The SteelSeries Arctis 7P Wireless are gaming headphones that have full wireless compatibility with PS4 and PS5 consoles. They're well-built, comfortable, have very low latency, and their boom microphone does a great job of recording your voice, even in noisy environments. They offer around 24 hours of continuous battery life and have an auto-off timer to help you save battery life when you're not actively gaming. While their design can cause inconsistent audio delivery due to the fit and positionning, their sound profile can be tweaked to your liking via SteelSeries Engine companion software.
Our Verdict
The SteelSeries Arctis 7P are fair for neutral sound. They have a boomy sound profile by default and are prone to inconsistent bass and treble delivery, which is sensitive to their fit, seal, and positioning. Luckily, if you prefer a more neutral sound profile, their companion software offers a graphic EQ and presets to help tweak their sound.
- Graphic EQ plus presets.
- Comfortable and well-built design.
- Inconsistent bass and treble delivery.
- Disappointing passive soundstage.
The SteelSeries Arctis 7P are disappointing for commute and travel. While they're comfortable, well-built, and can look more casual thanks to their retractable boom mic, they don't block out almost any bass-range noise like bus or plane engines. They're also pretty bulky and not very portable. That said, they offer call and music controls, which is a little uncommon for gaming headphones.
- Comfortable and well-built design.
- Poor noise isolation.
- Inconsistent bass and treble delivery.
The SteelSeries Arctis 7P are passable for sports and fitness. While they're not really designed for this purpose, they're stable on the head and their wireless design makes it harder for something to snag the headphones and pull them off your head. Still, they're pretty bulky, and you need to use them with their USB dongle if you want a wireless connection.
- Comfortable and well-built design.
- Inconsistent bass and treble delivery.
The SteelSeries Arctis 7P are alright for office use. These comfortable headphones offer around 24 hours of continuous playback time, which should be more than enough for a couple of workdays and can even be used passively. However, they can only be used wirelessly via their USB-C dongle and they barely block out most sound like ambient chatter around you.
- Comfortable and well-built design.
- Inconsistent bass and treble delivery.
The SteelSeries Arctis 7P are good for wireless gaming. These comfortable headphones have very low latency on PC, PS5, and Android and offer around 24 hours of continuous battery life. Their boom microphone does a great job of capturing your voice clearly, even in noisy environments. You can also customize their sound profile with their companion software.
- Graphic EQ plus presets.
- Great performing boom mic.
- Comfortable and well-built design.
- Inconsistent bass and treble delivery.
The SteelSeries Arctis 7P are good for wired gaming. You can use them wired with full compatibility with PS4/5, Xbox One, and PC with virtually no audio latency. They're comfortable, their boom mic offers great overall performance, and they're compatible with SteelSeries Engine software, so you can customize their sound profile or mic levels.
- Graphic EQ plus presets.
- Great performing boom mic.
- Comfortable and well-built design.
- Inconsistent bass and treble delivery.
The SteelSeries Arctis 7P are good for phone calls. They have a great boom microphone that captures your voice clearly, even in noisy environments. However, these headphones struggle to isolate noise around you, which may make it difficult to hear the person on the other end of the line.
- Great performing boom mic.
- Comfortable and well-built design.
- Poor noise isolation.
Changelog
- Updated Jan 14, 2022: We've retested 'Controls' for talk-through. We have also updated our 'Portability' measurements and 'Wired' connection.
- Updated Jun 29, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
- Updated Apr 28, 2021: We have updated the measurements of the Wired Length test.
- Updated Feb 25, 2021: Due to user feedback, we tested the frequency response for bass distortion using SteelSeries Engine 3's 64Hz EQ band. Our results haven't changed.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The SteelSeries 7P come in two color variants: 'Black' and 'White'. We tested the 'White' variant, and you can see its label here. SteelSeries also has an Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One variant called the SteelSeries 7X Wireless. The Arctis 7X has a USB-C dongle that offers two different wireless modes: one for Xbox systems and the other, which works for all other devices including PS4 and PS5, giving you more versatility if you own multiple different consoles. However, note that the Arctis 7P only offers wireless compatibility with PlayStation consoles, PC, Android, and Nintendo Switch.
