Both are wired headsets with one 3.5 mm plug for a controller, a PC or a phone, a mute on the headset and a volume wheel. SteelSeries lists the Arctis Nova 1 for Xbox, PS5, PC and Switch, and its mic slides into the earcup; Corsair lists the HS35 v3, at $49.99, for PC, Mac, PlayStation and Switch, with a fixed, flexible boom.
| SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 | Corsair HS35 v3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Choose it for | Xbox, and a mic that tucks away | a fixed, bendable boom and a press-in mute |
| Maker price | No maker price | $49.99 · checked November 2 |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Mute on the mic | Mute button on the headset | Mute button on the headset; press it again to unmute |
| Hear yourself | Not listed by the maker | Not listed by the maker |
Choice A
SteelSeries' guide lists Xbox, PS5, PS4, Switch and PC, and the mic retracts into the earcup when you're not talking (don't talk with it retracted). The multi-platform box adds a splitter for a PC with separate mic and headphone jacks.
Choice B
A fixed omnidirectional boom you bend toward your mouth, a mute button you press in and press again to unmute, and a 1.8 m cable. Corsair's FAQ says it works on Xbox Series X|S through the controller, but its specifications leave Xbox out, so test it in party chat first. Maker price $49.99.
From the makers
5 of 10 setup details differ.
| Setup detail | SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 | Corsair HS35 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Microphone connection (differs) | Retractable boom microphone | Fixed boom microphone |
| Connectors (differs) | 3.5 mm (4-pole) | 3.5 mm |
| Mute on the mic (differs) | Mute button on the headset | Mute button on the headset; press it again to unmute |
| Hear yourself | Not listed by the maker | Not listed by the maker |
| Works with (per the maker) (differs) | PC · Mac · Xbox · PlayStation · Switch · Mobile | PC · Mac · PlayStation · Switch · Mobile |
| Included parts (differs) | Arctis Nova 1 headset · Main headset cable · Dual 3.5 mm extension cable (splitter) | |
| Also needs | Depends on how you connect and mount it | Depends on how you connect and mount it |
| Mount or thread | ||
| Dimensions | Not listed by the maker | Not listed by the maker |
| Software needed | Not listed by the maker | Not listed by the maker |
Both plug into a PlayStation or Xbox controller, a PC or a phone with one 3.5 mm plug, need no battery or app to work, and have a mute and a volume wheel on the headset. Neither maker lists Switch 2.
SteelSeries lists Xbox in the Nova 1's guide. Corsair names the Xbox controller's 3.5 mm jack only in the HS35 v3's FAQ, adds that some Xbox features may need Microsoft's adapter, and leaves Xbox out of its specifications. If you play mostly on Xbox, the Nova 1 is the one its maker lists.
A PC with separate pink and green jacks needs a splitter. The Nova 1's multi-platform box includes one; its 1P and 1X console versions don't.
Plug the 4-pole end of the cable into the controller's 3.5 mm jack and the other end into the headset, then check chat output and mic monitoring in Volume & audio output before you start a party.
Plug the 3.5 mm cable into the DualSense controller, then choose the headset in Settings, Sound, Microphone and check the level.
Connections and controls come from these model-specific documents. Manufacturer claims about sound are not independent tests.