SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless

The SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless is a budget wireless gaming headset with a low-latency USB-C dongle that works across PC, Switch, and Android. The dongle is great, but the battery life is among the worst we've seen, and sound quality falls below average. At $90, it's only worth it if cross-platform wireless gaming is your top priority.

Let's talk about what this headset actually does well. The 2.4GHz USB-C dongle is the star here. Latency is low enough that you won't notice any sync issues in games, which is the whole point of a gaming headset. Setup is basically plug and play, no software required. The sound signature is tuned for gaming, with a slight emphasis on footsteps and positional cues. But the overall sound quality lands in the 26th percentile of our database, which means it's below average even for budget headsets. Music sounds flat and a bit muddy, with weak bass response. The mic is even worse, sitting at the 21st percentile. Your teammates will hear you, but you'll sound like you're talking through a tin can. Battery life is the real killer though. At the 8th percentile, you're looking at roughly 20 hours on a good day, which is half of what competitors like the Soundcore Life Q20 offer at a similar price.

Stacked against the Sony ULT WEAR WHULT900N/B, the Arctis 1 Wireless looks like it's from a different era. The Sony has ANC, better sound, better build quality, and a battery that lasts nearly twice as long. The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 is in a completely different league, with audiophile-grade sound and a 60-hour battery, though it costs significantly more. Even the Bose QuietComfort Ultra, which is a premium option, makes the Arctis 1 feel like a toy by comparison. The real competition for the Arctis 1 is the Soundcore Life Q20 and the JBL Tune 670NC. Both of those offer better sound, better battery, and ANC at a similar or lower price. The Arctis 1's only real advantage is the low-latency dongle, which matters for competitive gaming but not much else.

At $90, the Arctis 1 Wireless is in a tough spot. You can get the Soundcore Life Q20 for around $60, and it has better sound, better battery, and active noise cancellation. The JBL Tune 670NC is also in this range and offers ANC plus a more refined sound profile. If you specifically need the low-latency USB-C dongle for Switch or mobile gaming, the Arctis 1 Wireless has some appeal. But for most people, there are better ways to spend $90. The value proposition only works if cross-platform wireless gaming is your top priority and you're willing to accept the compromises everywhere else.

The SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless is one of those headsets that sounds great on paper until you look at the fine print. It's a wireless gaming headset that uses a USB-C dongle for low-latency 2.4GHz audio, which means it works with PC, Switch, Android, and even PS4. That cross-platform flexibility is genuinely useful, especially at this price point. But the Arctis 1 Wireless sits in a weird spot in 2025. The wireless gaming headset market has moved fast, and this thing is starting to show its age. At around $90, it's competing against newer options with better batteries, better mics, and better sound. Our database puts it at the 26th percentile for sound quality and a rough 8th percentile for battery life. That battery number is not a typo. For a wireless headset, that's a problem.

Skip the Arctis 1 Wireless if you care about battery life, sound quality, or mic clarity. Commuters and music listeners should look at the Soundcore Life Q20 or JBL Tune 670NC instead, both of which offer better sound and ANC at a similar price. If you're a serious competitive gamer, the weak mic and below-average sound will hold you back. And if you play on Xbox, this headset won't work at all. The only people who should consider it are Switch or Android gamers who need low-latency wireless audio and don't mind charging every couple of days.

Should you buy the SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless? If you need a cheap wireless headset for Switch gaming or mobile gaming on Android, and you absolutely need low-latency audio without Bluetooth lag, then maybe. The USB-C dongle is genuinely useful and works well. But for everyone else, this headset is hard to recommend. The battery life is rough, the sound is below average, and the mic is disappointing. At $90, you're paying for the wireless dongle and not much else. If you can stretch your budget or wait for a sale, there are better options out there.