We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-24 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a wireless gaming headset you can carry from your PC to your Switch to your Android phone without thinking about cables, choose SteelSeries Arctis 1; if you need maximum comfort for marathon sessions and a wider, more detailed wired sound, choose Audio-Technica ATH-GL3WH.
• SteelSeries Arctis 1 — biggest strength: Lossless 2.4 GHz wireless via a compact USB-C dongle that moves between PC, PS4, Switch, Switch Lite and Android, with a detachable Discord-certified noise-canceling mic and a claimed 20-hour battery.
• SteelSeries Arctis 1 — biggest trade-off: It's a wireless-first design, so you're managing a battery and a dongle rather than just plugging in; its 20 Hz–20 kHz range and 40 mm drivers are solid but not as wide as the Audio-Technica's.
• Audio-Technica ATH-GL3WH — biggest strength: Large 45 mm drivers, a very wide 10–35,000 Hz range, and a genuinely light sub-230 g build with replaceable earpads and headpad.
• Audio-Technica ATH-GL3WH — biggest trade-off: It's wired only, with no battery-free wireless option, and its impedance is a bit higher at 45 ohm.
• Who each is for: Pick the Arctis 1 if freedom from cables and multi-device hopping matter most; pick the ATH-GL3WH if comfort and detailed sound for long wired sessions matter most.
The Arctis 1 is built around one idea: take console-grade wireless audio anywhere. Its 2.4 GHz connection is designed for ultra-low latency on PC and PS4, and the USB-C dongle is small enough to plug straight into a Switch, Switch Lite or Android phone. If you game across several devices and hate re-pairing Bluetooth every time, that single dongle approach is the whole appeal.
Around that sit some genuinely useful details. The ClearCast microphone is detachable and bidirectional with noise canceling, and it carries Discord certification — handy if you spend your evenings in voice chat. The steel-reinforced headband is meant to survive being thrown in a bag, and the claimed 20-hour battery life covers several long sessions between charges. The 40 mm drivers are the same family used in the Arctis 7 line, with a 20 Hz–20 kHz response, 32 ohm impedance and 98 dBSPL sensitivity. It's also listed as compatible with PS5's Tempest 3D AudioTech.
Who should buy it: the multi-platform player. PC one night, PS4 the next, Switch handheld on a train, Android on the couch. The wireless range is quoted at 9 meters, so you can wander a bit. Who should skip it: if you only ever game at one desk, never move your headset, and would rather never think about charging, the wireless premium is solving a problem you don't have. Likewise, if you want the widest possible frequency range for music, the Arctis 1's numbers are more modest than the Audio-Technica's.
The ATH-GL3WH takes the opposite route: no battery, no dongle, just a very light closed-back headset tuned for detail. At under 230 grams it's one of the lighter options in this comparison, and Audio-Technica pairs that with replaceable earpads and a detachable headpad — a real long-term ownership advantage if you put in six-hour sessions.
The audio side is where it pulls ahead on paper. The 45 mm drivers are larger than the Arctis 1's 40 mm, and the frequency range runs from 10 Hz all the way to 35,000 Hz, which is a much broader span than the Arctis 1's 20 Hz–20 kHz. Impedance is 45 ohm. The closed-back design is there specifically for sound isolation, which matters if you game near other people or in a noisy room.
The microphone is flexible, detachable and highly directional, so it picks up your voice rather than your keyboard. Controls are refreshingly simple: a volume dial and mute switch sit right on the left earcup. In the box you get two cables — a 3.0 m cable with separate 3.5 mm mic and headphone plugs for PCs, and a 1.2 m TRRS cable for modern consoles.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for wireless freedom → SteelSeries Arctis 1. Lossless 2.4 GHz with a 9 m range and no cable at all.
• Best for multi-device hopping → SteelSeries Arctis 1. One USB-C dongle covers PC, PS4, Switch/Lite and Android.
• Best for long-session comfort → Audio-Technica ATH-GL3WH. Under 230 g with replaceable earpads and headpad.
• Best for detailed sound → Audio-Technica ATH-GL3WH. 45 mm drivers and a 10–35,000 Hz range beat the Arctis 1's 40 mm and 20–20,000 Hz on paper.
• Best for noisy rooms → Audio-Technica ATH-GL3WH. The closed-back design is built for isolation.
• Best for voice chat → SteelSeries Arctis 1. A detachable, Discord-certified bidirectional noise-canceling mic is a strong fit for party chat.
• Best for charging convenience → Audio-Technica ATH-GL3WH. Wired means no battery to top up and a claimed 20-hour figure you never have to watch.
• Best if you break things → Audio-Technica ATH-GL3WH. Replaceable pads and headpad extend its life; the Arctis 1 counters with a steel-reinforced headband.
In my opinion, the right call comes down to one question: do you move your headset between devices, or does it live in one spot? If you hop between PC, console, Switch and phone, I'd buy the SteelSeries Arctis 1 — the USB-C dongle and 20-hour battery make that lifestyle genuinely easier, and the Discord-certified mic covers voice chat well. If your headset stays plugged into one PC or console, I'd buy the Audio-Technica ATH-GL3WH: lighter, wider frequency range, bigger drivers, replaceable pads. For pure long-session comfort and detail, that's my pick. Check the current price on Amazon before deciding, since that often settles a close call.
It's primarily wireless. It uses 2.4 GHz RF through a USB-C dongle for PC, PS4, Switch/Lite and Android, with wired 3.5 mm as an option on some devices. There's no Bluetooth.
On paper the Audio-Technica wins: 45 mm drivers and a 10–35,000 Hz range versus 40 mm and 20–20,000 Hz. The Arctis 1's advantage is convenience, not raw detail.
Yes — at under 230 grams with replaceable earpads and headpad, it's designed for exactly that. The closed-back design also blocks outside noise.
Yes, via its 1.2 m TRRS cable for modern consoles. Just note it's wired only, so you'll be tethered — unlike the Arctis 1, which connects wirelessly through its USB-C dongle.
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