The dongle is relatively compact (laptop users may find it covers other ports though) and features a switch with Xbox and USB options, with the latter used for platforms outside of the Xbox ecosystem. Using a USB-C dongle over a USB-A dongle means that it has a greater range of compatibility as it just plugs directly into devices that utilise USB-C connections such as Android phones and tablets or the Nintendo Switch. Inside the box you’ll find a micro-USB charging cable (1.5m), a 4-pole 3.5mm audio cable (1.2m), a USB-C female to USB-A male adaptor (1.2m), and the USB-C wireless dongle.

It means that the 7X is a far more versatile unit and makes it a more attractive purchase if you game on both Xbox and PlayStation platforms. However, the major technical difference is in the units’ compatibility, with the 7X compatible with the PS5, PS4, PC, Nintendo Switch and Android devices, whereas the 7P lacks compatibility with Xbox consoles. The 7X comes in black and has green streaks across the headband, while the 7P utilises blue streaks across the headband and also comes in white (no blue streaks but does have blue colouring). There’s actually a bigger difference between the 7X and 7P than I was expecting. Despite being released in 2020, the Arctis 7X and 7P are not yet available in Australia, but thanks to the fine folk at SteelSeries ANZ, I’ve been able to go ears-on with the Arctis 7X for the past few months to see whether they’re all they’re cracked up to be. In October 2020, the Danish company announced Xbox and PlayStation variants of the Arctis 7 – the Arctis 7X and 7P. SteelSeries is a company that is synonymous with not just gaming peripherals such as headsets, mice and keyboards, but also with quality, and the SteelSeries Arctis 7 series sits in the upper echelon of the company’s smorgasbord of audio offerings. But after consulting with WellPlayed’s Assistant Editor Kieron Verbrugge and some other mates on what headset I should go with I was encouraged to check out SteelSeries’ headset range, specifically the Arctis 7.

A new console generation represented a great chance for me to replace the headset, and with the A50s serving me so well it seemed natural to upgrade to the latest version. As the PS4 and Xbox One generation was coming to a close, my trusty Astro A50 headset that I had been using since the PS3 days was on its way out – the battery no longer living the life it once had.

Steelseries arctis 7x review