SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite vs Turtle Beach Stealth Pro II: which should you buy?

On aggregated review scores the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 84. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.

Our pick: SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite - Outstanding overall at around $426.

Gaming

Score breakdown

Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.

Turtle Beach Stealth Pro II leads on 4 of 7 measures.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite
Turtle Beach Stealth Pro II

HearWiki score

Sound

8.9

8.7

Noise cancelling

8.7

7.8

Battery

9.5

9.6

Calls

9.1

9.2

Value

5.4

7.6

Price (USD)

$430

$350

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?

Same generation

Turtle Beach Stealth Pro II (2026) against SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite (2025). These are the same generation of hardware - nothing in the radio, the codecs or the noise cancelling separates them. Nothing separates them on convenience features either, so the choice comes down to tuning and price.

Arctis Nova Elite2025
Stealth Pro II20261 yr newer

Level on: Top codec, LE Audio (LC3), Multipoint pairing, USB-C, Transparency mode, Custom EQ, Companion app.

Specifications

Arctis Nova EliteStealth Pro II

Type: Gaming; Gaming
Price (USD): $430; $350
HearWiki score: 84; 82
Released: 2025; 2026
Availability: Sold new; Sold new
Driver: 40 mm dynamic; 2-driver hybrid
Driver type: dynamic; hybrid
Driver size: 40 mm; 60 mm
Drivers per side: 1; 2
Frequency response: 10 Hz - 40 kHz; 10 Hz - 40 kHz
Impedance: 38 Ω; 32 Ω
Sensitivity: 101 dB/mW; -
Bluetooth: -; 5.3
Codecs: LC3; SBC, LC3plus, LDAC
Multipoint pairing: Yes; Yes
Wireless range: 10 m; 15 m
Battery life: 44 h; 40 h
Battery incl. case: 60 h; 80 h
Full charge time: 180 min; 15 min
Quick charge: 15 min → 4 h; -
Wireless charging: No; No
Active noise cancelling: Yes; Yes
ANC type: adaptive; -
Transparency mode: Yes; Yes
Companion app: Yes; Yes
Custom EQ: Yes; Yes
Wear detection: No; No
Controls: both; both
Voice assistant: -; Yes
Weight: 350 g; 393 g
Case weight: 143 g; -
Water resistance: none; -
USB-C: Yes; Yes
Pad material: -; fabric
Connector: -; USB-C
Microphones: 2; 5
Microphone type: beamforming; beamforming
Mic sensitivity: -; -22 dBV
Call noise reduction: Yes; Yes
Call NR technology: AI ENC; noise-cancelling mic

Specification comparison of SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite vs Turtle Beach Stealth Pro II
Spec	SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite	Turtle Beach Stealth Pro II
Type	Gaming	Gaming
Price (USD)	$430	$350
HearWiki score	84 / 100 Outstanding	82 / 100 Outstanding
Released	2025	2026
Audio
Driver	40 mm dynamic	2-driver hybrid
Driver type	dynamic	hybrid
Driver size	40 mm	60 mm
Drivers per side	1	2
Frequency response	10 Hz - 40 kHz	10 Hz - 40 kHz
Impedance	38 Ω	32 Ω
Sensitivity	101 dB/mW	-
Wireless
Bluetooth	-	5.3
Codecs	LC3	SBC, LC3plus, LDAC
Multipoint pairing	Yes	Yes
Wireless range	10 m	15 m
Battery
Battery life	44 h	40 h
Battery incl. case	60 h	80 h
Full charge time	180 min	15 min
Quick charge	15 min → 4 h	-
Wireless charging	No	No
Features
Active noise cancelling	Yes	Yes
ANC type	adaptive	-
Transparency mode	Yes	Yes
Companion app	Yes	Yes
Custom EQ	Yes	Yes
Wear detection	No	No
Controls	both	both
Voice assistant	-	Yes
Design
Weight	350 g	393 g
Case weight	143 g	-
Water resistance	none	-
USB-C	Yes	Yes
Pad material	-	fabric
Connector	-	USB-C
Calls
Microphones	2	5
Microphone type	beamforming	beamforming
Mic sensitivity	-	-22 dBV
Call noise reduction	Yes	Yes
Call NR technology	AI ENC	noise-cancelling mic

What reviewers said

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite is a premium wireless gaming headset that combines adaptive active noise cancellation with a 44-hour battery life, extendable to 60 hours with its case. It features 40mm dynamic drivers, Bluetooth multipoint support, and a transparent mode for situational awareness, making it a versatile option for both gaming and everyday use.

Pro:Adaptive ANC for immersive gaming
Pro:Long 44-hour battery life, 60 with case
Pro:Multipoint Bluetooth for easy switching

Con:No water resistance rating
Con:No wireless charging
Con:Heavy at 350 grams

Turtle Beach Stealth Pro II

The Turtle Beach Stealth Pro II is a premium wireless gaming headset that combines active noise cancellation with a robust 60mm dual-driver setup for immersive audio. It offers extensive connectivity options including Bluetooth 5.3 with multipoint, LDAC support, and a long-lasting 40-hour battery life (80 hours with the case), making it a versatile choice for gamers and daily use. While its sound and microphone performance are praised, the physical design has drawn mixed feedback regarding comfort and build quality.

Pro:Excellent sound quality with hybrid dual drivers and LDAC support
Pro:Effective active noise cancellation and transparency mode
Pro:Long battery life with swappable batteries for extended sessions

Con:Heavy at 393 grams, which may cause discomfort during long use
Con:Build quality feels less premium compared to competitors
Con:No wireless charging, limiting convenience for some users

Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.

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