SteelSeries Arctis 7P/7X review: An almost perfect gaming headset
Our Verdict
The SteelSeries Arctis 7P/7X sounds great, fits great, and works with almost any gaming system on the market.
For
Works with just about any system
Great game sound
Comfortable fit
Long battery life
Versus
Music quality could be better
The 7P model is less versatile than the 7X
SteelSeries Arctis 7P/7X: Specifications
Compatibility:
PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, Android
Drivers:
40mm
Response frequency:
20Hz - 20kHz
Wireless:
Yes
The SteelSeries Arctis 7P/7X is almost the perfect gaming headset. On the one hand, that's not shocking, given that its predecessor, the SteelSeries Arctis 7, was already off to a great start. But in the three years since Upon the release of the Arctis 7, SteelSeries focused on the headset's few lingering issues, eradicated them, and added some useful improvements along the way.
The end result is a $150 headset that's ready for both the
PS5
and
Xbox series X
, as well as any other system you own: PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC, phone or tablet. With excellent wireless connectivity, a comfortable fit, long battery life and solid audio quality, the SteelSeries Arctis 7P/7X has absolutely everything a gaming headset needs to succeed, with no wasted features or confusing controls.
Buy one of
best ps5 headsets
To see the
best xbox headsets
The
best Xbox Series X headsets
at present
There are a few quibbles that keep the Arctis 7P/7X from achieving absolute perfection. Three years later, the music quality is still disappointing, something other gaming headsets have fixed in the meantime. The 7P seems underpriced compared to the 7X, despite costing the same amount of money.
But otherwise, the Arctis 7P/7X is one of two
best gaming headsets
and
best wireless gaming headsets
I've reviewed it before, and the sooner you can pick one up, the more ready you'll be for the next generation of consoles. Read on for our full SteelSeries Arctis 7P/7X review.
Design SteelSeries Arctis 7P/7X
The SteelSeries Arctis 7P/7X is remarkably similar to the original Arctis 7. It is still a black plastic chassis with a thin steel headband and an elastic attachment strap. The 7P has blue highlights on the elastic to match the PS5; the 7X has green highlights to match the Xbox Series X. Otherwise, the two are nearly identical.
SteelSeries Arctis 7P
(Image credit: SteelSeries)
The right earbud houses a sidetone volume dial on the 7P and a game/chat balance dial on the 7X, as well as a power button. The left earbud is where most of the action unfolds. Here you have a mic mute button, volume wheel, 3.5mm audio port, micro-USB charging port and a retractable and flexible microphone. There is also a proprietary SteelSeries port for easier 3.5mm audio and USB connections.
As with the original Arctis 7, this setup is admirably simple, and putting two different volume dials on two different earbuds is much easier than cramming them together, as some other hardware makers do. Having an audio option 3.5mm isn't strictly necessary either, but it's still nice to have, in case you run out of batteries while gaming on a portable Switch, or are still finishing up a few 3DS laggards .
SteelSeries Arctis 7X
(Image credit: SteelSeries)
What sets the Arctis 7P/7X apart from most other gaming headsets is how it connects. Instead of a USB-A dongle or Xbox's built-in wireless protocols, the Arctis 7P/7X relies on a USB-C dongle, with an included USB-A adapter. This makes it essentially compatible with any platform right out of the box – although the 7P is not compatible with any Xbox system (we'll talk about that later). For the most part, the USB-C-plus adapter setup works fine, though it does create some unsightly tripping hazards, depending on where your consoles are located. Admittedly, you You can always buy your own adapter instead, but I wonder if SteelSeries could have included a dongle adapter rather than a wire.
The Arctis 7P/7X weighs around 12 ounces, so it sits very lightly on a user's head. While there's nothing fancy about the headset, there's nothing garish either. , and it would look perfectly natural on the outside.
