TechRadar Verdict
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P is a comfortable and versatile headset suitable for gaming and work. Its on-headset controls integrate well with the PS5, offering a smooth user experience. While some features require the desktop application, the product is generally considered best-in-class.
Pros
- Comfortable design, even for glasses wearers
- Custom in-game audio profiles for top titles like Fortnite and Apex Legends
- Sound quality is superb across gaming and music
Cons
- Some features can only be accessed via a desktop app
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P Gen 2: two-minute review
For those seeking a PS5 headset with extensive customization, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P Gen 2 is a highly versatile wireless gaming headset. This Gen 2 model is a refined version of an existing multiplatform headset, featuring a control wheel on the right earcup specifically for adjusting sidetone. It performs effectively across numerous platforms.
After extensive use, the headset proves comfortable enough for prolonged wear during music listening and work calls. This Gen 2 version boasts an improved battery, offering over 50 hours of use, and enhanced software compatibility. Compared to the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5, the user experience and comfort are significantly better.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P delivers desired features for a PS5 headset, including impressive custom audio profiles for games like Fortnite and Alan Wake 2. While the Arctis mobile app is user-friendly, some functionalities, such as creating custom EQ profiles, are restricted to the desktop application. Full mobile app functionality would enhance convenience, as switching devices for features like firmware updates can be cumbersome.
Audio quality for the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P is consistently excellent across gaming, work calls, and music playback.
Various music EQ profiles are available, offering standard options like Bright, Heavy, and Bass Boost. The Side Tone control, managed by a wheel on the right ear cup, is a convenient feature, allowing users to adjust it for voice-chat intensive online games or reduce it for single-player experiences.
Battery life closely matches the manufacturer’s claim of 54 hours (estimated at 52 hours after a full charge), though simultaneous use of both Bluetooth and 2.4Ghz functions may lead to slightly faster drainage. Regular charging ensures the headset remains powered for daily use.
Retractable microphones are a preferred feature in gaming headsets, allowing the microphone to be neatly stored away when listening to music or playing single-player games. Unlike detachable microphones that can be easily misplaced, this design ensures the device remains fully functional for all game types. A red light on the microphone tip clearly indicates when it is muted.
There have been instances requiring a hard reset of the device, seemingly due to continuous Bluetooth pairing cycles when connecting and reconnecting between multiple devices. Resetting the headset involves removing foam from an earcup and using a pin to access a tiny hole. This process is not ideal, especially without the correct tool readily available. Despite firmware updates, it is unclear if this issue is widespread or if a fix is planned.
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P Gen 2: price and availability
- List price: $199 / £179.99 / AU$399
- More expensive than the Gen 1 version at launch, which was $179.99 / £174.99 (about AU$310)
- Competitive pricing with a great feature set that matches rivals
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P launched in October 2025. It’s positioned somewhere in the middle of the mid-range premium gaming headsets in terms of cost, and it’s in-line, though slightly more expensive than the Gen 1 version due to its refreshed and updated feature set.
At $199 / £179.99 / AU$399, the headset has a number of competitors like the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3. It’s exactly the same price as the Stealth 700 Gen 3, and shares many of the same features, though the Turtle Beach has the SteelSeries beat on battery life by a considerable margin.
Then there’s the Razer Kraken V4, a cheaper alternative ($179 / £179 / AU$329) to the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P. You get a little less battery life and THX Spatial Audio, which really improves the audio experience. Unfortunately, this THX Spatial Audio is only available on PC, so if you’re a console gamer, you may find the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P’s suite of software features a lot more useful in your setup.
For the price, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P does offer great value for money in terms of build quality and features. It doesn’t have Active Noise Control (ANC), though you can’t find another headset that does in this price range. In fact, ANC is very uncommon in the gaming space as of yet, so for now at least, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P feels fully featured.
It’s also worth mentioning that, despite having launched in October of this year, there have already been deals and discounts for Black Friday that brought the headset down by $20 on average. Even if you can’t find a deal on the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P headset, it’s still great value for money for what you’re getting.