If you come across another variant, please let us know in the discussions and we'll update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The SteelSeries Arctis 7P are gaming headphones that offer full wireless compatibility with PS4, PS5, PCs, Android, and Nintendo Switch devices. Like many SteelSeries headphones, they have a ski-band headband and are comfortable enough for long gaming sessions. They offer around 24 hours of continuous battery life and their sound profile can be customized via SteelSeries Engine software. Check out our recommendations for the best PS4 gaming headsets, the best wireless gaming headsets, and the best gaming headsets.
The SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless are better gaming headphones than the SteelSeries Arctis 7P Wireless. While both headphones are comfortable and use SteelSeries Engine companion software, the Arctis Pro have a better performing boom mic. They also come with a wireless transmitter that also acts as a battery charging station. The headphones recharge in less time and support Bluetooth, which is nice if you want to use them more casually.
The SteelSeries Arctis 7P Wireless are better gaming headphones than the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 Wireless. The SteelSeries are more comfortable, have a longer-lasting battery life, and a better-balanced sound profile. They can also be used on all consoles via their analog connection, and their boom mic is also significantly better at noise handling. However, the Turtle Beach support Bluetooth, and their companion software allows you to button map.
The SteelSeries Arctis 7P Wireless are better gaming headphones for the PS4 and PS5 than the Sony PULSE 3D Wireless. The SteelSeries are more comfortable and feel better-built. They have a better performing boom microphone, a longer-lasting continuous battery life, and support SteelSeries Engine so you can tweak their sound using this software's graphic EQ or presets. However, the Sony deliver audio more consistently. While you can also customize their sound using their graphic EQ and presets, this feature is only available on updated PS5 consoles.
The SteelSeries Arctis 7P Wireless are better for wireless gaming than the Astro A20 Gen 2 Wireless. The SteelSeries are more comfortable, better-built, have a more comprehensive, easier-to-use control scheme, and offer superior overall microphone performance. They can also be used on a wired connection thanks to their included 1/8" TRRS cable. Meanwhile, the Astro deliver audio more consistently.
The SteelSeries Arctis 7P+ Wireless are the updated variant of the SteelSeries Arctis 7P Wireless, with a longer continuous battery life. That said, the 7P+ have an otherwise very similar performance to the 7P with a comfortable and well-built design. They also have low non-Bluetooth wireless latency. However, the 7P's boom mic has a better recording quality.
The Astro A50 Gen 4 are better wireless gaming headphones than the SteelSeries Arctis 7P Wireless. The Astro are more comfortable and deliver audio more consistently. Teammates on voice chat will also hear you clearly as the Astro have a better-performing boom microphone. However, the SteelSeries can be used both wirelessly and wired and have a better overall battery performance.
The SteelSeries Arctis 7 2019 Edition Wireless and the SteelSeries Arctis 7P Wireless are two gaming headphones with similar wireless gaming performances. Both headphones are well-built, comfortable, and support customization via SteelSeries Engine software. They can also be used on PC, PS4, and PS5 wirelessly, and can be used on the Xbox One via an analog connection. However, the Arctis 7P Wireless' boom mic has a better recording quality while the Arctis 7 2019 Edition's battery recharges in less time.
The SteelSeries Arctis 7P Wireless are better gaming headphones than the SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless. While both headphones are similarly comfortable and well-built, the Arctis 7P have a better-balanced sound profile, and their battery lasts longer. They also support passive playback and have less latency via non-Bluetooth wireless. However, the Arctis 9 support Bluetooth and have surround support via their companion software.
