Introduction

The SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless is what I’d call a logical addition to the famous and mostly fantastic Arctis gaming headset lineup. Looking at their nomenclature, the Arctis 9 Wireless is a natural upgrade of the also wireless Arctis 7, whose first edition I reviewed back in 2017 and still happily use to this day simply because it continues to impress me with its build quality, wearing comfort, and overall performance. But let’s not waste any more time on the Arctis 7—we’re here to talk about the $200/€200 Arctis 9 Wireless.

Depending on where you buy it, the Arctis 9 Wireless costs $30–$50 more than the Arctis 7. For that price hike, you’re getting everything great about the Arctis 7 with the addition of expanded wireless connectivity. Aside from the standard 2.4 GHz RF wireless connection, the Arctis 9 Wireless also offers Bluetooth connectivity. It can be used on its own to connect to mobile devices (smartphones, tablets, laptops), TVs, and other devices which act as Bluetooth sound sources, or simultaneously with the 2.4 GHz connection. Thanks to that, you can have it connected to your PC and phone at the same time, and use it to answer phone calls without stopping what you’re doing or taking off the headset. In case you own a PlayStation, a Bluetooth connection to your phone will allow you to connect to a Discord server through Discord’s mobile app and easily communicate with your friends. Another interesting option is to connect the headset to your Nintendo Switch through a built-in analog 3.5-mm interface to hear the game while utilizing a Bluetooth connection to your phone for voice chat in Switch games that don’t support it natively. You can also use it wirelessly with the Switch because the supplied wireless dongle works perfectly fine as long as the Switch is in docked mode.

Xbox users, fear not—SteelSeries is also making an Xbox-specific version of this headset, simply called the Arctis 9X.

Specifications

• 40-mm dynamic drivers (neodymium magnet)
• 32 Ω impedance
• 20-20,000 Hz frequency response (specified by the manufacturer)
• Closed-back, over-ear design
• 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth wireless connectivity
• 3.5-mm wired connectivity (output only)
• Retractable bidirectional microphone
• Over 20 hours of battery life
• Supplied 1.5-meter Micro-USB charging cable
• Platform support: PC, macOS, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and mobile devices
• Weight: 375 g