SteelSeries Arctis 5 2019 Edition vs Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless: Which Headphones Are Better? - RTINGS.com

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Products

SteelSeries Arctis 5 2019 Edition

SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless

Tested using Methodology v1.5

Updated May 28, 2025 01:52 PM

Tested using Methodology v1.5

Updated May 27, 2025 08:02 PM

SteelSeries Arctis 5 2019 Edition Picture

SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless Picture

TypeOver-ear

EnclosureClosed-Back

WirelessNo

TransducerDynamic

Noise CancellingNo

MicYes

TypeOver-ear

EnclosureClosed-Back

WirelessYes

TransducerDynamic

Noise CancellingNo

MicYes

Our Verdict

SteelSeries Arctis 5 2019 Edition

SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless

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.

Variants

Arctis 5 2019 Edition (Black)
Arctis 5 2019 Edition (White)

Arctis 3 2019 (Black)

Review

See SteelSeries Arctis 5 2019 Edition Review

See SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless Review

Check Price

Black

Arctis 5 2019 Edition

Black

Arctis 3 2019

White

Arctis 5 2019 Edition

Black

Arctis 3 2019

Black

Arctis 3 2019

Black

Arctis 3 2019

Black

Arctis 3 2019

Main Differences for

Neutral Sound

Threshold

0.10

Neutral Sound

0.0

0.0

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Full Comparison

Neutral Sound

0.0

0.0

Commute/Travel

0.0

0.0

Sports/Fitness

0.0

0.0

Office

0.0

0.0

Wireless Gaming

0.0

0.0

Wired Gaming

0.0

0.0

Phone Calls

0.0

0.0

Design

Style

Design Picture 2

SteelSeries Arctis 5 2019 Edition Design Picture 2 Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless Design Picture 2 Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Type

Locked

Locked

Enclosure

Locked

Locked

Wireless

Locked

Locked

Transducer

Locked

Locked

Show Text

Comfort

N/A

N/A

Comfort Picture

SteelSeries Arctis 5 2019 Edition Comfort Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless Comfort Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Weight

Lock lbs

Lock lbs

Clamping Force

Lock lbs

Lock lbs

Show Text

Controls

N/A

N/A

Controls Picture

SteelSeries Arctis 5 2019 Edition Controls Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless Controls Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

OS Compatibility

Locked

Locked

Ease Of Use

Locked

Locked

Feedback

Locked

Locked

Call/Music Control

Locked

Locked

Volume Control

Locked

Locked

Microphone Control

Locked

Locked

Channel Mixing

Locked

Locked

Noise Cancelling Control

Locked

Locked

Talk-Through

Locked

Locked

Additional Controls

Locked

Locked

Show Text

Breathability

N/A

N/A

Breathability After Picture

SteelSeries Arctis 5 2019 Edition Breathability After Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless Breathability After Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Avg.Temp.Difference

Lock °C

Lock °C

Show Text

Portability

N/A

N/A

Portability Picture

SteelSeries Arctis 5 2019 Edition Portability Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless Portability Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

L

Lock" (Lock cm)

Lock" (Lock cm)

W

Lock" (Lock cm)

Lock" (Lock cm)

H

Lock" (Lock cm)

Lock" (Lock cm)

Volume

Lock in³ (Lock cm³)

Lock in³ (Lock cm³)

Transmitter Required

Locked

Locked

Show Text

Case

N/A

N/A

Case Picture

SteelSeries Arctis 5 2019 Edition Case Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless Case Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Type

Locked

Locked

L

N/A

N/A

W

N/A

N/A

H

N/A

N/A

Volume

N/A

N/A

Show Text

Build Quality

N/A

N/A

Build Quality Picture

SteelSeries Arctis 5 2019 Edition Build Quality Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless Build Quality Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Show Text

Stability

N/A

N/A

Stability Picture

SteelSeries Arctis 5 2019 Edition Stability Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless Stability Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Show Text

Headshots 1

Angled Picture

SteelSeries Arctis 5 2019 Edition Angled Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless Angled Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Side Picture

SteelSeries Arctis 5 2019 Edition Side Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless Side Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Headshots 2

Front Picture

SteelSeries Arctis 5 2019 Edition Front Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless Front Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Rear Picture

SteelSeries Arctis 5 2019 Edition Rear Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless Rear Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Top

Top Picture

SteelSeries Arctis 5 2019 Edition Top Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless Top Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

In The Box

In The Box Picture

SteelSeries Arctis 5 2019 Edition In The Box Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless In The Box Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Show Text

Sound

Sound Profile

Frequency Response

SteelSeries Arctis 5 2019 Edition Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bass Amount