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P Gen 2: specs
- Price: $199 / £179.99 / AU$399
- Weight: 11.5oz / 326g
- Drivers: 40mm carbon fiber with brass surround
- Compatibility: PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac, Mobile
- Connection type: Wireless (2.4Ghz via dongle), Wired (audio jack), Bluetooth
- Battery life: 54 hours
- Features: Retractable boom noise-cancelling microphone, Simultaneous wireless and Bluetooth audio, AirWeave memory foam ear cup material, Fast Charge (6 hours in 15 minutes).
- Software: SteelSeries GG/Sonar, SteelSeries Arctis Companion App (iOS & Android)
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P Gen 2: design and features
- Comfortable and lightweight design that feels sleek and unobstructive
- Simultaneous 2.4Ghz wireless and Bluetooth audio is a real winner
- Three cleanly designed colorways
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P is available in Black, White, and Pink, maintaining the design aesthetic of other Arctis Nova headsets. Compared to the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5, the 7P shows noticeable improvements in build quality. It is slightly heavier, and its PVD-coated steel headband offers greater sturdiness. Despite these enhancements, the overall design remains consistent with previous SteelSeries gaming headsets, offering a more premium feel.
At 11.3oz (326g), the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P is notably lighter than competitors like the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 (14.3oz / 408g) and the Kraken V4 (12.3oz / 397g). The headset maintains superb comfort for all-day wear. The Black variant, reviewed here, represents a significant upgrade from the White model of the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5, which showed some discoloration over time.
A notable feature is the retractable microphone, which neatly tucks into the left earcup and can be smoothly deployed and stored. A small red LED on the microphone tip indicates when it is muted. For users who prefer Side Tone in their gaming headsets, which plays back speech audio into the headset during microphone use, the 7P version includes an adjustable dial on the right earcup. This feature is exclusive to the PlayStation-centric version.
The headset features a mute button, a volume wheel, and two pairing buttons for Bluetooth and 2.4GHz connections. These controls are robust and straightforward. While some headsets incorporate clicks on their volume wheels, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P’s direct approach is effective.
This 7P variant is multiplatform across PC, mobile, Mac, PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch 2, Meta Quest 2 and Quest 3, and Nintendo Switch, similar to the 7 and 7X variants. The key distinction lies in the right ear cup: the 7 model has a chatmix volume wheel (optimized for PC), whereas the 7P and 7X feature a Side Tone wheel. Given that the PS5 does not utilize chatmix, the Side Tone wheel is more beneficial for PlayStation users. For full Xbox compatibility, the 7X headset is required, as the 7 and 7P models do not connect to Xbox devices.
Separate buttons for each connection type function flawlessly, each with distinct activation sound effects. This design simplifies the often complex process of managing simultaneous connectivity across devices.
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P Gen 2: performance
- Fantastic sound across gaming, music, and work calls
- Arctis app’s custom game profiles truly make a difference
- Comfortable and versatile enough to become a daily driver
The SteelSeries Arctis 7P excels in audio quality, leveraging the Arctis app for extensive customization of in-game audio. Hundreds of hours of online games like Fortnite, Battlefield 6, and Arc Raiders have been played using the headset, with in-game audio consistently performing well. The headset can also be used without the companion app, relying on default settings, which provide well-balanced audio with adequate bass without further adjustments.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P also performs admirably for music streaming, though it is not primarily designed as a music-first product, lacking noise cancellation and the high clarity of dedicated audio headphones.
Overall, the headset delivers solid audio quality and performance with default settings, exhibiting minimal stuttering or streaming issues across both Bluetooth and 2.4Ghz connections. Previous models, like the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5, experienced frequent audio glitches, but these issues have been completely resolved in the 7P model, providing a very smooth experience when switching between Bluetooth and 2.4Ghz modes.
A significant advantage of the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P is its compatibility with the companion Arctis app, which enhances flexibility and features. The Arctis app can be downloaded on a phone, allowing on-the-fly adjustments to Bluetooth audio, 2.4Ghz audio, and microphone profiles. This robust app includes custom profiles for games such as Battlefield 6, Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, and Fortnite.
In online competitive titles, custom EQ mixes can significantly enhance the audio, such as boosting enemy footsteps. For example, playing Arc Raiders with the “FPS Footsteps” custom profile enabled allows for clearer detection of approaching enemies, potentially preventing ambushes.
Custom EQ settings, however, are exclusively available through the desktop app. Creating personalized audio profiles requires loading another device, which complicates a process that ideally should be simpler and accessible via the mobile app.
