There’s finally a headset for those of us who love a pop of color without it being laden in RGB! SteelSeries’ all-new Arctis Nova 3 wireless gaming headsets ($109.99) have hit the market, offering players a fashionable headset that sounds amazing at a reasonable price. Does it stack up well against the premium offering of the Arctis Nova 7? Let’s talk about it!

Aesthetics and Build Quality

Part of the reason I wanted to test out these headsets anyway was because I’ve always wanted a purple gaming headset. Luckily for me, this Lavender version of the Nova 3 is just the thing! The color is soft but eye-catching, and very original when compared to the vast landscape of black or white gaming headsets across the board.

The overall design of the headset falls within SteelSeries’ tried and true headset design across their various headset line-ups. I’ve always liked this design as it’s pretty minimalist overall and very comfortable over the ear and whatnot.

When it comes to the lightweight functionality of this headset, while it may appear to be a bit cheap at first glance, this is honestly a pretty sound headset. I was able to twist and pull this headset apart without a single creak or crack. The only thing I noticed was a screw slightly pulled away from the headband, but it went fully back once I left it return to its natural shape.

Functionality

As per usual, what’s a SteelSeries headset without some bells and whistles? The Arctis Nova 3 is chock-full of them, with the signature ClearCast mic which has been upgraded for this headset, quick-switching between 2.4GHz and Bluetooth, as well as the function of quick charging to get nine hours of use out of a fifteen-minute charge.

Overall, everything works as advertised, and I was really impressed by the quick-charge feature, as I’m one to never charge my things ahead of time, often leaving me to plug and play through the end of my gaming session. This feature is amazing!

Audio Quality

As for our audio, I was overwhelmingly impressed but not surprised. Out of all of the headsets I’ve reviewed over the years, SteelSeries is amongst the most consistent. This one, however, seems to hit marks even higher than what I’d normally expect in this price point.

This is a solid choice in audio if you’re on a budget. The Arctis Mobile App that this headset is compatible with sweetens the pot even more, as you’re able to tailor your audio experience in real time to get things set up perfectly while in the middle of the action.

Verdict

Overall, the Arctis Nova 3 is a perfect choice of a gaming headset, especially for those on a budget. If you’re looking for superior audio, bells and whistles, a beautiful headset that stands out, and even some lightweight durability, then the Arctis Nova 3 really is that go-to for you. You can’t go wrong with this option at all.