The SteelSeries shortlist

SteelSeries is worth buying, and headsets are what it does best: the best SteelSeries product in the UK is the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Omni, at £349.99 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (September 2026). The Arctis Nova Pro Omni combines hybrid active noise cancellation, two hot-swappable batteries rated at 30 hours each and a GameHub that connects PC, PlayStation and Xbox and mixes up to four audio sources.

The Arctis Nova 7P Wireless Gen 2 at £149.79 is the best-value SteelSeries headset, the Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 at £189.98 is the best SteelSeries keyboard, and the Aerox 3 Wireless Gen 2 at £99.98 is the best SteelSeries mouse.

Is SteelSeries a good brand?

Yes. SteelSeries, a Danish brand owned by GN Store Nord since January 2022, makes well-measured headsets and mice: RTINGS rates the Arctis Nova Pro Omni "impressive for wireless gaming" and gives the Aerox 3 Wireless Gen 2 "superb raw performance". The range splits into three tiers:

• Budget (under £75): Arctis Nova 1 (£44.99, wired), Arctis Nova 3P Wireless (£69.99), Rival 3 Gen 2 (£29.99) and Apex 3 TKL (£44.99).
• Mid-range (£99.98 to £189.98): Arctis Nova 5P Wireless, Arctis Nova 7P Wireless Gen 2, Aerox 3 Wireless Gen 2 and Apex Pro TKL Gen 3.
• Flagship (£249.00 to £599.00): Arctis Nova Pro Wireless (£299.99), Arctis Nova Pro Omni (£349.99), Arctis Nova Elite (£599.00) and Apex Pro TKL Wireless Gen 3 (£249.00).

The weaker spots are passive isolation on cheaper Arctis models and the Apex 3 TKL's latency. The best gaming headset UK 2026 guide ranks SteelSeries against other brands, and sibling guides cover the best Razer products and the best Logitech products.

1. Arctis Nova Pro Omni - best SteelSeries headset overall

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Omni costs £349.99 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (September 2026). SteelSeries launched it in May 2026, and SoundGuys frames it as the Arctis Nova Elite's core features for less: a four-source GameHub, hybrid ANC, hot-swap batteries and 40 mm Hi-Res drivers rated from 10 Hz to 40,000 Hz.

SoundGuys measured 32 hours 51 minutes from one battery over 2.4GHz and 81% average ANC noise reduction, against 49% for the older Arctis Nova Pro Wireless. RTINGS measured about 27 hours per battery with ANC on and rates the boom mic "very good" with "amazing noise handling". The GameHub's three USB-C inputs cover PC, PlayStation and Xbox and mix up to four sources (two USB, Bluetooth and line-in), so one Arctis Nova Pro Omni replaces the separate Xbox and PlayStation versions of older flagships.

SoundGuys found the treble "painfully sibilant at times", and RTINGS measured a V-shaped tuning (bass and treble each about 3 dB up), a plastic-heavy build and one Bluetooth device at a time. The Arctis Nova Pro Omni suits players with a PC and a console on one desk who want ANC for a noisy room.

2. Arctis Nova 7P Wireless Gen 2 - best mid-range SteelSeries headset

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P Wireless Gen 2 costs £149.79 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (September 2026). It is the PlayStation-branded Arctis Nova 7 Wireless Gen 2, released in October 2025, and its dongle also works with PC and Switch; Xbox owners need the £169.00 Arctis Nova 7X Wireless Gen 2.

SteelSeries rates the Arctis Nova 7P Wireless Gen 2 at 54 hours on 2.4GHz, and it runs 2.4GHz and Bluetooth at the same time, so a phone call mixes with game audio. SoundGuys wore it for more than 8 hours on each of three days before the low-battery warning on day four. There is no ANC, SoundGuys flagged sibilance between 7,500 Hz and 10,000 Hz, and the wide dongle can block the neighbouring USB-C port. The Arctis Nova 7P Wireless Gen 2 suits players who juggle a console and a phone every day.