Microphone quality is decent out of the box, and further tweaking in the Arctis app can significantly improve it for online play. While the microphone’s audio quality is standard for its price point, reports from gaming groups indicate it sounds noticeably better than the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5.
In summary, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P offers excellent daily performance. Its simultaneous Bluetooth and 2.4Ghz connections make it a versatile tool for gaming, work, and communication.
Should I buy the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P Gen 2?
Buy it if…
You want a comfortable and light gaming headset The Steel Series Arctis Nova 7P is the most comfortable gaming headset reviewed. It’s noticeably lighter than its direct competitors, while still having great build quality and a sturdy headband.
You want custom audio profiles for games like Fortnite Arctis offers custom audio profiles specifically tailored for a whole host of games. Some amplify enemy footsteps, while others bump up the high-end to do justice to soaring orchestral soundtracks.
You want to run two audio streams simultaneously The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P offers simultaneous Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless audio streams. This means you can run your Discord chat over Bluetooth, and your game audio through 2.4Ghz. This is seamless and very easy to manage on the fly.
Don’t buy it if…
You want to make your own EQ profiles easily Unfortunately, you’ll need to use a desktop app to create and manage EQs you’ve made yourself. This is frustrating, as the mobile app has every other piece of functionality covered. Still, this is a niche issue, and most won’t need to open their desktop even once.
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P Gen 2: Also consider
If the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P isn’t quite what you’re looking for, here are two alternative headsets that might better suit your needs:
Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3 Wireless
- Price: $199.99 / £179.99 / AU$399.95
- Weight: 14.3oz / 405g
- Drivers: 60mm Eclipse™ Dual Drivers
- Compatibility: PC, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS
- Connection type: Wired (USB-A), Wireless (2.4GHz, Bluetooth 5.2)
- Battery life: 80 hours
- Features: Flip-to-mute mic with AI noise reduction, CrossPlay Dual transmitters, remappable Mode button, and wheel
- Software: Swarm 2
The Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3 is a direct competitor to the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P, priced similarly but offering significantly longer battery life. However, it is also considerably heavier and features a bulkier design.
For more information, check out the full Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3 review.
Razer Kraken V4
- Price: $179 / £179 / AU$329
- Weight: 12.3oz / 350g
- Drivers: Razer TriForce Titanium 40mm Drivers
- Compatibility: PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, Android, iOS
- Connection type: Wired (USB-A), Wireless (Bluetooth 5.3, 2.4GHz USB dongle)
- Battery life: Up to 50 hours
- Features: Razer HyperSpeed Wireless technology, Retractable Razer HyperClear Super Wideband Mic, THX Spatial Audio
- Software: Razer Synapse
The Razer Kraken V4 presents a slightly more affordable alternative. It incorporates specialized microphone and audio driver technology, with particular attention paid to delivering high-quality microphone performance. Its battery life is only slightly less than the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P, and it also features a retractable microphone design.
For more information, check out the full Razer Kraken V4 review.
How the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P Gen 2 was tested
- Tested daily for a month, across gaming and work sessions
- Used primarily on PS5 Pro, but also on a MacBook Air and Google Pixel 7
- Compared directly to the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5, which had been used daily for over a year
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P was used as a daily driver for approximately one month. It served as the primary gaming headset for titles like Arc Raiders and Fortnite in online play. The headset was also utilized for work, including meetings and presentations, with its microphone. Both Bluetooth and 2.4Ghz wireless audio streams were frequently run simultaneously, particularly during gaming sessions.
On a PS5 Pro, the custom audio profiles in the Arctis app were tested. Distinct differences were observed in audio for Fortnite, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and Battlefield 6 all offered distinct differences when paired with their respective custom profiles. Primarily, approximately 60 hours were spent playing Arc Raiders, a game where audio is particularly vital. The FPS Footsteps profile proved effective by enhancing low-end audio, making enemy footsteps clear and pronounced.
On a MacBook Air, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P was used for music listening, with dedicated music profiles from the Arctis app applied to assess audio quality. During testing, the headset was compared to the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5, highlighting the upgrades in the newer version. The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P was also paired with a Google Pixel 7 to test calls, Discord Mobile audio, and to access the full features of the Arctis app.
First reviewed October-December 2025
