The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless are closed-back gaming headphones from the makers of the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless. A companion app isn't exactly a headline-grabbing feature for a gaming headset, but the Arctis Nova 5 Wireless come with something a little different: over 100 game-specific presets. So if you've ever wanted to know what a professionally tuned version of Counter-Strike 2 sounds like, you're in luck. In their advertising materials, SteelSeries has also championed this headset's long battery life and fully retractable mic with AI noise reduction, but how do they perform in practice?
Our Verdict
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 are suitable for sports and fitness in a pinch, but they're not intended for this purpose. Their bulky over-ear design makes them impractical for most workout purposes and difficult to transport. They also do a poor job of blocking out external noise, so you'll hear your gym's pumping EDM soundtrack along with your personal audio. That said, they're comfortable, have a long battery life, and have good controls, so they'll be okay if you need some cans to accompany you on a long walk. Thankfully, their mic is retractable, which might spare you some odd looks.
- Excellent battery life.
- Comfortable fit.
- Companion app with parametric EQ and presets.
- Poor frequency response consistency.
- Disappointing noise isolation.
- Leak a little audio.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 are acceptable for commuting and travel. Their long battery life and comfortable fit might make them seem like an attractive prospect for long plane or train journeys, but their poor noise isolation means you'd wind up hearing a lot of the engine noise alongside your own audio. They leak a bit of sound, too, so fellow passengers might not enjoy it when you turn up their volume to compensate for all the engine noise you're hearing. They're also bulky and don't have a case, so they aren't the easiest to transport.
- Excellent battery life.
- Comfortable fit.
- Great mic noise handling.
- Poor frequency response consistency.
- Disappointing noise isolation.
- Leak a little audio.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 are okay for office use. Their long battery life will get you through several days at the office without having to recharge, and their comfortable fit means you can wear them all day without getting fatigued. Their microphone does an excellent job of capturing your voice and a great job separating it from any surrounding noise, so if you need to take conference calls, whoever you're speaking to will hear you clearly. The main downside is that these headphones do a poor job of blocking out office noise, so if you take those calls in a shared space, you might have some trouble hearing what's being said to you. They also leak some noise, so if you like to listen at a loud volume, you'll disturb your coworkers.
- Comfortable fit.
- Excellent mic recording quality.
- Great mic noise handling.
- Poor frequency response consistency.
- Disappointing noise isolation.
- Leak a little audio.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 are decent for wireless gaming. They have excellent battery life, which will get you through several long gaming marathons without needing to recharge, and they're comfortable enough that you won't mind wearing them for the duration. Their default sound profile is bass-heavy, with plenty of high-bass boom thrown in to keep effects like footsteps feeling immersive. The treble response is inconsistent, with a couple of big peaks and dips rendering sibilants alternately dull or piercing depending on their pitch. That said, you can EQ them using their companion app or choose from one of the 100+ game-specific presets. They have an excellent microphone that reproduces your voice accurately and clearly, so fellow gamers won't have trouble understanding you. That said, they do a poor job blocking out external noise, so these aren't a good choice for gaming in a noisy shared space.
- Excellent mic recording quality.
- Companion app with parametric EQ and presets.
- Great mic noise handling.
- Poor frequency response consistency.
- Disappointing noise isolation.
- Leak a little audio.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 are not suitable for wired gaming because they only connect to your PC or console wirelessly via their USB dongle or Bluetooth.
The SteelSeries Nova 5 have adequate audio reproduction accuracy. These headphones do a decent job of following their own boomy, bass-heavy sound profile. The bass region is full, which makes game audio feel exciting, although some audible group delay means sounds like 808 drums can feel a little loose. An inconsistent treble response can also make voices sound harsh or muffled, depending on the speaker's pitch. Still, mid-range sounds, such as instruments, are reproduced accurately. The main strike against these headphones is their poorly matched left and right drivers, as objects are inconsistently and inaccurately placed in the stereo field, which can make identifying enemy footsteps tricky.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 have poor noise isolation. They don't reduce bass-range noise like engine rumble at all, and mid-range sounds like ambient office noise are only slightly reduced. On the plus side, the headphones do a decent job of attenuating higher-pitched sounds like fan whine. These headphones also leak less noise than they let in, so you can listen at moderate volumes without disturbing those around you.