SteelSeries Arctis 7P/7X comfort
I've discussed the elastic band design of SteelSeries "ski goggles" in other Arctis reviews, but it's worth repeating here. The SteelSeries Arctis 7P/7X has no notches or stretchy arms, instead relying on an elastic band for a snug fit. You simply put the headset on your head and the strap molds to the shape of your skull. You can tighten or loosen it slightly with a Velcro strap. That's it. Not only is the process effortless, but it's also incredibly convenient if you're sharing the headset with a spouse or roommate.
I actually gave the headset to my domestic partner, who used it to watch TV while I worked. She said it was easy to wear and more comfortable than the
SteelSeries Arctis 1
– his usual date.
SteelSeries Arctis 7P/7X Performance
Like its predecessor, the SteelSeries Arctis 7P/7X performs wonderfully with all game genres. I tested it with a variety of games on a variety of platforms: Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition on PC, Blasphemous on Xbox One , Genshin Impact on PS4, Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition on Switch (both handheld and docked), and Tales of Crestoria on Android.
SteelSeries Arctis 7P
(Image credit: SteelSeries)
Without going into too much detail on each system, the Arctis 7P/7X's performance was solid across the board. the Arctis 7P/7X did an excellent job of balancing vocal work and music, with a rich, vibrant soundscape and a good balance between bass and treble.
My only complaint is how the Arctis 7P/7X handles music. This was also an issue with the Arctis 7, and one of the only things SteelSeries hasn't improved between versions. music has a kind of flat sound that borders on "muddy" when things get loud or messy. treble and vocals all sounded distinct, there was a distinct lack of punch to everything, even with the "Music" soundscape selected in the SteelSeries Engine 3 software.
Admittedly, the primary purpose of a gaming headset isn't to play music, but Logitech, Turtle Beach, HyperX and other competitors have both improved music performance in recent years by leaps and bounds; SteelSeries did not.
Features of SteelSeries Arctis 7P/7X
Using SteelSeries Engine 3 software, users can customize EQ profiles, timeouts, and mic options for the SteelSeries Arctis 7P/7X. The mic itself is a retractable design with a red light that lets you lets you know when the input is muted. It picks up some background noise and can get heavy on 'S' sounds, but it's overall clear and responsive.
SteelSeries Arctis 7X
(Image credit: SteelSeries)
The software and mic work well, but what's more interesting is the wireless connectivity of the Arctis 7P/7X. What sets the Arctis 7P/7X apart from most other gaming headsets on the market , is that it uses a USB-C dongle for pairing rather than USB-A. This means it can connect with smartphones, tablets and Nintendo Switches in handheld mode. In my opinion , it's a cleaner solution than Bluetooth and works both quickly and seamlessly.
What's odd, however, is that only the Arctis 7X model works with Xbox consoles, even though the 7P and 7X cost the same price. In short: Xbox consoles use a different wireless protocol than other systems. As such, the 7X's dongle has a small switch that you can toggle between "USB" and "Xbox" when moving it between platforms. The 7P's dongle, however, does not have this switch; its only advantage is that the dongle is a bit smaller.
In other words: the Arctis 7X works with everything. The Arctis 7P works with everything except Xbox consoles. Unless you're absolutely certain you'll never get an Xbox console, the 7X is a better buy. .The 7P should have provided a bigger benefit than a "slightly smaller dongle" or given buyers some kind of price discount.
SteelSeries Arctis 7P/7X Verdict
Our SteelSeries Arctis 7P/7X review covered the headset's excellent fit, sound quality, and connectivity, as well as its lackluster music performance and weird disparities between the PS5 and Xbox Series X versions.
Still, for all that, the Arctis 7P/7X is a very good headset and an easy recommendation for both PC and console gamers. It's easily the best peripheral currently available in the $150 range - and even if you had planned to spend $100 or $200 instead, still worth a look. With a few small tweaks, anything that succeeds at the Arctis 7P/7X could be as close to a gaming headset as ever perfect.
Marshal Honorof
Marshall Honorof is an editor for Tom's Guide, covering gaming gear, safety, and streaming video. After hours, you can find him practicing taekwondo or taking deep dives on classic sci-fi .