How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-02 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3X, biggest strength: a proper wireless gaming package — 2.4GHz dongle for low-latency play, Bluetooth 5.3 for everything else, 40 hours per charge and app-based presets tuned around in-game sounds.
• SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3X, biggest trade-off: it's an over-ear headset that seals you off from the room, and it's far heavier and bulkier than a pair of clip buds. No headphone jack either — it's wireless only.
• UZKO Clip-On Earbuds, biggest strength: 5.2g per bud with an open-ear clip design built specifically for glasses wearers and small ear canals, plus 40 total hours from the charging case.
• UZKO Clip-On Earbuds, biggest trade-off: open-ear means no noise isolation at all, and there's no audio profile for competitive shooters — it's a lifestyle and workout bud, not a gaming headset.
• Pick the SteelSeries if your priority is hearing footsteps, swapping between Xbox, PS5, PC, Switch and mobile, and long wireless sessions.
• Pick the UZKO if your priority is all-day comfort on a commute, a run or a gym session while still hearing traffic and people around you.
The Arctis Nova 3X is built around one idea: give you an edge in the games you actually play. A USB-C dongle pushes low-latency 2.4GHz audio into Xbox, PC, PlayStation, Switch, handhelds, phones and tablets, and a USB-A adapter is included for older ports. On top of that you get Bluetooth 5.3, so you can flip from console audio to a phone call or music without digging through menus. The Arctis Companion app is the real differentiator here — it holds 200+ game presets, and the pitch is simple: sharpen specific sounds like footsteps, reloads and heals so you notice them before your opponent notices you. Whether that's a genuine competitive advantage or just a nice EQ shortcut depends on how you play, but having per-game profiles available in real time is a level of control the UZKO simply doesn't offer.
Who should buy it: anyone whose main audio device is a console or gaming PC, who wants one headset that hops between platforms, and who values a low-latency connection over absolute portability. Who should skip it: if you wear glasses all day, hate anything sitting on your ears, or you mostly listen while running or commuting, this is the wrong shape entirely. It's also wireless-only — there's no 3.5mm jack — so a wired fallback isn't on the table.
UZKO Clip-On Earbuds: Who It's For
The UZKO DY21 is a completely different animal, and that's the point. Each bud weighs just 5.2g and clips onto the outside of your ear instead of plugging into the canal. The open-ear design keeps ambient sound audible, which is exactly what you want when you're running near traffic, riding a bike, or working in an office where someone might say your name. Flexible soft silicone brackets and ergonomic contours are shaped to sit snugly without pressure, and the product is explicitly aimed at glasses wearers and people with small ear canals — two groups that usually get ignored by mainstream earbud design.
Feature-wise, you get a 10mm dual driver for Hi-Fi sound with bass and clear vocals, a built-in mic for calls, and three switchable audio modes: spatial audio, balanced music, and a low-latency game mode. Bluetooth 6.0 handles the connection, and multipoint keeps two devices paired at once — watching something on a tablet while your phone stays ready for calls, for example. Controls are split between touch panels for playback and calls, and physical buttons for flipping between the three sound modes, which is a smarter setup than touch-only since you're not guessing what you tapped.
Battery life is 8 hours per charge, with the charging case stretching total listening to 40 hours. Type-C fast charging refills them in about 1.5 hours. The IPX5 rating means they shrug off sweat, dust and light splashes, which lines up with the sports and commute use case. Note there's no active noise cancellation — you can't have both open-ear awareness and isolation, so that's a deliberate trade-off, not a flaw.
Who should buy it: glasses wearers, small-eared listeners, runners, gym-goers and commuters who want background audio without shutting the world out. Who should skip it: if you need to block out a noisy train, or you want a headset that makes enemy audio pop in a shooter, this isn't the tool.
• Best for competitive gaming → SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3X. The 2.4GHz dongle, low latency and 200+ game presets exist for exactly this.
• Best for glasses wearers and small ears → UZKO Clip-On Earbuds. 5.2g per bud, clip-on fit and silicone brackets designed around eyewear.
• Best for battery life → tie, but differently. Both claim 40 hours. The SteelSeries does it in one charge; the UZKO does it with 8 hours per charge plus the case. For a single uninterrupted session, SteelSeries wins. For topping up on the move, the case wins.
• Best for situational awareness → UZKO Clip-On Earbuds. Open-ear by design; the Arctis Nova 3X is over-ear and seals you off.
• Best for multi-device switching → SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3X. Xbox, PS5, PC, Switch, handhelds and mobile over one USB-C dongle, plus Bluetooth.
• Best for workouts and sweat → UZKO Clip-On Earbuds. IPX5 water resistance and a 5.2g weight you'll forget about.
• Best for calls while you multitask → UZKO Clip-On Earbuds. Bluetooth multipoint keeps two devices live at once; the SteelSeries quick-switches between 2.4GHz and Bluetooth but isn't pitched as a dual-pairing tool.
• Best for long desk sessions → SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3X. 260g, stretchy headband, multiple adjustment points and a dual-hinge frame built for hours of wear.
If I had to pick one, I'd buy the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3X — but only if gaming is the job. The dongle, the platform coverage, the app presets and the single-charge 40-hour battery make it the more capable piece of equipment, and the fast-charge figure means a forgotten cable won't end your night. That said, I'd recommend the UZKO Clip-On Earbuds without hesitation to anyone who wears glasses, has small ears, or wants music while staying aware of their surroundings. These two barely compete for the same buyer — pick based on where you'll wear them most.
For gaming specifically, yes. The Arctis Nova 3X uses a 2.4GHz USB-C dongle for low-latency audio, works across Xbox, PS5, PC, Switch and mobile, and supports per-game presets through its app. The UZKO has a low-latency game mode, but it's an open-ear lifestyle bud without a dedicated gaming dongle or game-specific audio profiles.
That's what they're designed for. Each bud weighs 5.2g and clips onto the ear rather than sitting inside it, so it doesn't press against your frames. The soft silicone brackets and ergonomic shape are also aimed at people with small ear canals.
Both are rated at 40 hours, but the setup differs. The SteelSeries delivers up to 40 hours from a full charge in the headset itself, with 15 minutes of fast charging giving up to 9 hours. The UZKO gives up to 8 hours per charge, with the case bringing the total to 40 hours, and a full recharge takes about 1.5 hours via Type-C.
No, and that's intentional. The open-ear clip design keeps ambient sound audible so you stay aware of traffic and surroundings, which suits running, cycling and gym use. There's no noise cancellation, so if you want to shut out a loud commute, the over-ear SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3X is the better fit. Either way, check the current price on Amazon before deciding.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.
See also: SHOKZ After OpenMove vs YouthWhisper Bone Conduction Headphones, over ear travel headphones, inf protear E6850 vs Candy Bila Kids Headphones, Aproca Purple Headphone Case vs Tnyvm 2: Portable on Ear