SteelSeries is selling the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless gaming headset for $239.99 through a damaged-box promotion, a notable cut for a headset that The Verge says is currently listed between $300 and $350 at other retailers.
The catch is printed on the box, more or less. SteelSeries says the packaging is blemished, while the headset inside is unused and undamaged. The company also says these units carry the same one-year warranty it provides with new headsets. That is the useful bit for buyers who care more about the hardware than shelf appeal, which should be most people unless the cardboard is somehow joining the Discord call.
The sale covers multiple versions and colors. The Xbox model is available in black and white, and SteelSeries lists it as compatible with Xbox, PlayStation, PC, and Nintendo Switch. The PlayStation version is discounted in white and supports the same platforms except Xbox. Both versions also support Bluetooth connections to mobile devices, according to SteelSeries.
What the headset actually includes
The Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is SteelSeries’ higher-end wireless gaming headset from four years ago. Its feature list is still closer to current flagship territory than bargain-bin filler, according to The Verge’s prior review and SteelSeries’ product listing.
The headset includes active noise cancellation, a noise-canceling microphone, Bluetooth, and a USB base station. The base station is the more interesting part: it can charge a spare battery, adjust sound settings, switch game profiles, handle audio mixing, and combine as many as three inputs at once, including Bluetooth.
That spare-battery setup is the practical win. Instead of plugging in the headset and waiting when the battery dies, users can swap in the charged pack from the base station. It is the kind of feature that sounds obvious after a company ships it, which makes its absence elsewhere more annoying.
The compatibility wrinkle
Buyers should choose the version carefully. The Xbox edition is the broader option because it supports Microsoft’s console as well as PlayStation, PC, and Switch. The PlayStation edition drops Xbox support. SteelSeries’ naming here is doing actual work, for once.
The Verge’s reviewers had mixed reactions to comfort. They did not describe the headset as uncomfortable, but agreed it weighs more than other SteelSeries models. That is worth considering for long sessions, especially for anyone sensitive to headset pressure or weight.
The Verge also compared the discounted headset with SteelSeries’ newer and more expensive Nova Pro Omni, saying the older Arctis Nova Pro Wireless keeps most of the same distinctive features at a lower price. That comparison is useful, but it does not make the sale permanent. As with any manufacturer promotion, price and availability can change without much ceremony.
This story draws on original reporting from The Verge.
