The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless is a comfortable wireless gaming headset with a long battery life. I play many different types of games and every game sounds good, I hear clearly where sounds come from in games. The special Nova 5 app is a nice extra, but ultimately adds little.
First impression
I take the Nova 5 out of the box and immediately notice that the headset is lighter than the average wireless headset. The ear cushions are soft and fit completely over my ears. The headset does feel less sturdy than, for example, the Nova 7. The microphone is extendable and easy to bend. The headband is also easily adjustable.
Many connection options
After the first impression it is time for a gaming session. The Arctis Nova 5 is a wireless headset, which means that you can only connect the headset wirelessly. Fortunately, I find enough options for connecting in the manual. The headset has Bluetooth and a USB-C dongle. This allows me to easily connect the Arctis Nova 5 to the PlayStation, Nintendo Switch and PC. I cannot connect this headset wirelessly to the Xbox. Fortunately, SteelSeries has made a Nova 5 model for every platform, so you can game wirelessly on every platform.
Beautiful sound experience
I tested the Arctis Nova 5 with several games, from Helldivers 2 to Paper Mario. I also used the headset to listen to music. I actually always think the sound is beautiful and spacious. This is probably due to the special Nova Acoustic System, because even on the Nintendo Switch my games sound good. It sounds even better on PlayStation and PC because surround sound is supported there. The Nova 5 also has a special app that allows me to adjust the settings even further. In the app I can choose from more than 100 audio profiles for specific games, a nice addition, but I don't notice much difference between the profiles. Fortunately, I also adjust the volume of my microphone and other settings in the app.
Good battery life
When unpacking, I notice that the Arctis Nova 5 is quite light, which is very nice while gaming. But I was afraid that this would be at the expense of the battery. Fortunately, nothing could be further from the truth, I played for hours and the battery easily reached the promised 60 hours. So I don't worry about interrupting my gaming session.