SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X review: Is this the best budget gaming headset you can buy?

In a world of pricey, premium gaming gear, I sometimes stumble upon a device that delivers exceptional value at an affordable price. The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X is one such rare gem.

This headset may be low-priced at $129, but it punches way above its weight class with fantastic audio, good comfort, and impressive battery life. It's not just a good pick for gamers on a budget; it's a good pick for any gamer.

After using the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X as my main headset for a few weeks, I'm convinced it might just be the best gaming headset you can buy, even with more premium options available.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X: Price and configurations

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X costs $129 and comes in black and white. Both colors are available for the two different versions of the Arctis Nova 5: the Arctis Nova 5X (Xbox and PC) and the Arctis Nova 5P (PlayStation and PC). Each includes the headset, a USB Type-C charging cable, and a 2.4GHz USB Type-C wireless dongle.

Either version of the Arctis Nova 5 will work with PC, Nintendo Switch, VR headsets, and mobile devices. Somewhat confusingly, the Xbox version even works with PlayStation, but the PlayStation version doesn't work with Xbox. So, the Arctis Nova 5X is the best pick for most people.

The Arctis Nova 5 is also partially compatible with the SteelSeries Arctis "booster packs," which include replacement headbands and magnetic accent pieces. The accent pieces aren't compatible with the Arctis Nova 5, but the headbands are. They're a bit thicker and more premium than the included headband and allow you to personalize your headset a bit. You can choose from solid color sets for $35 or designs and special editions for $39.

Our review unit is the Arctis Nova 5X in black.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X: Design

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The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X features the same overall design aesthetic as its big sibling, the Arctis Nova 7X, but is trimmed down to a more lightweight, budget-friendly headset. The headband and earcups are all matte plastic with fabric ear cushions and a fabric suspension headband.

The suspension headband is replaceable and compatible with the booster packs for the Arctis Nova 7X, which are a slightly nicer material. The included headband is a soft, stretchy fabric that I found surprisingly comfortable. It's pretty thin, though, so it might stretch out more easily over time than the nicer headbands on the Arctis Nova 7X or in the booster packs.

All of the standard on-board controls are included on the back edges of the earcups. On the left there's a mic mute button and a volume dial. On the right is the power button, a button for swapping connectivity modes, and a ChatMix dial for balancing game and voice chat audio.

The Arctis Nova 5X features a built-in mic, although you might not notice it at first. SteelSeries uses a clever design for hiding its built-in mics, as they retract into the left earcup. It's more convenient (and looks better) than the folding or detachable mics on other gaming headsets.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X: Comfort

Whoa. The Arctis Nova 5X is surprisingly more comfortable than the premium Arctis Nova 7X. Despite its lower price, the Arctis Nova 5X offers a few advantages. Since it's entirely made of plastic, it weighs less and the headband flexes more easily, which means it doesn't squeeze your head as tightly as the Arctis Nova 7X.

Both traits made the Arctis Nova 5X much more comfortable for me since I wear glasses and the lighter, more flexible design didn't press them against my head as tightly as the Arctis Nova 7X.

I found the suspension headband comfortable during my testing, but it might not be for everyone, particularly if you're used to regular, rigid headbands. The suspension headband has a few notches on each side for adjusting tension (which also tweaks how high the earcups sit on your head), but the earcups also slide vertically for more side adjustment.

The only downside to the suspension headband, in my experience, was how much it flattened down my hair, especially after wearing the Arctis Nova 5X for several hours at a time.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X: Audio quality

At $129, you might not expect much from the Arctis Nova 5X in terms of audio quality, but it delivers some seriously impressive value for its budget-friendly price. It’s virtually indistinguishable from that of the more expensive Arctis Nova 7X, with great clarity and balance across music, podcasts, and games.

"The Void" by The Neighbourhood sounded fantastic, with pristine highs and with solid bass that didn’t cross into overwhelming. Similarly, the slick vocals and punchy mids in "Moral Panic" by Nothing But Thieves were balanced out well with the more forceful bass in the background.

It's not just pop that sounds good on the Arctis Nova 5X, though. Olivia Rodrigo's haunting folk ballad "Can't Catch Me Now" absolutely swept me away while listening with this headset. The acoustic guitar notes were warm and detailed and Rodrigo's voice was perfectly balanced with crystal-clear highs and rich mids.

The Arctis Nova 5X doesn't disappoint on game audio, either. The detailed nature ambiance of the Pacific Northwest in Pacific Drive sounded crisp and immersive in my playthrough with the Arctis Nova 5X. It balanced the eerie, minimalistic soundtrack perfectly with the game's energetic radio music, car sound effects, and background ambiance. Every little spooky noise, like the inexplicable creak of a door in my garage, came through with pristine clarity.

I was more than happy with the default audio profile on the Arctis Nova 5X, but you can also customize it to your liking through the SteelSeries GG app. There are a few pre-made profiles, like "Bass Boost," but you can also make your own or tweak the existing profiles.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X: Microphone

The built-in mic on the Arctis Nova 5X is surprisingly decent. In side-by-side comparison recordings, it actually sounded a bit clearer than my usual Razer Seiren V3 Chroma USB mic. My voice sounded more accurate and a bit less distorted with the Arctis Nova 5X's mic.

The Arctis Nova 5X filters out background noise well, but gets a bit tinny at the high end. I noticed very little popping, though. The mic quality isn't good enough for professional audio purposes, like recording a podcast or streaming, but it's more than clear enough for everyday voice chats.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X: Battery life

Battery life is one area where the Arctis Nova 5X really shines. SteelSeries advertises 60+ hours of battery life per charge, which is on par with what I got in my testing.

It's significantly longer than what I got on the more expensive Arctis Nova 7X. I could legitimately go a whole week without charging the Arctis Nova 5X, even while using it for several hours per day. That's seriously impressive, considering this headset's price.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X: App

You can customize the audio quality on the Arctis Nova 5X through the SteelSeries mobile app or the SteelSeries GG app for Windows and Mac. Here you can choose from a few premade audio profiles, make your own custom profiles, and configure audio settings for specific apps and games.

The SteelSeries GG app ran smoothly with no issues or crashing. The "Engine" tab is the one you'll want to pay attention to since that's where all of your device settings are (I wish it was just labeled "Devices," which would have been a bit clearer, but that's a minor grievance).

The mobile app is a bit more streamlined since it's specifically designed for SteelSeries audio devices, but it features all the same audio settings you can access in the desktop app. It also shows your headset's battery life and connection mode (Bluetooth or 2.4GHz).

Bottom line

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X offers fantastic value for your money, enough that it might just be the best budget-friendly gaming headset you can buy. It pairs a lightweight, minimalistic design with impressive audio quality and phenomenal battery life, making for a great all-around audio experience.

While it might not look as premium as the more expensive SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7X, the Arctis Nova 5X is just as good, if not better, in every way. While the Arctis Nova 5X is more comfortable with glasses than the Arctis Nova 7X, some glasses-wearing gamers may still find the over-ear design uncomfortable over long periods. If that's the case for you, I recommend considering the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds, as well.

If you're looking for a gaming headset that won't break the bank and nails all the basics, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X is tough to beat.