SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P Gen 2 Review: My New Daily Driver Headset

Finding the perfect wireless headset for your PlayStation 5 can feel like a quest, but the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P Gen 2 makes a compelling case to be your final stop. This headset has seamlessly integrated into both my gaming sessions and daily workflow, offering a comfortable design that stands up to long hours of use. The on-headset controls are intuitive and feel perfectly tailored for the PS5. While needing the desktop app for some advanced features can be a minor annoyance, the overall package is exceptionally versatile and delivers a premium experience.

Spending over a hundred hours with this headset revealed its true strength as an all-day companion. I frequently kept it on for music and work calls long after my gaming sessions ended. As a second-generation model, it brings welcome improvements like a larger battery, which reliably delivered just over 50 hours in my testing, and enhanced software support. Having also used its predecessor, the Nova 5, I can confirm the user experience and comfort here represent a significant upgrade.

For PS5 gamers, the Arctis Nova 7P checks every box. I was particularly impressed by the custom audio profiles available for games like Fortnite and Alan Wake 2, which genuinely enhance immersion. The mobile Arctis app is user-friendly, though features like creating custom EQ profiles are frustratingly locked to the desktop version. Having to switch devices to access the full feature set or update firmware feels like an unnecessary hurdle. Thankfully, the core audio performance is outstanding across gaming, communication, and music.

You’ll find several music EQ presets like Bright and Bass Boost, which are fairly standard. A standout feature is the dedicated Side Tone wheel on the right earcup. This lets you easily adjust how much of your own voice you hear in the headset, which is perfect for dialing it up during chat-heavy multiplayer games and turning it down for solo adventures.

Battery life closely matched the advertised 54 hours, with my own estimate coming in at around 52 hours after a full charge. Using both Bluetooth and the 2.4GHz wireless connection simultaneously did drain it a bit faster. In practical use, I never actually ran the battery to zero; a quick charge at the end of any day provided more than enough power for the next.

The retractable microphone is a personal favorite design choice. Tucking it away neatly when listening to music or playing solo is incredibly convenient. It solves the common problem of losing a detachable mic. The red LED mute indicator is also a simple but effective touch, providing clear visual confirmation that you’re off-mic during a call.

I did encounter two instances where the headset required a hard reset. This seemed related to the Bluetooth pairing cycling endlessly when switching between multiple devices. The reset process involves removing an earcup’s foam and using a pin to press a tiny recessed button, which is far from ideal if you don’t have the right tool handy. I kept the firmware updated throughout my review, so it’s unclear if this is a widespread issue that might be addressed later.

In terms of value, the headset sits competitively in the mid-range premium segment. It faces direct competition from headsets like the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3, which matches its price but offers longer battery life. The Razer Kraken V4 is a slightly cheaper alternative, though its standout THX Spatial Audio feature is limited to PC. For the price, the Nova 7P delivers excellent build quality and a robust feature set. It lacks active noise cancellation, but that’s a feature rarely found in gaming headsets at this price point, so it doesn’t feel like a missing piece.

The design is both comfortable and lightweight, coming in at just 326 grams. This makes it noticeably lighter than key rivals, contributing to its all-day wearability. It’s available in Black, White, and Pink colorways. The build quality feels sturdier than previous models, featuring a more robust steel headband. The controls are straightforward, with separate, solid-feeling buttons for power, Bluetooth, and 2.4GHz pairing, each with a distinct sound to confirm activation.

A major advantage is its simultaneous Bluetooth and 2.4GHz audio. This allows you to mix audio sources seamlessly, like having Discord chat over Bluetooth while game audio comes through the wireless dongle. It’s a feature that works flawlessly and adds tremendous flexibility. It’s important to note the model differences: the 7P variant reviewed here has a Side Tone wheel optimized for PlayStation, while the standard ‘7’ model has a ChatMix wheel for PC. For Xbox compatibility, you would need the 7X model.

Performance is where this headset truly shines. The audio quality is fantastic right out of the box, with a well-balanced sound that provides adequate bass without any tweaking. The companion Arctis app unlocks deep customization, with game-specific profiles that make a tangible difference. In competitive titles, profiles that emphasize enemy footsteps provided a clear tactical advantage. The headset also performed reliably with no audio stuttering or dropouts, a noticeable improvement over some previous models.

Microphone quality is decent out of the box and can be improved further with tuning in the app. My gaming friends reported a clear upgrade over my older headset. The only performance quibble is the aforementioned limitation of the mobile app, which prevents creating custom EQs on the go.

Who should buy the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P Gen 2? You should consider it if you prioritize a lightweight, comfortable design for long sessions, want the benefit of custom game audio profiles, or value the flexibility of running two audio streams at once.

You might want to look elsewhere if creating your own custom EQ profiles on a mobile device is a top priority, as you’ll be forced to use the desktop app for that specific task.

For those comparing options, the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3 offers a similar price and much longer battery life but is significantly heavier. The Razer Kraken V4 is a slightly cheaper alternative with excellent microphone technology, though its best audio feature is limited to PC.

My testing involved using the headset daily for over a month across gaming on a PS5 Pro, work on a MacBook Air, and calls on a mobile phone. It was compared directly to the Arctis Nova 5, and used extensively with its simultaneous connection feature during online gaming. The custom audio profiles, especially in sound-critical games, proved their worth repeatedly, making this a headset that excels in its primary role while being versatile enough for everything else.

(Source: TechRadar)