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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 light, simple wired headset that works on basically anything with a headphone jack, choose SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1X; if you need big-driver cinematic surround sound and deep PC software customization, choose Logitech G635.
• SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1X — biggest strength: genuine plug-and-play versatility. A 3.5 mm wired connection plus listed support for Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation, Switch and mobile means one headset covers your whole setup, and at 1.1 pounds it's the lighter of the two on paper.
• SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1X — biggest trade-off: it's a straightforward headset. Passive noise cancellation only, no surround processing, no companion software, no replaceable ear cushions listed. Simple by design — which is either the point or a dealbreaker.
• Logitech G635 — biggest strength: 50 mm Pro-G drivers paired with DTS Headphone:X 2.0 surround and G HUB software for RGB lighting, G-key macros and per-game audio profiles. It's built for tuning.
• Logitech G635 — biggest trade-off: it's the heavier headset at 1.6 pounds, it's positioned as a PC gaming headset, and the listing is a renewed unit with a 90-day limited warranty rather than a full one.
• Choose the Arctis Nova 1X if you game across several platforms and want a light, no-fuss wired headset.
• Choose the G635 if you game mainly on PC and want surround sound, software control and a bigger, more cinematic driver.
The Arctis Nova 1X is the headset you buy when you're tired of juggling gear. It's a wired 3.5 mm design, and SteelSeries lists it for Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation, Switch and mobile. That's the whole pitch in one line: one headset, every device you own. Plug it into a controller, a laptop, a handheld, a phone with an adapter — the 3.5 mm jack doesn't care what's on the other end.
The specs back up the "keep it simple" story. It's an over-ear, closed-back plastic build in black, weighing 1.1 pounds. The drivers are dynamic, 36 ohm impedance, with a 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz frequency range — the standard full-range window you'd expect from a modern gaming headset. There's a ClearCast Gen 2 mic on board, volume control via a 3.5 mm wired inline controller, and passive noise cancellation, which means the closed earcups physically block some outside sound rather than using active circuitry to cancel it.
What you don't get matters just as much. There's no surround processing, no RGB, no software suite for EQ profiles or macros. If you like fiddling with per-game audio settings, this isn't the headset for that.
Who should buy it: multi-platform players, people who move between a console in the living room and a PC or handheld elsewhere, and anyone who wants a light wired headset that just works the moment it's plugged in. It's also a sensible pick if you dislike charging batteries or managing wireless dongles — it's a wired set, full stop.
Who should skip it: PC-only players who want virtual surround for positional audio in shooters, and anyone who wants software-level control over mic and sound. The Nova 1X gives you a headset, not a tuning platform.
One practical note worth repeating from the listing: fit matters. If the earpieces don't sit properly or the tips don't seal well, you won't get the intended sound quality or call performance — so take a minute to adjust the headband and cups before judging it.
The G635 is the opposite philosophy: more drivers, more processing, more knobs to turn. The headline is the upgraded Pro-G 50 mm driver, built with a woven hybrid mesh that Logitech says unlocks more sonic detail, depth and clarity. The larger diameter is aimed squarely at low-end punch — explosions and soundtracks — while keeping highs like footsteps and voices clean and precise. Whether or not you buy the marketing, 50 mm is a genuinely bigger driver than the 36 ohm dynamic setup in the Nova 1X, and bigger drivers generally move more air.
Then there's DTS Headphone:X 2.0, Logitech's surround processing. This is the feature that separates the two headsets most sharply for competitive play. Virtual surround is designed to help you place direction and distance in a 3D soundscape — the classic "hear the enemy before they hear you" argument. If you play shooters on PC and positional audio matters to you, this is a real functional difference, not a cosmetic one.
Comfort gets serious attention too. The G635 uses sports mesh padding in the ear cups and headband, with large-diameter circumaural pads that sit around the ear rather than pressing on it. The ear cups are removable and hand washable — a genuinely useful detail for a headset you'll wear for hours. It weighs 1.6 pounds, so it's heavier than the Nova 1X, but the mesh-and-circumaural design is clearly aimed at long sessions.
The mic is a 6 mm flip-to-mute boom with an indicator LED showing mute status. Flip it up and it mutes and tucks nearly out of sight. On the software side, G HUB lets you customize LIGHTSYNC RGB lighting, program G-keys with macros and in-game commands, and save audio profiles per game and app. Impedance is 39 ohm and the frequency range is 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz — same window as the SteelSeries, different hardware behind it.
Who should buy it: PC gamers who want surround sound, software profiles and macro keys, and who'll actually use G HUB. Also a strong pick if a bigger driver and cinematic low-end appeal to you more than portability.
Who should skip it: console-first players, anyone who wants the lightest possible headset, and buyers who'd rather have a full manufacturer warranty than a renewed unit with a short one.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for multi-platform use → SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1X. Listed support covers Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation, Switch and mobile via a single 3.5 mm jack.
• Best for PC surround sound → Logitech G635. DTS Headphone:X 2.0 is the feature the Nova 1X simply doesn't have.
• Best for software customization → Logitech G635. G HUB covers RGB, G-key macros and per-game audio profiles.
• Best for a lighter headset → SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1X. 1.1 pounds versus 1.6 pounds.
• Best for long-session comfort design → Logitech G635. Sports mesh padding, large circumaural pads and washable ear cups are built for marathons.
• Best for mic convenience → Logitech G635. Flip-to-mute boom with a mute indicator LED; the Nova 1X uses a ClearCast Gen 2 mic without that flip-mute mechanism listed.
• Best for a fuss-free wired setup → SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1X. No software, no charging, no dongle — plug in and play.
• Best for buyers wary of renewed stock → SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1X. The G635 here is a renewed unit with a 90-day limited warranty; the Nova 1X carries a 1-year warranty.
In my opinion, the Logitech G635 is the more capable headset for a PC-focused gamer. The 50 mm Pro-G drivers, DTS Headphone:X 2.0 surround, G HUB customization and washable mesh ear cups add up to a richer, more tunable experience — and if you play shooters on PC, the surround processing is the single biggest functional gap between these two. The renewed condition and 90-day warranty are real downsides, but for a dedicated desktop setup I'd take the extra capability. If you game across several platforms or just want the lightest, simplest wired option, the Arctis Nova 1X is the smarter buy.
FAQ
Yes. It supports DTS Headphone:X 2.0, which Logitech positions as more precise than standard 7.1 channel surround for positional awareness. The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1X does not list surround processing — it's a straight stereo wired headset with passive noise cancellation.
It's marketed as a PC gaming headset and its customization features rely on G HUB, which is PC software. The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1X is explicitly listed for Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation, Switch and mobile, so it's the clearer choice if you split time between platforms.
It's worth factoring in. This listing is a renewed unit with a 90-day limited warranty, while the Arctis Nova 1X carries a 1-year warranty. If warranty coverage matters to you, weigh that heavily — and check the current price on Amazon for both before deciding, since your budget is the final variable I can't see.
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