When it comes to headsets, it’s easy to fall into the iPhone trap: shell out big bucks for the latest and greatest, only to feel soaked when a newer model drops a year later. Fortunately, there are plenty of mid-priced gems like the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X that deliver on the major requirements (and then some), ideal for budget conscious college gamers. Weighing nearly 270 grams (or a half pound), the Arctis Nova 5x is disarmingly light and boasts breathable, rotating memory foam-covered earcups. Translation: no sore ears after hours on Twitch. The sound quality is way better than it should be at under $120, with clear highs and deep lows, plus intuitive on-ear controls to adjust volume and mute the fully retractable mic. While it’s definitely designed for gaming, you won’t feel at all shortchanged using it for music and movies. The big selling point, though, is its connectivity: thanks to the USB-C dongle, the 5X lets you toggle between XBox, PC, Playstation, Switch and other devices. And at 60 hours, the battery life is materially better than most in this price point. Retailing for under $120, the 5X punches above its weight.