3. Arctis Nova 5P Wireless - best-value SteelSeries wireless headset

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5P Wireless costs £99.98 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (September 2026), £29.02 less than the PC-branded Arctis Nova 5 Wireless at £129.00. RTINGS reviews the 5, 5P and 5X as one headset, and the Arctis Nova 5P Wireless listing states support for PS4, PC and mobile.

RTINGS credits the Arctis Nova 5P Wireless with "excellent battery life" and "excellent mic recording quality". It weighs 265 g, 60 g less than the Arctis Nova 7P Wireless Gen 2, but switches between 2.4GHz and Bluetooth rather than running both, and RTINGS measured bass about 7 dB above its target and calls the isolation "disappointing". The Arctis Nova 5P Wireless suits players who want a light headset with a clear mic for under £100. More options are in the best budget gaming headset UK 2026 guide.

4. Arctis Nova 3P Wireless - best budget SteelSeries headset

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3P Wireless costs £69.99 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (September 2026), the cheapest wireless Arctis Nova headset here. SteelSeries rates it at 40 hours, with 15 minutes of charging adding up to 9 hours, and Nikktech lists the Arctis Nova 3P Wireless at 260 g, the lightest headset in this guide.

The Arctis Nova 3P Wireless keeps the 40 mm drivers of the Arctis Nova 5P Wireless but has a detachable mic and a 10-hour shorter rating; the Xbox version, the Arctis Nova 3X Wireless, also costs £69.99. The wired Arctis Nova 1at £44.99 is cheaper still, and RTINGS rates its boom mic "great". The Arctis Nova 3P Wireless suits students who want a light wireless headset.

On the radar below, the Arctis Nova Pro Omni scores 77 for Sound against 53 for the other three, thanks to its 10 Hz to 40,000 Hz rated range.

What does each step up the Arctis Nova range buy?

Each step up the Arctis Nova range adds one feature, and the biggest jump is the £150.20 from the Arctis Nova 7P Wireless Gen 2 to the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, which buys ANC and hot-swap batteries. Compare Electronic lined up seven Arctis Nova headsets by Amazon UK price:

The £50.00 from the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless to the Arctis Nova Pro Omni is the best-value step: SoundGuys' measured ANC reduction rises from 49% to 81%, rated battery per pack from 18 to 22 hours to 30 hours, and the hub gains Xbox. The £249.01 step to the Arctis Nova Elite adds carbon fibre drivers, a second mic and 41 g. Below £150, the £29.99 step to the Arctis Nova 5P Wireless is worth taking for the retractable mic.

Arctis Nova Pro vs Nova 7: which should buyers choose?

The Arctis Nova 7P Wireless Gen 2 is the better buy for most players; the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless earns its premium only for ANC and batteries that never run flat. The Arctis Nova Pro Wireless costs £299.99 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (September 2026), £150.20 more.

• Battery: SteelSeries rates the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless at 18 to 22 hours per battery (SoundGuys measured 22 hours 36 minutes), with the spare charging in the base station, against 54 hours per charge for the Arctis Nova 7P Wireless Gen 2.
• Noise:RTINGS says the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless ANC "only does an okay job blocking out low frequency noise"; the Arctis Nova 7 has no ANC, and RTINGS rates the original model's passive isolation poor.
• Base station: an OLED screen, control wheel, two USB-C inputs and a battery slot, connecting two systems at once; SoundGuys notes it cannot join both console ecosystems, so buyers pick an Xbox or PlayStation version.

The Arctis Nova Pro Wireless dates from 2022, uses Bluetooth 5.0 with SBC only (SoundGuys), and RTINGS notes user reports of mic hiss. For £50.00 more, the Arctis Nova Pro Omni fixes the console split and the weaker ANC. The Arctis Nova Eliteat £599.00 sits above both: RTINGS rates its isolation "amazing" and measured 26 hours per battery with 2.4GHz and Bluetooth both connected, but it weighs 380 g.

What is the best SteelSeries keyboard?

The SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 is the best SteelSeries keyboard, at £189.98 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (September 2026). Its OmniPoint 3.0 magnetic Hall effect switches let each key actuate anywhere from 0.1 mm to 4.0 mm, and SteelSeries rates the switches at 100 million keystrokes with a 0.7 ms response time.

