Amazon is currently offering the excellent SteelSeries Arctis 9X gaming headset for Xbox or PC for nearly 50% off. At this price, the 9X is easily one of the best $100 gaming headsets out there. It's essentially the predecessor to the newer Nova 7X. The biggest differences between the two are that the 9X has a Micro USB charging port (the 7X has USB Type-C) and the 9X has a shorter battery life (20 hours vs over 30 hours). That said, we have never seen the 7X go on sale for anywhere close to $100.
SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless Multi-Platform Gaming Headset for $99.99
If you compare the older generation SteelSeries Arctis 9X to the newer Nova models, it sits somewhere in between the Nova Pro and the Nova 7X. For Xbox Series X|S gamers, it features native Xbox Wireless support. That means you can connect this headset and start playing immediately without requiring dongle. For PC gamers, there are three options: you can use the Xbox Wireless connection if you have a Microsoft Xbox USB dongle (it's not included), you can pair via Bluetooth, or you can use it as a tethered USB headset.
I own both the Arctis 9X and the Nova Pro headsets. The Arctis 9X features the AirWeave memory foam ear cushions that I actually prefer more to the higher end Nova Pro leatherette earcup material because they are more breathable and my ears tend to sweat less. The headband has a durable steel core and has a suspension strap to reduce pressure on the top of the head. There's also a Discord-certified ClearCast noise canceling microphone that stows inside one of the earcups when you're not using it.
The new Nova Arctis headsets haven't changed much from the Arctis 9X because it was already an excellent headset that didn't need much updating. If you don't need the USB Type-C charging or the extra bettery life, then you'll save a lot of money by going with the 9X. This headset is better than the official Xbox headset that sells for the same price. For our hands-on impressions, check out our IGN SteelSeries Arctis 9X review.
