The Arctis 7 is one of three new headsets from Steelseries this year and it’s the wireless version of the line which caught our attention. For years now, we’ve been on the hunt for a solid wireless headset that meets our requirements in both design and durability. So did it line up? Let’s find out. We took it for a spin here at Gameranx after two weeks of intense use: from conference calls on the elliptical to many late night, rage inducing Overwatch ranked sessions we’ve ran the gamut–and taken the headset with us every step.
The Good
- The headset’s aesthetics are awesome. Looks aren’t everything, but Steelseries has upped their game with the Arctis line of headsets. The band is stylish and changeable, the fit is comfy, and it has a distinctly minimalistic design that stands in sharp contrast to the latest trend in gaming headsets to add too many bells and whistles.
- The sound and microphone quality are solid. Steelseries hasn’t always been known for their mic quality, however, the Arctis line really holds up in this department. Sound bleed is minimal and the headset mic is decent. It works well for music and gaming, which is about as much as one can hope for a middle price tier gaming headset.
- The battery life is over twelve hours–and we’ve had it go as long as fifteen before. It charges through USB, as well, which is a huge improvement over their past wireless headsets which required a tedious swapping and charging of batteries externally!
- Good connectivity. Headset lasts over thirty feet from its location, which was enough to work fine in all areas of a 970 square foot apartment. We may or may have not taken it to the mailbox, as well, where it still held up.
- Unlike many gaming wireless headsets, it has a wired adaptor for PS4 and XBox controllers making it a wireless choice for console gamers as well.
- Its price point. For under $150 USD, it is by far the best wireless option on your wallet without sacrificing quality. It stands up to headsets in the $200+ range as well. It is a lot of bang for your buck.
The Bad
- Like nearly every other wireless headset, there will be occasional interference. SteelSeries has done a superb job of negating the majority of this, but we did experience a few disconnects and their subsequent nearly instant reconnects throughout daily use. It can handle microwave noise, however!
The Ugly
- When you realize how much more you’ve spent on worse headsets throughout your life…
In short, this headset is great. Factor in the price point and the battery life, though, and it goes from great to amazing. This is a perfectly priced headset for any gamer looking to go wireless without worrying about sacrificing any quality. And trust us, after a lot of returned and miserable wireless experiences, that means a lot.
Disclosure: A review unit was provided by Steelseries.
