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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a proven wireless gaming headset with a detachable boom mic, steel-reinforced build and console-ready USB-C dongle, choose SteelSeries Arctis 1; if you need a lightweight in-ear Bluetooth option with a breathing light and a fast-charging case, choose Sonew P36.
• SteelSeries Arctis 1 — biggest strength: lossless 2.4 GHz wireless for low-latency PC and PS4 gaming, plus a detachable Discord-certified ClearCast boom mic and a 20-hour battery.
• SteelSeries Arctis 1 — biggest trade-off: it's a full over-ear headset with a dongle, so it's bulkier and less pocketable than a small in-ear pair.
• Sonew P36 — biggest strength: a light in-ear fit with Bluetooth 5.2, active noise reduction, a built-in mic and a charging compartment that supports a fast-charge routine.
• Sonew P36 — biggest trade-off: it's an in-ear Bluetooth earphone, so it relies on a built-in mic rather than a boom mic and doesn't offer a dedicated 2.4 GHz low-latency dongle.
• Who each is for: the Arctis 1 suits a desk-and-console gamer who wants one headset across PC, PlayStation and Switch; the P36 suits someone who wants something small, light and wireless for gaming and daily listening on the move.
The Arctis 1 Wireless is built around one idea: give you gaming-grade wireless audio that follows you between devices. Its headline trick is a compact USB-C dongle that runs SteelSeries' lossless 2.4 GHz connection on PC and PS4, and then plugs straight into a Switch, Switch Lite or an Android phone for the same low-latency link on the go. That's a genuinely flexible setup — dock the Switch and use the USB receiver, or go handheld and use the USB-C dongle. It's also fully compatible with the PS5's Tempest 3D AudioTech, so it isn't a last-gen-only purchase.
On the audio side, the 40 mm dynamic drivers cover a 20 Hz – 20 kHz range at 32 Ohm impedance and 98 dBSPL sensitivity, and SteelSeries says they're the same drivers used in the Arctis 7. The tuning is aimed at exposing quiet, positional cues rather than thumping bass, which is exactly what you want in shooters. The microphone is detachable, bidirectional and noise-cancelling with a 100–6,500 Hz response, and it's Discord certified — a real advantage if you spend evenings in voice chat and want to pull the mic off when you're just listening.
Battery life is rated at 20 hours, and controls for volume and mic mute sit on the headset itself. The headband is steel-reinforced and adjusts to fit different head sizes while staying light, and the over-ear earcups use a metal-and-plastic enclosure in black. The package includes a cable, the USB-C wireless transmitter and the headset, with a one-year warranty.
Sonew P36: Who It's For
The Sonew P36 takes the opposite approach. It's an in-ear Bluetooth earphone built on Bluetooth 5.2 with EDR support, and it lists A2DP, HSP and AVRCP profiles along with a power display. Instead of a boom arm, it uses a built-in microphone with what Sonew describes as strong anti-noise ability — the pitch being that you can take a call or talk to teammates on a busy street and still be understood. That's the practical difference from the Arctis 1: no detachable mic, no dongle, just a small pair of buds and a charging compartment.
Sonew leans hard on comfort and portability. The fit is in-ear, snug and described as lightweight, with an ergonomic shape meant to reduce pressure over long sessions. The housing is ABS plastic in black, and the set ships as a single count with a 90-day manufacturer warranty. There's also a "cool breathing light" that Sonew frames as visually appealing but minimally intrusive — a cosmetic touch the Arctis 1 simply doesn't have. Sound is handled by a custom biodiaphragm driver that Sonew says delivers deeper bass and clearer highs for a rich, detailed presentation.
The battery story is split between the buds and the case: the earphone side is listed at 45 mA and the charging compartment at 400 mA, with fast charging called out in the product name. Note that the specs don't quote a total playtime figure the way the Arctis 1 quotes 20 hours, so treat the "30H" in the title as the charging/usage claim Sonew makes rather than a number I can verify from the sheet. Latency is the other selling point: a low-latency mode is claimed to nearly eliminate lag for syncing with the action.
Buy it if you want a light in-ear option for gaming plus everyday music and calls, you like the idea of a charging case and RGB-style lighting, and you don't need a boom mic. Skip it if you want a headset you can wear for eight-hour sessions at a desk, need console-specific wireless, or want the flexibility of a removable microphone.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for Switch and Android on the go → SteelSeries Arctis 1. The USB-C dongle works handheld on Switch, Switch Lite and Android phones.
• Best for a detachable, Discord-certified mic → SteelSeries Arctis 1. Boom mic, bidirectional noise-cancelling, removable when you don't need it.
• Best for a lightweight in-ear fit → Sonew P36. In-ear design with an ergonomic shape meant to reduce ear pressure.
• Best for Bluetooth freedom and calls → Sonew P36. Bluetooth 5.2 with A2DP, HSP and AVRCP plus a built-in anti-noise mic.
• Best for battery convenience → SteelSeries Arctis 1. A stated 20-hour battery in one headset, versus the P36's 45 mA buds and 400 mA charging compartment.
• Best for looks and portability → Sonew P36. The breathing light and pocketable form factor are the whole appeal.
• Best for long desk sessions → SteelSeries Arctis 1. Over-ear cups and a steel-reinforced, adjustable headband are built for hours of wear.
If I were buying for myself, I'd pick the SteelSeries Arctis 1 (B07X64MTGL). In my opinion, it's the more complete gaming product: a real 2.4 GHz low-latency connection, a detachable Discord-certified boom mic, 40 mm drivers shared with the Arctis 7, a 20-hour battery and support for PS5 Tempest 3D AudioTech. It's the headset I'd hand to someone who plays across PC, PlayStation and Switch and wants one device to do it all. I'd only steer you to the Sonew P36 if portability and an in-ear fit matter more to you than a boom mic and console-grade wireless — it's the better pick for light, pocketable, Bluetooth-first use. Either way, check the current price on Amazon before you commit, since both sit in very different budget tiers.
FAQ
Yes — it has a built-in microphone with strong anti-noise ability, so no boom arm to attach. That's a real difference from the Arctis 1, whose mic is a detachable bidirectional boom.
The Arctis 1 quotes a 20-hour battery average life for the headset. The P36 lists 45 mA in the earphones and a 400 mA charging compartment with fast charging, but doesn't state a comparable total playtime figure, so the Arctis 1 is the clearer number to plan around.
Yes. It's fully compatible with the PS5's Tempest 3D AudioTech, and PC and PS4 wireless are the headset's core use cases per the specs.
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