SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless Gen 2 vs Logitech G Astro A50 X
Quick take: The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless Gen 2 costs $175 less; the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless Gen 2 lasts longer per charge (50 hrs).
Which one to buy
Both headsets solve the problem of juggling several devices, but in different ways and at very different prices. The Arctis Nova 7 Gen 2 mixes audio: its 2.4GHz dongle and Bluetooth run at once, so game sound from a PC or PS5 plays alongside Discord or a phone call. The Astro A50 X switches whole setups: its HDMI 2.1 base station swaps your TV picture and headset audio between Xbox, PS5 and PC at the press of a button. The A50 X also has Bluetooth alongside its game feed, but its real selling point is the video switching, and that's what the extra $175 pays for.
For most people the Nova 7 is the more sensible headset. It gets around 50 hours per charge, double the A50 X's 24, with a 15-minute charge good for 6 hours. Its ski-goggle headband is one of the few gaming designs glasses wearers praise for all-day wear. The USB-C dongle moves between PC, PS5, Switch and Steam Deck, and there's a 3.5mm fallback. Its weak points are a thin, tinny retractable mic, default tuning some owners call over-processed until they EQ it in Sonar, and no Xbox support on this version (you'd need the 7X).
The A50 X is the opposite on mics. Owners rate its boom mic S-tier, so teammates will hear the difference. It also covers Xbox through the base station. The trade-off is reliability: owners report base stations failing, HDMI dropouts, docking contacts that don't charge, and slow support. Both depend on software that owners find frustrating at times: Sonar loses settings and adds virtual audio devices, while G HUB and the A50 X updater have their own loops and errors.
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless Gen 2
Best if you game while on Discord or calls from your phone, wear glasses, or want a week of battery for half the price. Wait for a sale around $130-150.
Logitech G Astro A50 X
For households that run Xbox and PlayStation into one TV and want both a switcher and a strong mic in one package, if you're prepared for some base-station risk.
| Spec | SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless Gen 2 | Logitech G Astro A50 X |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | ~$175 | ~$350 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Gaming Headsets | Gaming Headsets |
| Noise Cancelling | None | None |
| Battery (single charge) | 50 hrs | 24 hrs |
| Battery (with case) | — | — |
| Quick Charge | 15 min = 6 hr | — |
| Codecs | 2.4GHz wireless + Bluetooth (simultaneous), USB-C | Lightspeed 2.4GHz via HDMI 2.1 base station, Bluetooth |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | — |
| Multipoint | Yes | Yes |
| Driver Size | 40 mm | 40 mm |
| Weight | — | 363 g |
| Water Resistance | — | — |
| Wireless Charging | No | No |
| Transparency Mode | No | No |
| Spatial Audio | Yes | Yes |
| App EQ | Yes | Yes |
Pros & cons
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless Gen 2
- ✓Mixes 2.4GHz game audio and Bluetooth phone audio at the same time
- ✓50+ hour battery with 15 min = 6 hr fast charge over USB-C
- ✓Elastic headband and fabric pads stay comfortable across long sessions
- ✓New companion app brings EQ and settings to console/mobile players
- ✓Sonar software on PC adds spatial audio and 200+ game presets
- ✓Retractable mic with red mute light — nothing to unplug or lose
- ✓Works on PC, PS5/PS4, Switch, and mobile from one USB-C dongle
- ✗Base model is NOT Xbox compatible — you need the Nova 7X for that
- ✗Mic sounds thin and compressed next to Cloud III or PRO X class boom mics
- ✗Treble can turn sharp and sibilant at higher volumes
- ✗Only a marginal upgrade over the original Nova 7
- ✗Wide USB-C dongle can block adjacent ports
- ✗No ANC, and passive isolation is mediocre
Logitech G Astro A50 X
- ✓Only headset that genuinely covers PS5, Xbox, and PC in one system
- ✓PLAYSYNC swaps audio AND video between HDMI 2.1 inputs at 4K 120Hz VRR
- ✓Graphene 40mm drivers with 24-bit audio sound excellent
- ✓Base station charging means it's effectively always charged
- ✓Bluetooth mixes in phone audio alongside game sound
- ✓All-day comfort in long-term owner reports
- ✓G HUB EQ plus Blue VO!CE mic processing
- ✗$350-380 — much of the price is the HDMI switcher, not the audio
- ✗24-hour battery is modest without the stand habit
- ✗No 3.5mm and limited use away from the base station
- ✗Earpad fabric can feel scratchy after long sessions
- ✗Exposed volume wheel gets bumped by hoodies
- ✗Sound is great but not $150-better than a PRO X 2
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless Gen 2 vs Logitech G Astro A50 X: common questions
Does the A50 X or the Nova 7 Gen 2 have the better mic for Discord?▾
The A50 X, clearly. Owners rate its boom mic among the best wireless options. The Nova 7's retractable mic is fine for casual chat but sounds thin and picks up room noise.
Does the Nova 7 Gen 2 or the A50 X work on Xbox?▾
The A50 X does, through its base station. The standard Nova 7 Gen 2 doesn't support Xbox wirelessly; SteelSeries sells a separate 7X version for that.
Is the Nova 7 Gen 2's ski-band or the A50 X's sculpted pads more comfortable with glasses?▾
Owners specifically praise the Nova 7's elastic ski-band for taking pressure off the temples during workdays. The A50 X's sculpted pads also leave room for glasses arms, so both are good, but the Nova 7 has the stronger reputation.
Can I take a phone call while gaming on the Nova 7 Gen 2 or the A50 X?▾
Yes, both run Bluetooth alongside the game audio. The Nova 7 is built around that mix, and owners use it for exactly this. Running both connections at once does drain its battery faster than the 50-hour rating.