SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro vs HyperX Cloud III
Compare features and trade-offs. Catalog scores are editorial assessments, not customer review averages or proof of hands-on testing.
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Facts and prices checked
Arctis Nova Pro for control, Cloud III for value
We rank the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro ahead of the HyperX Cloud III. This comparison covers the wired Arctis Nova Pro with the GameDAC Gen 2, not the wireless model, which SteelSeries no longer lists in its US store. Its desktop DAC, which SteelSeries rates at 96kHz/24-bit, puts volume, EQ and ChatMix on a dial, connects two systems at once, and pairs with a retractable mic and SteelSeries Sonar software. The Cloud III costs about a third as much at a $99.99 list price and covers the basics well, with 53mm drivers, a detachable noise-cancelling mic, and 3.5mm, USB-C and USB-A connections. Pick the Nova Pro if you switch between a PC and a console or want fine audio control. Pick the Cloud III if you want a comfortable, simple headset at a budget price.
Key differences
| SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro | HyperX Cloud III | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | SteelSeries lists $279.99, on sale for $217.99 as of November 2026 | HyperX lists $99.99 MSRP |
| Connection | Wired to the GameDAC Gen 2, which has two USB-C system connections plus line-in and line-out | Wired 3.5mm, plus an included USB-C dongle with a USB-C to USB-A adapter |
| Drivers | 40mm neodymium drivers; 10-40,000 Hz rated frequency response (wired), 38 ohm | 53mm angled dynamic drivers with neodymium magnets; 10Hz-21kHz rated frequency response |
| Microphone | ClearCast Gen 2 bidirectional boom that retracts into the earcup; Sonar AI noise cancelling on Windows 10/11 | Detachable electret condenser mic, uni-directional and noise-cancelling, with an LED mute indicator |
| Software and spatial audio | SteelSeries GG with Sonar parametric EQ and 360° Spatial Audio on PC; 10-band EQ on the GameDAC for consoles; compatible with Tempest 3D Audio on PS5 | HyperX NGENUITY (Windows only) for EQ and DTS Headphone:X, which needs the USB dongle |
| Multi-system use | Plug in two systems at once and switch with a button on the DAC | One device at a time; swap cables or the dongle to change systems |
| Weight | Not listed on SteelSeries' product page | 0.67 lb, or 0.70 lb with the mic, per HyperX |
Which one for your seat and trip
PC and PS5 or Xbox on one desk
Pick: SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro
Its GameDAC Gen 2 accepts two systems at once and switches with a button.
Tight budget
Pick: HyperX Cloud III
HyperX lists it at $99.99, versus $279.99 list for the wired Nova Pro.
Controller or handheld via 3.5mm
Pick: HyperX Cloud III
It plugs directly into a 3.5mm jack, while the Nova Pro connects through its USB DAC.
Tuning sound per game on PC
Pick: SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro
Sonar adds a parametric EQ and spatial audio, and the DAC has a 10-band EQ for consoles.
Choose SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro if…
- you play on a PC and a console and want to switch between them without unplugging anything.
- you want hands-on control of volume, EQ and game/chat balance from a desktop dial.
- you want a mic that tucks into the earcup and AI noise cancelling through Sonar on Windows.
Choose HyperX Cloud III if…
- your budget is around $100 and you want a solid all-round wired headset.
- you need a plain 3.5mm connection for a controller, phone or Switch.
- you want a simple setup with no desktop box and a detachable mic you can remove when listening to music.