Lock dB

Lock dB

Treble Amount

Lock dB

Lock dB

Frequency Response Consistency

N/A

N/A

Consistency L

SteelSeries Arctis 5 2019 Edition Consistency L Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless Consistency L Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Consistency R

SteelSeries Arctis 5 2019 Edition Consistency R Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless Consistency R Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Avg. Std. Deviation

Lock dB

Lock dB

Show Text

Raw Frequency Response

Raw FR L

SteelSeries Arctis 5 2019 Edition Raw FR L Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless Raw FR L Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Raw FR R

SteelSeries Arctis 5 2019 Edition Raw FR R Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless Raw FR R Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bass Accuracy

N/A

N/A

Bass

SteelSeries Arctis 5 2019 Edition Bass Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless Bass Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Std. Err.

Lock dB

Lock dB

Low-Frequency Extension

Lock Hz

Lock Hz

Low-Bass

Lock dB

Lock dB

Mid-Bass

Lock dB

Lock dB

High-Bass

Lock dB

Lock dB

Show Text

Mid Accuracy

N/A

N/A

Mid

SteelSeries Arctis 5 2019 Edition Mid Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless Mid Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Std. Err.

Lock dB

Lock dB

Low-Mid

Lock dB

Lock dB

Mid-Mid

Lock dB

Lock dB

High-Mid

Lock dB

Lock dB

Show Text

Treble Accuracy

N/A

N/A

Treble

SteelSeries Arctis 5 2019 Edition Treble Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless Treble Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Std. Err.

Lock dB

Lock dB

Low-Treble

Lock dB

Lock dB

Mid-Treble

Lock dB

Lock dB

High-Treble

Lock dB

Lock dB

Show Text

Peaks/Dips

N/A

N/A

Peaks/Dips Graph

SteelSeries Arctis 5 2019 Edition Peaks/Dips Graph Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless Peaks/Dips Graph Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Peaks

Lock dB

Lock dB

Dips

Lock dB

Lock dB

Imaging

N/A

N/A

Group Delay

SteelSeries Arctis 5 2019 Edition Group Delay Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless Group Delay Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Phase Response Mismatch

SteelSeries Arctis 5 2019 Edition Phase Response Mismatch Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless Phase Response Mismatch Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Weighted Group Delay

Lock

Lock

Weighted Phase Mismatch

Lock

Lock

Weighted Amplitude Mismatch

Lock

Lock

Weighted Frequency Mismatch

Lock

Lock

Show Text

Passive Soundstage

N/A

N/A

PRTF

SteelSeries Arctis 5 2019 Edition PRTF Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless PRTF Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.)

Lock dB

Lock dB

PRTF Size (Avg.)

Lock dB

Lock dB

PRTF Distance

Lock dB

Lock dB

Openness

0.0

0.0

Acoustic Space Excitation

0.0

0.0

Show Text

Virtual Soundstage

N/A

N/A

Virtual Soundstage

SteelSeries Arctis 5 2019 Edition Virtual Soundstage Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless Virtual Soundstage Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Head Modeling

Locked

Locked

Speaker Modeling

Locked

Locked

Room Ambience

Locked

Locked

Head Tracking

Locked

Locked

Virtual Surround

Locked

Locked

Weighted Harmonic Distortion

N/A

N/A

Weighted Harmonic Distortion

SteelSeries Arctis 5 2019 Edition Weighted Harmonic Distortion Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless Weighted Harmonic Distortion Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

WHD @ 90

Lock

Lock

WHD @ 100

Lock

Lock

Test Settings

Firmware

Locked

Locked

Power

Locked

Locked

Connection

Locked

Locked

Codec

Locked

Locked

EQ

Locked

Locked

ANC

Locked

Locked

Tip/Pad

Locked

Locked

Microphone

Locked

Locked

Isolation

Noise Isolation

N/A

N/A

Noise Isolation

SteelSeries Arctis 5 2019 Edition Noise Isolation Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless Noise Isolation Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Isolation Audio

Overall Attenuation

Lock dB

Lock dB

Noise Cancelling

Locked

Locked

Bass

Lock dB

Lock dB

Mid

Lock dB

Lock dB

Treble

Lock dB

Lock dB

Show Text

Leakage

N/A

N/A

Leakage

SteelSeries Arctis 5 2019 Edition Leakage Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless Leakage Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Leakage Audio

Overall Leakage @ 1ft

Lock dB

Lock dB

Show Text

Microphone

Microphone Style

Integrated

Locked

Locked

In-Line

Locked

Locked

Boom

Locked

Locked

Detachable Boom

Locked

Locked

Mic

Locked

Locked

Recording Quality

N/A

N/A

Microphone Frequency Response

SteelSeries Arctis 5 2019 Edition Microphone Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless Microphone Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Recorded Speech

LFE

Lock Hz

Lock Hz

FR Std. Dev.