Rapid Trigger resets a key the instant it starts to rise, which speeds up repeated taps and counter-strafing; Rapid Tap handles opposite-direction keys (SOCD), and Protection Mode desensitises the keys around the one pressed. PC Gamer's November 2024 review calls the switches "fantastic" but lists "software can be inconsistent" and rates the Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 "closer to an enthusiast pick". RTINGS rated the previous Apex Pro TKL (2023) for "remarkably low latency". Magnetic switches are explained in mechanical keyboard switches explained.

The SteelSeries Apex 3 TKL at £44.99 is the budget pick: quiet rubber dome switches, 8-zone RGB and IP32 water and dust resistance, with latency RTINGS calls not ideal for competitive gaming. The best gaming keyboard UK 2026 guide compares both with other brands.

Which Apex Pro should buyers get: TKL, Mini, full size or wireless?

The wired Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 is the Apex Pro to buy, because the smaller Apex Pro Mini Gen 3 saves only £0.98 and the wireless version costs £59.02 more. All four Gen 3 boards use the same OmniPoint 3.0 switches with 0.1 mm to 4.0 mm actuation, Rapid Trigger and Rapid Tap:

The full-size Apex Pro Gen 3 (1,403 g, according to SteelSeries) adds a number pad for £19.02; the Apex Pro Mini Gen 3 drops the arrow and function rows for more mouse room. Amazon UK also lists American QWERTY versions, including the white Apex Pro TKL Gen 3, so the layout in the title is worth checking. Wireless rivals are ranked in the best wireless mechanical keyboard UK 2026 guide.

What is the best SteelSeries mouse?

The SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless Gen 2is the best SteelSeries mouse, at £99.98 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (September 2026). RTINGS measured it at 67.3 g and rates its raw performance "superb", with "extremely low click latency" and excellent sensor latency.

The Aerox 3 Wireless Gen 2 keeps the perforated Aerox shell yet carries an IP54 rating, and RTINGS rates its build excellent. RTINGS also finds it "significantly heavier than many modern FPS mice" and calls the gap between its 4,000 Hz ceiling and rivals' 8,000 Hz "barely tangible". At 4,000 Hz the rated battery falls from 120 hours to 35 hours. It suits medium hands with a claw or fingertip grip.

The SteelSeries Rival 3 Gen 2at £29.99 is the budget pick: a wired, symmetrical mouse RTINGS weighed at 77.6 g, with an 8,500 DPI TrueMove Core sensor, 60-million-click switches and sensor latency RTINGS calls "remarkable". Other brands are ranked in the best gaming mice UK 2026 guide, and Chinese gaming mice vs Logitech and Razer covers the lighter 8,000 Hz alternatives.

Which SteelSeries QcK mouse pad is best?

The SteelSeries QcK XXL is the best-value SteelSeries mouse pad, at £25.79 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (September 2026) for a 900 x 400 mm cloth desk mat. Compare Electronic divided each price by surface area:

• QcK XXL (900 x 400 mm), £25.79: £71.64 per square metre, the lowest here.
• QcK XL Performance Speed (900 x 400 mm), £42.98: £119.39 per square metre, for a denser weave, low-profile stitched edges and a neoprene base.
• QcK Heavy M (320 x 270 x 6 mm), £17.21: £199.19 per square metre, for a thick pad under the mouse alone.

Pairings are in the best gaming mouse and mouse pad UK 2026 guide.

Are SteelSeries microphones and speakers worth buying?

The SteelSeries Aliasis worth buying for streamers on Windows, at £135.32 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (September 2026): a USB-C cardioid condenser with a 25 mm capsule, 24-bit/48 kHz recording and a 50 Hz to 20 kHz range, with Sonar for Streamers adding mic EQ and noise reduction. Tom's Hardware titled its review "Sounds Expensive". Whether it beats an Arctis boom mic is covered in gaming headset mic vs USB microphone, and cheaper options are in the best USB microphone UK 2026 guide.

The SteelSeries Arena 3 costs £129.99: a 2.0 pair with 4-inch full-range drivers, Bluetooth, a 3.5 mm input and a UK plug, for desks that want one brand throughout. Dedicated speaker makers are compared in the best desktop speakers UK 2026 guide.