The SteelSeries Arctis 7P Wireless are slightly better gaming headphones than the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro Wireless 2020. The SteelSeries have better controls, a more durable build quality, and a better-balanced sound profile. They also have a better performing boom microphone. However, the Razer have companion software that offers more features.
The SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless and the SteelSeries Arctis 7P Wireless have different strengths and depending on your needs, you may prefer one over the other. While both are comfortable, the Arctis 9X are more versatile since they support Bluetooth and have a more balanced sound profile out-of-the-box. They also support Xbox Wireless. However, the Arctis 7P are more designed for strictly gaming and offer full audio and mic support via analog on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Their non-Bluetooth wireless can also be used on PCs and PS4/PS5s.
The SteelSeries 7P Wireless and the SteelSeries Arctis 7X Wireless are almost the same, but with a few compatibility differences. While both headphones come with a USB dongle, the 7P isn't wirelessly compatible with Xbox consoles, and the 7X supports both Xbox Wireless technology and a 'USB' protocol so that it can connect to PS4 and PS5 consoles without an issue. That said, both headphones are well-built, comfortable, and have around 24 hours of continuous playback time.
The SteelSeries Arctis 7P Wireless are better gaming headphones than the SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless. The Arctis 7P are more comfortable, feel better built, and have a better performing boom microphone. However, the Arctis 1 have lower non-Bluetooth wireless latency.
The SteelSeries Arctis 7P Wireless are better gaming headphones than the HyperX Cloud Flight. The SteelSeries offer better controls, feel better built, and are more stable. They have a better-balanced sound profile out of the box and have a graphic EQ plus presets to further tweak their sound. They also have audio and mic support on PC, PS4, and Xbox One when used wired. However, the HyperX have a better-performing boom mic.
The Beats Solo Pro and the SteelSeries Arctis 7P Wireless have different strengths, and you may prefer either one, depending on your needs. The SteelSeries are gaming headphones. They have a more comfortable fit and a boom mic with a much better overall performance. They can be used wirelessly or wired with the included 1/8" TRRS cable, allowing you to use the headphones while they're charging. On the other hand, the Beats are more versatile headphones with an integrated mic. They have an ANC feature that blocks out an impressive amount of noise.
The SteelSeries Arctis 7P Wireless are better overall gaming headphones than the Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT. The SteelSeries are more comfortable, have a more neutral default sound profile, which some users may prefer, and have better overall battery performance. They also have lower non-Bluetooth wireless latency. However, the Corsair have a better overall boom mic performance and support Bluetooth.
We've upgraded our Headphones Test Bench to 2.0! This update brings several key changes to our tests and usages, making it easier than ever to interpret our sound results based on your personal preferences. You'll also find a brand-new interactive graph tool featuring multiple targets (including our own!) for you to explore and compare.
For a full breakdown, check out our changelog, which includes detailed commentary from our test designer explaining the rationale behind our update.
We'd also love to hear your thoughts: your feedback helps us keep improving, so join us in the comments!
Test Results
The SteelSeries 7P look very similar to the SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless with sleek, plain ear cups, a ski-band headband, and a retractable boom mic. They come in two color variants: 'Black' and 'White'. The 'White' variant has blue detailing underneath the plastic headband as well as inside the ear cups, which is meant to look similar to the PS5's design.
The SteelSeries 7P are comfortable headphones. Although they're a bit heavy and bulky, the ear cups have a good range of motion to help accommodate your head. The fabric headband and padding feel soft, too. However, not all users may enjoy the elastic ski-band headband, which has a limited adjustment range and may feel tight for people who have larger heads.
Update 01/14/2022: We originally reported that these headphones had talk-through controls. However, this was a mistake. We have corrected our review and updated our results.
