The SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless are good gaming headphones that are also Bluetooth-compatible, which means you can stream music from your phone while using the headphones wired on your console. They have a great microphone that sounds clear and full-bodied, which is great for online gaming. This model is fairly similar to the other Arctis headphones we’ve reviewed so far and are almost identical to the SteelSeries Arctis 5 2019 Edition when it comes to design. Unfortunately, they don’t isolate against ambient noise and feel a bit plasticky, but they're quite versatile and are compatible with pretty much every gaming platform. They also have a pretty impressive 42-hour battery life.
Our Verdict
The SteelSeries Arctis 3 are good for neutral listening. They have a decent bass, fairly well-balanced mid-range, and great treble range. However, they fail to deliver their audio consistently across users, which means most people won’t hear the same thing with these headphones. Their bass is also slightly lacking in low-end thump and rumble and they sound a bit boomy and cluttered. Overall, these headphones will still be a good option for a wide variety of music and for video games.
- Good audio reproduction.
- Great microphone for online games.
- Bluetooth-compatible gaming headset.
- Bulky and plasticky build.
- Lacks customization options via software support.
- Bass and treble delivery varies significantly across users. Sensitive to glasses.
The SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 are okay for commuting. They have a Bluetooth connection so they can be used wirelessly in your daily commute. They also have amazing battery life and are quite comfortable. However, their fit doesn’t isolate against ambient noise and a lot of it will seep into your audio. They're also quite bulky and a bit hard to carry around.
- Good audio reproduction.
- Great microphone for online games.
- Bluetooth-compatible gaming headset.
- Bulky and plasticky build.
- Lacks customization options via software support.
- Bass and treble delivery varies significantly across users. Sensitive to glasses.
The SteelSeries Arctis 3 are okay for sports and fitness. Even if the ear cup padding is made from a porous material, these headphones are not designed to be used for physical activity. They can get quite hot fairly quickly and they're very bulky. They also sway around with excessive head movement and will fall off your head during most physical activity. On the upside, they can be used wirelessly, and you won’t have to worry about a cable being in your way or getting hooked on something.
- Good audio reproduction.
- Great microphone for online games.
- Bluetooth-compatible gaming headset.
- Bulky and plasticky build.
- Lacks customization options via software support.
- Bass and treble delivery varies significantly across users. Sensitive to glasses.
The SteelSeries Arctis 3 Wireless are decent for the office. These headphones are comfortable to wear for a few hours without feeling too much fatigue, they sound good, and they have an amazing battery life that will last you a few workdays without a problem. They also have a pretty good wireless range, so you’ll be able to move around your desk a bit. Unfortunately, they don’t block out ambient noise very well, but you can easily mask out the sound of an A/C system with these.
- Good audio reproduction.
- Great microphone for online games.
- Bluetooth-compatible gaming headset.
- Bulky and plasticky build.
- Lacks customization options via software support.
- Bass and treble delivery varies significantly across users. Sensitive to glasses.
This wired gaming headset can't be used wirelessly.
The SteelSeries Arctis 3 are decent for gaming. They have a good sound quality and their microphone have an excellent recording quality, which is great for online gaming with friends or teammates. They're also quite comfortable to wear during long gaming sessions and you can even stream music from your phone via their Bluetooth connection while gaming wired. Unfortunately, they aren’t compatible with the SteelSeries Engine for customization and control options.
- Good audio reproduction.
- Great microphone for online games.
- Bluetooth-compatible gaming headset.
- Bulky and plasticky build.
- Lacks customization options via software support.
- Bass and treble delivery varies significantly across users. Sensitive to glasses.
- Good audio reproduction.
- Great microphone for online games.
- Bluetooth-compatible gaming headset.
- Bulky and plasticky build.
- Lacks customization options via software support.
- Bass and treble delivery varies significantly across users. Sensitive to glasses.
Changelog
- Updated Oct 21, 2022: We've added a comparison between these headphones and the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 in Compared.
- Updated Feb 14, 2022: Retested 'Connection' in our Wired test.
- Updated Oct 19, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
- Updated Feb 19, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.4.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The SteelSeries Arctis 3 Bluetooth are good gaming headphones that set themselves apart thanks to their great-sounding microphone and the fact that they can also be used to stream audio content from a Bluetooth source. This makes them very versatile, as they can be used with pretty much every gaming console, as well as with phones. However, they don't have the same level of customizability as the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3, as they're not compatible with SteelSeries GG.
See our recommendations for the best gaming headsets and the best PS4 headsets.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 are the newer generation of the SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless and have a couple of improvements to their name. While both headphones are comfortable, the Nova 3 have better build quality and are compatible with SteelSeries GG as well as Sonar companion software, allowing you to customize their performance. They also support a wired USB connection. They also have adjustable RGB lighting on the ear cups, which some users may prefer. However, the Arctis 3 have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer, and they support Bluetooth so that you can receive audio from your smartphone while gaming wired on your console.
The SteelSeries Arctis 5 2019 Edition are better gaming headphones than the SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition since they are compatible with the SteelSeries Engine software, which offers plenty of customization options and controls. The Arctis 3 are more versatile since they are Bluetooth-compatible, making them more outdoor-friendly. The Arctis 5 also have channel mixing, but they don’t have the excellent microphone of the Arctis 3.
The SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless have a slight edge over the Astro A10 Gen 2. While both are wired headphones, the SteelSeries also support Bluetooth, so you can use them more casually or receive audio from your phone while simultaneously gaming. Their boom mic also offers a better overall performance. In comparison, the Astro are better built and have a more immersive passive soundstage performance.
The HyperX Cloud 2/Cloud II and the SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless are similarly performing gaming headphones but unlike the HyperX, the SteelSeries can be used wired or wirelessly via Bluetooth. Although they both have similarly excellent boom microphones, the HyperX are slightly more comfortable and have a better build quality. The SteelSeries, on the other hand, have a more balanced sound profile and a continuous battery life of over 40 hours.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
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