SteelSeries claims that the Arctis 9X has 20 hours of battery life. This will particularly shine for anyone that's still playing Destiny 2, as you can get some grinding done while listening to music, without fiddling through some obtuse menus. Playing through the familiar Halo 2 campaign while blasting 'Got You' by Amyl and the Sniffers through our headset at the same time is a lovely experience that we recommend to pretty much anyone. And, well, that's exactly where the SteelSeries Arctis 9X shines. Right off of the bat, the combination of Xbox wireless connectivity and Bluetooth means that you can listen to music off of your phone while still hearing your in-game audio. It's a robust gaming headset that will likely last you for years and look good while doing it. On the whole, most of the features we need out of a gaming headset in this price range are represented, but we would have loved the ability to use that USB charging port to connect to our PC, for reasons we'll dive into shortly.Īt the end of the day, the SteelSeries Arctis 9X is yet another example of fantastic design from SteelSeries. Over on the left side, you'll find a single dial that controls game and chat balance, and a retractable mic. Most of the buttons, dials and ports are located on the right side, where you get a Bluetooth pairing button, a power button that will also pair the headset with an Xbox One, a mic mute button, volume controls and a USB charging port. Beyond the odd green accents on the fabric headband, the understated black design on the ear cups is an aesthetic that won't make you hide them in shame whenever people come over. The SteelSeries Arctis 9X also looks impressive. Take it from us – no matter how long your epic gaming binge goes, you're not going to get uncomfortable. But, sitting down with this headset on our head for hours at a time is a dream come true.

We have to admit, upon pulling the SteelSeries Arctis 9X out of its packaging, and noticing you can only adjust the fit through a fabric band, we're skeptical. Of course, that seamlessly transitions into comfort. From the steel headband to the 'premium woven ski goggle fabric' – which can be used to adjust the fit – to the extremely comfortable ear cups, the SteelSeries Arctis 9X feels premium from top to bottom.

Arctis 9x review