Accessories

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 Wireless Review

More affordable, colorful sibling of the Arctis Nova 5

Published

August 6, 2025

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 Wireless is every bit as capable as the Arctis Nova 5 Wireless. It just happens to be a tad more affordable and colorful. It’s another one of those instances where I could probably copy-paste what I said in the Arcist Nova 5 review and it’ll mostly be true.

So, I’ll make this simple and just give you a nice little rundown.

Competitively priced

The Arctis Nova 3 Wireless (PhP 6,335/ $109.99 USD) is priced pretty darn close to the Arctis Nova 5 (PhP 7,765/ $129.99 USD) that it’s a little baffling.

For the most part, they do feel like the same headset except for a couple of obvious differences. The first is that the Arctis Nova 3 Wireless is available in more colors. Second, the mic on the Arctis Nova 3 Wireless is removable while the one on the Arctis Nova 5 is retractable.

That means choosing between the two will really come down to color preference, mic usage, and budget.

But we’re getting ahead of ourselves, let’s talk about the Arctis Nova 3 Wireless more.

Headset highlights

To best illustrate my point, I’m going to use the exact same highlights (save for 1) of the Arctis Nova 5 on the Arctis Nova 3 Wireless.

Game specific presets through the companion app.

Both headsets use the same companion app – Arctis. That means you get pretty much the same settings options as well as sound profiles. And those sound profiles cover a lot.

Adding to the ones already previously available, the app is constantly updated to include more recent releases. Titles released in 2025 like BLEACH Rebirth of Souls, Claire Obscur: Expedition 33, Monster Hunter Wilds, among others have already been added to the exhaustive list.

You can be sure that any major upcoming title will likely be supported. And if not, you only need to look for a similar-genre game to get the most out of the Arctis Nova 3 Wireless.

To me, this really is the headsets’ greatest strength. While the differences between certain genres may be marginal, they do quite a good enough job of making sure they are tuned specifically for the game you’re playing.

Lightweight.

The Arctis Nova 5 tips the scale at 256g while the Arctis Nova 3 Wireless does so at 260g. That’s a pretty negligible difference for most people. It also means they are comparatively light.

So, same comments apply:

The headset is mostly made of plastic making it extremely light. That means there’s absolutely no strain whatsoever on your head when wearing it for an extended period.

Some might view this as a markdown in build quality. However, I think the weight and price byproducts balance the steady but not stellar build.

Battery Life.

The controls, btw, are mostly on the left cup. The volume rocker/roller? doubles as a button for play/pause as well as skip to next track.

Yeah, this one’s a battery beast. I fully charged it before going on a 19-hour flight. I didn’t formally keep track of the numbers but I’m pretty certain I used it for 10 of those 19 hours.

When I checked the battery life before I hopped off the plane, it still had 60% left. That was pretty insane. I used it both on my iPad Mini 7 to catch-up on Yaiba and rewatch some episodes of The Designated Survivor. And I also used it on my Nintendo Switch 2 playing both Street Fighter 6 and Ultra Kaiju Monster Rancher.

Connectivity.

I’m not even sure what to add here except to say that the connection is pretty darn good. I never experienced any issues and the instant toggle is a pretty nice touch.

And even if you’re just switching the bluetooth connection from one device to another – which is what I did during the plane ride – it’s a pretty painless experience. I love it when things just work.

Removable microphone.

This one I’m not sure how to feel about. I would say I definitely prefer the Arctis Nova 5’s setup where there’s a retractable microphone. That way, no matter where I go, if I need it, I can just pull it out easily.

On the Arctis Nova 3 Wireless, the mic is removable and I ended up not bringing it with me on the trip. It’s also a bit of a waste of a 3.5mm jack as it seems to work only as an input port. That’s a bit of a bummer.

Making it so that the port works as both input and output would have the decision to not make the mic retractable more justifiable.

But hey, at least you do have a separate mic that sounds nice.

No ANC.

Ah, here we are again. I already knew what I was getting into when I brought it with me on the flight. The Arctis Nova line isn’t really something you bring for travel. It’s for those stationary gaming moments in your room or other, more tranquil spaces.

I suppose adding any sort of ANC would shoot the price up to close to $200 USD and that’s not the market SteelSeries is going after.

Still, it’s a little baffling that they managed to add one to their in-ear model and not in any of the recent over-ear ones.

A slot for the 2.4Hz USB-C dongle.

Same refrain here as well. As someone who tends to misplace stuff, some way to carry the dongle with you on the headset would have been nice.

Again, it’s one of those things that they were able to add on the decidedly more premium Arctis Gamebuds, but couldn’t on a larger body personal audio device.

Curious design choices, more than anything.

Is the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 Wireless your GadgetMatch?

Despite my personal displeasure with the lack of ways to integrate both the mic and the dongle on the headset, the merits of the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 Wireless still make it a Swipe Right.

It shares the same audio capabilities as the Arctis Nova 5 Wireless while being available in more color options. That may seem trivial to some, but I know many people make their purchase decisions based on the color of the device alone.

What you’re getting is still a lightweight, plenty-capable headset built for gaming, that can also add a pop of color to your setup. That’s a pretty good deal.

Accessories

Manila turns up the volume at COVE

Sony Philippines launched its ULT TOWER lineup at Beyond the Beat, with SB19 joining the ULT Squad.

Published

September 21, 2026

MJ Jucutan

Sound and style shared the floor at COVE Manila in Okada Manila. Sony Philippines opened its doors for Beyond the Beat: The Next-Level ULT POWER SOUND Experience.