The SteelSeries Arctis 7P have good controls. They have a volume wheel and a sidetone wheel with min/max stops, a microphone mute button, and a power button. The power button gives feedback when turned on and doubles as a playback function. Pressing it once answers and ends calls as well as plays and pauses the music. Double pressing it skips the track forward, while triple pressing it plays the previous track. The mic mute button has audio feedback, and the mic itself has an LED light that turns red when muted. Unfortunately, the sidetone and volume wheels aren't distinct from one another and don't have a middle notch.
Update 01/14/2022: We remeasured the headphones' dimensions as they didn't accurately represent the portability image. We have updated our length, width, height, and volume measurements.
These headphones aren't very portable. Their ear cups can swivel to fold flat, but the headphones can't fold into a more compact form, and they don't come with a case to help protect them when you're on the go. You also need to carry their USB dongle with you if you want to use them wirelessly. Luckily, their boom mic retracts, so you don't need to worry about snagging them on something in your bag.
The SteelSeries 7P have a great build quality. Their body is made from dense plastic while they have fabric padding and an elastic ski-band headband strap. They feel like they should survive a couple of drops without taking too much damage, although their yokes and hinges seem a little weak.
The SteelSeries 7P have good stability. While they should stay in place if you're gaming on the couch, they could fall off your head if you're doing moderate physical exercise. On the upside, their wireless design eliminates the risk of an audio cable snagging on something and pulling them from your head.
- SteelSeries Arctis 7P Wireless headphones
- USB-C dongle
- Micro-USB charging cable
- USB-A to USB-C cable
- USB to analog cable
- User Guide
Update 02/25/2021: A user has reported experiencing bass distortion when using the SteelSeries Engine 3's 64Hz EQ band above 0dBs. We tried adjusting the 64Hz EQ band on the companion app to -0.1dB and played a 64Hz tone. This resulted in slight audible distortion. We also heard slight distortion when adjusting the EQ band to 0.1dBs. However, changing the tone to 180Hz and adjusting the EQ band in the app didn't produce distortion. We also repeated this with a 500Hz tone and couldn't hear distortion when adjusting the EQ band. It seems like this issue is only limited to the 64Hz band when adjusted on the SteelSeries Engine 3. However, we don't test for this and, as a result, our scoring and results haven't changed.
The SteelSeries 7P have a boomy v-shaped sound profile, which can help bring out sound effects in action-packed gameplay and add brightness and sparkle to instruments and vocals. However, bass and treble delivery can vary due to fit, seal, and positioning. Luckily, since these headphones are compatible with SteelSeries Engine software, you can customize their sound profile using its graphic EQ or presets.
The SteelSeries Arctis 7P Wireless have a poor frequency response consistency. Bass and treble delivery can vary depending on their fit, seal, and positioning on your head. Bass delivery is especially sensitive if you have thick hair or wear glasses since this can affect their seal.
The SteelSeries Arctis 7P Wireless have mediocre bass accuracy. The low-bass is fairly neutral, which results in thump and rumble. In contrast, both the mid and high-bass are overemphasized, which results in more punch, warmth, and boom. That said, their bass delivery is highly sensitive to their fit and positioning, so your experience may vary.
The mid accuracy of the SteelSeries Arctis 7P is very good. There's some overemphasis in the low-mids, which is a continuation of the bump in the high bass, resulting in muddy and cluttered instruments. However, the rest of the mid-range is fairly flat and well-balanced, so vocals and lead instruments sound present and clear.
The SteelSeries Arctis 7P have great treble accuracy. They're slightly underemphasized in the low-treble, which can reduce the comprehensibility of vocals and lead instruments. There's also an overemphasis in the mid-treble, so sibilants like S and T sounds are sharp and piercing. However, their treble delivery is prone to inconsistencies and is somewhat sensitive to their fit and positioning, so your experience may vary.
The SteelSeries Arctis 7P Wireless have decent peaks and dips performance. The left driver has a dip in the low-bass, which lessens thump and rumble, and the right driver has a dip in the mid-mid, which pushes vocals and lead instruments to the back of the mix. However, both drivers have a peak in the high-bass, adding boom and muddiness, while another peak in the mid-treble makes sibilants piercing.
