SteelSeries Headphones

The Nova 7's party trick is still the best in the business: it runs 2.4GHz game audio and Bluetooth simultaneously, so you can hear Discord or take a call on your phone while gaming on PS5 or PC without touching a cable. The Gen 2 refresh pushes battery life past 50 hours (roughly 40% more than the original), adds a mobile companion app so console players can finally EQ without a PC, and keeps the 15-minutes-for-6-hours fast charge. Comfort is a longtime strength — the elastic ski-goggle headband and breathable fabric pads hold up over multi-hour sessions, though some owners note ear fatigue past the five-hour mark and the treble can get sharp at high volume. The retractable mic is convenient and clear enough for parties, but long-term reviews agree it sounds thin next to boom mics on the HyperX Cloud III or Logitech's PRO line. The big compatibility catch: this base version does not work with Xbox — you need the Nova 7X variant for that (it covers everything). At $175-200 it's not cheap, and the upgrade from the original Nova 7 is marginal, but if simultaneous dual audio and long battery matter to you, nothing else at this price does it as cleanly.

Best for Multi-taskers who game with Discord or music running on a second device

The Nova 5 is the mid-range sweet spot in SteelSeries' lineup, and in a couple of ways it actually beats its pricier sibling: 60 hours of battery (more than the Nova 7 Gen 2) in a lighter 265g frame, with the same 15-minutes-for-6-hours fast charge. The headline feature is the Arctis companion app — over 100 EQ presets tuned for specific games, adjustable from your phone, which console players genuinely use since most headset software is PC-only. Owners praise the comfort and the week-long charge, and the retractable ClearCast mic draws few complaints for party chat. The trade-offs versus the Nova 7: you get quick-switch between 2.4GHz and Bluetooth rather than simultaneous mixing, and the fabric pads are shallower — a few owners with larger ears wish the cups were deeper and better sealed against ambient noise. Sound out of the box is balanced rather than exciting, but the presets and Sonar's spatial audio on PC (plus PS5 Tempest 3D support) cover most tastes. Compatibility catch: this base model covers PC, PS5/PS4, Switch, and mobile — Xbox requires the Nova 5X variant. At around $130, frequently discounted below $100, it's one of the easiest wireless recommendations in the mid-range.

Best for Console and PC gamers who want long battery without flagship pricing