The event marked the company’s biggest ULT POWER SOUND launch in the country, and Sony paced the program like an exclusive night out.

Stacked ULT Towers filled the space. Guests styled themselves with designer pieces from Alser Lumawag, and SB19 closed the evening as the newest Sony ULT Squad members.

MySony members from every tier joined industry guests while the new ULT TOWER lineup set the tempo.

The towers take center stage

Shuhei Sugihara, Sony Philippines’ President and Managing Director, opened the program.

Product Marketing Specialist Keira Ambubuyog then introduced the newest additions to the lineup.

Arbie Bandiling of Personal Audio Systems unveiled the latest ULT Squad video. The clip introduced the artists and personalities fronting the campaign.

The lineup features the ULT TOWER 5, ULT TOWER 7, and ULT TOWER MAX. The new series pairs large circular woofers and high-capacity cabinets with ULT DUCT technology.

This design delivers stronger low-frequency bass than earlier models. The ULT TOWER MAX leads the series, described as Sony’s most powerful bass speaker yet.

On another note, Sony pitches the ULT TOWER 7 as stage-worthy sound in a portable frame. Meanwhile, the compact ULT TOWER 5 targets smaller gatherings and features karaoke and DJ capabilities.

Experiential zones bring the sound to life

Guests explored the lineup across several interactive event zones. Step into the Beat paired an arcade-inspired setup with stacked ULT Towers and a dance pad. ULT Selfie Club handled photo ops.

Nearby, ULT Cover Star let guests style ULT Field speakers alongside designer pieces from Alser Lumawag. Here, the speakers served as chic fashion accessories.

The Bass District gave VIPs and influencers a private, nightlife-inspired lounge. Karaoke Lounges invited everyone else to grab a mic and test the party-ready towers firsthand.

The ULT Squad shows up

Fashion influencer and ULT Squad member Angelique Manto-Guison hosted the night.

A-Team opened the show with a high-energy routine before Carlos Serrano III took the stage. David Guison and Jacqueline Jala walked the stage with ULT Models in elevated fashion, and Jeremy G followed with a dynamic musical performance.

KAIA brought a youthful pop sound, while Maki delivered a set in his signature style.

SB19 closed the night, making their debut as the newest Sony ULT Squad members. Sony pairs its sound technology with the group’s influence in Filipino music. This collaboration positions the Squad as a platform for artists shaping contemporary music culture.

The ULT TOWER MAX, ULT TOWER 7, and ULT TOWER 5 are now available at Sony Centres and authorized dealers nationwide.

Accessories

Jackery Explorer 300D: Power and portability in one

Uninterrupted workflows for digital nomads, freelance creatives, more

Published

September 18, 2026

Manila Connoisseur

For digital nomads, freelance creatives, and even work-from-home professionals, staying productive on the move means carrying around multiple gadgets, cords, adapters, and power banks to survive the day.

Having to carry such weight, quite literally, is vital for maintaining workflow continuity.

For a more seamless experience and to have just one extra portable device to power all working parts, there’s the Jackery Explorer 300D.

Launched just last month, this grab-and-go offering from Jackery is designed for the modern lifestyle.

It moves away from Jackery’s traditional aesthetic with a sleek, speaker-like form factor. It weighs just 2.5 kilograms and is 64% smaller than standard 300W units in the market.

This ultra-compact size was made possible by a smart engineering choice of swapping bulky traditional AC wall outlets for highly efficient DC-only and USB-C ports — which also helps eliminate idle power loss.

With a 288Wh capacity, the Jackery Explorer 300D holds enough juice for up to nine power banks.

It can keep a Type-C fast-charging laptop for up to three to four full cycles, a Wi-Fi router alive for hours, and recharge cameras or drone batteries up to five times for a lengthy production day.

For smaller gadgets like smartphones and portable fans, the power station can juice them up for up to 22 times.

It can even charge five devices simultaneously with a total of three USB-C ports, a USB-A port, and a DC 12V car charger port.

All these ensure users are never disconnected, wherever they may set up their mobile office.

Another brilliant touch is the two-in-one shoulder strap that easily unclips to double as a heavy-duty 140W USB-C charging cable.

The everyday carry is available via Lazada and Shopee, and at the official Jackery kiosk in SM Fairview, as well as other partner stores.

Accessories

Apple is reportedly working on its own gaming controllers

It might launch under the Beats brand.

Published

September 14, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Last week, the iPhone Duo changed how you look at the ubiquitous smartphone. Foldables are in, and Apple is right there with it. But the company isn’t stopping with the foldable segment. Apple is reportedly working on its own branded game controllers.

According to Bloomberg, Apple has been working on a controller since last year. Further, a piece of code linked to macOS 27.4, spotted by MacRumors, includes references to two unknown gaming controllers.

Because Apple just concluded its huge event this month, it will likely be a while before we see confirmation of this controller. And it could be anything. Of course, because the Duo is fresh on our minds, the easiest answer is a mobile controller than can maximize the foldable’s ability to stand by itself. It could also use Apple’s larger screens like the iPad, the MacBook, or the Mac. Some even speculate that this could be Apple’s stronger push into the gaming market.

Outside of the actual hardware, the reports are also claiming that the controller will arrive by way of Beats, rather than from Apple itself. At first, the branding comes off as a surprise, but then again, Beats hasn’t really evolved past an audio brand in a long, long time. Is it time to revitalize Beats as something more than just a peddler of headphones?

SEE ALSO: First Look: Apple iPhone Duo