStation, PC, Switch, Steam Deck, and mobile devices with USB-C ports.

The headset also features Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity for mobile devices and non-gaming use, supporting AAC and SBC codecs. With Quick-Switch wireless functionality, you can toggle between the 2.4GHz gaming connection and Bluetooth with a press of the power button, allowing you to take calls or switch to mobile audio without disconnecting from your main gaming device. Just be aware that you can’t use both connections simultaneously, only one at a time.

How long does the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3X Wireless’s battery last?

In our standardized testing, the Nova 3X lasted 22 hours and 12 minutes while connected via the 2.4GHz dongle, which is a bit less than the advertised 30+ hours. Still, it’s a respectable battery life for a gaming headset at this price point.

SteelSeries also claims 40+ hours in Bluetooth mode and up to 9 hours of playback from just 15 minutes of fast charging via USB-C. Take that Bluetooth battery life with a grain of salt, as mileage will vary depending on volume.

How well does the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3X Wireless attenuate noise?

The Nova 3X relies on passive isolation with no active noise cancelation, and the results are typical for a gaming headset at this price. You’ll still hear most low-frequency sounds like air conditioning hum, traffic rumble, and people’s voices clearly. However, the headset does a much better job with higher-frequency noises—mechanical keyboard typing, mouse clicks, and similar sharp sounds get significantly reduced.

Looking at our measurements, the headset can cut high-frequency sounds by 30-40dB in some ranges. Bass-heavy music from your neighbor in the next door apartment might still come through relatively unfiltered. For gaming at home in a reasonably quiet room, this isolation works fine. But don’t expect these to create a bubble of silence or work well in truly noisy environments.

How do the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3X Wireless sound?

The Nova 3X sounds rough and unbalanced, with noticeable audio distortion that makes music and some sound effects in games sound worse than they should, though the app’s EQ settings can help improve things.

Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores (MDAQS)

The chart below shows how the sound of the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3X Wireless was assessed by the Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Score (MDAQS) algorithm from HEAD acoustics.

The Nova 3X’s MDAQS results tell a mixed story, with an overall score of 3.2 placing it in “fair” territory. While the headset performs decently in timbre (4.1) and quite well in immersiveness (4.3), the distortion score of 1.8 is concerning and indicates you’ll likely hear audible artifacts, especially at higher volumes.

Reviewer’s notes

Editor’s note: this review uses a hover-enabled glossary to describe sound quality based on a consensus vocabulary. You can read about it here.

Objective Measurements

The Nova 3X’s frequency response shows some problematic deviations from our preference curve that impact the gaming experience. The bass region tracks reasonably well, though there’s a slight underemphasis around 100-200Hz that may reduce the impact of explosions and gunfire.

The bigger issues are in the upper frequencies. There’s a notable dip around 3-4kHz followed by a sharp 5-7dB peak around 5-6kHz. This creates a sound signature that can make dialogue and important mid-range audio cues feel muffled while simultaneously introducing harshness that becomes fatiguing during longer gaming sessions.

The treble region shows another peak around 8-9kHz elevated about 4-5dB above our target. While this might initially seem to add detail, the uneven response across these critical frequency ranges means important gaming audio, like footsteps, voice chat clarity, and weapon sounds, won’t be reproduced as accurately as they should be.

How good is the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3X Wireless’s microphone?

The Nova 3X features what SteelSeries calls the ClearCast 2.X microphone that delivers 32KHz/16bit audio. Unlike the retractable boom mic on the Nova 5X, this one is detachable, which means you’ll need to keep track of an extra component, but it also gives you a cleaner look when using the headset for music or calls.

In practice, the microphone performs quite well for a gaming headset at this price point. Voice reproduction is intelligible and clear, with teammates easily understanding communication during multiplayer sessions. Noise rejection is actually quite good in office conditions, likely helped by the foam covering on the boom mic. In reverberant spaces where cheaper microphones often pick up unwanted echo, the Nova 3X’s mic keeps reflections minimal, maintaining voice clarity without too much room tone bleeding through.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3X Wireless microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3X Wireless microphone demo (Office conditions):

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3X Wireless microphone demo (Reverberant space):

Should you buy the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3X Wireless?

The Nova 3X is a tough sell unless you’re specifically drawn to the mobile app’s convenience and can’t stretch your budget to the Nova 5 series for $129 at Amazon. The audio quality compromises are significant enough that many users would be better served saving up for the Nova 5X or looking at competitors in this price range that prioritize sound quality over app features.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3X Wireless review: FAQs