SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Gen 2: Bigger Battery, Dual Audio Mixing, $200

SteelSeries has refreshed its midrange Arctis Nova 7 headset with the Gen 2 model, focusing on battery life and flexible audio connectivity. The headline improvement is a roughly 40% increase in battery runtime versus the original model — now rated at about 54 hours per full charge — plus fast charging that delivers roughly 6 extra hours in 15 minutes on the outlet.

The Nova 7 Gen 2 charges via USB-C and supports simultaneous audio from the low-latency 2.4GHz wireless dongle and Bluetooth, letting gamers mix game audio from a PC/console with voice chat or mobile audio. It also connects wirelessly to the major consoles, PCs and phones, making it a versatile option for cross-platform players.

• Battery: ~54 hours per charge; quick charge gives ~6 hours in 15 minutes.
• Connectivity: 2.4GHz wireless + Bluetooth simultaneous audio mixing, USB-C charging.
• Audio tuning: Mobile app offers 200+ game-specific EQ presets; on PC these can auto-adjust per game.
• Mic & design: Retractable noise-cancelling boom mic (can be hidden/disabled); available in black, white and magenta.
• Price & trade-offs: Available now for $200; lacks some premium features like a swappable battery system and active noise cancellation.

Overall, the Nova 7 Gen 2 leans into longer sessions and multi-source audio flexibility, making it attractive for gamers who want long battery life and the convenience of mixing mobile audio without wires. The headset keeps the look and some features of SteelSeries’ higher-end models while trimming a few premium elements to hit the midrange price point.

For more details, see the original coverage on Engadget or visit SteelSeries.

Discussion: Does the longer battery life and mixed audio support make the Nova 7 Gen 2 worth $200 for you, or would you wait for features like swappable batteries or ANC? Share your thoughts below.