Review · Tech & gadgets
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless Gen 2 review
A lighter, cheaper SteelSeries wireless headset with simultaneous 2.4GHz and Bluetooth, a retractable ClearCast mic and 50+ hour battery.
By the HearSmart research desk · Updated November 7, 2026
- Performance (40%)
- 8.4
- Ease of use (25%)
- 9.0
- Value (35%)
- 8.8
The Arctis Nova 7 Wireless Gen 2 keeps the parts of SteelSeries' design that matter most for voice chat and drops the expensive base station. The ClearCast Gen 2 mic retracts into the left earcup and uses a bidirectional noise-cancelling pattern, and SteelSeries says Sonar AI on PC can clean it up further. Positional audio comes from 40 mm neodymium drivers with 360° Spatial Audio support. You can run 2.4GHz and Bluetooth at the same time, so a phone stays connected during a match. Battery life is rated at up to 54 hours on 2.4GHz and 38 hours with Bluetooth running too, and a 15 minute charge adds up to 6 hours. At 325 g it is the lightest of our picks whose vendor publishes a weight. There is no ANC, and PC ChatMix needs SteelSeries GG and Sonar. SteelSeries listed it at $189.99 against a $199.99 MSRP when we checked.
Who it is for
Players who want most of the Arctis Nova experience for around $200 and play on one main system.
Price
$189.99 on sale at SteelSeries when checked, $199.99 MSRP.
Gaming Headset with Mobile App Control $189.99 $199.99 MSRP
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 7, 2026.
Key features
- Simultaneous 2.4GHz and Bluetooth
- ClearCast Gen 2 retractable, bidirectional noise-cancelling mic
- Up to 54 hours on 2.4GHz, 15 minute charge for up to 6 hours
- 360° Spatial Audio support
- Arctis Companion App with real-time audio control
Strengths and weaknesses
- Strength: Mic retracts into the earcup when you are not chatting
- Strength: Fast charge rescues a flat battery quickly
- Strength: PC, PlayStation and Xbox versions are sold
- Weakness: No active noise cancellation
- Weakness: Uses a single dongle rather than a multi-input base station
- Weakness: ChatMix on PC needs the GG and Sonar software on Windows 10 or later
Key facts
- Battery: Up to 54 hours (2.4GHz), 38 hours with Bluetooth too
- Microphone: ClearCast Gen 2, bidirectional, retractable
- Drivers: 40 mm neodymium
- Weight: 325 g
- Bluetooth: 5.0, simultaneous with 2.4GHz
Where it ranks
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless Gen 2 is No. 3 in our Best Gaming Headsets verdict.
Alternatives we scored
Visit steelseries.com · Questions or corrections: editorial@hearsmart.org