Review: Arctis Nova 3P Wireless is a budget headset with no-frills value

At a time when the cost of everything is going up, value has become king. A product may be the best across the board, but if it has an astronomical price, that may not be more appealing compared to one that does the job for an attractive price.

That’s where the Arctis Nova 3P wireless headset falls. It’s the more affordable sibling of SteelSeries line of audio products, coming in at $109.99. It’s a device that competes with Turtle Beach Stealth 600 and HyperX’s Cloud Core models. They’re a step above generic wireless headsets, but below the mid- and top-tier devices, which are often double the price.

The Nova 3P offers some elements that players will be looking for. First off, it’s light, weighing in at 260 grams. It’s a device that can stay on your head and be comfortable through marathon sessions. The cushioning on the earcups is supple without being too heavy, while the mesh keeps the headset from feeling sticky around the ears, unlike the faux leather used by other brands.

BATTERY LIFE WHEN YOU NEED IT
Supporting those long gaming sessions is a legit 40-hour battery life on the device. It will last a week of intense gaming before players will need a charge, and even then, the Nova 3P has fast charging that will give players nine hours of use after being plugged in for 15 minutes.

When it comes to the functional elements, the Nova 3P will keep players happy. It’s reliable and comfortable, but because the affordable price, not everything can be top of the line. That’s evident in the build quality, which is made of a light but cheap-feeling plastic. It does the job without standout frills.

That Spartan quality extends to the buttons on the left ear cup. The device has a mute button, volume control and a power button that doubles as a switch between 2.4Ghz and Bluetooth. Most of the heavy lifting can be done with the great SteelSeries Arctis Companion App, which serves as the mobile counterpart to the SteelSeries GG program on PC.

The Arctis Nova 3 Wireless headset comes in four colors. (SteelSeries)

A GREAT APP
The mobile app is an easier way of choosing from hundreds of game-specific presets for the 2.4Ghz and Bluetooth connections. It also features the popular option of tweaking the audio to accentuate the sound of enemy footsteps for an edge in competitive online shooters. Beyond that, the app allows players to access other parts of the Nova 3P, such as switching between Bluetooth or the 2.4Ghz dongle. It lets them control the microphone level and sidetone, and even extend the range at the sacrifice of the mike quality.

The SteelSeries GG app is more confusing to use, and it only applies to the PC. It’s also key to upgrading the firmware on the device so that the dongle works on the Nintendo Switch 2. The Nova 3P works on PlayStation consoles, PCs and Macs. SteelSeries also has an Xbox model. The issue on the PC program is that choosing the right settings will be difficult with nearly half dozen options. It’s not exactly plug and play. The mobile app is much better for this.

The Arctis Nova 3 has plenty going for it, including great battery life and comfort. (SteelSeries)

SOLID SOUND
When it comes to the sound quality, the peripheral features neodymium magnetic drivers that deliver detailed audio. Players can clearly pick up on subtle sounds, such as running water or the whispers of a distant conversation. The mids and highs shine through with good separation, so players can discern the general direction of gunfire in online games, or in the case of horror games, the location of the monster hunting players.

But for all the clarity, the drivers don’t have the extra richness of the higher-end headsets. The bass has a capable punch but turns fuzzy and distorted when the deeper sounds are cranked up, at times it even washes out the mids and highs. That doesn’t mean the headset is subpar. It delivers everything a gamer would want, including clear microphone audio even in noisy situations, but it won’t impress them.

It sits a few steps below headsets designed for audiophiles and discerning gamers. Nevertheless, the Nova 3P is a good headset that provides excellent value by excelling at ease of use, comfort and battery life.