SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless vs Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 3
Quick take: The Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 3 costs $10 less; the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 3 lasts longer per charge (80 hrs).
| Spec | SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless | Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | ~$120 | ~$110 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Gaming Headsets | Gaming Headsets |
| Noise Cancelling | None | None |
| Battery (single charge) | 60 hrs | 80 hrs |
| Battery (with case) | — | — |
| Quick Charge | 15 min = 6 hr | — |
| Codecs | 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth, USB-C | 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.2 |
| Multipoint | No | No |
| Driver Size | 40 mm | 50 mm |
| Weight | 265 g | — |
| Water Resistance | — | — |
| Wireless Charging | No | No |
| Transparency Mode | No | No |
| Spatial Audio | Yes | Yes |
| App EQ | Yes | Yes |
Pros & cons
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless
- ✓60-hour battery outlasts the more expensive Nova 7
- ✓Companion phone app with 100+ game-specific EQ presets — rare for console users
- ✓Light 265g build with comfortable elastic headband
- ✓15 min = 6 hr USB-C fast charge
- ✓Quick-switch between 2.4GHz dongle and Bluetooth 5.3
- ✓Retractable mic is solid for party chat and Discord
- ✓Regularly discounted to $80-100
- ✗Base model is NOT Xbox compatible — the Nova 5X variant covers Xbox
- ✗Cannot run 2.4GHz and Bluetooth simultaneously like the Nova 7
- ✗Shallow ear cups — owners with larger ears report rubbing and weak seal
- ✗Passive noise isolation is mediocre and there is no ANC
- ✗Default tuning is safe rather than exciting without EQ
Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 3
- ✓80-hour battery is best-in-class — charge every week or two
- ✓Xbox variant works on Xbox, PS5/PS4, PC, Switch, and Bluetooth devices
- ✓QuickSwitch button hops between 2.4GHz and Bluetooth instantly
- ✓Swarm II app has a real 10-band EQ on desktop and mobile
- ✓AI noise reduction on the mic silences keyboard and background noise
- ✓Deeper ear cups are friendlier to glasses wearers than the Gen 2
- ✓Flip-to-mute mic is a big step up from the previous generation
- ✗PlayStation variant has no Xbox support — easy to buy the wrong box
- ✗Mic voice quality is a bit compressed vs good boom mics
- ✗Firm clamping force out of the box
- ✗Plasticky build for the size
- ✗No simultaneous 2.4GHz + Bluetooth mixing — switch only