Lock dB

Lock dB

HFE

Lock Hz

Lock Hz

Weighted THD

Lock

Lock

Gain

Lock dB

Lock dB

Show Text

Noise Handling

N/A

N/A

SpNR

SteelSeries Arctis 5 2019 Edition SpNR Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless SpNR Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SpNR

Lock dB

Lock dB

Noise Gate

Locked

Locked

Speech + Pink Noise Handling

0.0

0.0

Speech + Pink Noise Audio Sample

Speech + Subway Noise Handling

0.0

0.0

Speech + Subway Noise Audio Sample

Show Text

Active Features

Battery

N/A

N/A

Battery Type

Locked

Locked

Continuous Battery Life

N/A

Lock hrs

Additional Charges

N/A

Lock

Total Battery Life

N/A

Lock hrs

Charge Time

N/A

Lock hrs

Power-Saving Feature

Locked

Locked

Audio While Charging

Locked

Locked

Passive Playback

Locked

Locked

Charging Port

Locked

Locked

Show Text

App Support

N/A

N/A

App Picture

SteelSeries Arctis 5 2019 Edition App Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless App Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

App Name

Locked

Locked

iOS

Locked

Locked

Android

Locked

Locked

macOS

Locked

Locked

Windows

Locked

Locked

Equalizer

Locked

Locked

ANC Control

Locked

Locked

Mic Control

Locked

Locked

Room Effects

Locked

Locked

Playback Control

Locked

Locked

Button Mapping

Locked

Locked

Surround Support

Locked

Locked

Show Text

Connectivity

Bluetooth

N/A

N/A

Bluetooth Version

Locked

Locked

Multi-Device Pairing

Locked

Locked

NFC Pairing

Locked

Locked

Line Of Sight Range

N/A

Lock ft (Lock m)

PC Latency (SBC)

N/A

Lock ms

PC Latency (aptX)

N/A

N/A

PC Latency (aptX HD)

N/A

N/A

PC Latency (aptX-LL)

N/A

N/A

iOS Latency

N/A

Lock ms

Android Latency

N/A

Lock ms

Show Text

Non-Bluetooth Wireless

N/A

N/A

Non-BT Line Of Sight Range

N/A

N/A

Non-BT Latency

N/A

N/A

Wired

N/A

N/A

Cable Picture

SteelSeries Arctis 5 2019 Edition Cable Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless Cable Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Analog Audio

Locked

Locked

USB Audio

Locked

Locked

Detachable

Locked

Locked

Length

Lock ft (Lock m)

Lock ft (Lock m)

Connection

Locked

Locked

Analog/USB Audio Latency

Lock ms

Lock ms

Show Text

PC Compatibility

Analog

Locked

Locked

Wired USB

Locked

Locked

Non-BT Wireless

Locked

Locked

PlayStation Compatibility

PS4 Analog

Locked

Locked

PS4 Wired USB

Locked

Locked

PS4 Non-BT Wireless

Locked

Locked

PS5 Analog

Locked

Locked

PS5 Wired USB

Locked

Locked

PS5 Non-BT Wireless

Locked

Locked

Xbox Compatibility

Xbox One Analog

Locked

Locked

Xbox One Wired USB

Locked

Locked

Xbox One Non-BT Wireless

Locked

Locked

Xbox Series X|S Analog

Locked

Locked

Xbox Series X|S Wired USB

Locked

Locked

Xbox Series X|S Non-BT Wireless

Locked

Locked

Base/Dock

N/A

N/A

Type

Locked

Locked

USB Input

Locked

Locked

Line In

Locked

Locked

Line Out

Locked

Locked

Optical Input

Locked

Locked

RCA Input

Locked

Locked

Dock Charging

Locked

Locked

Power Supply

Locked

Locked

Show Text

Check Price

Black

Arctis 5 2019 Edition

Black

Arctis 3 2019

White

Arctis 5 2019 Edition

Black

Arctis 3 2019

Black

Arctis 3 2019

Black

Arctis 3 2019

Black

Arctis 3 2019

SteelSeries Arctis 5 2019 Edition

SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless

Comments

Comparison

• Posted 2 years ago

SteelSeries Arctis 5 2019 Edition vs SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless: Main Discussion

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