How much does a full SteelSeries setup cost?

A complete SteelSeries desk costs £162.18 at the budget end, £465.54 in the middle and £1,007.26 at the top, at Amazon UK prices in September 2026. Compare Electronic priced the best SteelSeries product per category at each budget:

The £303.36 from budget to mid-range buys the most: Rapid Trigger switches, a wireless mouse RTINGS rates superb and simultaneous 2.4GHz and Bluetooth. The flagship core of headset, mouse, keyboard and pad costs £741.95; the Alias and Arena 3 add £265.31. The wired Arctis Nova 1 cuts the budget desk to £137.18.

Is SteelSeries GG any good, and is Sonar free?

SteelSeries GG is free, and its Sonar audio suite is the strongest part of the SteelSeries software. Sonar works with any headset, splits Windows audio into four virtual devices (Gaming, Chat, Media and Aux) and adds a parametric EQ of up to 10 bands. What each part runs on, according to SteelSeries:

• GG Engine (device settings and lighting): Windows 8.1 or later and macOS 10.13 or later.
• GG Sonar: Windows 10 or later only; needed for ChatMix on PC with the Arctis Nova 5P Wireless and Arctis Nova Pro Omni.
• Arctis Companion App (iOS and Android): EQ and 200+ game presets for the Arctis Nova Pro Omni on console.

The weak points are consistency and platform reach: PC Gamer lists "software can be inconsistent" against the Apex Pro TKL Gen 3, Mac owners lose Sonar, and PlayStation does not support ChatMix on the Arctis Nova 5P Wireless, according to SteelSeries. Neither GG nor Sonar carries a subscription.

What are SteelSeries' weaknesses?

SteelSeries' main weaknesses are isolation on non-ANC headsets, bright or bass-heavy tuning, and plastic builds:

• Isolation:RTINGS rates passive isolation poor on the Arctis Nova 7 and "disappointing" on the Arctis Nova 5; only the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, Arctis Nova Pro Omni and Arctis Nova Elite have ANC.
• Tuning:SoundGuys found sibilance on the Arctis Nova Pro Omni (6 kHz to 12 kHz) and Arctis Nova 7 Gen 2 (7,500 Hz to 10,000 Hz); RTINGS measured Arctis Nova 5 bass about 7 dB above target. Sonar's parametric EQ can tame both on PC.
• Build and fit:RTINGS calls the Arctis Nova Pro Omni plastic-heavy and "not the most stable fit", says the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless can fall off with moderate head movement, and notes user reports of hiss from its mic.

How long is the SteelSeries warranty in the UK?

The SteelSeries warranty policy sets 2 years in the EU and 1 year in the US and Asia, and says other countries are "covered by local warranty regulations"; it does not list the UK separately. The terms that matter for UK buyers:

• Cover: manufacturing defects only, not wear and tear, abuse, improper use or water damage.
• Where to claim: reseller purchases, including Amazon, go back through the reseller or regional distributor, with proof of purchase.
• Exclusions: used, refurbished and renewed products from resellers are void of warranty, so renewed Arctis listings on Amazon UK carry no SteelSeries cover. The warranty is non-transferable and valid only in the country of purchase.

UK law adds more. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 gives 30 days to reject a faulty product for a full refund from the retailer, and up to six years (five in Scotland) to claim for a fault present at purchase; for Amazon UK purchases, that retailer claim is the main route.

Verdict

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Omni at £349.99 is the best SteelSeries product in the UK: hybrid ANC that SoundGuys measured at 81%, two 30-hour hot-swap batteries and one hub for PC, PlayStation and Xbox. The Arctis Nova 7P Wireless Gen 2 at £149.79 is the best-value headset, the Arctis Nova 5P Wireless (£99.98) and Arctis Nova 3P Wireless (£69.99) cover tighter budgets, the Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 at £189.98 is the keyboard to buy, and the Aerox 3 Wireless Gen 2 at £99.98 is the mouse. A full SteelSeries desk starts at £162.18.