SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3X Wireless

Overview

The Arctis Nova 3X Wireless is the universal variant of the Nova 3 series at $109.99, released June 2025. Same hardware as the 3P — 40mm neodymium drivers, ClearCast 2.X detachable mic, 2.4GHz and Bluetooth 5.3 dual wireless, 40-hour battery, 260 grams — but with native Xbox Wireless added. That’s the only meaningful difference between the 3X and 3P: the 3X connects natively to Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One without a USB dongle.

Key Features

Native Xbox Wireless: Connects directly to Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One over Xbox’s proprietary wireless protocol. No dongle required on Xbox. Still runs 2.4GHz via USB dongle for PC and PlayStation, and Bluetooth 5.3 for mobile.

40mm Neodymium Drivers: 360° Spatial Audio support with compatibility for Microsoft Spatial Sound on Xbox and Tempest 3D Audio on PlayStation. Same driver spec as the 3P — platform-specific spatial audio implementation handles the difference.

Quick-Switch Wireless: Toggles between 2.4GHz and Bluetooth 5.3 with one button. Mobile stays on standby — call notifications come through without dropping your gaming connection.

ClearCast 2.X Mic: Detachable boom mic, 32KHz/16-bit capture, bidirectional noise cancellation. Double the bandwidth of the previous ClearCast Gen 2 generation.

Arctis Companion App: 200+ game-specific presets switchable in real-time. Same app as the 3P — Apex Legends, Call of Duty, Fortnite, and hundreds of other titles covered.

Fast Charge: 15 minutes delivers 9 hours. Full charge rated at 40 hours.

Audio Quality

Driver performance is identical to the 3P. Balanced tuning, clear mids and highs, controlled bass. Microsoft Spatial Sound on Xbox Series X|S handles directional audio processing — performance is consistent with what the platform delivers across other compatible headsets.

The Companion App presets function the same as on the 3P. Real-time switching, developer and esports-tuned profiles, no manual EQ required if you’re working from the preset library.

Comfort & Build

260 grams, ski-goggle suspension headband, AirWeave memory foam with breathable mesh. Dual-hinge earcup design. No differences from the 3P on comfort or build — same physical headset, different wireless radio.

Verdict

The Nova 3X is the 3P for Xbox users. If your primary platform is Xbox Series X|S or Xbox One, the native wireless connection is the reason to choose the 3X over the 3P — no dongle on Xbox is a real convenience advantage.

Multi-platform gamers who split time across Xbox, PlayStation, and PC get the most value here. The 3X covers all three natively. PS5-primary users should look at the 3P instead — there’s no functional advantage to the 3X on PlayStation. At $109.99, the price is identical between variants, so platform fit is the only decision to make.