/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25761860/8A0A2096__1_.jpeg "Best deals on smart home gear this Black Friday")
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24008237/Intel_Arc_Scavenger_Hunt_Winner_Core_i7_12700K_Core_i5_12600K_CPU_Alternative_To_Arc_A770_Arc_A750_GPUs.png "Leak: Intel’s Battlemage desktop GPUs are just days away")
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25733836/twinklylifestylepic.jpg "The 100 best Black Friday deals under $100")
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25446010/arctis_nova_5p_wl_black_lifestyle_noisy_butters_closeup.png)
If you hate (or simply can’t be bothered) to adjust your audio profiles when setting up a new gaming headset, then you might be the target demographic for SteelSeries’ latest offering. Introduced on Tuesday, the new Arctis Nova 5 headset is supported by a dedicated companion app that features over 100 game-specific audio presets for Xbox and PlayStation 5 titles like Fortnite, Apex Legends, and Minecraft, which SteelSeries says have been “custom-tailored to each game by audio engineers.”
Available starting today for $129.99, SteelSeries describes the Arctis Nova 5 as an “affordable luxury.” It’s a smidge pricier than the $119.99 Arctis Nova 4 wireless headset launched last year, but for that, you get the ability to change audio presets in real time without leaving a gaming session, as well as cross-platform support for Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, PC, Meta Quest, and phones or tablets that support the included USB-C dongle.
The Nova 5 companion app requires the headset to be connected to a mobile device via Bluetooth, but that shouldn’t interfere with the ability to receive calls mid-game. The “Quick Switch Wireless” feature swaps audio output between 2.4GHz and Bluetooth 5.3 by tapping a button located on one of the earcups, allowing users to take a call via Bluetooth while their in-game audio retains a passive 2.4GHz connection.
SteelSeries says the Arctis Nova 5 can last up to 60 hours per charge and that the headset’s USB-C fast charging can provide six hours of play on a 15-minute charge. It’s powered by neodymium magnetic drivers (which are fairly common in modern headsets), while a new high-bandwidth microphone chipset provides support for 32kHz / 16-bit audio to help keep in-game communications clear.
The microphone itself retracts into the headset when not in use, blending pretty seamlessly into the earcup. The Nova 5 also supports the same AI noise cancellation feature seen on the Nova 4 to help further reduce background noise in loud environments. Considering the Nova 5 is only an additional $10, the extra perks it provides could sway SteelSeries customers to dig around their couches for loose change to fund the upgrade.
