The critically acclaimed Arctis family of SteelSeries headsets has been updated for 2022, featuring all-new designs and a slightly less confusing product lineup. The Arctis 5 has been left out entirely and basically rolled into what are now the Arctis Nova 3 headphones. Featuring the same great audio drivers as its older brother, the Arctic Nova 7and with some nice new RGB lighting on the outside, the Arctis Nova 3 are great budget headphones for both gaming and general entertainment.
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 – Design and Features
As with the rest of the Arctis Nova line, the Arctis Nova 3 is topped off by the new Nova Acoustic audio system – and it sounds fantastic. With 40mm drivers, the Nova 3 delivers high-quality audio whether you’re gaming, watching a movie or listening to music.
The Arctis Nova 3 is made of a lightweight, plastic frame and has an updated design compared to the previous generation. Now the headphones have a fully adjustable height and a retractable microphone that sits flush with the headset when not in use. And because of the plastic frame, the Nova 3 is actually quite flexible – able to twist and bend without much sign of wear. Did I mention this headset is extreme lightweight? Weighing just 253 grams, the Arctis Nova 3 is lighter than both the PS5’s DualSense controller and the Xbox Series X|S wireless controller.
Both earcups have a rotating design and are covered with SteelSeries ultra-soft AirWeave memory foam cushions. They are soft, yet breathable and fit nicely around the ears. Glasses wearers will also rejoice, because this headset does not press much against your frame and provides hours of comfort.
The stretchy top strap also makes a return, allowing the headset to rest comfortably on your head without adding extra pressure. It still remains one of my favorite features of the Arctis headsets, and to this day I haven’t found a more comfortable headset for gaming.
The Arctis Nova 3 has also added a customizable RGB ring around the outside of both earcups for some extra flare, and includes a switch on the side to easily turn off the lighting on-the-fly. As with most RGB peripherals, you can choose from 16.8 million colors and enjoy dynamic lighting effects when connected to a device via USB.
The headset also features an updated, fully retractable ClearCast 2 noise-cancelling microphone that stays flat when not in use. Like the Arctis Nova 7s, it’s powered by an AI algorithm to intelligently filter out unwanted audio, such as noisy fans or loud keyboards, to ensure your communication between you and your teammates is clean.
The Arctis Nova 3 is compatible with any USB-C device, such as PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch, Android mobile devices, Oculus Quest 2, and even some iPads with a USB-C connector. Plus, you can connect to just about any other audio device with a 3.5mm aux port, such as an Xbox controller, but you won’t be taking advantage of the RGB lighting. If you opt for the USB connection, the included four-foot USB-C cable is quite short, but it does include a USB-C to USB-A extension cable that adds an extra five-foot length.
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 – Software
I have nothing but great things to say about SteelSeries’ new Sonar audio enhancing software included in the latest version of the SteelSeries GG app on PC, and the Arctis Nova 3 takes full advantage of its incredible features.
On the PC, you can tweak pretty much all audio EQ settings to your liking, including enabling presets for specific games if you’re not comfortable tinkering with the plethora of sliders. This makes for an easy one-click solution to optimize your audio settings for many of the most popular games, including Apex Legends, Valorant, Fortnite, League of Legends, and many more. For a detailed look at what Sonar is capable of, be sure to check it out our review of the Arctic Nova 7 headphones.
The only difference in customization options available when it comes to the Arctis Nova 3 is the addition of customizable RGB settings. You can choose from 16.8 million different colors for a static color effect, or opt for a few different dynamic settings such as a breather effect or switching between two colors. It’s not the most extensive RGB customization options I’ve come across, but the actual light ring on the outside of the headset is naturally rather subtle, so it seems appropriate.
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 – Gaming
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 takes full advantage of 360-degree spatial audio on PC via SteelSeries Sonar, as well as 3D Tempest audio from PS5 and Windows Sonic from Microsoft on PC and Xbox.
I’ve tested the headset on several platforms, including PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, and on an iPad Pro with USB-C. From an audio perspective, it’s nearly identical to the Arctis Nova 7, as it uses the same audio drivers, and I have no complaints in that regard.
Most of my time with the headset was spent playing the re-released King’s Fall raid that recently returned to Destiny 2, and I wore the Arctis Nova 3 throughout my day 1 experience. The virtual surround sound was fantastic, as it gave me plenty of time to react to the hordes of Thrall and other Hive enemies that would spawn from different corners of each encounter. My teammates had no problems hearing my callouts with the included microphone, and everyone came through loud and clear. The only downside I found compared to the Arctis Nova 7 is the lack of a ChatMix dial on the headset. This meant that I sometimes had to manually adjust the game’s audio through Windows to hear the quieter players.
On the console side, I was also happy with my experience. PS5’s 3D audio sounds fantastic on the Arctis Nova 3 as I explored the Forbidden West in Horizon and endured another set by Atropos in Returnal. I tested both the direct USB-C connection on the front of the PS5 and the 3.5mm aux port on the bottom of the DualSense controller – both offer identical audio experiences.
With the removal of the Arctis 5 from the lineup, the Arctis Nova 3 occupies a very strange position in the Arctis Nova family. It’s virtually identical to the cheaper Arctis Nova 1 – except for the RGB lighting, AI-powered microphone and USB connectivity. If you’re planning on using the Nova 3 with a PS5, Xbox, or Switch and don’t care about the external lighting effects, you’d better save yourself $40 and grab the Nova 1. On the other hand, if you want a wireless audio experience with simultaneous Bluetooth support, a more premium build quality, ChatMix watch face, and more, it’s worth paying the extra $80 for the Nova 7. That said, the Nova 3 is a great budget headset that definitely won’t disappoint, but does end up feeling a bit like the middle kid.
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