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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 wired, platform-agnostic headset with a retractable boom mic and software-tunable audio, choose SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1; if you need a wireless headset with a huge battery, dual 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connections and a foldable frame, choose NUBWO 2.4GHz. Those two sentences cover most of the decision. What follows is the reasoning behind them, spec by spec.
• SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 — biggest strength: a 3.5mm jack that plugs into essentially anything with a headphone port, plus a retractable bidirectional noise-cancelling mic and a parametric EQ you can tune in software.
• SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 — biggest trade-off: it is wired. There is no battery, no dongle and no wireless freedom; you are tethered to your controller, laptop or phone.
• NUBWO 2.4GHz — biggest strength: genuine wireless flexibility — a 2.4GHz dongle for consoles and PC, Bluetooth for mobile, and up to 80 hours of claimed endurance in 2.4G mode with the mic off.
• NUBWO 2.4GHz — biggest trade-off: it leans on passive noise reduction rather than active cancellation, and its mic is not supported on Nintendo Switch.
• Who each pick is for: the Arctis Nova 1 suits players who want one headset for every device and don't mind a cable; the NUBWO suits players who want to move around untethered and hate charging mid-session.
The Arctis Nova 1 is built around the idea that one headset should work everywhere. Its 3.5mm jack covers PC, Mac, PlayStation, Xbox and Switch, and SteelSeries explicitly notes it works with mobile devices too. That universality is the whole pitch. If you own a console and a laptop and a phone, you don't need three headsets — you need one cable.
The audio side is where the design gets interesting. SteelSeries pairs custom high-fidelity drivers with a 10-band parametric EQ in its Sonar software, which means you can nudge frequency ranges yourself rather than accept a fixed tuning. The headset also supports 360° spatial audio and is compatible with Tempest 3D Audio on PS5 and Microsoft Spatial Sound. In practice, that's the feature that matters in competitive shooters: directional cues for footsteps, reloads and voice lines rather than a flat stereo field.
Who should buy it: players who split time across several platforms, want a wired connection with zero charging anxiety, and value a mic that can disappear into the shell. Who should skip it: anyone who has fully moved to a wireless setup, or who wants to walk around the room mid-match. The wired tether is the honest limitation here, and no spec sheet can talk around it.
NUBWO 2.4GHz: Who It's For
The NUBWO 2.4GHz is the opposite philosophy: cut the cord, then make the battery so big you forget about it. NUBWO rates it at up to 80+ hours in 2.4G mode with the mic off, and still 50+ hours in Bluetooth mode with the mic on. A full charge takes about 3 hours, and a 10-minute quick charge is claimed to grant 2 hours of use. One caveat straight from the specs: it cannot be used while charging, so topping up is a deliberate break, not something you do mid-session.
Connection is the other headline. There's a 2.4GHz dongle aimed at PS5, PS4 and PC for low-latency audio, plus Bluetooth 5.4 for phones and tablets, with a stated range of around 33 feet. NUBWO also advertises anti-interference engineering so the wireless signal doesn't collide with Wi-Fi, keyboards and mice. Audio latency is quoted at 20ms or less — low enough that lip-sync and gunfire timing shouldn't feel detached.
Sound is handled by 40mm dynamic drivers with a 7.1 surround mode, tuned for locating footsteps, gunfire and reloads in titles like COD, FPS games, APEX and LOL, as well as open-world games. The microphone is directional and focuses on the voice in front of you, using passive noise reduction to push down sound arriving from other directions. That's a simpler approach than active cancellation, and NUBWO is upfront that the mic doesn't work on Nintendo Switch.
The frame is plastic and over-ear, folds up for travel, and weighs about 6.08 ounces — lighter than the SteelSeries on paper. Controls are physical buttons rather than touch, which most people find easier to operate blind mid-game.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for multi-platform wired use → SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1. One 3.5mm jack covers PC, Mac, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch and mobile.
• Best for wireless freedom → NUBWO 2.4GHz. A 2.4GHz dongle plus Bluetooth 5.4 means no cable and no dongle-swapping on mobile.
• Best for battery life → NUBWO 2.4GHz. Up to 80+ hours in 2.4G mode with the mic off, and 50+ hours in Bluetooth with it on.
• Best for mic flexibility → SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1. A retractable bidirectional mic rated to reduce background noise by up to 25dB, and it works on Switch.
• Best for software tuning → SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1. The 10-band parametric EQ and spatial audio support give you more control over the sound signature.
• Best for long-session comfort on paper → close call. The SteelSeries has AirWeave memory foam and a suspension band; the NUBWO is lighter and folds for transport.
• Best for low-latency wireless gaming → NUBWO 2.4GHz. A quoted 20ms latency with anti-interference tech aimed at fast-paced titles.
• Best for noise isolation → NUBWO 2.4GHz. Passive noise reduction on the mic and enclosure, though it is not active cancellation.
In my opinion, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 is the safer buy for most people, because the 3.5mm jack makes it a genuinely universal headset and the tunable audio plus retractable mic cover more everyday situations. I'd recommend the NUBWO 2.4GHz instead if wireless is non-negotiable for you — the dual 2.4GHz and Bluetooth setup and the enormous battery rating are the reasons to pick it. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit, since that's the one variable that can flip this decision.
how much gaming headphones
I can't quote figures here, and prices move constantly. Use the "Check latest price on Amazon" button on this page to see what the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 and the NUBWO 2.4GHz cost right now, then weigh that against the features above.
is gaming better with headphones
For most players, yes. Both of these headsets are built around directional audio — the Arctis Nova 1 with 360° spatial audio and Tempest 3D compatibility, the NUBWO with 7.1 surround — which helps you place footsteps and gunfire. A headset also gives you a mic for team comms, which TV or laptop speakers can't.
are gaming headphones good for calls
They can be. The Arctis Nova 1's ClearCast Gen 2 mic is bidirectional and rated to cut background noise by up to 25dB, and it retracts into the earcup when you're done. The NUBWO's directional mic focuses on your voice from the front, but note it isn't supported on Nintendo Switch.
how to game with bluetooth headphones
You pair them like any Bluetooth device, but latency is the catch — standard Bluetooth audio often lags behind the action. The NUBWO sidesteps this by offering a 2.4GHz dongle for PS5, PS4 and PC with latency quoted at 20ms or less, and reserving Bluetooth 5.4 for mobile and tablet use.
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See also: SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3P vs MAIRDI Open Ear Bone, Amazon Basics AC-Powered Computer Speakers vs ROSON Computer Speaker, Sennheiser ACCENTUM vs Edifier G5: Wired Gaming Headphones