Steelseries Arctis Nova Pro Omni review
Feature
Design and Comfort
Aesthetics-wise, the Omni feels very familiar. It carries over the sleek, modern design language seen in SteelSeries' recent headset releases, maintaining a premium look that doesn't necessarily scream "gamer" too loudly. It features the signature elastic headband strap, which ensures it stretches and fits comfortably across most head sizes right out of the box.
At 339 grams, it is a reasonably light piece of gear. Comfort is top-notch, largely because the suspension headband does a fantastic job of distributing that weight evenly across your head. The leatherette ear cups sit snugly around the ears. For someone like myself who wears glasses, headset pressure can often be a dealbreaker, but the Omni handles it well. I did find that the headset fits very snugly—perhaps a touch too tight for some—but this serves a vital purpose. The clamp force provides exceptional natural sound-proofing, effectively blocking out outside noise and stopping the physical world from forcing its unwelcome way into your gaming sessions. Indeed, even on a recent flight, the usual sound of the jet engines were dampened by the headset.
Controls and Connectivity
SteelSeries has smartly contained all the primary controls directly within the earcups themselves, keeping things minimalist and intuitive. On the left earcup, you'll find the power button, a dedicated mute switch, and a volume wheel, alongside a 3.5mm audio jack for wired connections. The right earcup is dedicated to Bluetooth functionality, allowing for seamless pairing.
The headset shines when it comes to versatility. You can connect wirelessly via the included base station (the Gamehub), hook it up via Bluetooth to your mobile devices, or fall back on the 3.5mm jack. A major quality-of-life feature here is the simultaneous audio streaming: you can stay connected to your primary gaming rig via the 2.4GHz wireless connection while simultaneously pairing to your phone via Bluetooth. This means you can take a phone call mid-game or listen to your favorite podcasts on the go without missing a beat.
Features
The Arctis Nova Pro Omni is packed with clever design elements. Built directly into the left side is a fully retractable microphone that slides completely flush into the earcup when not in use. This makes the Omni an excellent all-rounder; you can take it out of the home office and use it as a standard pair of headphones on public transport without looking like you're about to cast an esports tournament.
The battery system is where this headset truly solves an age-old wireless gaming headache. The right earcup features a magnetic hidden compartment that houses a swappable battery. The Omni utilizes a hot-swap battery ecosystem, meaning when your battery begins to run low, you simply pull a fresh one out of the base station and swap it into the headset. There is zero down-time and absolutely no need to ever plug in a charging cable to your head, ensuring the headset remains truly wireless at all times. If you ever do find yourself caught out without the base station, there is also a hidden USB-C charging port hidden away inside the left earcup compartment. The batteries during testing lasted for around 25 hours, although I did swap them out before they fully drained, so that I wouldn’t drop out mid-game.
Performance
Wireless freedom doesn't mean much if you lose connection the moment you step away from your monitor. Luckily, the Omni boasts impressive range. During my testing, I was able to walk from my home office desk all the way to the kitchen without experiencing any noticeable dropouts, stuttering, or loss of audio quality. This was through a distance of about 10 metres and across several walls, which is a testament to the stability of its wireless connection.
One minor quirk I did notice during testing was a slightly lower base volume out of the box compared to my current headset, though this is easily adjustable via the on-board controls or companion software. To fully unlock the potential of the Omni, you will need to dive into the SteelSeries software ecosystem. On PC, this is handled through the robust SteelSeries GG suite. The standout feature here is Sonar, an incredibly deep parametric EQ mixer that allows you to independently balance your game, chat, media, and microphone audio. It features over 200 tailored, game-specific audio presets designed to highlight crucial audio cues like footsteps or reloading sounds. Furthermore, it brings AI-powered ClearCast noise cancellation to your mic, filtering out unwanted background clicks and hums.
Crucially, if you are a console-first gamer or want to tweak your settings on the fly without minimizing your PC game, SteelSeries has included compatibility with the Arctis Companion mobile app. Available on iOS and Android, this app bridges the gap beautifully. It gives you instant access to those same 200+ game-enhancing and music presets directly from your phone via Bluetooth. Through the app, you can seamlessly manage the headset's dual-equalizer settings, adjust mic sidetone, and fine-tune your Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) or transparency modes. It effectively ensures that console and mobile gamers aren’t left out in the cold, providing premium, desktop-level customization right in the palm of your hand. Both versions of the software can be a little daunting at first, but tinkering with the setting can certainly pay off.
Verdict
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Omni is a phenomenal, premium audio solution. While its $799 AUD price tag will undoubtedly cause some sticker shock, the sheer amount of utility packed into this device goes a long way toward justifying it. Thanks to its hidden mic and multi-platform versatility, it is just as great for listening to music on the go or mobile gaming as it is for high-end desktop setups. If you game across multiple platforms and want an uncompromising, truly wireless experience with endless battery life, the Omni is a spectacular investment.
In the Box:
● Arctis Nova Pro Omni Headset
● Arctis Nova Pro Omni GameHub
● USB-C to USB-C Charging Cable x2
● 2 Batteries
● Microphone Pop Filter
● Carrying Bag
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