The SteelSeries Nova 5 have a great microphone that makes your voice sound natural, realistic, and clear. The mic also does an impressive job of separating your voice from any surrounding noise, so a loud truck rolling by your open window won't affect your intelligibility.
The SteelSeries Nova 5X have poor frequency response consistency. If you want consistent sound between wears, you'll want to take the time to seat these on your head carefully. That's especially true if you have thick hair or wear glasses, which can break the ear cups' seal around your ears.
Performance Usages
Changelog
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Updated Jan 08, 2026:
This review has been updated to Test Bench 2.0, which adds the following tests: Stereo Mismatch, Group Delay, Cumulative Spectral Decay, PRTF, Harmonic Distortion, and Electrical Aspects. We've added new performance usages and updated the text throughout the Sound tests.
- Updated Dec 15, 2025: We've converted this review to Test Bench 2.1, which features minor updates to our sound tests.
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Updated Jun 09, 2025:
We've updated the Differences Between Variants and Style boxes to mention the 'White' color option.
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Updated Nov 22, 2024:
Several Sound tests have been updated following TB 1.8. There have also been text changes made throughout the review, including the usages and product comparisons to match these results.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless headset comes in two colors: 'Black' and 'White.' The 'Black' option has three headband color designs that correspond to each of the three platform variants: PC, PlayStation, and Xbox, while the 'White' option has a white headband for all three. You should select the variant that works with your gaming platform, but Xbox users should be especially careful to do so, as neither the PlayStation nor PC variants work with Xbox. However, the Xbox variant works with both PC and PlayStation.
| Model | Wireless Compatibility | Wired Compatibility | Headband Color | Secondary Roller |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | PC, PS | N/A | Black | N/A |
| 5P | PC, PS | N/A | Blue | N/A |
| 5X | PC, PS, and Xbox | N/A | Green | ChatMix |
We tested the 'Black' Xbox variant. You can see our model's label.
If you encounter another variant of these headphones, please let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless are gaming headphones with a similar design to the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless. The Nova 5 have a better mic and longer battery life than the Nova 7, but the Nova 7 can be used via a wired connection, which adds to its versatility. If you're willing to spend more for better noise isolation, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless are worth considering for their built-in ANC functionality. On the other hand, if all you're looking for is a cheap and cheerful headset to game with and are happy with a wired connection, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 are a great choice.
If you're looking for other headphones, check out our recommendations for the best wireless headsets, the best SteelSeries headsets, and the best gaming headsets.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 and the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 (Gen 3) have different strengths. The SteelSeries' mic has a better recording quality, and they also have a sturdier build quality and a more useful companion app. On the other hand, the Turtle Beach have a much longer battery life and are usually a little cheaper than the SteelSeries. The Turtle Beach's mic is also a little better at separating your voice from any noise around you.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless are more versatile gaming headphones than the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 because they can be used via a wired connection. Used wirelessly, there's little to choose between these two pairs, but the Arctis Nova 5 just about have the edge due to their superior mic and longer battery life. The choice will ultimately depend on your usage.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 and SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 have different use cases. The Nova 5 are wireless gaming headphones, while the Nova 3 are wired. The Nova 5 are the better choice for most people due to their superior microphone, but if you're looking for cheap gaming headphones and are happy with a wired connection, the Nova 3 are a great choice.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 and the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless are comparable gaming headphones, though the Nova Pro have the edge due to their versatility. The Nova Pro are much better at blocking out external noise due to their ANC and can be used via a wired connection. On the other hand, the Nova 5 have a slightly better microphone, have a much longer battery life, and are cheaper.
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.
Test Results
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