These headphones have very good imaging. Most of their weighted group delay mostly falls entirely beneath the audibility threshold, resulting in a mostly transparent treble, but a somewhat loose bass. The L/R drivers are also well-matched in regards to phase, frequency, and amplitude response, so objects like footsteps and voice should be accurately placed in the stereo image. That said, these results are only valid for our test unit, and yours may perform differently.
These headphones have a disappointing passive soundstage. While it's somewhat large and may sound like it's coming from out in front of you rather than inside your head, it still sounds unnatural. Their soundstage also won't feel as open or spacious as open-back headphones.
The SteelSeries Arctis 7P are fully compatible with the PS5's Tempest 3D AudioTech. This setting can be turned on and off in the PS5's settings. However, we don't currently test this feature.
Update 02/25/2021: A user has reported bass distortion when using the SteelSeries Engine 3 softwares' 64Hz EQ band above 0dB. While we confirm that there is slight distortion on the 64Hz EQ band above or below 0dB, we don't test for this. As a result, the scoring of this box hasn't changed.
The SteelSeries Arctis 7P have a good weighted harmonic distortion performance. Its frequencies fall within good limits, which should result in clean and pure audio reproduction.
These are the settings used to test the SteelSeries Arctis 7P Wireless headphones. Our results are only valid when using these test settings.
These headphones have poor noise isolation performance. They don't block out almost any bass-range noise like bus or plane engines and really struggle to cut down mid-range sounds like ambient chatter. However, they do a better job of cutting down treble range noise like the hum of an AC unit.
The leakage performance of these headphones is decent. They leak a bit of sound, so if you're listening to your audio at a high volume, others around you may hear it, even in a moderately noisy environment.
These headphones have a retractable boom microphone.
The SteelSeries Arctis 7P's recording quality is great. Your voice sounds clear, natural, and full-bodied.
The microphone has a decent noise handling performance that's quite similar to that of the SteelSeries Arctis 7+ Wireless. People on the other end of the line should be able to understand you clearly, even if you're talking in a noisy environment.
The SteelSeries Arctis 7P have an outstanding battery performance. They have around 24 hours of continuous playback time and have an auto-off timer to help you conserve battery life when you're not using them. You can also use them while charging or use them passively with their USB to analog cable. However, they take over four hours to recharge. That said, if you're looking for similarly designed gaming headphones with a longer continuous battery life, check out the SteelSeries Arctis 7P+ Wireless.
These headphones have good app support. They can be used with SteelSeries Engine software. It offers a graphic EQ and presets as well as an adjustable level for the retractable boom mic. You can also change the length of the auto-off timer. Note that surround sound support is only available on the PS5.
These headphones aren't Bluetooth-compatible. If you're looking for gaming headphones with Bluetooth support, consider the Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT.
These headphones have fantastic non-Bluetooth wireless connectivity. When using their USB dongle, they have virtually no latency on PC or Android. Their latency is also quite low for PS5 at 26ms, making them extremely well-suited for gaming.
Update 01/14/2022: We originally reported that these headphones have a 1/8" TRRS connection. However, the SteelSeries Arctis 7P use a unique mini B 8-pin to 1/8" TRRS cable. The connection leading to the headset is the mini B 8-pin, and we have updated our review to reflect this change.
The SteelSeries Arctis 7P come with a couple of cables, including a Mini B 8-pin to 1/8" TRRS analog cable that you can use for passive audio playback and microphone usage. They also come with a USB extension for the dongle and a micro-USB charging cable.
The SteelSeries 7P can be used on the Xbox One by using their 1/8" TRRS cable for full audio and microphone support. If you're looking for SteelSeries headphones that have non-Bluetooth wireless compatibility with Xbox One and Xbox Series X consoles, check out our review of the SteelSeries Arctis 7X Wireless.