Over-Ear
QCY H3S
81Outstanding
$34
Full review dataQCY H3S vs SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the QCY H3S comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 81. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: QCY H3S - Outstanding overall at around $34.
Over-Ear
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1
71Good
$50
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
QCY H3S leads on 6 of 7 measures.
- QCY H3S
- SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1
HearWiki score
81
71
Sound
7.5
7.0
Noise cancelling
7.4
-
Battery
9.8
-
Calls
5.4
8.0
Value
9.5
9.0
Price (USD)
$34
$50
Generation & platform
The scores rank quality. This is the other question: is the newer one actually newer technology, or the same platform in a new shell?
Half a step newer
QCY H3S (2025) against SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 (2023). The QCY H3S edges ahead on platform, but only just: ANC type Adaptive against None.
- H3S20252 yr newer
- Arctis Nova 12023
What differsH3SArctis Nova 1
- ANC type
- Adaptive
- None
Platform
Specifications
H3SArctis Nova 1
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $34
- $50
- HearWiki score
- 81
- 71
- Released
- 2025
- 2023
- Availability
- Sold new
- Still sold new
- Driver
- 2-driver hybrid
- -
- Driver type
- hybrid
- -
- Driver size
- 40 mm
- -
- Drivers per side
- 2
- -
- Frequency response
- 20 Hz - 40 kHz
- -
- Impedance
- 32 Ω
- -
- Bluetooth
- 6.0
- -
- Codecs
- AAC, LDAC
- -
- Multipoint pairing
- Yes
- -
- Wireless range
- 10 m
- -
- Battery life
- 102 h
- -
- Battery life (ANC on)
- 58 h
- -
- Full charge time
- 120 min
- -
- Quick charge
- 10 min → 7 h
- -
- Wireless charging
- No
- -
- Active noise cancelling
- Yes
- -
- ANC type
- adaptive
- -
- Controls
- buttons
- -
- Voice assistant
- Yes
- -
- Weight
- 240 g
- 253 g
- Water resistance
- none
- -
- Foldable
- Yes
- -
- USB-C
- Yes
- -
- Pad material
- -
- foam
- Connector
- -
- 3.5 mm
- Microphones
- 7
- -
- Call noise reduction
- -
- Yes
What reviewers said
QCY H3S
The QCY H3S is a budget-friendly over-ear wireless headphone that packs adaptive active noise cancellation, a hybrid dual-driver setup, and support for LDAC and Bluetooth 6.0. Its foldable design and lightweight build add to its portability and convenience.
- Pro:Effective adaptive ANC for the price
- Pro:LDAC and AAC codec support for high-quality audio
- Pro:Multipoint connectivity and Bluetooth 6.0
- Con:No water resistance rating
- Con:No wireless charging support
- Con:Controls are button-based, not touch
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 is a budget-friendly wired headset that delivers solid, balanced audio and a lightweight, comfortable fit, making it a strong pick for casual gaming and general use. Its simple 3.5mm connection works easily across many devices, though it skips wireless and active noise canceling to keep costs down. While it lacks the punchy bass and advanced features of pricier models, it offers dependable performance and clear imaging for the price.
- Pro:Comfortable and lightweight design
- Pro:Balanced, well-tuned sound for gaming
- Pro:Good value for entry-level users
- Con:Mic picks up some background noise
- Con:Limited to wired 3.5mm connection
- Con:Bass lacks punch compared to pricier options
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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